16. Red
16
RED
We’re getting ready to leave Ninilchik and head off the peninsula and while Mags is returning the cabin keys to Pinky, I decide it’s time for a quick call back home.
“The man of the hour,” Rhett says by way of a greeting, making me laugh.
“Well, that’s one hell of a hello.”
“It’s well deserved. That deal with Rod and the rodeo means we can breathe easy and keep growin’ the Stud. This is goin’ to look after us and our families for years.”
“It sure is,” I reply, my chest filling with pride.
“Rod called me this mornin’ and he’s decided to hand off two lesser-used Bulls after the last event of the season in palmer. Austin and I will meet y’all there with the trailer so we can bring them back. You OK with that?”
It’ll be good to see Rhett and Austin, but it’s also signaling the end of this road trip with Mags and a reminder that come Sunday, Mags and I will return to Spring Haven and our normal lives.
“Sounds good,” I reply. “But I didn’t call to talk about the ranch. I thought you wanted me not to work too much on this trip?”
Rhett laughs. “You’re always workin’, Red. That’s just who you are.”
“You’re right.” I look through the path toward Pinky’s house to where Mags and the woman herself are chatting. “This new rodeo contract might mean we can change that though, don’t you think? It might be time we start lookin’ at havin’ a bit more balance in our lives. Especially now that all of y’all are settlin’ down and startin’ families, and?—”
"Wyatt’s flown the coop?”
I start pacing across the cabin’s front yard, rubbing the back of my neck as I go. “Yeah. There’s that too, I guess.”
The line falls silent. “This is Red Grayson I’m talkin’ too, right?
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
He chuckles. “I think gettin’ out of town is good for you. Maybe you should become a nomad like Landry and Star.”
“Why’s that? You tryin’ to get rid of me?”
“Nah. It just sounds like this break from everythin’ is havin’ the desired effect.”
“I’m not that bad, am I?”
“No, Red. Not at all. But you sound a hell of a lot more relaxed and rested than you’ve been for a long time.” Not sure how after sleeping on a stiff sofa bed all night listening to my One sleep in the bed when I really wanted to be next to her… “It also hasn’t escaped our notice that you and Mags haven’t been tag-teamin’ us with calls since you’ve been gone. Charlie says Mags has only checked in a few times.”
“Funnily enough, Mags and I were talkin’ about that just last night.”
“I take it that y’all are enjoyin’ yourselves while the rest of us slave away here at home?” he teases.
I can’t help but smirk at that one. The last two days have been the most fun I’ve had in years. “We are, but...”
“C’mon, Red. Are you really goin’ to make me drag it out of you?” he asks, proving yet again that I can’t get anything past him. Then again, when you’ve worked together and been friends for as long as we have, you get to know each other like the back of your hand.
“What are you talkin’ about?” I ask, buying myself some time.
“You know damn well what I’m talkin’ about.”
“Are you alone right now?”
“I’m at the farm,” he replies, sounding puzzled. “And everyone else is back at Bull as far as I know. Cora and the women went into town to meet up with the Sallys. What’s goin’ on?”
I take a deep breath and slowly exhale. “I’ve been feelin’ a bit… off.”
“Off as in sick? or off as in… off ?” he asks.
“It started back in Anchorage before Wy left. Then Mags took me on a hike to distract me from Wy leavin’ and we kind of had a moment—of sorts, anyway.”
I hear a chair creak in my ear, and I know that I’ve got his full attention now. “A moment? What kind of moment?”
I stop by the back of my truck and lean against it, staring at the snow-capped mountains in the distance. “We were talkin’ and we hugged, and then…”
“Did you kiss or somethin’?”
“No,” I sigh. “But it crossed my mind, that’s for sure. I’m sure she was feelin’ it too. It was like there was somethin’ pullin’ us together, I can’t explain it any other way. But ever since, I’ve been noticin’ more and more things.”
“Noticin’ her , you mean?”
“Yep.”
The line falls quiet, so much so that I pull the phone away from my ear to check that the call is still connected. “Are you still there, Rhett?”
“Yeah. I am. Sorry,” he replies, not saying anything else straight away. “You said other things have happened?”
“Rod said some things that have me thinkin’ things I haven’t thought about before.”
“About Mags?
“Yep.” I frown, wondering why Rhett’s not saying ‘I told you so’.”
“Let me get this straight. You have an almost moment and since then you’ve been seein’ Mags differently, and thinkin’ things about her–about the two of you together–that you haven’t before? Have I got that right?”
“Pretty much.”
“Red Grayson, stop bein’ an idiot.”
“What?” I splutter.
“You heard me,” he says, his voice laced with humor. “Did you call to check in? Or do you want me to tell you what you already know? Because you’re a smart man. You’ve gotta know that there’s obviously some mystical matchmakin’ goin’ on because from everythin’ you’ve said, the mountain spirit has definitely got you and Mags in her sights.”
“I know.”
Rhett sighs. “Believe me, there are far worse things in the world than havin’ your best friend chosen as your One.”
“And there’s the problem,” I say quietly.
“Because it’s Mags? She’s fantastic. All of us have been wonderin’ for years if somethin’ was goin’ on between you. Far be it from me to tell you not to follow your heart when—as far as I see it—you’re finally seein’ what the rest of us have been for years.”
“No,” I rush out. “How do I know what to do when I don’t know if she is feelin’ it too.”
“You said she almost kissed you,” he says.
“Yeah, but that was?—”
“The spirit workin’ her magic,” he says matter-of-factly.
“I haven’t had this feelin’ in years , Rhett. It’s not like I’m an old hand at this. I met my wife young, and after that, there was no one else for me. I didn’t even notice other women.”
“And now you are, and it’s OK, Red. Hell, it’s great .”
“I just don’t want y’all to think I was lyin’ all those times I told you I wouldn’t hear the Mountain’s Call,” I say. “I didn’t think I’d have another chance at love. Who am I to be blessed with not just one great love, but possibly another?”
“Someone who’s given their all to the mountain, this ranch, and the rodeo. Someone who’s got the capacity to love again and more importantly, you deserve it.”
I smirk. “Who are you? Bull Mountain’s resident love guru?”
He barks out a laugh in my ear. “Nope. Just a man in love who wants the same for you. And to answer your question about what to do, you just let it happen.”
“You think it’s really that easy?” I ask in disbelief.
“When it’s you and Mags and I’m that sure about it? Hell, yes,” he replies. “Maybe start by showin ’ her that your feelin’s have changed. And stop overthinkin’ everything. Just let it happen, because it will happen regardless.”
“You make it sound simple.”
“That’s because it is. If there’s one thing I'm sure about, it's that you and Mags won't ever let anythin' come between you, and if the mountain has decided that now is the time for you two to finally be together, there's a reason for it."
“Does there need to be a reason?” I ask, wondering if there’s some ritualistic step that has to be taken before the Mountain Call can be heard. Maybe there’s a certain number of years of saying you’re happy when you’re not before you’re rewarded?
“Nope. Nobody knows the whys and hows of the Call. But when you complete it and you know deep in your heart that you’ve found your One—in your case, again —there’s no better feelin'. You hear?"
“I hear you, Rhett,” I say, a quiet laugh escaping my lips. “You know I haven’t completed anythin’ with anyone since Anna died though.”
When he answers this time, his voice is soft. “I’m thinkin’ there was a reason for that and now that you’ve heard the Call, you know why you waited.” He’s not wrong .
“When did the student become the teacher?” I say with a grin.
“Had to put everythin’ you’ve taught me over the years into good use eventually. Makes me happy knowin’ I’m doin’ it for you,” he answers.
“Serves me right for trainin’ you so hard.”
“Wouldn’t be the man I am today without you, Red. I hope you know that,” he states, and I feel that right in the middle of my chest. “Any other life questions you need answered?”
“I do have one thing.”
“OK…” he says, sounding intrigued.
“How the hell do I stop the tinglin’ when we touch and my heartrate jumpin’ through the roof when I just think about her?”
His deep hearty laugh fills my ear. “Can’t help with that one. It’s the spirits way. How else would us clueless cowboys realize our future is starin’ us right in the face?”
“Clueless,” I scoff. “Speak for yourself.”
“I’ll let you go but keep in touch. I’m here if you need any more advice about women.” There’s no missing the amusement in his voice.
“Yeah, not sure I need that, but thanks all the same,” I muse. “By the way, tell Lee and Colt that their damn duck made an appearance at the bar last night. Nearly left a damn dent in my hood.”
“What do you mean? Duck Norris is here. I saw him last night and this mornin’. He was harassin’ Bruno and then leadin’ Nelly and Miss Piggy through the meadow near the buildin’ sites this mornin’.”
“What the hell? Who was that duck then?” I hear footsteps in the dirt and turn to see a smiling Mags walking toward me.
Rhett’s words echo in my mind, urging me to stop overthinking and let things happen. But as she nears, my heart is trying to beat its way out of my chest and the tingling sensation intensifies the closer she gets—and we’re not even touching this time.
"What's scary?" he says, but I can barely hear him over the rushing of blood in my ears.
“I hate to tell you, but if the menace is at Bull, that means he’s got a doppelganger in Ninilchik.”
“For real?” Rhett splutters.
“Oh yeah. One leg and everythin’.”
"Damn. Hopefully, he's not a menace like the original bird then.”
“Think we all hope that. One’s bad enough,” I joke.
“I’ll let you go, but Red, if you remember anythin’ I’ve said, let it be this. Trust your gut. You know she’s your One, but she might not know what the signs she is feelin’ are all about. So let it happen naturally,” he replies as Mags comes to a stop in front of me. “It also might help your journey if you get her an Aster book to read.”
“She’s read them,” I say, looking right into her eyes, earning an intrigued brow.
“Leave it to me. I know Aster has just sent Cora the latest book to read and I’m sure she can get Mags a copy. Bye, Red. Have fun,” he says.
“Wait. Don’t—” He doesn’t hear me though because he’s already ended the call.
Mags tilts her head curiously. “What’s that about?”
“I was just talkin’ to Rhett. Um, catchin’ up on ranch business.”
“And what have I apparently read?”
"Huh?" I mumble, feeling that strange pull between us again, the same one that drove me to give Mags my hat last night at the bar knowing fair well what it would mean. Mine. mine. mine.
She nods to the phone in my hand. “You said to Rhett that I’d read them. What have I read?”
“Aster’s books. He was sayin’ that Aster sent Cora her latest story.”
Her eyes light up. "Really? I'll have to check my e-book reader. I might have it too. I've been lookin' forward to it."
My eyes jump wide. “You have?”
"Yep. It's a second chance at love, best friends-to-lovers romance. I've been hankerin' for it," she replies excitedly, making me smile.
“Well, then. How ‘bout I drive, and you can start readin’?”
A gleaming grin appears on her face. “Deal!” She nods, and we move toward the passenger door. I open it and help her up, getting distracted by the sunlight dancing in her hair and how the soft light makes her skin look as soft as butter. My fingers itch to reach out and feel it for myself.
She shoots me a puzzled look. “We just goin’ to stay here all day or are we hittin’ the road? I’ve got a new book to read after all.”
I chuckle, shaking my head at her. You’re adorable , I want to say. I don’t though. Not yet … I’ll just think it. Probably a lot.
“We better get goin’ then. Somethin’ I’ve learned from the men at the ranch is to never get between a woman and her readin’.”
She winks. “Good advice.”
As we say goodbye to the cabin and Ninilchik, I can't help but smile. I may be nervous about what the rest of our road trip may hold, but that doesn't mean I’m not buzzing with the anticipation of what’s to come.
Because for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m on a journey of discovery—not just of the man I am now, but also of the life being offered to me if I’m brave enough to reach out and grab it.
And you better believe it, that’s exactly what I plan to do.