CHAPTER TWENTY
The Uber driver took her to a hotel near the airport. She’d booked a one-way ticket to Amarillo, Texas, where she would rent a car and drive to her grandparents ranch. They were both long gone but the ranch was now run by a man who’d been their foreman for years.
“I just need a place to stay for a few days, Skip. Is that okay?” she asked the older man.
“Honey, this will always be your home even if your grandparents are gone. There’s room for you here. Do you need me to come get you?” he asked.
“No. I’m flying into Amarillo tomorrow and then I’ll drive from there. I know you’re busy right now with the cattle.”
“My girl still remembers the schedules,” he said chuckling. She tried to laugh but couldn’t summon it. “Bianca, what’s wrong honey?”
“Everything, Skip. Why are men such assholes?” He let out a long sigh and shook his head.
“Well now, that’s a much longer story. We are assholes at times but it’s usually for a good reason.
When Bea and I were dating I did some awful things.
Stupid things, mostly. I ran off and toured the rodeo circuit for a whole year thinking she would wait while I gathered enough money, what I thought would be enough money, to make her happy. ”
“What did she do?” she whispered.
“She got engaged,” said the older man. “I came home and she was engaged to Hank Tomas. I still hate that man.”
“But you married her,” said Bianca.
“Yep because she’s a damn good woman who understood my stupidity and gave me a second chance. A second chance I didn’t deserve by the way. It was your grandmother than helped me win her back. I owe her everything for helping me to get the only woman I ever loved.”
There was a silence that Skip was ready to allow to continue for as long as necessary.
“What about a man who thinks you endangered yourself when in reality you did something you believed would protect both of you?”
“Sounds like a woman with good intentions but that don’t change a man who is born to protect,” said Skip.
“It won’t matter whether what you did was smart, stupid, reckless or brave, if he believes you endangered yourself, he’s gonna be pissed.
But that ain’t a reason to run, honey. That’s a reason to stay. ”
“Oh, God,” she muttered. “What did I do?”
“I tell you what. You let me know if you’re still coming back to the ranch tomorrow. Either way, we’ll be here for you.”
“I love you, Skip. Tell Bea I said hello.”
“Will do, honey.”
She hung up the phone and looked out the window of her hotel room. It was well past midnight, the streets below dark and rainy. In the distance, she could see planes taking off and landing at the New Orleans airport.
“What have I done?” she murmured. Using her phone she called for another Uber to take her back to the café, praying they would let her inside once again. Gathering her one bag, she left the room and handed the key to the desk agent.
“Is everything okay, ma’am?” he asked.
“It’s fine. I’ve just changed my mind about leaving,” she said smiling at the young man.
“Understand. New Orleans does that to you,” he grinned. “Just have a seat until your ride comes.”