16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

"We need to be smart about how we tackle this list. How big is Rocky Whipple?" Tim asked Ryan as they stood in the boys' department of Macy's at Valley View Mall in Roanoke.

Ryan brought along a handwritten list, and while everything wasn't spelled perfectly, Tim could make out the intent. The boy was on a mission to buy gifts for the Whipple family, and Tim was going to let him.

While Ryan was busy getting dressed, Tim had called his new lawyer, Ronni Turnberry. It was sort of a test regarding his alleged windfall… he instructed her to make a draw on the trust as soon as she could make it happen. She asked how much and for his checking account information.

When Tim stopped at an ATM to get cash, after taking Matt to the airport for his trip to El Paso, Tim did a double take at his account balance. The woman hadn't lied. The cash Tim had requested was there, down to the penny.

He also gave the lawyer Cindy Whipple's name and asked if she could have someone check into the Whipple family's living arrangements and the current status of the mother's health. Ronni told him it was no problem to investigate both issues, promising him information by close of business on Monday.

Tim decided it was best to try to dissuade Ryan of buying most of the things on his extensive shopping list because Tim had a better idea of how to help the family. No way was he getting out of buying Rocky a new coat. It was a priority for Ryan, and Tim damn well wouldn't do anything to quell the boy's compassionate heart.

"He's bigger than me, Timmy. I think Gramma Jeri knows his momma ‘cause of school. Can we call and ask her?"

Tim nodded and directed them over to a quiet corner of the store, retrieving his cell phone to call Miss Jeri. It rang twice before the woman answered. "Hello, Tim. How you doin', honey? How's the shoppin'?"

Jeri and he had talked the day before about Tim's and Ryan's plans to do a little shopping after dropping Matt off at the airport. She'd hugged Tim tightly when he told her it was just going to be Ryan and him so they could start some traditions. It seemed to make her happy, but she didn't explain it more than saying, "It's about time somebody did."

"It's going fine, but I have a question I forgot to ask. Do you know Cindy Whipple and her little boy, Rocky?" Jeri was silent for a moment, and Tim heard a heavy sigh.

"I know of her, son, but I never met her in person. Hear tell, Cindy has MS, but she was in remission. Now, it's come back and she's havin' a hard time of it. She doesn't want any help, though, or so some of the gossips are sayin'. Why?" Jeri's comment made it sound like she definitely had her ear to the grapevine, and Tim wanted to laugh.

Tim filled Jeri in on what Ryan had told him and what the two of them were trying to do regarding the winter coat for young Rocky. Tim would explain the rest of the story to her another time because the coat was of immediate importance. "If you're buyin' the boy a winter coat, I'd get a size twelve. If I remember correctly, Rocky's older and taller than Ryan, and Ryan wears an eight," Jeri offered.

Tim chuckled. " Gramma, you haven't been paying a lot of attention lately. I bought him some shirts and jeans, and they're size ten. He's getting Matt's height, I'm sure. So, should I get a size twelve or a fourteen coat? I don't want the kid to swim in it, but it might be good for it to be a little big so he can grow into it."

" Crap ! Let me call Miss Blankenship, Ryan's teacher. She'd be the one to know. I'll call ya back." The line went dead.

Tim put the phone in his coat pocket and looked at the boy. "Gramma's gonna call back. In the meantime, let's go pay for your stuff. We'll get the coat, I promise, but we need to wait until we hear from Gramma Jeri."

He took Ryan's hand and the two walked to the cashier. Tim paid for the clothes while Ryan looked at the Christmas decorations. After the bag was in hand, Ryan turned to Tim. "We need to get a tree and stuff. I wish Daddy was here."

Tim quickly stooped down to stop the boy from getting upset right there in the store. "Now, don't worry. We have plenty of time to get everything before Christmas. We also have plenty of time to go visit Santa. Your dad wants to be with you when you tell him what you want."

"I don't want nothin' for me, Tim. It's for Rocky and his momma. They need a lot of stuff I think, and I wanna use my Christmas wish for them." Ryan had the most earnest look on his face that Tim's heart squeezed in his chest.

Tim considered his words for a minute before he had another idea. "Okay, how about you run it past me while we have lunch, and we'll make a plan for Santa another day when your dad can come with us? We have plenty of time to tell your wish to Santa before Christmas."

Thankfully, Ryan's tummy growled, so he acquiesced to the suggestion of lunch. Tim was grateful because he didn't know how to put Ryan off his plans anymore, but he knew how important it would be for Matt to see the kindness and generosity his son showed at such a young age. It would melt the heart of someone as cold as Tim's dead grandmother, Joanne Moran.

That evening, Ryan fell asleep in the back seat of Matt's F-250 as Tim drove them home. They had the coat for the Whipple boy wrapped in plain, brown paper, and were planning to leave it on the porch without a note to save the mother any embarrassment.

Ryan was excited about their covert plans, so Tim was surprised he'd fallen asleep, but it had been a big, productive day. Tim was equally giddy at the prospect of the other plans he'd set in motion that day. It was going to be a wonderful holiday season.

On Saturday, Tim and Ryan cleaned the house to prepare for the pending arrival of the Christmas tree along with laundering Ryan's new wardrobe. They called Matt that morning in El Paso, catching him just out of the shower, and Ryan explained the shopping trip to his dad before turning over the phone to Tim.

Matt seemed to be worried about the money spent on Ryan, but Tim quickly dismissed his concerns, telling Matt he loved him before they disconnected the call. Things were better discussed in person when Matt returned, Tim was sure.

Sunday morning found Tim standing in the hallway of a very large horse barn in Blacksburg, Virginia, looking at the most beautiful stallion he'd ever seen in person. He'd found the horse on the internet, and he was sure the huge animal was exactly what he wanted.

He'd explained it to Uncle Josh on Saturday night when he and Ryan stopped by the Katydid on their way home from Roanoke. Josh quickly volunteered to call the owner to set up a time for them to take a look at the beast the next day while Matt was still out of town.

The horse was an American Saddlebred. He was black, about sixteen-and-a-half hands tall, with a full black mane and tail. He had white socks on all four feet, and he was five years old. He was a gaited horse, which Uncle Josh said would give Matt a smooth ride, and from what Tim could tell, the stallion had a good temperament.

Uncle Josh and the seller, Stan Hanson, talked about registration, confirmation, sire and dam, stud services, and many other things Tim vaguely knew anything about, leaving the details to Uncle Josh while Tim took in the appearance and demeanor of the horse. "What's his name?" Tim asked Mr. Hanson when there was a lull in the two men's conversation.

Mr. Hanson was a tall man with large shoulders, arms, and a beer gut to match. He had a worn look about him as if he spent a lot of time outside without taking proper care to use sunscreen. Tim was grateful Aunt Katie dogged him and Uncle Josh about using sunscreen to stave off skin cancer. Tim was sure Mr. Hanson was a good candidate for the disease.

Mr. Hanson glanced between Tim and Uncle Josh. "His papers say Ebony Prince Charles. He's a Kentucky Saddler, as they call ‘em. I bought him a year ago from an Englishman who used to own the farm up the road. His wife passed, and he wanted to go back to England, so he sold me the horse. I got all the papers, and he's broke to ride. I will say he's not for the timid. He's a V-8 model, but it's like sittin' in a rockin' chair with jet engines on it when he goes into his fast trot. I know he pulls a buggy, but I ain't got one. I seen him do it when Mr. Marsh lived here. You want me to saddle him up?"

Hells bells , Tim wouldn't know how to judge a good horse from a bad one, but he only wanted the best for Matt. He turned to Uncle Josh. "Will you ride? I don't think I could handle him, and I damn sure don't want to ruin him."

Uncle Josh turned to Mr. Hanson. "Can you give us a minute, Stan? I need to talk to Tim."

The man nodded as he went to a tack room to grab a saddle.

"Tim, son, that horse is gonna cost a few thousand dollars. You think Matt wants to spend that much on a pleasure horse? He won't be much good on a cattle ranch because he's a show horse and a high-dollar, stud horse. I'd be happy to use him to breed some of my mares, but maybe somethin' less highbrow would work for Matt to use around the ranch," Uncle Josh suggested.

"Don't worry about the cost of the horse, Uncle Josh. Matt deserves the best I can give him, okay? Please just ride the damn thing and help me get a fair price. I've got the money to pay for it, I promise."

Josh gave him a look as if he thought Tim had lost his fucking mind, but he did as his nephew requested without argument. It was a first.

As Tim observed the stallion's fluid gait in the large, indoor arena with Josh on his back, he determined it was like watching poetry in motion. The massive horse traveled fluidly… like an ocean liner coasting across a calm sea.

Tim could easily picture his bull rider, not on the back of a heaving beast of a bull, but on the back of the sleek stallion looking quite handsome.

The horse's owner quoted a price, and Uncle Josh laughed before he walked away. Mr. Hanson followed Josh out and the pair returned to the barn a few minutes later where the barrel-chested man quoted Tim the final, negotiated price. Uncle Josh looked at him with a cocked eyebrow as Tim pulled his checkbook from the back pocket of his jeans and proceeded to scribble out a check.

"After my check clears, would you please call me so we can arrange delivery. I assume the price includes hauling him to Holloway. Also, I need him to stay here for a few more weeks. He's a Christmas gift, you see." Tim noticed his uncle smirking.

Stan Hanson stared at the two of them before he threw up his hands. "Damn. Y'all drive a hard bargain, but if that's what you want, I'll do it. You got a saddle for him?" Tim nodded, already having mapped out plans for a handmade saddle for Matthew.

"I'm planning to order a custom job, but if you've got an old one that you'd sell me for now, I'll take it. Put it on the trailer when you drop off Charlie, and I'll give you the cash on delivery." Tim extended a hand to shake.

They had a deal which seemed to make both men happy. Tim ticked off one big thing from his Christmas list.

During the return trip to Holloway, Tim knew he needed to come clean with his uncle regarding the new developments in his life, especially since Farris March was scheduled to drop by the Katydid on Monday morning to do an assessment of the kitchen.

Tim had come to learn Ronni Turnberry had contacts everywhere and had been a gem at providing him assistance that weekend during her off-hours… though he was sure he was paying for her time. He honestly didn't care at that point.

"You heard about the blonde on Wednesday?" Tim knew damn well Josh would have heard all about it from Hank.

Josh was yet to inquire about the visit from Ronni Turnberry, but Tim needed more help from the man, so decided his uncle deserved to know the truth.

"I heard talk of a blonde. I figured she was a salesman… woman… or somethin'. You need some advice about somethin'? I'll do everything I can to help ya." Josh touched Tim's shoulder as they drove home in Matt's truck.

Tim fought back the tears once again because Uncle Josh had shown more love and concern in that moment than Tim's own father had shown in his whole life. He reached up and used the sleeve of his hoodie to dry his eyes without looking at the older man.

"You hungry? What time is Aunt Katie expecting us home?" Tim tried to divert his uncle's attention until he could find a place to stop the damn truck.

Tim took the next exit, finding a little mom-and-pop diner at the first stop sign in the little town off the state road. It was still early for the church crowd, so they hustled inside to get a table and food before the place became crowded.

Once the two men had their drinks… sweet tea for Tim and coffee for Uncle Josh… the older man pushed back his Katydid Farm cap and looked Tim in the eye.

Tim hadn't given his uncle time to shave that morning because he was in a hell of a hurry to get on the road after he left Ryan with Aunt Katie at the house. Jeri was coming over and they were going to start baking Christmas cookies, or so Aunt Katie told him the night before when they stopped by on the way home from Roanoke.

Uncle Josh cleared his throat, giving Tim the distinct impression that his time was up. Tim owed the man an explanation regarding where he got the money to pay for such an expensive horse.

He was sure his mention of a custom saddle was another topic Uncle Josh would want to discuss, so only full disclosure would satisfy the man he'd come to regard as a father over the years.

Tim took a deep breath. "I know you only met Joanne Moran a time or two, and I'm pretty sure she was as cold and rude to you as she was to everyone she met, including her son, Harold.

"Anyway, seems the old gal was a nasty piece of work, but I was the only grandchild she had, and as much as she hated the fact that I was gay, she still left me her money. That blonde woman is my new lawyer, Ronni Turnberry. She's nice, and she's helped me out with a lot of stuff this weekend.

"I have the money for Charlie, Uncle Josh, and I want you to help me get Matt a custom-made saddle and all the gear that goes with it. I'm sure it won't be ready by Christmas, but my gift to you and Aunt Katie won't be either. This is gonna be the Christmas of things to come, I guess."

Uncle Josh was silent, though Tim could tell he was trying to process the information he'd just admitted. Maybe a little more?

"I own properties in Philly and the ‘burgh. I also own our old house in Trenton, which I'm gonna have torn down, but I'm planning to build something for the community there when I get a minute to think about it. I wouldn't mind you and Aunt Katie giving me advice about things like that, you know.

"I haven't told Matt about all of this yet because I'm not sure how he'll take it, but I inherited about five million dollars. I've got the papers at home in my dresser, and I'd appreciate it if you'd look them over with me. It's still a shock for me too, but I plan to do good things with that money, Uncle Josh."

Tim was dying to talk about the money and what to do with it. Josh Simmons was the most influential man in his life, and seeing the astonished look on his uncle's face made him smile. Josh wouldn't steer him wrong, that much Tim knew.

They ordered a late breakfast because they'd left before Aunt Katie had a chance to feed them, and as the two men quietly chewed their food, Tim could see Uncle Josh chewing on what he'd told him.

As Josh buttered a biscuit, he looked up at Tim and laughed. "That old bitch always did like to cause a shit storm. Your momma had a world of hell with her, but if she left you that money, I guess I can't hate her anymore."

Josh stared at Tim until the two of them both started laughing. No truer words were ever spoken.

When they calmed down, Josh took a sip of coffee and stared at Tim. "Sure, I'll help all ya need, son, but don't go spendin' money on me and Katie. We're fine. We do okay with the operation at the farm, and we have some money tucked away from when Shane died. He left us a nice nest egg we can use when we get too ornery to run the farm anymore. Hell, I hate the idea of touchin' that money since I had to lose my boy to get it."

Tim felt the sting of tears at his uncle's comment, seeing the pain in Josh's eyes and hearing it in his voice.

"That'll all come to you when we're gone, you know."

No, Tim didn't know that, and he didn't know what to say, but he guessed the tears that fell without his permission were all Josh needed to know how he felt about it. Tim prayed that day never came.

His uncle slid off his glasses and grabbed a napkin to dry his eyes, handing one to Tim, as well. The two men sat, staring at each other for a few minutes before Josh nodded and picked up his fork to finish his breakfast. Conversation done.

Tim wasn't really surprised because he knew Uncle Josh was the type of man who settled things in his mind once, leaving no need for additional discussion on the matter. Josh Simmons was a man of few words, as everyone knew, but when he spoke, people listened.

When the designer showed up at the Katydid, Tim knew he'd face hell from Aunt Katie for wanting to give her the kitchen of her dreams. After everything Katie and Josh had given him, a thank-you gift for their love and support over the years was definitely in order. He'd probably have to guilt them into accepting it, but Tim felt up to the task.