Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
RHETT
T he ranch is most peaceful in the mornings, when the sun’s only a golden glow in the eastern sky and cold dew clings to the foliage in the trees, dampening the air. When the tails of horses swish against a quiet wind and birds start singing to each other across the pasture. My family’s land is a living, breathing thing of beauty, and to see it in the early light of dawn like this is to be silenced by it, to be made still.
Most folks go to church for the religion I find right here on these grounds, or in the corral or outer pastures. Within the very hearts of all the horses we work with and connect to. I don’t need some ancient book or pastor to teach me about the honor of a man or what it takes to make a good life—the proof is all around me. If my father hadn’t spent so long tarnishing the Bennett name—if I hadn’t followed down that same path—maybe the rest of this town would benefit from learning what we do here. Maybe if they understood the power that exists in all this wild beauty, they wouldn’t spend so much time bucking against us.
They wouldn’t call us heartless, because the truth is there’s so much heart in all of this. More heart than I ever thought I’d be capable of, that’s for sure.
Sometimes I regret my actions on the days I let the hard shit win. As much as I hate the divide that exists between my family and everyone else, I know damn well I’ve contributed to it. Much more than any of my brothers. Hell, there’ve been so many times I’ve wanted to shoot out the damn sun for how cruel life has been to my family, our land stuck in a town full of people who fear us. But despite it all, we get to call this magical place home, and I know deep in my soul that we’re lucky.
It’s no surprise I’m the first one to the barn this morning after not sleeping at all last night. My mind was way too busy to find any real rest as worry and guilt and shame rear themselves harder and harder with every passing day. Olivia, it seems, is the only comfort I can find . . . That damn girl is sinking into damn near all my thoughts. It’s the biggest con in the world to feel as safe as I’m starting to feel with her, but she’s the first person who seems to really give a shit about me.
Showing up at her house last night was a risk—one I shouldn’t have taken. She deserves a hell of a lot more than my sorry ass, and I had no business darkening her doorstep with the rage and sadness I’d been carrying. Brooks hasn’t left the house—hasn’t left Melody’s room—in four days, and I can’t fucking stomach to think about what comes next. Just like the doctor predicted: Melody’s health is rapidly declining. She sleeps most hours of the day and can’t keep anything down. Her body is deteriorating faster than any of us could have anticipated, and Brooks is out of his mind with fear. I should be ashamed of myself for spending the night with a girl when my brother is suffering.
Maybe Kasey was right to think the worst of me.
I know I need to get a hold of myself and keep my focus on my family. It’s not just Melody—money is dwindling, there’s too much work to keep up with, and I have no fucking idea how to save us. We can’t hire hands around the ranch with all the money we’re spending on hospital bills, and we can’t make money faster without more hands. The bar is doing just enough to keep us afloat, but it’s not nearly enough and it won’t last long.
“Mornin’,” Kasey mumbles as he comes to meet me at the fence line overlooking the endless sprawl of green grass around us. An Appaloosa mustang stands proud by a copse of aspens in the distance, a wild mare Layla named Stardust years ago. A quick glance at my brother proves the exhaustion I know he’s fighting: his face is still swollen with sleep, the purple beneath his eyes darker and darker with each passing day.
“Morning. You see Brooks yet?” Kasey’s been checking in on our brother first thing each day, reminding him that he’s not alone.
Kasey nods. “Just left from her room.” He doesn’t say anything else, but he doesn’t need to.
I blow out a breath, not sure what there is to say. I’ve been avoiding the main house since the doctor came to see Melody. It only deepens my shame, but I’ve been honed to cut into the enemy, not to tend to the emotional needs of the people I defend. I wouldn’t know where to start. But Kasey . . . Kasey will be who gets Brooks through.
After a beat of silence, he pulls an envelope out of his back pocket and shoves it into my chest. “Read this.”
Even through the exhaustion, it’s hard to miss the worry in his eyes. “What is it?” I look down and see the envelope’s already been opened. Addressed to William Bennett with neat, black handwriting.
Fuck .
“That lawyer . . .” Kasey starts, but I’m already yanking on the folded piece of paper from where it’s tucked inside, tilting it toward the still-warming sun so I can make out all the words.
It’s a . . . summons. Words that look a lot like what happens after someone gets arrested. “What does this mean?” I ask, face bunched in confusion.
Kasey shrugs. “I don’t know. Mom said it came yesterday. Dad hasn’t seen it yet . . . I have a feeling it ain’t good.”
I read through the letter a second time. It’s a bit different than the court orders I’ve received in the past after some of the stupid stunts I’ve pulled, but it’s just as blunt and demanding. From what I gather, it seems that the little pipsqueak lawyer has called a meeting with our father, the date and time set for next week. There’s also a lot of jargon I don’t understand, language about the ranch deed and an inheritance trust, and I have a looming feeling that Kasey’s right—this isn’t good.
“Looks like good old Stuart is trying to force that meeting he wanted.”
“Yep,” Kasey nearly growls.
“You gonna tell him?” I ask.
He sighs. “I was hoping you’d talk to him with me. He’s always been a little more open with you.”
I almost fucking laugh. “Open in his blatant dislike of me, maybe.” If Kasey only knew the shit our dear-old-dad has put me through.
But the words have Kasey’s head snapping my way. “He doesn’t dislike you, Rhett. He just . . . he doesn’t understand you.”
I snort, doing what I can to tamp down the fire growing in my chest. “It has nothing to do with understanding , Kasey. And if it did, I’d say that he of all people should be the one who fucking understands. He doesn’t give a shit about any of us—never has.” I hold up the letter from the lawyer. “I have no idea what this is about, but if it means we need to rely on Dad to make something right, I hope to god there’s a way one of us can do it instead.” Anger thrums uncomfortably through my veins as I push the letter back into his hands.
Kasey just stares, considering my words. “Look,” he says after a long moment, “I hear you. I know you and Dad have had your issues, and lord knows that man has never been particularly good to us. But whatever this is, if it’s a threat to the ranch, we need to put on a united front. Without Brooks, it’s up to you and me to figure this out, to show these suits that no one fucks with our family or our land and gets away with it.”
“You want to play dirty?” I ask carefully.
Kasey’s eyes are hard and unyielding. “If it comes to it, if we need to. We do whatever it takes to protect what’s ours.”
I look back out at the horizon, at the sun now fully glowing in the sky. “You think Dad knows what it means?”
He shrugs. “I don’t think that man knows his ass from a hole in the ground. But if there’s something to learn about the land trust, he’d be our best option. Or Mom, but you know she’ll want him to know if it involves him. If we have to dig out records from the office, we’ll do it. I’m just hoping he can save us some time, because we don’t have much of it.”
I nod, staying silent. Kasey’s right . . . If our father can shed any light on whatever that letter’s about or who this asshole Stuart is, we’d be better for it. But I’ve worked hard to never put myself in positions where I have to rely on him for anything. I don’t like the feel of it, the power it gives him. Eventually, I relent. “I’ll go with you to talk to him.”
Kasey shoves the letter back in his pocket and leans against the fence next to me. “Thank you,” he says quietly.
“You all right?” I ask after a few beats.
He shakes his head. “Nothing’s all right, Rhett. Nothing. Most times I can see the way through, but right now, it feels like we’re in the middle of the ocean, taking on water faster than we can throw it back out.”
The words are like a knife to the heart. I clap a hand on his shoulder, gripping him tight. “We’ll get through whatever comes,” I promise. “We always do.”
But even as I say the words, I wonder if I’m lying.
“Can I ask you something?” Kasey hedges.
“Shoot,” I rumble.
“You and that girl . . . Is there something going on?”
My stomach plummets. I had a feeling the question would be coming at some point, especially after she showed up at the ranch. I’m honestly surprised it’s taken this long for someone to ask. “What girl?” I try.
His eyes narrow. “You know what girl.”
I sigh, knowing I’m about to have a real hard time hiding the truth: that I’m beginning to wonder whether it’s possible. If I could . . . be meant for someone. God, if someone like Olivia could be meant for me. It’s foolish, I know. There’s no way in hell I could deserve her, but still. “I don’t know,” I admit. “I . . . I thought it could be something casual, but I think I’m in a little over my head.”
Kasey’s eyes widen in surprise. “Oh shit,” he lets out through a rush of air, and I want to walk away from this conversation. “You like this girl.”
I roll my eyes, impatient with the way he’s looking at me. Irritated with my own truth. “Yeah, well, it’s not going anywhere, so don’t get your panties twisted up about it.”
He frowns. “Why not?”
I throw him a hard look. “Kasey, look around. You think it’s a fucking good time to get caught up in something like that?”
He doesn’t answer right away, but when he does, it’s low. “I think it’s about time we see some good, Rhett. And since when have you ever been the one to truly let yourself get caught up with a girl? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like that with one.” He takes a breath, scratching at the back of his neck. “You don’t get to decide when the good shit comes, but if you don’t grab it while you can, you’ll lose it. Trust me. I think . . . I think if you like her, you give it everything you have.”
I blow out a breath, feeling my stomach tighten uncomfortably. “I can’t,” I let out.
Kasey’s eyes grow harsh, and it almost feels like he’s . . . disappointed .
“I can’t. Not when Brooks?—”
“Rhett,” he interjects. “There’s plenty of bad around us right now, we both fucking know it. You finding a slice of good to enjoy doesn’t make you any less of a man when it counts.”
He walks away before I can say anything else.