Chapter 22

“Will ya stop that infernal whistlin’?” Chuck pleaded.

Tess laughed and slapped him on the back as they rode along the ridge. “I’m happy. In two weeks, you’ll have the herd on its way to Colorado, and I’ve found a way to keep the ranch going. Why shouldn’t I be whistling?”

“You’re going with us on the drive?”

“No. You don’t need me. Jack is doing fine, you’ll have enough with Claude’s men, as well. I need to get everything set to turn this place into a working ranch. I need to get our lawyer in on it. And there’re renovations to be done.”

“And just how are we going to afford that?”

“I’ve been saving over the years.”

“Your dad will not let you use your pension.”

“I’m not. Just my personal savings. We’ll be fine. So there’s no reason not to whistle.”

Chuck laughed. “I don’t suppose Claire Redmond has anything to do with it.”

Tess smiled. “She has everything to do with it. I never thought I’d be this happy or content.”

“I’m happy for ya. And Jack seems to be okay with it, as well.”

“I know. Claire and I are very lucky in that regard.” She saw the glance from Chuck. “What? Has Jack talked to you?”

“No, no. He admires you, Tess, and Jed. He loves his mother. It’s just that…”

“What? Will you spit it out?”

“Tess. He may be only sixteen, but he still considers himself the man of the family. Now he’s said nothin’ to me, but I see he wants to make sure his mother is cared for and happy.”

Tess chewed on that for a minute or two. “You’re right. He’s been the only man in her life. I’ll have a talk with him. As an adult. He deserves that.” The idea of actually talking to Jack about this made her insides flip.

Mercifully, Chuck changed the topic. “This cattle drive might be the last one the Double R has.” He looked around the landscape. “I remember when I was a kid. Your granddad used to let me ride the herd with him. He told me this would be here forever. People gotta eat and they love beef. His beef was the best in these parts,” Chuck said, and Tess listened as they trotted along. “Jeremiah did good things with this grass. Took a few years, but look at it. Green and healthy and the cattle love it. Look how healthy they are compared to Claude’s.”

Tess glanced at the small herd and had to agree. “But he’ll get Double R prices. Claude will keep his ranch. I don’t know how much time we have left in this business. It’s changing and we have to change with it.”

“Mmm,” Chuck grunted. “Wet nursin’ a bunch of New Yorkers.”

For the next few days, Tess and Claire grinned like two schoolgirls every time their gazes met. Claire would grin and look down at her plate, and Tess smiled as she drank her coffee. One afternoon, however, the serious side came out in Tess while she and Claire were sitting on the back porch. She explained her conversation with Chuck.

“Tess, we’re adults. Jack understands perfectly.”

“I know,” Tess said as Jack rode back from the herd. “Here he is.” She waited until he got to the corral. “Jack, I need to talk to you,” Tess called out from the porch. Claire groaned. “It’s fine, sweetie. I have to talk to him.”

“Tess, this is unnecessary, honey.”

“No, it’s not. Now trust me.” She ignored Claire’s sarcastic grunt. “Let me do this. It’s important.”

Jack took off his work gloves and nodded. He slapped Zeus on the flank, sending the black stallion into the corral. Taking off his hat, he wiped his brow with his forearm. In that one gesture, Tess was amazed how much he looked like his mother and how much older he seemed. He was on the verge of going to college, an intelligent young man, and he deserved to be treated as such. He was Claire’s only child.

Claire shook her head. “Tess, really. It’s—”

“What’s up, Tess?” Jack walked up to the back porch; he looked from his mother to Tess.

“I, we’d like to talk to you,” Tess said, finding no moisture in her mouth at all. Her hands were shaking, as well. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea…

“Sure,” Jack said and climbed the steps.

“What’s going on?” Jed asked as he walked onto the porch.

Chuck was right behind him, eating a bowl of ice cream.

Realizing too late just how bad an idea this was, Tess hung her head. “Nothing is going on. Claire and I—”

“This was your idea,” Claire reminded her.

Tess rubbed her temples. “All right. I’d like to talk to Jack.”

“About what?” Chuck asked. “Claire, where did you get this ice cream? Is it peach?”

“Yes. Isn’t it great?”

“Okay. Hold on now,” Jed said. “Tess wants to talk to Jack alone.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Tess said with a sigh of relief.

“But that’s not going to happen, so continue,” Jed said and sat in the rocker.

Tess looked at Claire, who was trying not to grin. Tess blushed furiously when she saw the confused look on all three men. “I’d like to talk to you about your mother and me.”

With that, Jed and Chuck stood and rushed for the back door. Bumping into each other, they finally got the screen door open and made a quick exit.

“So okay,” Jack said to Tess.

“As you know.” She cleared her throat. “I, uh.” She looked at Jack, who looked as though he was trying to comprehend what she was saying, if his deep frown meant anything, that is. Tess tried another tack. “You know I’m fond of your mother, Jack.”

“Sure.”

“And, well, I just want you to know I’m fond of her.”

“O-okay,” Jack said slowly; he glanced at Claire, who smiled happily, watching Tess struggle. “Are you saying you want to date Mom?”

Tess chuckled. “I want to do more than that.”

Jack’s eyes bugged out of his head, as did Claire’s. All of them heard the clang as the spoon hit the kitchen floor.

“What’s wrong?” Tess asked both of them. Then it dawned on her. “Oh, my God! No. No. I mean, yes that, but no…” She stopped and painfully rubbed her forehead. This was not going how she imagined. “I love your mother. Love like, ya know love, in love, not love, like just love.”

“Good Lord,” Claire mumbled, avoiding her son.

“Okay, I get it,” Jack said. “You’re in love with Mom, right?”

“Yeah, um, right.”

“And, Mom, are you in love with Tess?”

“Yes, sweetie. I’m stuck.”

Jack laughed along with his mother, then grew serious. “As long as you take care of Mom and make her happy, it’s cool with me. If that’s what you were gonna ask.”

Tess nodded, holding her hands out in a helpless gesture. “Pretty much, yeah.”

“Great.” Jack kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’m gonna take Zeus for a ride.”

“Okay, sweetie. Dinner at six.”

Jack turned to Tess and kissed her cheek, as well. “Welcome to the family.”

Tess laughed. “Same to you.” She watched Jack bound off the porch. “What a kid.”

Claire walked up to her and put her hands on her shoulders. “Nice speech.”

“It kinda got away from me.”

“So you want more of me, huh?” Claire whispered against her cheek.

“Hell, yeah. Now that it’s okay with your son.”

Дата добавления: 2015-10-16