Chapter 2
TWO
CAL
“Can I get you something? Glass of water?” I offered, unsure of what to do. My eyes dipped to her left hand where she wore a simple gold band. “Call your husband, maybe?”
“No.” Her voice was barely a whisper, and she couldn’t seem to take her eyes from my face. She smoothed her hands over her black skirt and finally took her focus off me. “I’ll be fine in a minute. I…must have stood up too quickly.”
“That can get you sometimes,” I said, happy to see the color slowly returning to her cheeks.
“You must be Cal Pierce?” she asked, straightening in her seat and shooting me a halfhearted smile.
“At your service, ma’am.” I dipped my chin in acknowledgment.
“Please call me Amy. Thank you so much for coming. Let’s go into my office and talk about the promo schedule and the event,” she said, her voice stilted.
The woman was setting the strictly business parameters faster than an eight-second bull ride. I knew some people didn’t like rodeo riders, so perhaps that was it? I knew better than to dig into the reasons why.
“I don’t mean no disrespect, but I thought I was supposed to meet with the mayor? Not that I don’t think women can’t be mayors, but you sure don’t look like a Robert.”
A flash of pink graced her cheeks, making her look even prettier, then her lips set in a line and she sighed. “He would have liked to be here. Unfortunately, Mayor Lumley is on medical leave. So you have me, his assistant. Is that a problem?”
Her question didn’t come off as a challenge—more curious—so I didn’t appear to have put my foot in my mouth when I asked.
“Not a problem. I hope the mayor is feeling better soon.” I gave her some space. “Take it easy standing up.” I wanted to offer my arm but held back. Amy was a mite skittish, like a newly broken horse, and I would do well to respect her boundaries.
“I’m fine. Really. If you’ll follow me.” She rose and led the way into her office where she gestured for me to take a seat. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“No, but I appreciate the offer.” I also appreciated the way her skirt hugged her curves and the flex of her calf as she walked.
Somehow, she wasn’t what I expected from a mayor’s assistant in a small town.
We’d emailed and spoken on the phone while I’d sorted out my travel arrangements and somehow, I’d expected her to be older and more… matronly.
Amy sat at her desk and reached for a glass of water. The liquid shook as her hand trembled, and she set it back down without so much as a sip. Something was definitely wrong, and I wondered if this was somehow connected to the strange reception I’d received walking through town.
“Well, first, let me thank you again for agreeing to be part of our rodeo.” Her tone remained crisp and professional. “The town is grateful for your help and I can assure you that the proceeds are going to a good cause.”
The town had a funny way of showing it. No friendly welcomes, just open stares and shock. “Rafael said a fire destroyed your community center.”
“Yes, along with the elementary school and an adjoining park.” Her eyes clouded over as if to fight back against the unpleasant memory.
Or was it me she objected to? Or both. I wasn’t entirely sure given the strange behavior of the people in town and her initial reaction to me. “So what’s the plan to fix things back up?”
“Unfortunately, all the structures were a total loss and getting the insurance to payout has been a struggle.” She said, emphasizing that last part.
“We’ve already had a number of fundraisers and while we’ve been able to set up temporary facilities for the school, the amount of money we need to build a new community center has been out of our reach.
Mr. Pierce, I can’t tell you how important a community center is to a town like Poplar Springs.
Everything from afterschool care to senior services takes place there. ”
“Please, call me Cal. Mr. Pierce makes me sound like my dad.”
She seemed flustered by my comment, and I wondered if she was one of those people who had to say their peace before anyone else could chime in. Eventually, she nodded her head.
“Anyway, we thought a rodeo would be an effective way to fundraise for the capital we need while also raising interest in our little town. Rafael Alvarez speaks highly of you, along with a Mr. Greene.”
I took my hat off and rubbed my head catching Amy looking at me, her eyes widening in what looked like alarm.
What was going on? Deciding to ignore it, for the moment, I said, “Rafe’s a good man and I’m happy to help.
Unfortunately, Tanner… Greene is out on medical leave.
Took a hard fall.” That asshole was lucky to be alive.
What possessed him to ride in that event when he was clearly still drunk from the night before was beyond me.
While I would never wish ill will on someone, I hoped this would be his wakeup call to get his act together.
He was damn lucky he hadn’t ended up paralyzed.
“It’s very generous of you and much appreciated—and I’m sorry to hear about your friend.” Tanner wasn’t my friend. He wasn’t anyone’s friend.
Amy’s tone and expression softened, and I was once again drawn to her. Then I remembered the ring. She was somebody else’s wife, and I’d never been that kind of man. “Just tell what you need from me.”
“I’ve worked out a schedule with what I’m told is the usual sort of promo for a rodeo if you’d like to take a look,” she said, handing me the paper with her notes.
I studied the list and didn’t see anything I objected to. Promotional tours were nothing new. “Looks good to me.” I glanced at her as I slid the paper across the desk and caught her watching me. She cleared her throat and looked away, but not before I noticed the haunted look again.
I thought about pretending that everything was normal and that I didn’t see the looks she—and everyone else—cast my way, but I was going to be here for a solid month, and that was a long time to ignore an elephant in the room. Especially when I appeared to be that elephant.
“Amy, I sure wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.
I’m getting the sense that you don’t want me here.
” Sensing, however, was a long way from understanding.
It’s not like we had ever met aside from on the phone, so I was at loss for her reaction to me.
Maybe it was as simple as Amy had wanted someone else for the rodeo.
“Of course Poplar Springs wants you,” she said, forcing a smile. “Once the townsfolk found out you’d agreed to join us, it was all they talked about. You’ll be a huge draw for the rodeo, and we’ll be able to break ground on a new community center in no time.”
“Maybe you just don’t like us rodeo types,” I suggested, trying to understand the apparent objection to my presence.
She sighed and sat back in her seat, the forced cheerfulness fading.
“It’s not that either. It’s nothing to do with you or the rodeo at all, truly.
I’m sorry if my behavior isn’t welcoming.
If you arrived in town early enough to walk around a bit, you probably got much the same from some of the folks who live here. I apologize for that, too.”
“I wouldn’t say that anyone’s been unkind or unwelcoming,” I said cautiously. “You just seem uncomfortable with me.”
She glanced out her office window and seemed to focus on the pine tree outside it.
Silence hung in the air until she spoke in a low tone.
“It’s just that you look so much like my husband.
My late husband. He died in a car accident four years ago.
It was a shock seeing you. That’s all. Nothing personal. ”
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband.” And I was.
I didn’t like the idea of her suffering, and the man’s death had clearly affected her deeply.
“I can see how you might have been rattled by my sudden appearance. They say everyone has a twin in the world who looks like them, maybe your husband is mine. Perhaps it would be better if I left town so as not to stir up unpleasant memories for people. I’ve got plenty of connections in the rodeo world to find a replacement rider for you. ”
“No, no.” She straightened. “You’re a great choice for us.
” Her smile returned. It was still a little uncertain, but brighter than it had been.
“Such a strange coincidence though, isn’t it?
The kind of thing that only happens in movies.
My late husband, Luke, was a popular man in town, so you can expect a bit of a reaction from people at first, but I’m sure it’ll calm down quickly.
It’s just the initial shock of it, you see. ”
“I guess so.” I shrugged.
After agreeing to meet for a welcome-to-town dinner, I made my way to the bed and breakfast where I would be staying.
The owner escorted me to a suite that was a little old-fashioned but was still bigger and nicer than many of the places I stayed when I was on the circuit.
The town was covering my stay while I was here and had also given me a stipend for meals.
I’d agreed to the housing accommodation, but since this was a charity event, I was planning on covering my food myself.
Once alone, I sank down on the couch, going over the strange afternoon in my head.
Call it curiosity, or plain need-to-know, I typed in Luke Thorne’s name into the internet search bar on my phone.
The image of a very familiar looking twenty-something man popped up on the screen.
I did a double take, the uncanny resemblance a shock.
Apparently, the adage about having a twin was true, at least in my case.
I read just enough info to confirm what Amy said. Luke was the golden boy in town until a tragic accident claimed his life and his father’s life. Their deaths had rocked the community.
I stared at the photo, a sudden thought coming to me from nowhere. What if it wasn’t coincidence?
Since I was a kid, my parents had always been honest with me about my adoption.
I’d never been curious about my biological parents because I loved my adopted ones unconditionally.
Charlene and Edmund Pierce had married late in life, too late to have a child of their own, but plenty young enough to love me, and later, my adopted sister Jennifer.
It was most likely coincidence, but I had to find out. Calling my mother, perhaps asking about my birth parents was long overdue. “Hey, Mom,” I said when she answered.
“Cal! It’s so good to hear from you. Where are you this time?” she asked.
“I’m helping a friend out in Colorado.” I settled back and let the conversation run its usual course where I checked up on everyone in the family and told my mom what I’d been up to since our last call a week earlier.
I considered just letting the question about my birth parents go, not necessarily wanting to deal with the possible fallout if the truth led me anywhere near Poplar Springs.
But something inside of me needed to know the truth about Luke, the man who was practically identical to me in every way.
“Mom, what do you know about where I came from?” I asked, when there was a lull in the conversation, plunging in feet first.
“Not the stork,” my mother said, light laughter tinging her voice.
“Very funny.”
“What do you want to know and why the sudden interest?” she asked, not at all daunted by the suddenness of my question. Perhaps she’d been expecting this conversation one day.
“Do you have the names of my biological parents or any information on where they lived? When I arrived in town, people were acting strangely toward me. I think I just found my ‘twin’ in the world. Unless, that is, the guy was more than that.”
“I see.” She stayed silent a few seconds as though thinking over my comment. “I noticed you used the word was.”
“The man died four years ago, according to an article I read online.”
“Then I hope, for your sake, the man’s not related as that would be such a shame. I always knew you would ask for the information when you were ready, so of course, I remember. Your mother’s name was Laura Cooper, but there was no father’s name listed on your original birth certificate.”
“What about a birthplace?” I prompted, hoping that would fill in at least one of the gaps.
“You were born in Aurora.”
“Which isn’t that far from Poplar Springs,” I said, connecting the dots.
“That’s a lot of coincidence. What do you plan to do?” my mother asked.
“Find out what I can about Laura Cooper. I’ll figure out the next step as I go.”
“Keep us posted. You know your father and I are always here for you.” If love could be heard, I picked it out in the tone of her words.
“I know, Mom. Love to Dad and Jennifer. Call you soon,” I said and hung up.
Without pausing, I reached for my laptop and typed the name Laura Cooper Thorne into the search box, going for the most direct route to get answers to the question that plagued me.
Did I have a brother? One that I would never get the chance to meet… ?
It wasn’t long before I had the truth. Laura Cooper married Marshall Thorne, a successful horse breeder in the area, and the two of them had three sons. Luke had been born four years after me, and there were twin boys, Jake and Brian, born two years after Luke.
I had brothers.
Correction…half brothers.