Chapter 27
Blair
I’ve been spending so much time at the hospital and putting in even more hours at night to get the plans in place for the new ‘hospital at home’ service, that I’ve been feeling guilty about neglecting everything else in my life like the family and the ranch.
That’s why I suggested that some family time was in order—and why we’re all gathered in the dining room of the ranch house to try our hand at a cooking contest with a twist.
Today, each couple has to make a dish based on a common ingredient, with all of the produce and herbs coming from Jude’s garden beds on the ranch. And since the whole thing was my idea, Birdie decided the common dish for today would be potatoes.
“It’s the food of your people, Blair,” she says. “And it just so happens to coincide with the ranch’s first potato harvest from Jude’s garden.”
We’re halfway through our allotted one-hour prep time when the crunch of gravel outside grabs our attention.
Since Jude is closest to the window, he walks over to take a look before turning back to us with confusion written all over his face. “Whoever it is, I don’t know ‘em, but there’s no way they’re here for me.”
Then, as if we don’t have two strangers standing outside our house, he returns to the table to help Wyatt mix what looks like homemade hashbrowns with bacon, cheese and corn in them.
Sutton takes in my wide eyes and chuckles before pulling me in to kiss my temple. “I’ll go get the door,” he murmurs.
Not thinking anything of it, I go back to thinly slicing my peeled potatoes for a three-cheese gratin when I hear a high-pitched shriek, followed by a familiar squeal, an “oh my god,” a “yep, still hot,” then the loud grunt from my man.
Curious–and a little concerned–I quickly wipe my hands and make my way into the hallway to see what’s going on, only to stop dead in my tracks.
“Surprise!” my two best friends shout as they push past Sutton and run my way, tackle hugging me in an ABC sandwich for the ages.
Tears spring to my eyes as I wrap an arm around them both. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Duh, where else would we be,” Cate says.
“Did I not tell you we’d visit,” Alex adds. “There’s no way we could go six months without seeing you.”
I stand back and glare at her. “You said that the day I got here. You think you maybe could’ve mentioned something when we talked last week?”
“Nah,” she says, grinning, her glassy eyes matching mine. “Where’s the fun in that? It’s much better to see the stunned look on your face and meet your man without warning.”
“What’s all this?” Birdie says from behind us.
Looking back, I see she’s not the only person in the Cooper Ranch clan that have come to see our visitors.
“Everyone, this is Alex and Cate, my two best friends from Minnesota. Alex and Cate, that was Sutton at the door–”
“Called that already, B,” Alex muses. “But hello Cooper family.”
I roll my eyes, laughing at her antics. “They’re all taken, A.”
“I’m not,” Wyatt says, holding up his hand like a school kid. “Jude’s not either.”
“Leave me out of this,” Jude says. “We’ve already had a brother fall for a brother’s girlfriend’s best friend. The mountain doesn’t repeat herself that quickly. It would be too predictable otherwise.”
Wyatt nods. “Sorry, ladies. He’s right. Best try your luck at the Lion’s Lair Tavern if you’re lookin’ for mountain men in town.”
“Now he would make a good wingman,” Alex tells Cate. “Honest, to the point, doesn’t waste time.”
“That’s Jude. He’s my youngest brother,” Sutton explains, moving next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“Wy’s the youngest in the house, he’s our ranch hand.
Don’t go gettin’ any ideas though cause he’s eighteen goin’ on forty.
Wise beyond his years but still a young buck.
” He looks over my best friends. “Somethin’ tells me you’d eat him alive. ”
Alex’s amused gaze meets mine. “You were right, B. Sutton’s perfect for you.”
I grin up at the man in question at the same time he gazes down at me. “Definitely perfect,” I say, loving the soft look on his face.
“Aww,” Cate says, tugging on Alex’s arm. “They’re adorable.”
Alex cocks her head and looks us up and down. “Hot too. Good job, B. Bravo.”
I tug Sutton’s head down to steal a quick kiss. “Thank you.”
He frowns. “For what?”
“Being you.”
“I’m only me because of you, so I’ll take it.” He looks over at his brothers. “Who wants to help move a trailer load of boxes into the barn? The besties came loaded with Blair’s belongin’s.”
I gasp, staring at my proud as punch best friends.
“The food can wait. Y’all go help Sutt and we’ll get back to cookin’ when y’all come back,” Birdie calls out.
An hour later–no word of a lie, I had a lot of stuff–the men return, all of them sweating up a storm and looking like the very last thing they want to do is prepare their own lunch.
Lucky for them, Alex and Cate saw the dining table covered in ingredients and suggested we all get to work so that the ‘hot and hungry men’ won’t have to wait to eat after all of their hard work.
It’s a while later once we’ve finished eating, that there’s another knock at the door.
Everyone at the table looks between each other. Alex holds up her hands. “Hey, at least this time you know it’s not us.”
“How ‘bout I get this one,” Will says, sliding his chair back and walking out of the room, returning soon after with Derrick Wilson following behind him.
Will’s relaxed demeanor has disappeared and in its place is a deep frown that can only mean one thing when it comes to the Wilsons.
Derrick removes his cowboy hat and holds it to his side as he runs his fingers through his hair, earning a few sighs from our visitors sitting next to me. Best friends, who’d have ‘em.
His eyes meet mine and I can tell from his weary, tight expression that he’s got a lot on his plate right now.
And yet here he is, stepping onto his rival family’s land on a Sunday.
“Sorry to disturb y’all on a Sunday, especially durin’ a family meal.
I need to give an update, and I didn’t think you’d want me to wait until I next saw you in town. ”
Will claps his shoulder. “Appreciate it, Der,” he says, leading him to an empty place at the table.
Case leans forward in his chair. “What’s goin’ on?”
“It’s Dad,” he sighs before glancing my way quickly.
I shake my head, earning curious eyes from anyone with the name Cooper.
“Not sure if you’re all aware, Sully—my father—is not well and he’s not goin’ to get any better.
That’s unfortunate for a lot of reasons but it’s nothin’ we haven’t known was comin’.
It also means he’s tryin’ anythin’ and everythin’ possible to get his hands on this ranch. ”
“I thought we had established he didn’t have a leg to stand on?” Sutton adds.
Will sighs. “We did–we have.”
“Will’s right, y’all have done everythin’ you needed to prove that my family has no ownership rights to this land.
Dad’s obviously not lyin’ down and isn’t ready to accept defeat.
He’s of the mind that a deal is a deal–whether that be verbal, a handshake, or on paper.
He sees Marion’s father paying for the upkeep of the land decades and decades ago as some sort of claim on the ranch.
He believes he should have a say in how the land is passed on,” Derrick explains.
“That’s bullshit,” Jude erupts from the end of the table. “Sorry to hear your father is unwell, Derrick. That sucks. But this land belongs to the Coopers. Always has done and always will.”
Derrick nods. “I agree. But my old man is as stubborn as a mule. Hell, he refused to get the medical care he needed to live a longer life because he didn’t want to leave the mountain.” Everyone’s eyes seem to slide my way.
I hold my hands up. “I couldn’t say anythin’. Do no harm and HIPAA. It’s every doctor’s ride and die.”
“We know, gorgeous. It can’t have been easy for you though, keepin’ all of this to yourself.” Sutton squeezes my hand then stills. “Wait… was that who your mystery house call was for?”
I nod. “Yeah. Derrick and his sister Em have been keepin’ me updated and I’ve been providin’ treatment so that he’s comfortable.”
“Em’s back in town?” Isla asks. “I haven’t seen her around.”
“She’s commutin’ between here and Palmer. She’s stuck doin’ that until Dad passes,” Derrick replies.
“Who’s Em?” Jude asks.
“She’s Derrick’s sister. She went to the same high school as us,” Isla replies.
“Beautiful, everyone went to the same high school as you and Birdie,” Case says. “Small town, one high school.”
I glance at Jude who seems to be contemplating something.
“You said you had somethin’ to tell us? Has Sully got a new plan now?”
Derrick reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope, handing it to Will. My brother opens it up and runs his eyes over the letter. “What the fu–”
“What is it?” Case and Sutton ask in unison.
Will looks around the table. “He’s disputin’ Gramps’s will. He’s got a lawyer in Anchorage to take his case and he’s claimin’ Ridley had no right to give us the land outright.”
The table erupts in a chorus of gasps, shouts, and scoffs.
“That’s crap,” Birdie says.
“You’re right, Birdie. It is,” Derrick answers.
“But my father is dyin’ and wants to leave this world knowin’ he’s righted what he perceives are wrongs done in the past for the sake of me and my siblin’s.
He thinks the only way to do that is to court the mountain spirit’s favor by bringin’ the land back together.
He believes the mountain needs to be whole again for our family to be rewarded by the Call. ”
“I’m not sure that’s how it works,” Alex says, entering the conversation.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve only just arrived and I don’t know any of the family politics and whatever’s been done in the past. What I am is a self-taught expert when it comes to the mountain’s Call, and it doesn’t matter if the mountain’s split or not.
Just like you can’t make yourself hear the Call.
Only the mountain can decide, no one else. ”
Derrick stares at her with understanding in his eyes. “If you’re offerin’ to educate my father about the way of the Call, have at it. Many have tried and failed.”
My pocket vibrates and since I’m not on-call and everyone who could be calling me is around the table in the ranch house. I let it go to voicemail.
As soon as it stops, it starts up again, just as Derrick’s ringtone fills the room.
In slow motion, I look at him and he looks at me. That’s when it dawns on us why both of us would be getting a call.
“Dr Littlefoot,” I say, answering my phone.
“Hi, Blair. It’s Em. Um, I didn’t want to worry but now I think I should be. You said for us to call if his breathin’ slowed down too much. Well, I just checked and he’s only takin’ like seven breaths a minute. That’s bad, right?” she asks, her voice tight and frantic.
Just hearing her say it’s his breathing had me on my feet.
“OK, Em. We’re leaving now. We’ll be there as soon as possible,” I say at the same time Derrick says, “Yeah, Zane. We’re comin’ now,” into his phone and hangs up.
“Derrick, you go ahead with Blair. I’ll follow behind,” Sutton says. “Gorgeous, where’s your medical bag?”
“In my car,” I rush out.
Sutton hooks a hand behind my neck and gives me a gentle reassuring squeeze. “Let me get that for you and I’ll meet you around the front. I’ll be right behind you.”
What we don’t expect is Jude to jump to his feet and follow us out of the house. “I’m comin’ too.”
“Why?” I ask, not having time to argue.
“I can’t explain. There’s just somethin’ tellin’ me I have to come with you. I’m just followin’ my gut.”
That’s when Derrick turns to Jude. “This somethin’ to do with the Call?”
“I don’t know. Maybe? I just have to be there. That’s all I know…”
Derrick stares at him for a moment before his head drops. “Dammit,” he mutters. “Of course it had to be a Cooper. It’s like history repeatin’ itself.”
“What?” I ask, switching between them. “What do you mean? It can’t be the Call. Did you forget that the Coopers and the Wilson’s are related?”
Derrick sighs. “I don’t have time to explain right now, but just know that Em’s my sister in every way she can be, except by blood.”
“What?” The three of us say at the same time.
“Yep. So, if this is the Call, this whole damn thing just got a hell of a lot more complicated,” Derrick replies.
My head flicks between Jude and Derrick. “Wait. You’re sayin’ Jude and Em?”
“Well, it sure ain’t goin’ to be me, is it?” Derrick sighs. “But somethin’ tells me, we’re all about to find out.”