Chapter Ten #2
Judging by the questioning look Rick was directing at him, Joe didn’t think his brother trusted her much, either.
But when Joe didn’t object, he said, “Mallory is my wife now. But back in high school, she was my girlfriend. She got pregnant, and...well, things got pretty complicated. Let’s just say that I had a lot on my plate back then and was too young to do much about anything. ”
“You mentioned Clay Jenkins had been looking for me, too. Do I know him?”
“You, Clay and I ran around together in high school. He has a computer business now. And after I got my DVM degree and was in a position to find you and take care of you, I started looking for you. When I continued to run into walls, probably because of your name change, I finally called him and asked for his help.”
“So I’m from Brighton Valley originally?”
“Wow, you really don’t remember much of anything.” Rick turned to Chloe, directing the question at her. “How long has he been like this?”
Joe bristled. It was almost as if Rick thought Joe was too simpleminded to answer for himself.
“Nearly a week.” Chloe looked at Joe as if wanting to get his permission to continue.
He nodded, and she went on to tell Rick about the accident and everything else they’d found out from NCIS since then.
But Joe tuned them out, as another flashback popped into his mind, one of a teenage Rick telling Joe he needed to get a hold of his temper.
Don’t be such a hard-ass, Joey. If you get sent to juvie, I can’t take care of you there.
Joe was so absorbed in his own thoughts and flickering memories, he almost didn’t catch the fact that Chloe hadn’t mentioned Dave or his letter.
“So what were you doing in town in the first place?” Rick asked him. “Do you remember that?”
“No, they tell me that I had a letter from Dave Cummings in my pocket when they found me. According to military records, I served with him in the Marine Corps before we both got medically discharged.”
Joe told Rick about Dave’s death and hoped his brother didn’t ask what was in the dying man’s last letter. Because the truth was, Joe had no idea himself, since that was another thing that Chloe had yet to tell him.
Maybe that’s why he didn’t completely trust her.
Rick’s cell phone rang, and Joe wanted to throw the offending object into the yard. Didn’t the answering service realize that the vet had just found his long lost brother, and they had years to catch up on?
Rick looked at the screen and then silenced the phone before saying, “Listen, I know this is probably a lot for you to take in. And Lord knows that I want to spend the next two weeks out here with you catching up and helping you figure things out. But I don’t want to overwhelm you, and I promised Doc Peterson that I’d take care of his emergency calls while he’s on vacation.
I’d like to stop back tomorrow so I can check on Lola anyway. ”
“I’d like that,” Joe said.
“All right. I’ll see you then.”
Joe wasn’t sure if he should shake Rick’s hand, but his brother made the decision for him and pulled him into a tight squeeze, giving him a few solid thumps on the back. “Man, I missed you, Joey. We’ll have to play catch-up tomorrow.”
Joe was reluctant to let go, but he still had all his ranch chores to take care of and a lot of thinking to do. So he walked Rick out to his truck. All the while, he started a mental list of things to ask his brother.
As Rick got into his truck, Joe watched him drive away.
His life was finally coming together. He had a brother, a family. And his memory was slowly coming back, albeit in scattered pieces.
So why did he still feel unsettled—as if he still had unfinished business?
After Dr. Martinez left and Joe went to help Tomas with the chores, Chloe sat at the kitchen table, staring into her empty coffee mug.
She didn’t know what to make of it all. Joe’s discovery that he’d grown up in Brighton Valley and that he had a brother had been mind-boggling.
But what effect—if any—would that have on their budding relationship?
There hadn’t been any of the awkwardness she would have expected after they’d slept together, since they’d barely had a chance to touch upon it this morning. The foal’s birth had interrupted their conversation, making it easy to avoid asking him, “Now what? Where do we go from here?”
Then Dr. Martinez had provided another diversion when he’d arrived with his surprising revelation.
Chloe found the news almost overwhelming and couldn’t begin to imagine how Joe must feel.
Just moments ago, he’d asked her to call Sheriff Hollister and relay the recent development, which was probably because he was still trying to wrap his mind around it and wasn’t ready to talk about his thoughts.
So, using the kitchen phone, she dialed the sheriff’s office. When he answered, Chloe filled him in.
“Well, what do you know,” Sheriff Hollister said. “But I wonder why my deputy didn’t find any links to that family tie of Joe’s when he was going through high school yearbooks.”
“From what Dr. Martinez said, Joe must have changed his name to Wilcox after he left town.”
“Is that right? Hold on a sec.” The sheriff’s voice drifted when his mouth no longer spoke directly into the receiver.
“Taylor, bring me those Brighton Valley High yearbooks you were looking through.” After an unmistakable rustle of pages, the sheriff continued, “Yep, I found him. Joseph Martinez. He’s a sophomore here, just a kid, but I’m sure that’s him. ”
“Joe came to town to deliver Dave’s letter,” Chloe said. “But maybe he planned to get reacquainted with his brother while he was here.”
“That would be my guess. He rented that car for two weeks, so that would certainly give him time for a visit.”
She sure hoped that was the case. From what she’d gathered, Joe and Rick had been estranged after a falling-out—a bad one. Otherwise, Joe wouldn’t have left town, changed his name and not contacted Rick for ten years.
The fact that he might be the kind of man to hold a grudge was a real possibility. And if so, that wasn’t an admirable trait. Had she jumped into a sexual relationship too quickly? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
But last night had been so very different from her only other experience. It had not only been amazing, but it had been special. And, at least on her part, it had been a decision of the heart.
“By the way,” Sheriff Hollister said, “I was going to call him and let him know that we received an anonymous tip. One of the customers at the Stagecoach Inn drives a vehicle that matches the description of the one that hit him. We’re still investigating, so we haven’t made an arrest, but with that information, coupled with Joe’s apparent connection to Brighton Valley, I seriously doubt that he was a targeted victim.
So he doesn’t need to keep hiding out on the ranch anymore. ”
“It’s okay for him to go into town?”
“I’m sure it’s fine.”
“He’ll be glad to hear that.” And while Chloe took it as good news, too, she couldn’t say that she was especially happy that Joe was free to leave.
Sure, she was relieved to know that no one was out to get him.
And it warmed her heart to know that he had at least one family member who obviously loved him—and a local, upstanding citizen at that.
But still, at the same time, she found it unsettling.
She’d known there would come a time when he would go back to his old life, but what about the new one he’d just begun to create with her?
“If anything comes up,” Sheriff Hollister said, “or if we make an arrest, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks. Joe will appreciate that.”
Chloe had no more than ended the call when the subject of her thoughts walked into the kitchen and provided her with a brand-new dilemma.
Should she tell him that he was free to leave, that there was no need for him to stay cooped up on the Rocking C any longer? Or did she dare to keep the new information to herself so she could hold on to him a little longer?
Was there really even a choice?
“I came to get some water to take with me out to the pasture,” Joe said, as he hung his hat on the peg near the mudroom door.
She watched him proceed to the cupboard for an insulated jug. Then he carried it to the kitchen sink and turned on the spigot.
While he filled his container with water, she said, “I just got off the phone with Sheriff Hollister.” She went on to relate everything the lawman had told her.
“So I’m free to venture off the ranch now and head into Brighton Valley? I can actually leave?”
“That’s what he said. But if you’re not feeling up to it—or if you like being here—you’re welcome to stay as long as you want to.” She bit down on her lower lip, hoping he’d tell her that he didn’t want to go. That he’d come to...care for her. And, that after last night, he...might even love...
That possibility was almost too wild to imagine, although she’d felt her feelings drifting in that direction.
“I’d like to take a look around town,” he said. “It might spark more memories. But if it’s all the same to you, I’d feel more comfortable staying here on the ranch for a while.”
Chloe released the breath she’d been holding, but she reined in her enthusiasm. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“So what do you have planned for this afternoon?” he asked.
“I’m going to drive out to the nursing home.
I’d like to visit Sam Darnell and ask him a few questions about ranching.
But I can wait until you’re finished helping Tomas.
That way, you can come with me—if you want to.
And when we’re done, we can drive down Main Street.
Maybe we can even go to the ice-cream shop near town square. ”
He seemed to give the idea some thought before shaking his head. “I’d better pass. Tomas has a lot of work to do, and I know he’d appreciate my help. Maybe we can go into town next weekend.”