Chapter 25
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Tex Young stood on his heated back deck, a mug of coffee warming his hands as he watched his brother-in-law open the barn doors. Several teens and kids hovered around Wade, who knew all of them though he’d never asked to be part of the enormous Young clan.
He wore his prosthetics today, and Luke, Jem, and Blaze had gone downstairs to the yard to help with the horses too. Tex sipped his coffee, enjoying his birds-eye view of the people he loved best.
The late November air held a bite, but that hadn’t stopped him from suggesting they get the horses out and give them the exercise they needed. Blaze’s girls loved to ride, and all of Jem’s kids did too.
Wade and Cheryl’s kids could always be persuaded to ride a pony as well, and he looked over as Trace eased up to the railing next to him.
“Hey-o,” Tex said. “I can’t believe I have room for this coffee, but it’s going down.
” He chuckled, because he’d definitely gorged himself on the Thanksgiving meal Abby, her mother, and his had put together.
They’d had people sitting in every available seat, as the ranch house here where Tex had grown up wasn’t exactly huge.
He had pushed out the back a bit and then added on this big deck.
He and Abby had installed heaters a couple of years ago, and it provided enough space for all of them to sit down and eat.
“There’s pie,” someone called from inside, and Tex groaned.
“I’m with you on that one, brother,” Trace said, chuckling. “I can’t stay away from that Cajun chicken that Cheryl makes.”
“It’s so good, right?” Tex had eaten plenty of that—along with the smoked turkey and then a couple of sweet and sour meatballs too. All of his brothers had brought sides, and Tex didn’t want to be rude by not sampling everything.
“You two aren’t riding?”
Tex turned toward Otis as he stepped outside and brought the sliding door closed behind him. The chatter from the house dimmed, leaving Tex with the cold country air and only the sound of those squabbling over who would get to ride first down by the barn.
“Nope,” Tex said. “I’m afraid everything I just ate will come up if I try to get on a horse.”
Otis chuckled and moved to stand on Tex’s other side. “I sent OJ and Ana down with Joey.”
Sure enough, Joey appeared at the corner of the house, leading the way toward the barn. Adam strode at her side, tall and strong and quite handsome in his dark brown cowboy hat. Joey held Ana’s hand, and OJ—ever the life of the party—skipped ahead, then turned back to say something to everyone.
Tex’s heart warmed at the sight of them, because the four of them looked an awful lot like…a family. He cut a look over to Otis, who likewise watched his children and Adam.
Tex held his tongue, because in situations like this, Otis had to be the one to start the conversation. So he took another sip of his coffee, enjoying the heat in his hands and his throat.
“My fingers needed this break,” he said.
Trace grunted in agreement, though he didn’t say anything. Tex knew his brother still played his guitar daily, but Tex hadn’t been doing that. Being out in the studio again had definitely brought some aches to his old joints, though he did love playing and singing and being with his brothers.
He watched as Grace, Bennett, and Carver got to ride his horses first. Blaze and Jem stayed with the kids who had to wait their turn, and Wade led a few more over to his ranch, where he opened his stable and started getting out his horses.
“Would you look at that?” Trace said from beside him, and Tex glanced over to him. Trace nodded toward the stable, where Joey helped Grace to the ground, and Adam swept Pippa into his arms.
Tex’s youngest daughter squealed in delight, and she grinned at Adam as he set her in the saddle. “Our new manager’s got a way with kids.”
“And with Joey,” Otis added quietly, his tone carrying a hint of fatherly concern.
Tex understood his brother’s worry. As the oldest of the nine brothers, he’d watched the family dynamics shift and grow over the decades. Joey had always been one of the gentler souls among their crew, and Adam Harmon definitely had a way with Tex’s quieter niece.
“He’s a good man,” Tex said, knowing Otis needed to hear it. “Harry and Bryce love him, and I’ve never seen a man work as hard as him.”
“All things I know,” Otis said. “I just worry about what might happen if they don’t work out.”
Down below, the second round of kids started on their horse rides, and Adam swept his arm around Joey’s waist, tucked her into his side, and pressed a kiss to her temple. She looked up at him, her smile wide enough for Tex to see from the side.
“Don’t look like they won’t work out to me,” Trace said in his quiet monotone.
“It’s the honeymoon phase,” Otis said. “They’ve only been together about a month.”
“Yeah, and you were in love with Georgia after that long.” Trace leaned forward and grinned at Otis, who only scoffed.
“She’s looking for apartments,” Otis said next.
“That’s good news,” Tex said. “Right?” He looked at Trace and then Otis. “I mean, I know Momma and Daddy like her living there, but it’s not necessary.”
“No, it’s not,” Otis said. “And yes, it’s good.” He paused and then turned his back on them, leaning against the railing and facing the house instead. “He just seems so much older than her.”
“Does he?” Tex asked, looking down at them again. Joey now held Tyrone in her arms, while Adam held Clay’s hand while they waited for the horses to come back. “He seems just like Harry or Bryce to me.”
“And Joey’s five years younger than Harry,” Otis said.
“Only three,” Trace said.
“They feel the same to me,” Tex said. “Girls are more mature than boys.” He waved to Pip as she came around the corner of the barn, pure joy on her face. He smiled too, and the sound of the sliding glass door caused him to turn.
Abby stepped out, carrying a fresh pot of coffee. His wife’s presence always settled something in his soul, even after all these years.
“You cowboys solving all the world’s problems out here?” she asked, and she took Tex’s mug to refill it.
“Just watching the kids.” Tex wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her close against the chill. “And maybe doing a little observation of the newest person to come into the family.”
Abby followed their gazes to where Adam now lifted Clay into the saddle. He took the lead rope this time, and he and Joey walked with the horses while Blaze stayed back with the kids.
“They do look sweet together,” Abby said. “And Joey sure seems to like him.”
Joey laughed at something Adam had said, her blue eyes shining with happiness Tex could see from all the way up on the deck. They reminded Tex of how Everly had drawn Trace out of his shell years ago.
“Speaking of sweet,” Trace said. “Harry and Belle are writing a new song for their wedding.”
“That’s fantastic,” Tex said.
“Is it?” Trace asked.
Otis cleared his throat and stepped back. He took a couple of slow, measured steps away from the railing, and then he practically ran for the house.
“You better hurry,” Trace called after him.
“What’s goin’ on?” Tex asked.
“They’re workin’ on it with him,” Trace growled. “I even asked nicely, and I was told no, they would not share it with me until the wedding.”
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Abby said, then she too wisely headed back inside.
“It’s not sweet,” Trace said. “He’s my son, and I want to help him with the wedding song.”
“And he wants it to be a surprise for you and Ev,” Tex said, somehow just knowing that was true. “My guess is, it’s his gift to you, for being such an amazing dad.”
“Oh, please.” Trace rolled his whole head. “It’s fine, but I’m gonna tell you the same thing I’ve told everyone else.”
Tex turned toward him. “Go on, then.”
“It’s okay that I’m upset about this.” Trace’s jaw jumped. “I don’t have to just lie down and be happy about everything.”
Tex gazed at his brother, feeling his genuine hurt. “I’m sorry, Trace.” He stepped into his brother and wrapped him in a hug while Trace stood there, stiff and unyielding. After a moment, he finally softened, and he sagged into Tex’s chest.
Tex held him until Trace stepped back, and they both settled at the railing again.
“You know, for the longest time, I thought I just needed to get Bryce to eighteen.” Tex chuckled softly.
“But I think he needs me now more than ever.” He looked over to Trace.
“Harry will always need you, in a new and different way.”
“Yep.” Trace nodded. “I just wish…I don’t know what I wish.”
“And wishing doesn’t change anything anyway,” Tex said.
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Dad!” Carver’s voice carried across the yard as he ran down the sidewalk and closer to Tex. “Daddy, can I show Adam how to do the new guitar chord you taught me? He’s takin’ lessons, and he said he wants to hear me play.”
His nine-year-old son’s enthusiasm for music warmed his heart. The boy had been practicing religiously since getting his first guitar, and Tex could admit he enjoyed their lessons together.
He glanced over to Adam, who smiled up to Tex. “Sure, bud. Whenever you guys come back in.”
Carver whooped and ran back toward the stable just as Cash joined them. Tex nodded down there with the brim of his hat. “What are we thinkin’ about Cash?”
“You’re thinkin’ something about Cash?” Trace asked. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about this without Blaze.” He grinned and shook his head. “For real, though. I think Blaze thinks enough about his own son for all of us.”
“He came home for the holidays,” Tex said. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“He comes home all the time,” Trace said dryly. “And it’s Thanksgiving.”
“He didn’t bring anyone with him.”
“Can you imagine?” Trace laughed then. “It’ll take someone as headstrong as Cash to tame his wild heart.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Tex said. “I just think someone like Faith.” He grinned at his brother. “Or Ev—you know, someone who can put up with your black mood.”
“My black mood?”
Tex laughed and watched as Adam started to come into the house with Carver, leaving Joey with Blaze and Jem and the other littles. “Besides,” he said. “Cash doesn’t have a black mood. He just lives life at a hundred miles an hour.”
“So maybe he’ll meet a race car driver,” Trace said.
“Yeah, maybe.”
The sliding door opened again, and this time, Carver poked his head out. “Daddy, I’m ready to play, and Momma says you need to get in here and get your chocolate banana cream pie ‘afore it’s all gone.”
Tex immediately pushed away from the railing.
“The chocolate banana cream pie is almost gone?” He entered the house and drank in the sight of at least a dozen people eating various flavors of pie—and he spied at least three people eating his beloved pie with the inch of chocolate custard on the bottom and then a layer of sliced bananas, all topped by banana pudding and whipped cream.
“I invite you-all to my house, and you eat all my favorite pie?”
“Calm down, Daddy,” Carver said. He giggled and galloped into the kitchen. “Me and Momma saved you a whole half pie.”
Tex grinned at him, and the others he walked by. “A whole-half?”
Carver tipped it up, his eyes wide and innocent. “Yeah, lookit.”
“I see it, bud.” Tex picked up a fork and then the pie tin. He saw no reason to use a plate if he didn’t need to. “Go get your guitar,” he said, shooting a look over to Adam. He’d gotten himself a piece of pecan pie, and he smiled as Carver stopped in front of him and said he’d be right back.
Carver skipped off toward the door that led downstairs, and Adam lifted his eyes to Tex’s. Tex grinned at him, because hey, he wasn’t dating Tex’s daughter, and Tex happened to like Adam a whole heckuva lot.
“You okay over here?” Tex asked, stepping over to him.
“Absolutely.” Adam lifted his pie. “I’m eating your mother’s pie, and I have to admit….” He looked past Tex to the rest of the kitchen, where the crowd spilled into the living room around the corner too.
His eyes came back to Tex’s bright and filled with earnestness. “It’s been a while since I’ve been part of a family like this.”
Tex nodded, though he didn’t know every aspect of Adam’s life. “Well, you’re always welcome here.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Where is your family?”
“Tennessee,” Adam said, turning as Joey came up beside him. He smiled at her and handed her the plate of pie. She took the fork and then a bite, her eyes rolling back in her head as she moaned. “The twins still live there.”
“Twins?” Tex asked.
“Mm, yeah.” Adam nodded. “I’ve got two younger siblings—a brother and a sister. They’re twins. Both married. Both with one little girl.”
“Wow,” Tex said, his eyebrows going up. He glanced over to Joey, who swallowed.
“Grams’s pecan pie is the best food in the whole world.”
Tex grinned at her. “How you doin’, Roo?”
“Peachy, Uncle Tex.” She moved into him and gave him a quick hug. “Thank you so much for having us today.”
“Of course.” He stepped back and watched her fit herself right back against Adam’s side. He slid his arm around her, and Tex would never, ever tell his brother he thought they were a super-cute couple. “Are you two going to Tennessee for Christmas or anything?”
Adam blinked and shook his head. “No, we have the Country Quad concert series.”
“Oh, duh.” Tex chuckled as his son yelled from the basement. He nodded that way. “If you really will indulge my boy in listening to his song….”
“There’s nothing I want more,” Adam said, and he dropped his hand to Joey’s as they both turned to head out of the galley kitchen and around the corner to the stairs that led down.
Tex watched them for a moment, then met his wife’s eye as Abby joined him in the narrow kitchen. “They’re really cute,” he said. “I don’t get why Otis and Georgia don’t like them together.”
“I think they like them together just fine,” Abby said, also watching as Adam disappeared around the corner after Joey. “I think they’re worried about what happens if they’re not together.”
“Daddy!” Carver stomped up the last of the steps and came skidding around the corner. “What are you doin’? Bring that pie down with you so I can play.”
Abby grinned at their son. “You better get going.”
“Yep.” Tex swiped a plastic fork from the counter as he went, because he actually loved listening to his son play the guitar—and he could keep an eye on Adam and Joey at the same time.