He liked that.The sciences.The statistics.The gut instincts.
“More we see how they perform.What works.It’s the riders who train.”Cash took a last bite of his pie, leaned back on his boots and spurs, Kevlar vest open.“Mostly in how to fall off and get the hell out of the way.”
Cash turned away, swore softly, and then turned back.“Listen to me.All this”—he swept his arm out to indicate the outdoor area near the arena with the heat lamps cheerily cranking out the heat—“this ranch, these people, their dreams and hard work and support of each other was a total closed door to me a little over a month ago.I wasn’t sure it existed, and I sure didn’t think they’d roll open the welcome door for me,” Cash said passionately.“I want to do the same for you, if you’re willing.”
Telford was so shocked he choked on a bite of pizza.Cash pounded his back.
“That felt harder than necessary,” Telford said.
Cash grinned.“Family.It’s always personal.”
“We don’t know for sure,” Telford qualified—why did no one want to wait for science.Facts?Maybe that was why his bio dad—his maybe bio dad—thought he could cause some hurt?The Telfords were too wide open.
“She talk about him much?”Cash interrogated between aggressive bites of pizza that he chewed like he was in a hurry.
He didn’t everything fast, Telford had noted, whereas he had always been calm, measured.
“No.Told me his name.Told me he had the face of an angel, body of a god, and rode like the devil and took off before she knew about me.”
“Hell of a thing to say to a kid.”
“I made the mistake of asking one night.She’d had a couple of friends over, and they’d shared some wine.She never talked about my bio dad, and she never dated because of me, and I had a school project about family, so I pushed it.Didn’t ask again.”
Cash laughed, then scowled “Bastard.No care for anyone but himself.”
“’Scuse us for a second, ma’am.”Cash tipped his hat at Ayana and turned on heel, slung his arm around Telford’s shoulders, and pulled him in along into the small crowd of men milling around the outdoor pizza oven merrily blazing in the black velvet night.Lights were strung through the oak trees and a few propane heaters pumped out heat.Riley Telford, balancing a guitar across her lap, sat on a picnic table with one of the girls from the library and Harry’s House.She strummed the guitar, while the girl, also holding a guitar, but with far less comfort, tried to follow the chord structure.
“Your mom cool that you’re here?”Cash asked.
He pulled another beer from the cooler, popped the cap, flicked it into a trash can about twenty feet away as if it was nothing and handed the beer over.
“My mom died when I was eight.She was killed.”And that was all he was saying.
Cash continued to look at him.“So you’re alone?”
“I have my wife.”
Cash clinked his beer to Telford’s that was still full.Funny.Telford had thought of Ayana before Cam.She’d really gotten in deep.
“Gonna have to toughen you up, cowboy,” Cash said, looking him over, his grin sliding into something a little bit wicked.
“I’m not a cowboy,” Telford said.
These men were real cowboys, stewards of the land.He’d lost access to that years ago.
“You were born to the life.You can get it back, if you want to work for it.”
Telford looked into the face so like his own, the eyes dark and steady and sure with purpose.“Our lives are what we make them.”It felt like a vow.
“Hell, yeah,” Cash said.“I’ve built a career I’m proud of.And I’m creating a family and will stick in a way that loser never could or would.”
Telford could tell he meant it, and longing swept through him.He’d said something similar to Ayana today—that if they had a child he’d stick.Could he have a family?His marriage to Ayana wasn’t the same as Cash’s to Madelyn’s or his possible cousins to their wives or husbands.But maybe he’d have a shot.Maybe Ayana too would want to fight for something real.
“I’ve been holding something back.Wanted to get your measure,” Cash said.“But first.You are a blood brother, which means you are coming to the wedding and the events in the next few days.”
“But I… we don’t… we barely know each other,” Telford stammered like he was a shy kid again.
The invitation was so unexpected.And the sharp stab of surprise combined with what felt like happiness unnerved him.It meant more than he wanted it to.
