Chapter Forty-two
West
I grab a granola bar, switch off the lights, and head out. It’s still dark out, so I turn on the flashlight on my phone and walk over to the barn to say goodbye to Ham. He bellows when he sees me and bounces over to the gate in his stall.
“Hey, buddy.” I scratch behind his ears. “How you doing?”
He tilts his head, as if he’s trying to get me to scratch under his chin. “Colt’s gonna be by soon to pick you up. You’re gonna go live in their yard for a little while, at least until I figure out how to get you to Dallas and where to put you once you’re there.”
He headbutts his stall, wanting out, but it’ll be easier for Colt if he’s already wrangled.
I grab the feed bucket and fill it up, I’m just pouring him an extra large helping of breakfast when Colt’s truck and trailer pull into the drive.
Two doors slam, and I cringe. This asshole can’t keep anything to himself.
“West!” My sister shrieks. “You better get the hell out here and talk to me right now.”
“Well, shit. See you soon, buddy.” I give Ham a final scratch around the ears before turning to face the firing squad.
“Little early for wailing like a banshee, isn’t it, Lemon?” I say with a grin. Colt’s eyes are wide and he’s making the signal for “quit freaking talking, man” by making a “cut” motion across his neck.
“What’s this about you leaving and not telling me? I had to nipple cripple it out of Colt this morning.”
“It’s true,” he says shamefaced. “She did.”
“I gotta go get my heart back.”
“I know, dumbass. What I’m pissed about is that you didn’t bother to tell us, or at least run your idiot plan by me so I can tell you if it’s worthy of winning her back.”
“No plan. Just an apology. Just showing up for her the way no one else has in her life.”
“And that’s sweet and all but what about the flowers? What about the grand gesture?”
“I’m kind of hoping I’m gesture enough? Is that stupid?” Now it’s my turn to panic. “Oh fuck, this is a stupid plan.”
“It’s not stupid, it might actually be perfect, after all.
” My sister wraps her arms around me, and I think she surprises us both as she squeezes me tightly.
“But just FYI, every woman wants flowers, so you should definitely stop in at a florist before you see her. Nothing cheap, West. Roses, or peonies.”
“Got it. I’ll spring for the good stuff.”
“Will you come back? You have to come back, right? I mean, my baby needs a cousin around.” Her eyes glitter with tears.
“That depends on what Daisy wants.”
“I know you’ve always wanted to get out, but don’t forget about us.”
“How could anyone forget you, little sis?”
She smiles and sniffs back tears. “Well, I am fairly remarkable.”
I chuckle. “I do have to get going though.”
“I know.”
“You go easy on your husband, he’s gonna have enough shit to deal with from Wade and Wyatt.” I clap Colt on the back, head for my truck and say, “You take care of my boy.”
Lemon’s smile vanishes as she looks between Colt and me. “What boy?”
As if on cue, Ham snorts and throws himself against the barn door, wanting out.
“Oh, no,” Lemon says. “We are not taking that thing.”
Colt shrugs. “I already promised, Lemonade.”
She rolls her eyes. “Where is he gonna live?”
“In the barn we just built for your mini cows.”
“No! It’s all pretty and pristine. He can’t mess that up.”
I frown and glance at Colt. “Y’all are getting mini cows?”
Lemon shrugs. “What? They’re cute. Shouldn’t you be getting on the road now?”
I laugh. “Yep. I reckon I should.”
“Call us when you get there,” my sister says.
“Okay, Mama.” I wink and climb in the truck, then I roll down the window and hang out, “Oh and, Lemon, Maybe give it a rest in the bedroom. Colt’s so fucking sore from riding you that he can barely climb on his horse.”
Her mouth drops open, and she whacks her husband. I laugh as I pull out of the drive “Be seeing ya both.”
***
It’s a little after midday when my phone tells me to take a left turn onto a street with high-rises.
Straggly trees dot the sidewalk, their roots stunted by all that pavement.
Everywhere, people turn their heads to eyeball my noisy, beat-up truck.
If there was a way to stick out more than a sore thumb, I reckon I’d be doing it.
“You have arrived at your destination,” my GPS announces, as I find a park in front of the building.
I glance around at the suits, the traffic, and the busy shops and bars. “The hell I have.”
Why hasn’t she texted me back? Is she done with me and the possibility of us? I need to see her now, need to tell her what an idiot I was—am—for thinking I could ever live without her. I have to get my heart and head straight and set my soul to rights, because the truth is, I’m nothing without her.
Me: Where are you?
Five minutes go by before the little dots start jumping, signaling she’s typing a reply.
Baby Mama: I’m in Dallas, West.
Short and not exactly sweet. Okay, I deserve that on account of being a braindead asshole, but at least she’s replying.
Me: Where in Dallas?
There’s a long pause, and twice I see the little bubbles pop up and disappear again before she replies.
Baby Mama: At home.
Those two words slice through my heart like a knife. Home isn’t here, in this cold, high-rise apartment complex, it’s on the ranch, it’s in my bed, in my arms. Which is exactly the kind of thinking that put you in this predicament, asshole.
Home is wherever she is.
Me: Then I’m home too. Why don’t you buzz me up, darlin’?
My phone rings and I climb out of the truck as I answer, “Dais, I love you.”
She gasps, which quickly turns into a sob.
“Shit. I wasn’t supposed to blurt that out over the damn phone,” I say, looking around at the entrance of her building. “I wanted to see your face when I said it.”
“West, what are you doing here?”
“Comin’ home to you, darlin’. You know, I kinda thought we’d be face to face as I poured out my feelings, but I can wait, Dais. If you’re not ready to forgive me yet. I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
“Where are you?” she says, and her voice is high pitched and frantic. In the background I can hear her fumbling with her keys and a door slamming.
“I’m outside your building.”
“Just wait right there. I’m coming,” she says, and then groans. “God damn it. This stupid elevator. I gotta hang up, don’t you go anywhere, okay?”
“I ain’t leaving, Daisy, not even if you beg me to.
” I pull out the huge bouquet of pink peonies I got from a fancy florist a few blocks away.
They cost almost as much as a bale of hay, but my sister was right in telling me to spring for the good stuff.
I lean against the side of my truck, ignoring all the double takes from people scurrying by on their lunch breaks.
“Hey, cowboy!” Daisy says, running toward me. She launches herself into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist.
“Hi, darlin’.”
“It took you long enough to get here.”
“I had some things I had to take care of, you can berate me later all you want, but you gotta put me out of my miser—”
She presses her mouth to mine in a soft, sensuous kiss. Her lips are as sweet as I remember, her hands around my shoulders, and her lush tits pushed against me are just as inviting. She pulls back and grins down at me. “I love you too, West. I love you so much.”
I kiss her, stepping back several paces and turning us so my truck is at her back. I set the flowers on the roof and take off my hat to cover us from view, for at least one side of the street. My tongue sweeps across her bottom lip and into her mouth, stroking her own.
I pull away. “Shit. Daisy, where’s Waylon?”
“He’s at Daycare.”
“He goes to Daycare?”
She smiles. “He has to when I’m in school.”
“Right, of course. Well, I’m here now.”
A line forms between her brows. “We should probably talk about what that means ... and you should probably put me down, because I’m sure we’re giving the doorman quite the show.”
I glance over my shoulder at the young man who’s practically drooling at the glass as he watches us. “He have a thing for you? I mean, I don’t know why he wouldn’t, especially looking like you do in that dress.”
“He’s gay. So I’d say if he’s looking at anyone’s ass, it’s yours.”
“Well, does it at least look good in these jeans?” I joke and set Daisy on her feet, even though it hurts to let her go.
I grab the flowers and hand them to her. “Darlin’, I’m sorry I was a huge asshole.”
“Thank you.” She gives me a toothy grin and presses her nose to the bouquet, inhaling with a sigh. “Come on, I’m gonna take you to lunch. I’m starved, and if I spend one more second in Hadley’s cramped apartment today, I think I’ll go stir crazy.”
“Actually, I was thinking maybe we’d go home.”
Daisy’s eyes go round and she steps back, suddenly livid. “West, I can’t go back to Red River Canyon yet. I have school.”
“I didn’t say Red River, I said home.”
A little crease forms between her brows. “What are you—”
“Listen, I like Hadley a lot, but I figured her apartment might be a little too small for the four of us, so I rented a house. It’s no ranch, but it’s got a little backyard for Waylon and wait until you see the kitchen in this place,” I make the universal sign for “chef’s kiss”.
“You’re gonna love it, Dais. There’s even room for a dog.
What do you think about getting Waylon one of those? ”
Daisy opens her mouth and closes it, several times. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen her speechless.
“Y-you ... got us a house?”
“Yeah, darlin’. Can’t make a home in your best friend’s apartment.”
“You’re really staying then? In Dallas?” Her eyes shine with tears. “You left the ranch? What about your family?”
“I’m looking at it.” I tuck a bright strand of hair behind her ear. God, how I missed feeling that silky hair wrapped around my fist. “At least, I’m looking at one half of it. What do you say we go pick up Waylon and show him our new house?”
“Maybe we should just go pick up those keys first, because I ain’t done kissing you yet.”
I smile, “I like the way you think, darlin’.”
I reach behind her, open the passenger door, and help her in my truck. Then I round the front bumper and climb on in.
“Oh, and to answer you’re earlier question, I think Ham is all the dog we need.”
I grin and peel away from the curb. Once I’m in traffic, I lay my hand palm up on the seat and she places her tiny hand in mine.
What do you know, Lemon was right. Maybe I am gesture enough.