Chapter Eighteen
“Are you sure you don’t mind making dinner for us again?” Shelley asked. “I feel awful that we’re hanging out at your place all the time and eating all your food. Why don’t you come over to the house tonight, and I’ll cook for a change?”
Trip chuckled. “You know I don’t mind. I enjoy it. And if we’re being honest, you also know that both Harper and I prefer my place to yours.”
Shelley laughed with him. “If we’re being completely honest about it, I prefer your place, too. I just don’t want to take you for granted.”
He went to her and curled his arms around her waist, loving the way she reached up to loop her arms around his neck.
“You have nothing to worry about. I love that you still want to spend time here—even while Harper’s visiting.”
“Of course I do. There was never any question about that. I just didn’t know how it would work. Obviously, we want to get some girl time in, and we’re doing that. But I didn’t know how you’d feel about having her around this much.”
“I enjoy it.” He chuckled. “I mean, she’s Harper—what’s not to like? She’s good fun, she’s good company, and most importantly, she’s a good friend to you.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And I’m getting to learn more about you by seeing the way the two of you interact.”
“Should I be worried?” she asked.
“Not in the least.”
He glanced over at the clock on the kitchen wall. “The only thing you might have to worry about is getting to Jim’s place on time if Harper doesn’t get here soon.”
Shelley reached up and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’m not worried about that. Harper’s rarely ever late—but she isn’t early either. She’s one of those people who likes to be precisely on time.”
Trip lifted his head when he heard a car approaching. “Looks like she’s running true to form, then.” He pressed a quick peck to her lips before stepping back. “You’d better get going. And seriously, I look forward to you both coming back for dinner this evening.”
She took his hand as he walked her to the back door. “I’ll look forward to it, too—now that I know you really don’t mind.”
“Say hi to Jim for me,” he told her as he opened the door.
Harper was climbing out of her car and waved when she saw them.
“Are we good to go?” she called.
“We are,” Shelley said as she made her way down the steps.
“And you don’t mind me stealing her again?” Harper asked Trip.
He laughed. “I don’t think either of us really get to decide—it’s up to Shelley what she does. But since you asked, I’ll say that I’d prefer if you only borrow her; don’t steal her, please.”
Harper smiled as she nodded. “That works for me. I was thinking—can I treat you both to dinner tonight?”
He laughed. “We already discussed this, and I invited you both back here. If you want to come, that is.”
Harper grinned. “You know damn well I want to come. I just don’t want to outstay my welcome.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll see you ladies later.”
He smiled at Shelley, and a rush of warmth filled his chest when she blew him a kiss. He reacted without thinking and blew one back, then turned away, feeling self-conscious as he let himself back into the kitchen.
As he closed the door behind him, he couldn’t help laughing at himself. He didn’t think he’d ever blown a kiss in his life until today—but it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about. As far as he was concerned, it was something to celebrate.
He’d had a great weekend. After they left the bakery on Friday night, Shelley and Harper had come over for dinner and afterward, Harper had insisted that she should leave and go back to Shelley’s place.
She’d told them that she intended to take herself down to Yellowstone for the day yesterday—but Trip had drawn the line there. He appreciated that she was trying to give him and Shelley as much time as they wanted together, but they didn’t need to be alone every single minute.
So he’d suggested that he could give the two of them a tour of the park. He’d rather they got to know the place better than they would if they simply hit the major crowded tourist spots. They’d loved having what they called an insider’s view, and he’d enjoyed showing them around.
He picked up his keys from the kitchen counter. Since he’d have a few hours while Shelley and Harper were visiting with Jim, he figured he’d stop by the hospital and make sure everything was all right. He usually spent a few hours there over the course of the weekend whenever he wasn't busy—and it seemed that for the last several weekends, he'd been much busier than usual.
As he made the short drive into town, he was more focused on what he could pick up for dessert that Shelley and Harper might like than he was on his patients at the hospital.
He didn’t feel bad about it. People always told him that he gave too much of himself to his work. Now that he had more going on in his private life, he was happy to be able to focus more of his attention there.
As he passed the entrance to the small local airfield, he slowed his SUV and peered down the lane. A jet had just landed, and from the flash of the tail number that he’d seen, he thought it might be Cash.
He pulled a U-turn and went back, turning onto the short lane that led to the hangars. He grinned when he saw the plane—it was Cash. It could be Mav, but he doubted that. Mav rarely came home these days.
He parked his SUV next to the hangars and climbed out. He watched the jet taxi to the end of the runway before turning and coming all the way back to where he was standing. He grinned and waved when Bear, the pilot, spotted him and raised a hand in greeting.
A few minutes later, the steps were lowered, and Cash came down them.
“What is it, Trip? What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Relax,” Trip told him. “I’m not here waiting for you. It was pure chance that I was passing by when I saw you land—so I figured I’d come say hi.”
Cash’s features transformed, the stressed look on his face replaced by a smile. “Thank fuck for that. You had me worried for a minute there.”
Trip grasped his hand, and they leaned in to slap each other’s backs.
“Sorry, I didn’t…”
“No problem. I’m glad to see you. In fact, this works out well—or it will, if you promise not to tell anyone that you saw me.”
Trip gave him a puzzled look. “Why’s that?”
“Because we’re not staying for long. Bear needs to refuel the plane, and I’m going to run over to the hospital to pay the old bastard’s bill.”
“Are you seriously not going to let the family know you’re here? On a Sunday especially, when they’re all gathered at the ranch?” Trip asked incredulously.
Cash shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you, bud.”
Trip narrowed his eyes at his friend. “You’re going to have to tell me something, because it’s not like you.”
Cash laughed. “Okay, you got me. If you want to know the truth, I am pushed for time, but I probably could make it down there and check in with them all if I really wanted to.”
“But you don’t want to?” Trip asked.
“That’s the trouble. I do want to—a little bit too much.” Cash let out a breath. “I used to be able to pull off a quick visit when there were only a few of them home. Now that they’re all back here, it takes more time. I can’t just knock Tanner and Tyler’s heads together, give Janey a hug, and Wade a pep talk, nod at Ford and call it good.
“When I see them, I want to check in with them all. You know, spend a little time with Shayna, make sure she’s doing okay, feeling at home. Have a chat with Laney, make sure her and Luke are good. Hang out with Janey and Rocket—” he smiled, “—and marvel at how hard the big guy has fallen for her. They all deserve some time,” he went on. “And if I spend time with one of them, I need to spend time with all of them—I’m not going to leave any of them out.”
Trip smirked. “Are you telling me that your big brother duties are getting to be too much for you?”
Cash gave him a mock scowl. “When has anything ever been too much for me?”
Trip laughed at that.
“If anything’s getting too much for me,” Cash continued, looking thoughtful, “it’s my new role as uncle. I love the uncle part; it’s the absentee uncle bit that I don’t like.”
His light green eyes seemed to twinkle as he said, “When I first met Mateo and Maya, I knew those little guys had wrapped themselves around my heart and weren’t ever going to let go.” He grinned at Trip. “And I love it.”
“Then Kolby and Callie went and brought little baby Levi home. I never had any time for babies before, but I get it now. He’s not just a wet, noisy little bundle—he’s a whole new person.” He shook his head in wonder. “I want to be around for that. I want to see him grow into the person he’s going to become, you know?
“And now there’s Everly’s boy, Ashton. I’ve got a soft spot for that kid.”
Trip knew exactly where his friend was coming from. Everly had been a single mom until she met Cash’s brother, Tanner. She and her son, Ashton, had moved here to the valley, and now Tanner and Everly were married, Ashton called Tanner Dad , and the whole family saw him as one of their own.
Trip and Cash—and their whole group of friends—had known each other since kindergarten. Cash had disappeared for a few years when his mom left his dad. Cash didn’t talk about what had happened during those years, but they all knew it hadn’t been anything good. His mom had died, and Cash had returned to the ranch an angry, troubled young man. His father—the man he called the old bastard, who’d been lying in the hospital for the last couple of years—had already remarried. He’d taken Cash in, but only so that he could help raise his younger siblings.
Cash met Trip’s gaze. “Look at me, getting all sentimental on you. But you asked, and that’s the truth. I don’t want to go down to the ranch because I don’t have enough time to enjoy it.”
He checked his watch, then glanced over at Bear, who’d just come down the steps from the plane. “How long do you need to refuel?” he asked.
Bear made a face. “I just called them up on the radio. They said it’ll be half an hour before they can even get to us. Sorry, Cash.”
Cash grinned. “Not a problem. In fact, it might work out better this way.” He turned back to Trip. “If you want to feed me, that is.”
Trip laughed. “Sure. I was just on my way to the hospital, but I don’t need to go—unless you do.”
“All I need to do is settle the bill. I’ll give you the money and you can do it.”
Cash had footed the bill for his father’s medical treatment and hospital stay for the last couple of years—ever since he’d been admitted after his first heart attack. He came by every so often and deposited a whole wad of cash. They joked sometimes about how it might look like he was laundering money, but Trip knew the truth—Cash just didn’t want anyone to be able to trace the money back to him.
He’d earned it honestly, but he didn’t want anyone to know that he was the one who made it possible for his father to remain in the hospital. None of the siblings wanted him at home, and he didn’t want anything to do with them either.
So since Cash had the money—and no problem spending it this way—it worked. But Trip sometimes wondered just how long it would keep working.
He looked over at Bear. “Do you want to come? We haven’t managed to catch up in a while. I can rustle up something good to eat if you like.”
“Thanks,” said Bear, “but if we’ve got a bit of time, there are a few stops I wouldn’t mind making in town.”
Cash grinned at him. “You go do whatever you need to do. Give me a call when you’re headed back here, and we’ll get them to refuel while we’re gone. How about that?”
Bear grinned back at him. “Sounds like a plan to me. What do you think—a couple of hours? That long enough?”
“Sounds about right. Do you need a ride?”
“I should be able to borrow the crew car. I’ll go have a word with them at the desk. If not, they have rentals here.”
“If you need to rent one, use the company card,” Cash told him.
After Bear had gone, Trip and Cash climbed into his SUV, and as they headed back down the valley toward Trip’s place Cash turned in his seat to look at him.
“We established that I didn’t need to go to the hospital. I’m not interrupting anything important for you, am I?”
“No, I was only going over there to kill some time.”
“Why? Where’s Shelley?”
Trip shot him a quick glance before turning his attention back to the road. “I’m not surprised that you know about her. You might as well tell me how much you know, to save us both some time.”
Cash chuckled. “I might not be around much, but I have eyes and ears everywhere.”
Trip laughed with him. “That’s always been the case with you. So, why don’t you tell me what you know—and ask me whatever you want to know?”
“Okay. I knew I liked her for you the first time I met her. I haven’t spent much time around her yet—just a quick hello here and there—but I like what I hear about her. As for what I know, sounds like she’s on the verge of moving in with you. But then her friend came to stay and kind of scuppered your plans.”
Trip had to laugh. “Yeah, that’s about right. You’re up to speed.”
“So where is she this afternoon? Hanging out with the friend?”
“She is. But it’s all good. It’s not as though Harper—that’s her friend’s name—is hogging all her time. I took them both down to the park yesterday. Harper’s decided that she’s going to move here too.” He shrugged happily. “It all works out.”
When Trip was pulling up behind the house, Cash made a face as his phone rang.
“What’s up, Bear?” he answered as he climbed out of the SUV.
Trip let them into the kitchen and went to check the freezer. Cash ended the call a minute later.
“Looks like we have time if you want to make me more than a sandwich.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, Bear’s in town and the airport called him to say that there’s some issue and they won’t be able to refuel us for a couple hours. So, if you want me, you’re stuck with me for a while.”
“I’m happy to have you; you know that. I was planning on fixing you more than a sandwich anyway. I have one of Maisie’s lasagnas frozen and I know how much you love it.”
“I do, but how do you feel about grilling us a ribeye?” Cash grinned. “I can take the lasagna with me and bring you the dish back next time.”
“That works. Unless you want to head down to your place now that you have more time.”
“Nah. I should be back next weekend or the one after, I’ll spend some real time with them then. And besides, when was the last time the two of us got to hang out like this?”
“Not for years—not just the two of us.”
“Let’s make the most of it, why don’t we? I’d guess that next time I come, you’ll have Shelley living here with you, and who knows when we’ll get another chance like this?”
Trip went outside to start the grill and the two of them worked side by side to prep some veggies. Cash threw a couple of potatoes on the grill, and Trip brought out a couple of beers.
Cash took a slug of his drink. “What do you hear about Libby?”
“Not much these last few weeks. I try to give her a ride home when the women all go out together.”
“You took her and Shelley home last time, right?”
“That’s right. Why?”
“You know why. Mav’s all antsy about who might be taking her home. Especially since she started this new riding program at Trav’s place for the vets.”
Trip shook his head. “Is he any closer to being ready to come home?”
“I think so.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Trav leaving us to come back here shook things up.” He smiled. “I bet you’re glad to have him back.”
“I am.”
“Things aren’t the same without him. You know what he’s like. He was the glue that held everything together. Without him there, I’m left to deal with Mav and Blane—Grumpy and Grumpier—by myself, and it’s no fun. The team’s great; we have some good guys working there, but …” He let out a breath. “I don’t want to keep missing out on life here just so I can spend my days working and looking at the Sunshine Twins’ miserable faces.”
“Are you saying that you’d come home?”
“I’m saying that it’s time we move the whole damn operation here. There’s no reason not to. There was a time when we had it all planned out. We were going to set up down at Mav’s place, but then everything went down with him and Libby and …” He took another slug of his drink. “He wouldn’t come home while she still had her horses there. Now, thanks to Trav, there’s no reason for him to stay away.”
“Wow. Are you talking about soon?”
“I am. If he doesn’t get his ass into gear, I’ve told him—I’ll move back myself and leave him to it.”
“You’d leave the company?” Trip asked incredulously.
“Nah. But I’d give up the management side—leave it all to him—and just work from here. Seems like half the world’s doing the remote working thing these days, I don’t see why I can’t do it.”
“Other than the fact that you and Mav run the place, the team, and all the jobs between you. How could you… Oh!” He stopped when he saw the way Cash was smiling.
“You’re calling his bluff?”
Cash nodded.
“What if he calls yours and says you should come home?”
“Then I’ll do it. It’d make life difficult for a while, but I reckon Mav would cave before I did. I’d be here around the family, having a life. He’d be left out there by himself, with no one to talk him off the ledge when he starts whining about Libby.”
Trip had to laugh. “Mav’s never whined in his life.”
Cash shrugged. “When you spend as much time with him as I do, you know what every sigh, every drum of his fingers, every little mutter means—he’s whining, all right. And I’m tired of it. He needs to come home and make things right with her.”
“I hope they can figure it out.”
“We all do, but it’s never going to happen till he comes home.”
“You two have always been as stubborn as each other. Do you think he might just dig his heels in if you come back without him?”
“Maybe, yeah. But if he does, then nothing’s changed for him. And it’ll have changed for me—I’ll be back here around the family.”
“Mind if I ask you something?”
“Ask away.”
“You said you wouldn’t come home until Connor’s gone.”
“I did, but I never would have believed that the old bastard would have hung in this long.” He smiled at Trip. “He must have the best doctor in the world or something.”
Trip made a face. “Stubbornness seems to be a genetic trait of you MacFarlands; I never expected that he’d last this long either. Will you move back to the ranch—or move down to Mav’s place if you bring the whole operation back?”
Cash’s lips pressed into a thin, straight line as he shook his head. “Neither.”
“What then?”
“I’ll find a place of my own, rent something while I figure out what I’m going to do. I dunno; it doesn’t matter. All I know is that there’s no way I’d want to live at Mav’s place and there’s no way I’m moving back to the ranch.”
“Don’t you think they’d all love to have you back?”
Cash let out a short laugh. “Most of ’em would, yeah, but I won’t tread on Ford’s toes like that. He’s run the place all these years, he’d hate it if I was there.”
Trip held his friend’s gaze. “He’d get over it, I’m sure.”
“I’m not going to put him in that position. He’s earned his place managing the ranch.”
Trip nodded slowly. It didn’t surprise him. Cash had always looked out for his younger siblings, even at his own expense.
“You can have the cabin up on the ridge if you want it. We might need to tidy it up some—no one’s lived there since Billy and Joan moved away a few years ago—but it’s solid, we could soon have it …”
Cash grasped his shoulder. “Thanks, bud. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll find a place of my own.” He winked. “I kind of like the idea of renting some little cabin and not telling anyone where it is—so I can finally get some peace. Not saying that you wouldn’t give me any peace, just that when they all know I’m back here, they’ll be dropping in all the time.”
“And you’re trying to say that you wouldn’t love that?”
“Maybe. We’ll have to see, won’t we? Anyway, are we ready to throw those steaks on? We should eat before I have to run again.”