Chapter 19
Lacey
This will be the first dinner where my kitchen table is full like it used to be when my mama was alive and healthy.
Our long dinner table has been fully prepared by Mrs. Mabel. She left a basket of pumpkin bread when she headed out, refusing to stay to eat with us even though I begged her to stay and enjoy the fellowship and our company.
Her exact words were, “Honey, I am sure I will be able to hear your brother from my house when he finds out Beckett is in the cottage.”
I told her about it as soon as she arrived this evening. The last thing I needed was for her to walk in on a half-naked Beckett like I did, though she didn’t seem too shocked at everything I said.
Okay, but walking in on a half-naked Beckett King? Not the worst way to start my day, although I shouldn’t be thinking of my brother’s ex-best friend that way, nor do I need Mrs. Mabel’s widowed ass talking about it, either.
The cattlemen and ranchers are welcome to come eat dinner with us as well but most of them like to stay in their bunkhouse or go home to their families, returning in the morning for work.
After a long day, most like the quietness of the evening to themselves, relaxing before their work starts all over again.
When I was growing up, my mama would prepare meals three times a day for the ranch hands, and our dining room table would accommodate a few of them from time to time.
She would take special meals down to the bunk house and leave in the fridge for them to warm up when needed.
I hope I can be at least half the woman my mama was to them for all their hard work on this ranch for our family.
Lexie and I finished unpacking her boxes and decided to come back to the ranch together so I could help Mrs. Mabel cook and set the table. It’s nice having her extra set of hands in the kitchen tonight.
A roast prepared all day long with carrots and potatoes lines the long wooden table, veggies in various bowls, and rolls let off steam waiting for the dinner to start. Lexie finishes pouring sweet tea in ice glasses around each plate set.
Briggs is the first one inside from the pasture; his jeans, along with his green shirt and hands, are filled with dirt. He takes his hat off as soon as he is inside, placing it on the hat rack by the door. His face is covered in sweat and dirt to match his clothes.
“Mind if I wash up?” he asks tiredly.
I smile, “You know where the bathroom is.”
He nods and walks past me, heading toward the bathroom, the echo of his boots disappearing down the hall.
Carson is the next one to walk in, looking as dirty, if not dirtier, than Briggs. Taking off his hat, hanging it on the rack, too, he says, “Whew, I am not looking forward to how sore I’ll be tomorrow.”
“Why do you two look like you’ve been rolling in the dirt?” Lexie asks.
He chuckles. “Because we have. Stupid bull calf needed its checkup and busted out of the chute. Took us for a ride on our feet while we tried to rope him. Never surfed on dirt before.”
I let out a big laugh, “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope, Briggs and I both were surfing the dirt. Rolling and getting pulled all over the place. Thankfully, my boots are still intact.”
Lexie is wiping tears now, “I would have loved to see that. A bull calf was able to do all that?”
“Biggest damn calf I’ve seen in years.” Carson groans.
“No, I am glad you didn’t,” Briggs chimes in, coming from the hallway. “Hurt my pride a little.”
“Pride?” Carson barks. “I may need a new shoulder after that shit.”
He favors his left shoulder, rolling it a few times and swinging his arm out. “I am just glad it’s still attached at this point.” His footsteps echo down the hall to the bathroom to wash up.
Moments later, the guys walk over to the table, picking their seats and taking huge gulps of the sweet tea Lexie had just finished pouring. She places the jug in the middle of the table, takes a seat beside Carson, and I sit at the head of the table. Briggs sits across from Lexie.
The sound of the front door opening makes my heart flutter with nerves, and I take a deep breath.
I told Beckett he could join us for dinner tonight if he wanted to.
He never gave me a ‘for sure’ answer whether he was or not; so, excuse my heart as it beats out of my chest while my eyes look him over in his Wrangler jeans and tight-fitting bull riding t-shirt.
Stop, Lace.
“Mind if I join?” he asks, looking right at me.
“Yes, we do,” Carson snaps.
I look at Lexie who looks as anxious at this exchange as I do.
“Sure, there’s plenty,” I tell him with a grin. Beckett nods, taking the seat beside Briggs and across from Carson.
Gosh, Carson is going to be so upset with me for doing that. But I cannot just let the guy starve and he has been so nice to me lately. After the bathroom incident, I should at least give him a chance of being cordial. Mama would want me to be.
“Thank you,” Beckett says to me, ignoring my brother’s snarl.
“Lacey, a word with you,” Carson snaps at me, pushing his seat back and walking down the hall.
“Excuse me,” I tell everyone else. “Please fix your plates.”
Annoyed by my brother’s attitude, I march down the hall after him.
“You cannot let him eat here!” Carson says.
This kind of outburst from him toward me is rare but I still won’t stand for it. Not after how nice Beckett has been toward me.
“Carson, I will not refuse anyone food.”
“Refuse him everything when it comes to this ranch.”
I cross my arms. “I cannot do that.”
“And why not!”
“Because mama wouldn’t want me to.” The words sting coming out, my brother’s figure becomes blurry.
The tension in his shoulders drops, and he runs his hands forcefully over his face. “Lacey,” he sighs, “I’m sorry.”
He grabs me, pulling me into him in a soft embrace.
“Have you read your letter?” I ask him, my chest taking in the scent of his shirt. He smells like father used to after a long day working the cattle.
“No,” he sighs again.
“Well, I have read mine. And I am doing what my mother asked me to do. I hope you do the same.” I pull back from him. “He’s been staying in the cottage, Carson.”
“What?”
“It’s his now, isn’t it? He can stay there.” I huff.
My brother looks murderous.
Let’s have a good dinner. Please.” I state.
“I cannot make promises where he is concerned, Lace. But I will try for you.”
“That is all I ask.”
* * *
So much for a nice dinner. You could cut the tension with a butterknife.
Lexie, me, and Briggs have done most of the talking. Beckett and Carson just ate and listened, their obnoxious chewing I know they are doing on purpose to anger the other one.
Briggs is telling me about the new calves being born and how we need to get a vet out this week to do a checkup when Carson stands abruptly, staring daggers into Beckett. We stare, confused.
“Fucking hit me again with your feet and I will make you leave.”
My eyes widen. “Carson, calm down.”
“I did not touch you,” Beckett says, annoyed.
“Yes, you fucking did.” Carson throws his leftover roast at Beckett, making Beckett stand up from his seat in a heated stomp.
“Taylor, you best stop it.”
“Or what? The big bad Beckett King is going to kick my ass?”
“Carson!” I yell. “Stop!”
“Boys, I think both of you need to leave the dinner table.” Briggs voice is thick and authoritative.
“No, I think Beckett needs to go on, this is not his home.”
I notice the mask slip from Beckett for a moment; something about those words cut him. But the mask goes right back up, anger flashing over him before he’s leaping over the table, grabbing Carson by the shirt and punching him.
“Beckett!!” I scream. “Stop!”
Carson gets one up on him, punching his face and straddling on top of him.
“Briggs!” I look at our foreman for help.
He hurries over, trying his best to stop the two before one of them misses the other and hits him hard, knocking him out cold.
“Oh shit,” Lexie yells. “Lacey call the cops!!”
I grab my phone, the guys physically tearing down our kitchen as they throw things at one another. The plates, and baskets on the dining room table crash to the floor.
Dispatcher: 911 what is your emergency?
Me: Yes, I need police. My brother and his ex-best friend are beating the shit out of each other.
Dispatcher: What is the address? Are they armed?
Me: No but they are throwing everything at one another, including their fists. Scars Creek Ranch.
Dispatcher: Okay ma’am. Stay calm. Officers are in route. Are you alone?
Me: No, my friend is here with me.
Dispatcher. “Okay, good. Stay together and don’t get in their way. Officers are heading that way.”
No more than five minutes later, flashing red and blue lights shine through the front windows. The boys don’t seem to notice them; their punches still going hard at one another. Lexie and I stand away, refusing to get in the middle.
“Honeysuckle Police Department.” An officer yells from the outside before busting in the door. My home is all of a sudden swarming with cops; four of them rush to the guys, pulling them off one another.
“How about you two idiots rethink that next punch.” A deep husky voice comes from the tall, muscular man holding Beckett back by his forearms.
Lexie grabs my arm tight. “Ouch.” I look at her, but her eyes are glued to the guy whose hold is on Beckett.
She nods. “Lacey, that’s Cade.”
“You got to be kidding me.” I throw my hands up in frustration. Not at her, at the idiots who started this and the cop who showed up who has hurt my friend. No better timing.
“Take these two idiots outside,” Cade says. The other cops grab my brother and his ex-best friend, walking them to the porch. Cade smirks at Briggs, who is finally coming to.
“Not as young as you used to be old man.”
Briggs looks like he has seen a ghost. “Cade Sutton. I’ll be damned.” Slowly, Briggs gets up, wrapping his arms around the cop.
What the fuck. My foreman knows this bastard.
He better get his friendly arm away from him.
Releasing from their hug, Briggs gestures to me, “Sorry, Lace. Those two are a tube of dynamite when you get them wired up.”
“Lexie?” Cade steps towards her. On instinct, I pull her behind me.
“Officer . . .,” I start.
“Sutton, Ma’am.” He smiles. That smile of I’m a good guy. Bullshit: he will have to prove that to me. As for now, I’ll assume otherwise.
“Officer Sutton, I can give you a statement outside with the two idiots. You can leave Lexie alone tonight.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“It is. Now would you kindly follow me outside?”
He gives one long look to Lexie, and by the squeeze she gives to my waist, I know she is silently thanking me.
“I will follow you.” I give him a polite grin, gesturing to the door. I don’t move until he does.
“As you wish, ma’am.” He draws in one long breath and lets it out slowly.
“Briggs, can you make sure Lexie gets home, okay?” I ask my foreman before heading outside. “I’ll call you later.” I tell my friend, and she gives me a reassuring smile before heading out the back door with Briggs.