Chapter Two – Levi #3
I looked back at Caden. “And you’re okay with one of the ranch hands flirting with her?”
He burst out laughing. “I do not tell my sister what she can and cannot do. Either of them, actually. Besides, I trust our guys, and I know my sister. She makes sure the ranch hands know she keeps her business and her private lives separate.”
We both turned to see Emeline laugh again and put a hand on Jon’s arm. As if sensing us watching her, she turned and glanced our way, instantly dropping her hand. She tilted her head as if questioning why we were looking at her.
Turning, I started back for the barn. “If you don’t need me to take a look at anyone else, I should give my mom a call and see how Rhett’s doing.”
“No, just Aurora. I’m sure I’ll hear it from Emeline that I went around her to have you come out, but I wanted to play it safe. She’s one of my favorite mares.”
I smiled. “I get it.”
“When will you start officially at the vet clinic?”
“I’d like to get settled in with Rhett first. It’s going to be hard to find a place, so I need to get it into my head that I could possibly be with my folks for a while.
I told my dad to give me about three weeks.
That affords me some time to find someone to watch Rhett while I’m at work.
I don’t want to depend on my mother all the time.
I’m hoping he can meet some kids before school starts in the fall, so he feels like he fits in more.
That’s why I want to talk to Emeline about camp.
I know it’s for underprivileged kids, but I was hoping I could get a pass. ”
Caden nodded. “Well, if he comes to one of the camps, I’m sure he’ll meet a few kids his age.
I’m not sure if they have any open spots, and I’ll be the first to admit, I have no idea how Emeline runs the camps.
But I know they have different age groups.
The camps have actually gotten smaller over the last few years.
The need isn’t there as much as it was in the beginning, which is a good thing. ”
“Yeah, I figured they might be full. I know it’s last minute, but I’m hoping I can pull the whole your-brother-is-my-best-friend card to see if she’ll get me in.”
He laughed. “I don’t think you need that card. From what I remember, my baby sister always had a crush on you.”
I stopped in my tracks and gaped at him. “What?”
He narrowed his eyes and gave me a look. “Come on, Levi. You can’t tell me you never realized she liked you.”
I glanced back at Emeline, who was now talking to Marshall, a serious expression on her face. “I had no idea she had a crush on me.”
He frowned, looking bemused. “I thought that was why you always went out of your way to be nice to her.”
“No. I just thought she was a sweet girl, and I liked her.”
His brow raised.
“In a brotherly way, Caden.” His brow went a little higher. “Okay, maybe not in a brotherly way toward the end. It was hard not to notice her once she got into high school.”
He smirked. “Well, I highly doubt she’s still crushing on you. But I’m glad I told you.”
Confused, I asked, “Why?”
Laughing, he simply shook his head.
Before I could press the issue, Vivianne, Caden’s mother, appeared at the other end of the barn entrance and smiled at us.
“Levi Turner, what in the world?”
I smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Wilde.”
She waved me off. “Call me Vivianne; how many times do I have to tell you that? I practically raised you as one of my own!”
Laughing, I gave her a quick hug.
Caden spoke next. “Levi and Rhett have moved back to River Falls.”
Vivianne smiled, but I could see the confusion in her eyes. “Caroline?”
“Divorced. Well, about to be, anyway. Just waiting for her to sign and send the papers to my lawyer.”
She gently squeezed my arm. “I’m sorry to hear that, Levi. And I know I said it at the funeral, but I’m even more sorry about Brooke.”
“Thank you, Mrs…er…Vivianne. And no need to be sorry about me and Caroline. It’s been a long time coming.”
“Will you share custody of Rhett?”
I shook my head. “No, I have full custody. Caroline gave up custody, but has visiting rights, of course.”
A look of surprise washed over her face. “She gave up custody?”
“The accident impacted Caroline in a pretty big way. I told her if she ever changes her mind, we can open it up for discussion, but that once we moved to River Falls and Rhett started school, this is where she’d have to live.”
“I’m sure it was an unbelievably terrible thing to lose a child like that, for both of you.”
When I didn’t say anything, she went on.
“What about Mitch? Has he seen Rhett since you’ve been back?”
Mitch was Caroline’s father. I nodded. “He has. With him getting ready to retire early, he probably hasn’t had a chance to let Ladd know we were back in town.”
Vivianne smiled. “I’m sure that’s it.”
We both knew what I said was a lie. Mitch and Ladd were not only business partners, but best friends. Yes, Mitch was several years older than Ladd, but they still spoke every single day.
He didn’t tell Ladd because he didn’t want his friend asking about Caroline.
They had a strained relationship. After Caroline decided years ago that she wanted nothing to do with the family business, telling her father that we were moving to Denver instead, he had never really forgiven her.
“How’s Rhett doing? Caden told me he was having nightmares since Brooke’s passing.”
“He doesn’t have them as often. Some days are better than others, but with him losing his mother as well, he’s struggling.”
I didn’t want to tell Vivianne that Rhett thinks Caroline doesn’t love him, and that she left because of him. I would never be able to forgive her for that—ever. The way she’d hurt our son was something I couldn’t understand. After all, she wasn’t the only one who lost Brooke. We all did.
“We would love to have you both join us for Sunday dinner. I’d love to see Rhett and get to know him better. Ladd and I cannot wait to have grandchildren of our own.” She shot a weary look at Caden, who took a step back.
“If you’re waiting on me, you’re going to be waiting a long time.”
Vivianne rolled her eyes and laughed. “One day a woman’s going to catch his eye and he’ll be eating crow.”
With a huff, Caden replied, “Don’t hold your breath, Mom.”
“Hold her breath for what?” Emeline asked as she walked over.
“Nothing,” Caden said quickly before anyone could say anything. I hated that Rachel had broken my best friend so badly.
“Waiting for your brother to find a girl and settle down so I can have grandkids.”
Emeline’s eyes widened as she looked to Caden. “He’s way too grumpy for any woman to put up with.”
He smiled at his sister. “Thank you, Emeline.”
She grinned at him before turning to me. “I’m actually free now. Ready for lunch?”
“I am if you are.”
“Give me a second to grab my purse and sunglasses.”
When Emeline slipped into her office, Vivianne raised a brow in my direction. “Going to lunch together, are we?”
Looking between her and Caden, who was attempting not to laugh, I replied, “I wanted to talk to Emeline about Rhett attending summer camp.”
Vivianne’s face broke out into a wide grin. “What a wonderful idea! You know, Levi, if you have some free time, we’d love it if you could pop by a few times during the camps, to talk to the kids about what it’s like to be a veterinarian.”
Now Caden did laugh. Then he cleared his throat when Vivianne shot him a warning look. What she was warning him about, I had no idea.
“I’d be honored to do that.”
When Emeline walked out, Vivianne grinned at her. “Levi’s volunteered to be part of the summer camps by talking to the kids about being a veterinarian. Plus, he’d like to have Rhett attend a camp.”
Emeline glanced at me, eyes filled with excitement.
“Really? The kids would love that! Your dad always said he’d try to come and do it, but he’s always so busy, his schedule never works out with ours.
Since you’re just back in town, I bet we can work some days into your schedule before it gets too crazy. ”
“Um…” I looked around the small group, and noticed Caden had an amused smirk on his face. “I guess that’s true enough. Right now, I’m not on the schedule at all.”
Emeline gave an excited little jump. “This is going to be perfect! We needed another volunteer.”
Concern set in. “Wait—you’re just talking about me coming to talk about being a vet a couple times, right?”
With a wave of her hand, Emeline replied, “Among other things. Mom, we need to meet and discuss how to make this work. Oh—why haven’t you left with Dad yet?”
“He needed to take a call before we left.”
I looked to Caden, who simply held up his hands. “I tried to warn you.”
Leaning in, I whispered, “You most certainly did not try to warn me.”
He grinned. “You’re going to have to learn to read the room. Or in this case, the barn.”
I slowly shook my head and started to say something, but Emeline approached. She’d managed to disappear again. Apparently into her mother’s office this time, coming back out with a calendar.
A calendar!
“I’ve got our camp calendar right here. We can do all the planning at lunch. And the best part, you’ll be here while Rhett is at camp!” She hooked her arm in mine and started pulling me out of the barn. “Who’s driving?”
“Um, I’ll drive.”
“Perfect! We can also head over to the campgrounds so you can see it.”
Glancing over my shoulder at Caden, I saw him wave at me with his fingers while still grinning. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get him back, but I’d find a way.