Chapter 21 MATTY #2
“Yeah, but it’s a lot more complicated than I thought.” I heaved a sigh, lowering my head. “Did you talk about me to Mom when we dropped Carter off that summer?”
“Well, yeah. You refused to stay in Denver, and she was upset with your decision. I explained it might be due to a crush you had on the new ranch hand.”
I groaned. “So this is your fault.”
“What is?”
“You didn’t know Mom dug up Hudson’s past and threatened him with it? Offered him ten grand to walk away from me?”
“That’s not possible.” Dad shifted to turn and face me. “Your mother wouldn’t stoop that low.”
“Wouldn’t she? Because that’s exactly what your wife did. Hudson has a… colorful past, Dad. It’s not something he wanted me to know back then, and your wife used it to threaten him.”
“Stop saying your wife like that. She’s your mother regardless of everything.” He placed a hand on my knee and squeezed. “I know.”
The way he said the two words left me feeling uneasy. “You know what?”
“About Hudson’s past. I was hiring a stranger to Bristlecone Springs on my ranch. I had to verify his identity. It pulled up his arrests and everything.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“The man asked me for a chance when he came to the ranch looking for work. I’d seen he hadn’t worked as a laborer a day in his life.
Skin too smooth. Hands too soft, but he had determination and grit behind his eyes.
I wasn’t going to use his past to judge him, and if he wanted anyone to know, he would tell them himself.
Besides, you were plenty cocky back then, Matty.
You wouldn’t have changed your mind about him because of his past. I saw the look you got in your eye the first time you saw him, and you were determined to have him. I take it you just found out?”
I nodded. “Yesterday, along with a bunch of other things.”
“Like?”
“The mom bribing him thing. Why he married Heather.”
“He knocked her up while you were together, didn’t he?”
“It was at the beginning,” I said quickly, almost defensively. “When he didn’t take my interest in him that seriously. He swore it was the one time.”
“Do you believe him?”
“Yes.” I stared over at the lake. “Am I a fool?”
“You’re not a fool. You’re in love, and if it happened when you two hadn’t defined what you were yet, it sounds reasonable that you would want to give him another chance. That is what you’ve decided on, right?”
“Yeah. We made up last night.”
“Looks like the town’s about to buzz with more Magnuson gossip.”
A laugh startled out of me. “Wait until we get to the part where Hudson’s not legally married to Heather.”
“What the hell do you mean they’re not married?”
“She never signed the paperwork. Never submitted.”
“So Hudson knew all this time he wasn’t married?”
“He still doesn’t know.”
“Lord, Matty, this is some mess. Now it all makes sense. You’ve had to process a lot with me and Ozzie, and now this.”
“I have to tell him. I’m taking him and Ivy for dinner tonight.”
“So you’ve decided to become a stepdad to his little girl? It’s not easy raising a kid, son.”
“She’s a sweetheart, Dad. You should see the way she follows me around and the way she calls me Ma.” I chuckled, Ivy’s smiling face printed on my mind. “She already feels like mine.”
“Well, son.” He slapped my shoulder. “Seems like you’ve already made up your mind and know exactly what you want to do.”
“But what if it all falls apart again?”
“And what if it doesn’t?”
“Now you’re just being annoying.”
He bopped the back of my head and grunted as he got to his feet. He offered me a hand, and I took it, climbing to mine, but he didn’t let go. “Matty, you know I’m proud of you, right?”
Oh fuck, now he had my eyes welling up again.
“I’m proud of the way you own and work this land right beside me, but that’s not what makes me most proud. It’s the way you treat the people who work alongside you with kindness.”
“I wasn’t so kind, Dad. I gave Hudson and Ozzie hell.”
He chuckled. “Yes, you did, but you had reasons. What I’m trying to say is that you’ll be a damn good father to that little girl and the best partner a man could ever ask for.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” He gave my hand a squeeze, then let go. “As a matter of fact, why not bring Ivy here to the ranch? Ozzie and I would be happy to watch her so you can do what you need to do tonight to tell Hudson the truth.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course. Ozzie loves Ivy.”
“Ah, well, tell him not to get too attached. Let’s head back. I promised to bring her to take a look at the horses. I’ll see if Hudson is okay with her spending the night. He might not because of Ivy’s sleep terrors.”
“No need to worry. You had those when you were a child.”
I scratched the back of my head, startled. “I did?”
“Yeah. She’ll grow out of it the way you did.”
The heavy moment hung between us as we made our way to our horses. I patted Junebug’s flank, giving her a small, reassuring rub. My mind was still reeling from everything I’d shared, but the familiarity of the horses, the quiet presence of my father beside me, helped settle the storm inside me.
“Thanks for listening, Dad,” I said, my voice a little rough. “I really needed that.”
Dad gripped the reins of his horse, looking over at me with those steady eyes of his. “That’s what I’m here for, Matty. Doesn’t matter how old you get, I’ll always be here for you.”
I swallowed, a lump clogging up my throat again, but I managed a weak smile. “I want to get started on building a house. Will you help me?”
Dad’s face softened, a slow smile tugging at his lips. “I’d be honored to help you build a home.”
Not just a house.
A home.
I mounted Junebug, the saddle creaking beneath me as I settled into place. The weight of everything was still there, but it felt lighter now. “Race you back?” I teased, gripping the reins as Junebug’s muscles shifted beneath me.
Without missing a beat, Dad was urging his horse forward. “You’re on!”
Of course he had the advantage. His horse was already galloping before I even had the chance to nudge Junebug into motion.
I rolled my eyes and laughed, spurring Junebug forward, knowing full well she could easily overtake them, but winning this particular race didn’t matter. I had nothing to prove but to the man and child I loved. And by God, I wouldn’t let either of them down.