It didn’t take Remi long to find the blacksmith shop. She drove through the quaint little country town and glanced at the old brick storefronts. It was like stepping back in time to see a big courthouse sitting in the middle of a square. Two old men sat on benches out front of the building, talking, and people milled around the antiques shops. There was a hive of activity at the bakery. Horseshoe was a place where everyone knew each other and stopped and talked for a few minutes when they met on the street. It felt like home, even though she hadn’t lived here since she was a small child.
She stopped at a building that had trucks and trailers parked around it. A man in overalls and a chambray shirt sat on a stool welding a bumper. Sparks flew everywhere and through the hum of the torch she didn’t think the man could hear her. She didn’t know how to get his attention but she didn’t want to get near the sparks. Sadie didn’t like them, either, pulling back as Remi moved forward.
The man turned off the torch and removed his helmet. “Can I help you, ma’am?” Before she could respond, he added, “You must be new around here. I don’t think we’ve met.”
“I’m Bertie Snipes’s granddaughter.”
The man stood up and placed a baseball cap on his balding head. She noticed all the burn holes in his overalls and shirt. “You don’t say. Your mama took you away when you were just a baby. After the tragedy,” he added as an afterthought. “I bet Bertie’s happy to have you around.”
She held out the stick. “She said you might be able to help me. I’d like to put a top on this, like a cane. Do you think you could do that?”
He ran his hand along the stick. “This is a nice piece of oak and some fine whittling on it.”
“Yes. Do you think you could help me?”
“I’d need another piece of oak to finish it.”
“The person who made this got it from a branch that had fallen from a tree during a storm. There’s still more there.”
He peered at her through wire-rimmed glasses. “I didn’t know Bertie needed a cane. Why doesn’t she just buy one?”
At this point, there were a lot of things Remi could have said or she could’ve just said nothing. But this was where she became the mature adult and admitted out loud what Paxton had told her.
She took a deep breath. “It’s not for my grandmother. It’s for me.”
Mr. Wiznowski looked her over. “Now, a young thing like you, why would you need a cane?”
Her answer required another deep breath. She’d never said the words out loud and for the first time she knew she had to. “I was in a bad accident a few months ago and my left leg was...severely injured. It hasn’t completely healed and I have a problem with balance. The cane helps me with that, as does my dog.”
He adjusted his baseball cap. “I’m sorry to hear that. But why don’t you just buy a cane?”
She pointed to the stick. “Someone made that especially for me and I want to keep it.”
“Well, then, I’ll take a look at that tree branch and see if I can make you a top.”
Remi smiled. “I’d appreciate that. When do you think you can do it?”
“I’ll follow you out to Bertie’s and if the wood is good I can start work on it in the morning.” He nodded toward the bumper. “I have to finish this trailer hitch today.”
“Thank you.”
Mr. Wiznowski followed her back to the house and she showed him the branch, which he started at with a chain saw. The noise startled the geese. He finally held up a big piece. “I think this will do it.” He took out his pocket knife and scraped away some of the bark. “See, the branch forks here and I’ll be able to go up and over and get the top for the cane. I’ll put a long screw in the bottom to attach it to the stick and secure it with a couple of staples. It’ll take a lot of whittling and it won’t be treated or cured wood, but I’ll put a sealer on it to protect it.”
“Thank you.” Remi was happy he could make the cane.
Mr. Wiznowski looked at Remi. “I’ll need that.” He pointed to the stick in her hand, and she didn’t want to let it go. Reluctantly, she handed it to him.
“You’ll take good care of it, won’t you?”
He opened the door of his truck. “You bet. I’ll call tomorrow if I get it done.” He drove toward the corral and the cattle guard.
Slowly, she and Gran walked toward the house.
“You gonna apologize to Handsome?” Gran asked.
“Not tonight. I want the cane to be finished when I do that.”
“Why?”
Remi tightened her hand on Sadie’s collar. “I want him to know how important it is to me.”
“Or how important he is to you,” Gran said without missing a beat.
“I don’t know, Gran. I’m just feeling my way right now,” she admitted.
“Right into a heartache.”
Gran could be right and the fact that she was willing to take that risk meant she was much better. She wasn’t hiding behind the mask of pain or that mask of disability. She was facing life head-on.
* * *
PAXTON SPENT THE rest of the day working with Elias and Jude, repairing a fence that a bull kept breaking. Elias tightened the wires so tight the bull was going to get whiplash if he tried it again. They loaded up their tools and headed toward the barn.
Working with Elias and Jude was an exercise in patience. Elias talked all the time and Jude rarely spoke. He was one of the brothers who’d been shot by Ezra McCray. Ever since that day Jude spoke very little. Their parents had worried about him all the time. But it took a girl to open him up. He met Paige in high school and had no trouble talking to her. They fell in love and they got pregnant. They didn’t know what to do because Paige had a full scholarship waiting for her in California. They kept the pregnancy a secret. Paige spoke to a counselor in school and she suggested they give the baby up for adoption, which they did.
But once Paige had the baby and flew away to college, Jude couldn’t live with that decision. He talked to his mother and told her about the baby and she helped him get his son back. He raised Zane and they all pitched in. Twelve years later Paige returned and found out Jude had their son. She was furious and there were a lot of fireworks, but in the end they reconnected and today Jude was happy.
Elias was driving the Polaris Ranger and he hit a gopher hole, jarring all of them.
“If you can’t drive this thing, let me have the wheel,” Jude said, irritated.
“I’m driving, got it?”
“Then watch where you’re going,” Jude shot back.
But even Jude knew there was no arguing with Elias. He was a law unto himself. He did what he wanted, when he wanted and where he wanted. That was Elias and everyone knew to stay clear when he was angry. Because there was nothing Elias liked better than a good fight.
They made it to the barn without another incident. After storing away the tools, Paxton headed for the bunkhouse. He tried not to think about her all afternoon, but she was right there annoying the hell out of him. Why did he even care? That was what he couldn’t understand. Walking away was always easy. Why couldn’t he get her out of his head?
He sat on the sofa staring at that damn pie. Jericho came out of the bathroom, rubbing his head with a towel. “Where did the pie come from?” he asked.
“It was my payment for helping Miss Bertie.”
“Nice. What’s for supper? It’s your turn to cook.”
“Oh, man. I’d forgotten.” He got up and opened the refrigerator. “How about hot dogs and chocolate pie?”
“Sounds good.”
After dinner, Paxton finished off the last piece of pie and laid his fork in the plate. “Can I ask you a question?”
Rico held up his hands. “No.”
“I just want a yes or no. That’s it.”
Rico pushed back his paper plate. “Okay. I can do that.”
Paxton didn’t know quite how to word what he was feeling. He rolled it around in his head for a moment. “You’ve known me for a long time.”
“Yep.”
“Do you think I’m the kind of man who could love one woman forever? I mean, someone who’s not perfect, who needs someone there to help her occasionally.”
“You’re talking about the granddaughter again, aren’t you?”
“There’s something there that keeps pulling me toward her and I don’t know what it is. I think about her all the time. I don’t want to hurt her. I want to be sure about my feelings and I don’t know what they are. She makes me so mad sometimes and I know I should just walk away and leave her alone.”
“Why don’t you?”
“That’s my problem. She’s living in la-la land and not facing the reality of her situation.”
“Which is?”
“She has a lot of recovery ahead of her and she refuses to see she still needs help and she’s not completely well.”
“And that bothers you?”
Paxton picked up the paper plates and threw them in the trash. “I’ve never wanted to help anyone in my whole life. Since Dad died, my life has been about me and the rodeo. Of course, I help my mom and my brothers, but I’ve never had this kind of feeling like I have for Remi. I want her to get better and I want her to be realistic. I can’t explain it, but it’s eating me up.” He wiped his hands on a paper towel. “There’s something else. Because of the accident she can’t have children.”
“That’s a biggie.”
Paxton leaned against the cabinet. “Yeah. She’s trying to adopt her best friend’s little girl. Her friend died giving birth. She’s planning on being a single mother.”
“Wow. That’s a lot of problems for a free-living cowboy.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I just want to get her out of my mind.”
“You’ve only known her for a few weeks.” Rico got to his feet. “I said I wasn’t going to give advice, but you need to take some time to figure out what you’re feeling. This girl is going through a lot and is very vulnerable. My advice is to take it slow. And that’s my last word on the subject.”
“But you didn’t say if you thought I could love one woman forever.”
“You’re the only one who can answer that.”
Paxton washed what few dishes there were and decided to stay away from Remi, to give them both time. They barely knew each other. But deep inside he felt as if he’d known her forever. It was the strangest feeling in the world. Yet, it was the best.
* * *
REMI WAITED ALL Friday afternoon for Mr. Wiznowski to call. Gran said he was a man of his word and would call when he had it done and for her not to bother him. It was difficult not to call. But she waited. At six o’clock, the call came.
“Do you want me to varnish it?” Mr. Wiznowski asked.
“Yes. I would like that. Thank you.”
“Do you want me to file it down so the bottom part is smooth?”
“No. Leave it just like it is.” She wanted it just as Paxton had made it and the carving ridges helped her to get a better grip.
“Okay. You can pick it up first thing in the morning. The varnish should be dry by then.”
Her heart sank. She wanted to see Paxton tonight, but now she would have to wait until morning. “What time do you open?”
“I’m in the shop about 7:00 a.m.”
“I’ll be there, and thank you again.”
Gran turned from the sink, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “Willard has it ready?”
“Yes, but I can’t get it until the morning.”
“That’s not too long. It will give you some time to think.”
“I know. I know, Gran,” she said, walking toward her room. She didn’t want to discuss Paxton anymore. She just wanted to explore what she was feeling, and if she got hurt, then it would be her own fault.
She sat on the bed and pulled out her cell to call Sandy, the nurse on duty where Annie was. They had become fast friends and she knew she could talk to her.
“I know you’re on duty and I don’t want to keep you, but I’d just like to know how Annie is doing.”
“Hi, Remi. We’ve missed you around here.”
“I was asked to leave.” That still stung.
“I’m sorry, but that was CPS’s decision.”
“I know.”
“Annie is doing great. She’s enjoying all of this attention, so don’t worry about her.”
“But I do worry. CPS is going to rule in favor of a couple and I’ll lose her.”
There was silence on the line for a minute. “I’m sorry, Remi. I know how much you love her.”
“That doesn’t seem to count for much.”
“It’s not over. CPS is being very thorough and Annie will have the best there is. Just believe that.”
After a few more minutes of talking about nonessential things, Remi clicked off. She laid her phone on the bed. The best for Annie was Remi. She wrapped her arms around her waist. Paxton had told her she needed to prepare herself for the fact that she may not get Annie. How did she do that? Not by crying. Not by throwing a temper tantrum. And certainly not by sulking. Annie could have a good home with someone else. She had to start to believe that. It would take a while, though. Maybe a lifetime.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING Paxton dressed in his starched jeans and a white shirt and the gold belt buckle he’d won in Vegas years ago. Tonight he was going to have fun. He was going to make sure he didn’t overdo it, but he was getting out and pushing Remi from his head. That was the plan.
First, he had to go to the office and tell the family about the McCrays. He didn’t mention it yesterday because he wanted everyone together when he did. He only wanted to say it one time. The office filled up with all the brothers, Mom and Grandpa. Falcon and their mother took their seats behind their desks.
Falcon was the first to speak. “It’s Saturday so someone has to feed and check the herds. And we have fifty heifers going to a ranch in Lampasas Monday morning. Someone has to round them up and have them in the pens by Sunday night.”
“That’s a good job for you,” Elias said, and by his tone Paxton knew he was cruising for a fight. “You’re getting a little pudgy sitting behind that desk all the time.”
Falcon looked up with murder in his eyes. “You want to sit behind this desk, Elias, and make sure this ranch runs at a profit and that we all receive a paycheck every month? Because if you do, I’m willing to hand it over to you.”
Falcon’s words didn’t even faze Elias. “What I’m saying is Jericho and I do all the work around here. It’s time someone else stepped up.”
Elias was sitting next to Paxton and Paxton leaned over and whispered, “Have you been drinking?”
“No, but if you have a beer, I’ll take it.”
Egan intervened before any more words could be said. “Jude and I will handle the feeding for the weekend. And we’ll get the heifers in the pens by Sunday night.”
Falcon looked at Elias again. “Is that okay with you?”
“Hell, yeah.”
Their mother joined the conversation. “Son, if you wanted some time off, you should have said something. Take the weekend off. You, too, Jericho.”
Jericho held up his hand. “I’m fine. I’ll help Egan and Jude.”
Their mother stared at Elias. “What’s wrong with you this morning?”
“Aw, he fell off a chair last night putting in a lightbulb and hurt his back,” Grandpa said.
“I didn’t hurt anything,” Elias snapped, getting to his feet. “I need to be here for Grandpa.”
“No, you don’t,” Quincy said. “I’ll take care of Grandpa. He’s at our house most of the time, anyway.”
“Y’all are treating me like a little kid.” Grandpa got to his feet. “No one needs to take care of me. Now, I’m going to see Jenny and talk to the baby. You know, she reads to the baby and she lets me read, too. That way she can recognize my voice. Did I tell y’all what they’re going to name her?”
“About five times this morning,” Elias muttered.
Grandpa ignored him. “Martha Kate. Isn’t that a beautiful name? My Martha would be so happy.” He ambled toward the door and Paxton noticed there was a spring in his step. Naming the baby after their grandmother had given the old man a lift.
Paxton stood. “Wait, Grandpa. I have something to tell the family.” He had to tell them about the McCrays because he knew it would be all over town by tomorrow. Ira would make sure of that. “I had an incident with the McCrays yesterday and I wanted you to hear it from me.”
His mother was on her feet, worry in her eyes. “What happened?”
“After I finished with the cow at Miss Bertie’s, she insisted I stay for lunch. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. Ira and Ruger arrived soon after.” He told the story as it had happened. “They thought I was going to shoot them, like our father shot Ezra.”
He took a deep breath. “Ira said something about cold-blooded murder and I thought it was time to tell him the difference between cold-blooded murder and self-defense. I told them that they needed to acquaint themselves with the truth.”
His mother put her arm around his waist. “You handled the situation just right. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He felt like he was ten years old and had helped a little boy who was being bullied in school.
“Good job,” Falcon said.
“My boys know how to handle the McCrays.” Grandpa nodded. “Just never turn your back on ’em. Now I have to go talk to a baby.”
“Just a minute,” Falcon called.
“Now what?” Grandpa asked.
“Leah and I have paid off all our medical bills and we’ve decided to build a house. I talked to Mom and she said it’s okay if it’s all right with everyone else that I build the house across the road and take the land that goes all the way to the highway. Does anyone have a problem with that?” Falcon looked directly at Elias and Elias shrugged. No one had a problem with the deal.
Grandpa walked out the door and Elias eyed Paxton. “Why are you all dressed up?”
“Cole, Dakota and I are going to a small rodeo down around Houston to watch Dakota’s youngest brother ride his first bull. I told you a week ago.”
“I thought you were going to help me get the plumbing hooked up to the well today,” Phoenix said.
Paxton turned to his brother. “You never said anything.”
“I just thought you’d be here since you’re not riding in a rodeo.”
“No. I have plans, but I’ll help you Sunday afternoon.”
“I’ll help you,” Elias offered.
Phoenix looked at Elias. “Aren’t you taking the weekend off?”
“I’ll help you first. It won’t take long to hook it up.”
Their mom patted Elias on the back. “I’m glad my boys get along so well. That’s very nice, Elias.”
Everyone filed out of the office to go their separate ways. Paxton got in his truck and headed for a fun weekend. As he reached the end of Rebel Road, he glanced both ways. To the left he would travel to US-77 toward Brenham, Texas, to pick up Cole and Dakota, his rodeo buddies. To the right was the road to Miss Bertie’s. Part of him wanted to go to the right and apologize for interfering in Remi’s life. But the sensible part of him knew he should turn left.