CH 34 - #whataretheodds
#whataretheodds
Madison
Two weeks had passed since I left the ranch without telling Luke goodbye. I couldn’t. He would’ve begged me to stay, but it was pointless for me to. I’d tried so hard to fit into the country lifestyle, but it wasn’t me deep down. I belonged in Dallas.
When Bella and I left for it late that night, she got upset.
She wanted to stay at the ranch not only because of my parents but also because of Luke and Casper.
I told her I needed to go back to work at my office instead of working remotely from her GiGi’s and Papa’s.
Being four years old, she couldn’t understand.
All she knew was how she felt. Her little heart was broken, leaving behind the people and the place she loved so much.
After she fell asleep in her car seat, I let the brokenness I was feeling out and quietly cried.
I loved Luke, never hated him. I knew he loved me, too, but we just didn’t fit despite trying to make it happen.
A clean break was best for both of us. I hoped he would find a woman to make him as happy as I’d tried to do.
He deserved it. As for me? I would never allow myself to fall in love again.
Bella and I were on our way to Central Market grocery store when I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a police car behind me with its lights flashing. After I pulled over to the side of the street, a male officer approached my driver’s side window. I lowered it and looked up at him.
“Hello, ma’am, I’m Brandon Allen with the Dallas Police Department.”
“Hi, sir.”
“Is there any particular reason you were speeding?”
“I didn’t realize I was.”
“You were going fifty-five in a forty-mile-per-hour zone.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind. It’s no excuse, but…”
“I need your driver’s license and insurance card, please.”
“Okay.”
After pulling my license from my wallet, I opened my glove box for my proof of insurance, stopping before grabbing it because the barbed wire halo that Luke made for me was lying on top of it, along with the note he’d written.
I had forgotten that I stuck the halo in my glove box again.
The night I left the ranch was when I did it.
I took a deep breath, got my insurance card, and handed it, along with my license, to the policeman. “There you go.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He returned to his patrol car, I knew, to check my license and so on. I hadn’t been stopped for speeding since I was a senior in high school.
“Mommy?” Bella asked.
I looked over my shoulder at her, snug in her car seat. “Yes, sweetheart?”
“That policeman looks like Luke.”
I’d already thought the same thing, but hadn’t dared to mention it to Bella. “Yep, I mean, yes, he does, especially wearing that straw cowboy hat.”
“I miss Luke and Casper and PaPa and GiGi.”
“I know you do.”
“When can I see them again?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe Papa and GiGi will come see us.”
“Will you ask Luke to come with them?”
I noticed Officer Allen walking back to my car. “Oh, just a minute.”
“Mrs. Brooks—”
“Ms.”
He smiled. He even had dimples in his cheeks like Luke’s. “I stand corrected. Everything checked out. I just need you to slow down with your driving,” he said, handing my license and insurance card back to me.
“I will do that. Thank you for not writing me a ticket.”
“You’re welcome. You and your mini-me over there have a good rest of your day, “ he said, looking at her.
“You too.”
As he walked off, I raised my window while taking a deep breath. Not only did Officer Allen look like Luke, but he called Bella what Luke had called her before.
* * *
“Hello?” I said, answering my dad’s call.
“Hi, honey! I just wanted to check on you and that grandgirl of mine. See how you’re doing.
“We’re fine. We got back from grocery shopping a little while ago and ate supper. Bella is currently watching Toy Story again in the living room.”
“I’ll bet she mentioned Luke because of Woody.”
“Of course she did.”
“I thought you should know that Luke went to work at another ranch.”
“Why?”
“He told your mom and me that he felt it was best since you and he aren’t together any longer. He didn’t want to chance upsetting you and Bella when you come to see us again. He didn’t have to tell me that he was leaving the ranch because it would mainly upset him to see you and my sweet pea.”
“Dad, I’m sorry you lost him because he and I are over.”
“It really doesn’t surprise me that he moved on. When he came to talk to me yesterday about his decision, he choked up. He loves and misses you, Madison.”
“Dad, I know he does. I love and miss him, too, but we won’t ever work.”
“You worked while you were staying here until that B.S. at Midnight Rodeo. That was your first big hiccup together, and you threw in the towel so quickly. You gave up. That isn’t like my redheaded daughter.”
“I didn’t give up. I realized Luke and I are too different. I don’t fit out there any more than Luke would fit, living in Dallas.”
“You most certainly did fit. As for Luke? He could go anywhere and would be A-OK.”
“Is discussing him the real reason you called me? Are you trying to talk me into reconciling with him, because I’m not doing it?”
“I called you because I wanted to know how you and Bella are doing. That’s my main interest. Telling you about Luke leaving the ranch was a courtesy. Now that he’s gone, I hope you and Bella come back to see your mom and me soon. We really enjoyed having you here.”
“We enjoyed it, too. I don’t know when we’ll be back, though. You and Mom could always come see us.”
“We will.”
“What is Hayden doing?”
“He’s still working the cattle with the others, but he is looking for another ranch to go to.”
“Why?”
“He hasn’t said, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that he’s upset about you breaking things off with his brother.”
“Well, I hope he’s happy wherever he goes. I hope Luke is. Which ranch did he go to work at?”
“The Culberson Ranch in Childress.”
“How far is that from Amarillo?”
“About a two-hour drive.”
“Did Luke seem bothered about leaving his family’s old ranch?”
“Not outwardly toward me, but I did see him late yesterday, standing in his family’s cemetery, wiping his eyes, so I would say that he was bothered about leaving.”
“I need to go, Dad, because now I’m bothered. I’m upset and don’t want to have to explain to Bella why I’m crying.”
“Just know I love you, and your mom and I are here for you whenever you need us. Our door is always open. You and Bella will always have a room at this ranch house.”