“Sounds hard,” I said, looking at Iris in a new light. “It’s not easy to change your mindset.”
“I think I always knew I had different beliefs, but I was always too afraid to speak up and if I said the things they wanted to hear, then my life was a lot easier,” she said, biting her lip. “It took coming to Sterling Ridge to realize that my brothers weren’t the bad people my parents had made them out to be, and that I missed out on so much with them because of my parents. I guess that's why I haven't made a big push for the farm because well… I resent my parents and what that farm stood for and what it did to our family.”
Iris’s lip quivered. It gutted me and before I could think about it, I pulled her into my arms.
“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with all of this on your own,” I said, squeezing her a little tighter.
“It’s ok, I mean?—”
“No, it’s not ok,” I said, pulling away to look at her. “It’s not fair you’ve had to deal with this on your own. Your brothers should have helped you, it's as much their farm as it is yours.”
She shook her head. “My parents were awful to my brothers and if you didn’t put the farm first then you were basically the worst child. They didn’t treat Theo the best either, choosing toignore his diagnosis and the bullying he received at school. So, when Uncle Archie passed away, he left the ranch to Theo. I used to hate him for leaving, but now that I know the truth, I can see why he left.”
A tear slowly slid down her cheek. Her hazel eyes shiny with tears as she attempted to smile.
“You don’t have to smile with me, Iris. You don’t have to pretend to be strong and show that you have everything together. You’re safe with me and if you ever need help with Nash or his father, I’m a pretty good negotiator and I’m pretty good at telling people to fuck off.”
She chuckled like I hoped she would.
“Thanks, Beau, and I’m sorry for?—”
“You have nothing to be sorry for and I’m glad you told someone because it sounds like no one knows what you are going through,” I said, wiping her tears and then hugging her again.
“My brother’s fiancé Nova does, but it’s hard to talk when she has her men always around her,” she said, leaning against me. “But thank you for listening. I…this was nice and I needed it.”
“I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I’ll be here for you,” I said, feeling a little protective of her. “I know what it feels like to carry something like this and it’s a lonely existence.”
Iris pushed herself away, studying me. “What are you carrying?”
I wanted to tell her so much, everything that I had been carrying for years.
“I think that's a story for another day, come on, you gotta eat,” I said deflecting.
Iris narrowed her eyes. “Fine, keep your secrets, but I’m here, too. We don’t have to do this alone.”
She hugged me again, squeezing me a little tighter, easing some tension in me that I had been carrying around for toolong. I kissed her forehead, telling myself that this was just a friendship and nothing more. For god’s sake, she was a married woman.
8
nash
My phone had beensilent other than the two calls from my brother and another from Jo. It had been four days since I’d seen Iris at The Boozy Bandit. I had texted her twice each day trying to sound as pleasant as possible, offering to take her to lunch or bring her dinner, anything to get a moment alone with her.
Everything had gone unanswered.
I sat at the bed-and-breakfast dining room table staring at my phone, drinking a cup of coffee, willing a message to come from her, even if it was to tell me to fuck off. The silence was killing me, but it didn’t surprise me. I had given her the same treatment and this was payback.
I sighed as Colleen, the woman who owned the B&B, came out of the kitchen with breakfast. She hummed as she placed a few plates of food in the middle of the table, then left one in front of me.
“Colleen, I told you I wasn’t hungry,” I grumbled, as the smell of sausage and gravy invaded my senses.
“And I know a hungry man when I see one,” she said, refilling my cup of coffee. “Now eat before it gets cold.”
The biscuits and gravy smelled delicious, but with rodeo season on the horizon I had to watch what I ate. I swear this woman was trying to fatten me up to slaughter me out back.
I scowled, picking up my fork. “Toast would have been fine.”
“Just say thank you and eat.” She gently slapped my shoulder.
