Chapter Fourteen

 

 

He sent Callie on ahead while he straightened things up, stripped the sheets off the bed, cleaned up the bathroom where they had showered together, and locked up the cabin. Lingering on the porch, Murphy leaned against a post and watched the dust trail behind her SUV as she slowly made her way back to the ranch house.

Seemed this was a scene he was destined to experience. Her leaving. Him staying. Maybe it was time he got used to it. It might have to be the thing he had to reconcile in his head, in order to keep her in his life. Perhaps he could live with having her part-time. That was better than nothing, right?

Now that they had made love, that was going to be a very difficult thing to come to terms with. Hell, he never came to terms with it before they’d slept together—he might as well forget that happening now.

He had to push it all aside. At least for now. The next two days were going to be hard enough on everyone. He didn’t need to add worrying about what was to come on top of all of that. And he didn’t need to stress Callie about it, either. So, there would be no pressure from him. None at all. He’d let things be for now. Tonight was her father’s visitation in Livingston, tomorrow the memorial and burial. Somehow, though, he thought it all might go a little easier for him, if he knew that she was staying.

He was wishing on thin mountain air.

No. He was going to have to deal. Callie had a funeral to get through, and he’d be there for her. He was not going to be the source of any additional pressure.

Let’s just get through these two days.

Glancing up into the big blue Montana sky, he nodded toward the heavens. If the old man was up there looking down, he sure wished he’d give him a sign that everything would be okay.

Of course, it was just like James McKenna to let them all figure it out on their own.

“But I swear, Callie McKenna.” He lowered his gaze and watched her truck disappear over the horizon. “I don’t think I can stand watching you walk away again.”

He glanced back up into the sky. “If you got any clout at all up there, old man, I sure would appreciate it, if you could talk some sense into your baby girl.”

****

Callie never expected an interrogation team to meet her over coffee at Parker’s kitchen table, but as she pushed through the back door, there they were. All three siblings. Drinking coffee. Evidence of breakfast was scattered on the counter.

“Well?”

“Where’s Murphy?”

“Is he okay?”

“Are you okay?”

“Did you tell him you love him?”

“Did you break his heart?”

The questions finally stopped. Callie let the back door drift closed behind her.

“Still at the cabin. Yes. Yes. Yes. And No.”

Brody screwed up his face. “I’m not sure I have all of that straight.”

“Oh, hells bells!” She pulled out a chair and sat. “Got more coffee?”

Parker nodded and headed for the coffee maker. In a moment, he was back with a hot steaming cup placed on the table before her.

She took a sip, and then relaxed her shoulders a bit. When had she tensed up? Oh yeah, it started happening as she was driving back down the hill, way overthinking nearly everything that had happened the past ten hours.

“Murphy is fine. He’s on his way, I’m sure. I’m okay, too. And yes, we both confessed our undying love to each other.”

“But did you break his heart?”

“No!” Her voice raised a little louder than she wanted, but dammit!

“Thank God!” Smiling, Mercer shot up off her chair and raced to hug her sister. Callie stood and braced herself at her sister’s excitement. “I knew it. Oh, I’m so happy you’re going to stay!”

Callie pushed back and steadied Mercer, hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Whoa.”

“Whoa?”

Parker interjected, “What does that mean, Callie? Whoa?”

She glanced from one sibling to another. “What that means is slow down. Let’s not put the cart before the horse.”

Parker stared at her. “Did you sleep together?”

Surprised, Callie blinked. “What?”

Mercer stepped back, hands on hips. “Dammit, Callie, if you slept with him and you’re leaving him. I swear, that is the most unfair thing.”

She backed up a couple of steps. “Wait a minute.”

Brody stood, too, and now all three of them were staring at her.

“Look. What Murphy and I did, or did not do, up at the cabin is none of your business. That is between the two of us. We are working things out. I don’t need any of you screwing around in this, do you hear me?”

“So, you’re working it out. That’s good news, right?”

“Mercer, that means… Oh hell. I don’t want to get into this right now.” She headed for the front room and the stairs. “Can we talk about this later?”

Brody sidestepped and stopped her. “It will kill him if you leave him now, Callie.”

She whirled. “And it wouldn’t kill me? Why are you all so worried about Murphy? What about me? It’s always, ‘don’t break his heart, Callie,’ well, what about my heart? Don’t you think it might break my heart when I leave, too?”

Silence filled the big kitchen.

“Then you are leaving.” Parker shook his head.

A heavy sigh burst from her throat. “Yes. Nothing has changed. In two weeks, I am leaving. I have a job. In fact, I recently got a huge promotion. It’s more money than I could make anywhere out here. I need to go back to it. That has nothing to do with Murphy and me. Okay?”

Mercer half-stepped forward. “Callie, are you sure?”

She nodded. “Yes. This is the right decision. I need to see through what I’ve started in New York. And Parker, I told you when I go back, I’ll help with the ranch. I’ll invest in the cattle. Whatever you need. And I will definitely be home more to help.”

“Well, that’s a good thing!” Mercer said.

Callie was focused on Parker. She studied her big brother. He stood tall and proud, hands on hips, shaking his head. “Callie, this isn’t about the ranch. This is about you and Murphy. Forget the ranch. Forget the job in New York. You need to get your priorities straight, and you need to do it damned quick.”

Those words not only stunned but confused the hell out of her, and there was too much rolling around in her head at the moment to try to figure it out.

So, she did the only thing she knew how to do.

She left.

She turned on her heel and headed for the stairs. “I’ll see all of you at the visitation.”

****

Callie spent the remainder of the morning in her room. She slept for a while, cried a little, contemplated the night she had just spent with Murphy, and finally showered and dressed for the afternoon visitation. They had a bit of a drive into Livingston, and the funeral director wanted them all there early.

Blessed to have some alone time, she took her time not only to think, but to process so many things. She talked to no one, not even Murphy. On one hand, it seemed her life was doing a slow unraveling. On the other, she felt more confident and assured about some things than she had in a long time.

But as she descended the stairs and headed into Parker’s great room, the reality of the visitation and her father’s death hit her smack in the face. By the time she reached the bottom step, her heart was heavy and she was close to tears. When she rounded the corner and saw all of her siblings, Liz, and Murphy standing their waiting for her, she totally lost it.

“I…” she started. “I can’t believe this is happening.” The dam burst and all of a sudden, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

Murphy stepped forward and wrapped her up in his arms. He held her and kissed her on the top of her head. His strength, his warmth, his comfort, was exactly what she needed.

“Let’s go,” he whispered. “I’m right here by your side. You are not alone.”

Callie knew at that moment she loved him more than anything. Even more than her stupid job in New York.

****

Murphy held her hand the entire drive into Livingston. He helped her into his truck and drove with one hand the whole way, just so they could stay physically connected. He let her stare out the window and think, and didn’t offer to break the silence she needed.

But he was there. Beside her. And that was enough.

He didn’t hover during the visitation but was never far from her side. She found herself watching for him, catching his eye from time to time, while she stood in the receiving line. She found great comfort in his closeness, and on those occasions when tears threatened, his presence manifested behind her, a soft hand nestled in the small of her back, a tissue in her palm.

It was more than having his comfort at this terrible time. It was more than the fact they’d spent an incredible night together. It was love, pure and simple.

Love, trust. Commitment.

He was totally devoted to her, and that meant everything.

Community members came and went. The hours slipped by. And finally, each of them had a last chance to say goodbye to James McKenna before they closed the casket.

Liz went into the small, separate room where James rested first. Mercer and Brody followed together. Parker gave her a glance and went in alone after she nodded at him to go ahead. He lingered longer than the others. Finally, he came out swiping at this nose, crossed the room to Callie, and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. He pulled back and nodded.

It was her turn.

Callie swallowed hard, her lips and mouth suddenly dry. She longed to pull her lip balm out of her purse, but didn’t. An ache hit the back of her throat as tears welled up again. She stepped forward one step, then another, and stopped.

Turning, she looked to her family, but she couldn’t find Murphy. She scanned the room, shaking her head. Where was he?

“Murphy?”

He stepped around a corner and their eyes met. Just like him to think he wasn’t family. Well, he was wrong. She held out her hand and he moved forward, holding her gaze until their fingers touched.

They said good-bye to her father together.