Chapter 1 #2
The little girl had been holding back slightly behind her mother, her blue eyes observing everything with a serious, careful gaze. But when her name was mentioned, she straightened up and moved forward, her manners kicking in.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for having us.” Her accent carried hints of Texas, but softer than her father’s.
“Oh my, of course, sweetheart. I’m so happy you’re here. Beckett, why don’t you take Della inside and show her your toy horses?” Susan’s grandmotherly instincts clearly overrode her nervousness.
The little boy’s eyes lit up. “Do you like horses? I’ve got at least seventeen or twenty. Plus a real special one that Jewel gave me. It’s a mustang one.”
Della’s careful composure just slightly cracked, revealing the little girl underneath. “I love horses! I help Daddy and Mama with the horses at home. We have twelve.”
“Real ones?” Beckett’s eyes went wide with awe.
“Yeah, real ones. But they’re working horses, not show horses. I get to help Mama feed them every morning before school.”
“That’s so cool! Come on, I’ll show you all my play ones. Maybe Jewel will take us to see Cookie Monster and Sundancer later. They’re real!”
As the two children went into the house, their chatter fading, she felt some of the tension in her chest relax. It seemed like at least one part of this situation might be simple.
However, the adults were a completely different story.
Conrad moved to the back of the truck, lowered the tailgate down harder than needed, and when Sylvie tried to help, he shook his head sharply. “I’ve got it.”
“Conrad—”
“I said I’ve got it.” His voice was sharp and steady, with a hint of tension that made her instincts tingle.
Sylvie’s jaw tightened, and she turned away from him, moving toward Susan instead.
“I hope it’s okay that we came.” She glanced back at her husband, who was now hauling duffel bags out of the truck bed like a man on a mission.
“Conrad was planning to come alone, but during times like this, I think family should be together. And Della’s been asking about meeting her grandmother in New York for a long time. It seemed like now was the right time.”
Susan’s smile was warm but still a little unsure as she looked between Sylvie and Conrad. “It’s more than okay. You’re always welcome here.”
When Cole stepped forward to help with the bags, Jewel watched the careful choreography of the two brothers as they moved around each other. Maintaining distance and avoiding eye contact, each carried the luggage as if they were handling explosives.
Susan’s voice cut through, sounding overly cheerful and forced. “So, how was the drive?”
Conrad scowled. “Long.”
“It was fine.” Sylvie shot her husband a look that suggested they’d had this exact exchange many times before.
Conrad clenched his hands around the duffel bag. “Maybe you should go check on Della.”
“Della’s fine. She’s inside playing with Beckett. I’m sure they’re getting along great.” Sylvie’s tone was pleasant, but there was steel underneath.
The subtext hung in the air. Unlike some people.
Cole cleared his throat. “Let’s get you settled. Where did you want them, Mom?”
Susan’s face brightened, grateful for the change of subject. “Oh! Yes. I already prepared the guest room for Conrad, and there’s a pull-out sofa in the office that Della can use.”
Sylvie glanced at her husband and then back at Susan. “Actually, if it’s all the same, Della can sleep with me. She doesn’t sleep well in unfamiliar places, and I don’t want her keeping anyone awake.”
Conrad’s expression went very cold. “Sylvie.”
Completely ignoring her husband, she smiled at Susan. “Is there anything I can help with? Dinner maybe? I’m pretty handy in the kitchen, and something smells incredible.”
Susan practically lit up under the praise. “Oh, would you? I made a coffee cake, and I was planning to make dinner tonight, but with all the excitement, I’m not so sure I’m up for it.”
Sylvie was already heading toward the house, her steps confident. “Say no more. Just point me toward your pantry, and I’ll whip something up. I’ve been cooking for ranch hands for eight years. Feeding this crew will be easy.”
Jewel turned to follow them, instantly liking this woman. She saw no pretenses in her, no cautious maneuvering for position. Just direct competence and a readiness to help.
As they all headed into the house, Cole caught her eye, and she saw a flicker of relief in his expression. It seemed to say, See? I knew you’d like her.
But the old tension between the brothers still lingered, thick and suffocating. And now, a new layer of strain had been added to that. It was clear that some unspoken conflict existed between Conrad and his wife.
Inside, they found Beckett and Della on the living room floor, with his plastic horses arranged in intricate formations as he explained the detailed backstory of each one.
“This one is Thunderbolt, and he’s the bravest. And this one is Starlight; she’s the fastest. And this one—”
“Is that one a mustang?” Della pointed to the horse Jewel had given Beck just last week.
“Yeah! Jewel gave it to me. His name’s Spirit, like in the movie. Did you watch it?”
“Like a hundred times! It’s my favorite.”
Beck’s face brightened with the joy of discovering a kindred spirit. “Mine too! Want to watch it later?”
Della turned to Sylvie with hopeful eyes. “Can we, Mama?”
“If it’s okay with Mrs. Blackwell—I mean, Susan,” she corrected herself with a sheepish smile.
“Of course it is. I think I have the DVD somewhere.” Susan beamed, the earlier tension in her face smoothing out
Conrad set down the last of the bags with a heavy thud. “Della, we don’t want to impose.”
Cole cut in, his voice carrying just a hint of challenge. “She’s not imposing. Beckett loves that movie. They can watch it together.”
The brothers locked eyes, and Jewel could almost see the built-up resentment sparking between them.
Susan looked around a bit too cheerfully. “Well, then, why don’t we all have some of that coffee cake? I’m sure everyone could use a little something after such a long drive.”
Sylvie was already heading toward the kitchen. “I’ll get plates.”
“I’ll help.” Jewel started toward the kitchen, but Sylvie waved her off.
“You stay put. I’m guessing you’ve been doing enough helping around here lately. Let me earn my keep for a little while.”
So, Jewel settled onto the edge of the couch, hyperaware of Cole standing across the room, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. Meanwhile, Conrad sat in the armchair farthest from everyone else, his posture stiff and his expression unreadable.
And among them all was Susan, fluttering around, trying to serve as hostess, peacemaker, and mother simultaneously, the strain visible in the tightness around her eyes.
From the kitchen, Jewel heard Sylvie opening cabinets, plates clinking, and the smooth confidence of someone who knew their way around any kitchen.
Through the archway, she watched her moving effortlessly and wondered what it might be like to be married to Conrad Blackwell—navigating his intensity and grudges, raising a daughter, and running a ranch.
Finally, Susan sat down in her usual chair, her needlepoint basket close by. “So, how’s the ranch doing?”
Conrad’s expression softened slightly. “Good. We’ve expanded the breeding program. We got some excellent stock this year.”
“That’s wonderful. And the rest of your business is good?” Even if her voice trembled slightly, Susan’s smile was genuine.
“Business is fine.”
That, unfortunately, was where the conversation died, wilting under the weight of decades of unspoken resentment.
Cole shifted against the doorframe. “How long are you planning to stay?”
It was a simple question, asked in a neutral tone, but his meaning was clear. How long do I have to put up with you?
Conrad’s jaw tightened. “For as long as it takes. The surgery’s in four days. I’ll probably stay through the recovery period. Make sure you and Mom are stable. Four to six weeks. Maybe more.”
“Six weeks? Geez, Conrad. What about your ranch?” The words seemed to escape him before he could stop them.
Sylvie came from the kitchen carrying a tray with coffee cake slices and forks. “The ranch will be fine. We have an excellent foreman. And I’ll be going back in a few weeks to help manage things as well.”
Conrad’s head snapped toward her. “What? I thought you’d go back in a few days?”
Sylvie placed the tray quietly on the coffee table. “I’m going back in a few weeks. Long enough to get everything settled for your mother. Then you’re staying here to help your brother and your mother, while Della and I return to Texas to keep the ranch running. That’s what we agreed on, remember?”
“We agreed you’d go back before me. Not in a few weeks. Della needs her routine.”
“Our daughter needs some time with her grandmother and a chance to get to know her cousin. She needs a few weeks to become familiar with them, Conrad, and you know it.”
“What I know is she shouldn’t have come in the first place. I told you I needed to do this alone.” His words were harsh and clipped.
Sylvie’s expression became very calm and still.
The kind of stillness that comes right before a storm.
“And I told you that your mother needed to meet her granddaughter. That Della deserves to know her grandmother before the surgery, in case—” She stopped, glancing over at Susan.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”