6. Ryland

SIX

RYLAND

“Lawson, you got a minute?” The bomb that Sutton dropped last night had me rushing home. I fucking hated leaving her alone, even with what she claims to be her ex-husband being out of the house. There’s no guarantee he wouldn’t come back, which led me to more questions I don’t have the answers to. Why the hell is he still living in her house if they’re divorced? Since I don’t have Sutton’s phone number, I couldn’t continue our conversation after coming home. What I did do was tell Mom that Sutton took the bag of clothes without too much of a fuss. The look on Mom’s face was one of shock, and I get it. A ride home before last night was like pulling teeth, the reason I’m still unsure of, and aren’t those piling up like a pile of cow shit?

“Sure thing, give me a few minutes. Gonna see Maeve off, then I’ll find you.” We’re all at the main house, eating breakfast. Mom still insists on making a meal out of it. Since everyone has moved out, she no longer does family supper. Instead, breakfast is served daily, and one night a week, she’ll host. If you can make it, that’s fine. If not, there’ll be leftovers for you to take home the next day. Case and I don’t miss out. I’m no fool. A chance to not have to think about making a meal, I’m fucking in.

I take another sip of coffee. Most of us are well past full. There’re still a few stragglers coming and going. This morning, she prepared a smorgasbord of waffles, bacon, sausage, eggs, and then Maeve dropped off a boxful of pastries and sweet treats.

“What has you so deep in thought?” Dad takes Lawson’s empty seat, settling down with his own mug, one Case made for him at his new preschool. It has Paw-Paw written across in Case’s handwriting along with his handprints. Every occasion, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, and even Mother’s Day, they do something for the family. Since I’m both a mother and a father, I get a double dose. Case hasn’t seemed to take notice that he’s the only one in his small class of children who has a single parent. The teacher knows all about it and helps guide him while other kids are working on things for their mom.

“What doesn’t have me deep in thought should be the question.” Last night still has my head spinning. I came home, did a shit ton of research online only to find absolutely nothing. Apparently, the state of Wyoming doesn’t keep any records for the public. No amount of digging produced dick. I hit a paywall, and I’m not fool enough to get suckered into that shit. That left me with two options: talk to Sutton or ask Fletch, my brother Lawson’s best friend, to do some digging. It’d make perfect sense to talk to the woman who’s got me wrapped up in knots, but there’s no way with my schedule today that I can head into town more than two times. Yesterday, my brothers helped pick up my slack. Today, Mom is going to help drop and pick up Case. Which means I’m on a horse and working the ranch. After I make a phone call.

“Must be Sutton Rawlins.” Leave it to Dad to hit the nail on the head.

“How’d you figure it out?” I ask the obvious question.

“I didn’t, but the way your eyes lit up when I said her name did.” Dad lets out a chuckle. He and Mom both, they can read us from a mile away, and I walked right into that trap, all too easily.

“Yeah.” I run my hand down my face. Coffee isn’t going to be enough to get me through the day. My damn eyes are tired from staring at the computer half the night. I’m not exactly sure how my brother stares at numbers and works in the office as much as he does. “Shit, I haven’t felt this exhausted since Case went through a sleep regression years ago.”

“Watch your mouth, Ryland Thomas Johnson,” Mom states from the kitchen. She’s hell bent on no one cussing in her house. The only way she can’t control our mouths is when we’re out on the land. It pisses her off like no other, but it’s an unsaid boundary even she won’t cross.

“Yes, ma’am,” I mutter under my breath.

“You’ll figure it out. She’s a good girl. Been through too damn much for her age. Hopefully, she’ll come out on top swinging.” Dad takes a sip of his coffee, and I do the same. I don’t want Lawson to have to wait on me if he doesn’t have to.

“Sutton and Ryland would be perfect together. She loves Case, is half in love with Ryland, and I can see the stars in our boy’s eyes whenever he’s around her.” I clear my throat, trying not to choke on the way Mom inserted herself into our conversation. Though, I probably should have taken this outside if I didn’t want her to hear.

“And on that note, I’m going to head out. Love you, Mom, thanks for breakfast and being on Case duty today.” I stand up, grab my plate, utensils, and cup. Mom cooks, we clean, and by clean, I mean we rinse our dishes off and put them in the dishwasher.

“Love you, too, and you never have to thank me for helping out with my grandbabies.” They’ve doubled, and some of the women are pregnant, so there’ll be more babies soon. She’s in the thick of being a grandma and loving every minute.

“Dad, I’ll see you later.” He nods his response. I drop a kiss on Mom’s cheek, then go about doing what I need to before heading out to Lawson. The clank of dishes carries and conversations echo through the area. I’d usually stick around and shoot the shit; not this morning, though. I head for the back door, walk down the steps, and make my way toward Lawson. Maeve is driving down the road, her taillights about the only thing visible with how bright the sun is shining.

“What can I do for you, Ry?” Lawson keeps his eyes on Maeve’s car but gives me his attention.

“I’ll make this short and sweet. You mind me callin’ Fletch? Can’t find something I’m lookin’ for, and knowin’ him, I’ll have the information in less than five minutes.” Fletcher Wild has been a friend of the family for years. He and Lawson are the tightest, but he’s willing to help out when we brothers need a thing or two.

“You got his number?” is all Lawson says, looking my way after Maeve is long gone.

“Nope.” I wouldn’t be standing here twiddling my damn thumbs. I’d have called him at first light, had my answers, and been on my merry way.

“Alright, you ready?” I pull my phone out and type in Fletch’s number as he rattles it off before saving it to my contact list.

“Thanks.”

“Anything you need, I’m here. Safe to assume this has something to do with a certain waitress at Down Home?” Everyone seems to know I’ve been staying away from Sutton, for good reason, too.

“Yep, going after her as soon as Fletch gives me some information.” I put the phone to my ear. Lawson’s eyebrows shoot upward, wondering what the hell I’m up to.

“This is Fletcher Wild,” he answers on the second ring.

“Hey, Fletch, it’s Ryland Johnson. How ya doing?” No point in acting like an asshole and getting right into it.

“Hey, Ry, doing good. Whenever one of the Johnson Brothers calls, something is up.” I laugh at his statement. He’s not wrong. Lawson and Fletch shoot the shit once or twice a week. When there’s an occasion, one of us will head down to Georgia, or Fletch and Delilah will make a trip up here.

“You got that right. Can you look into Sutton Sullivan? Former name Sutton Rawlins. Don’t have her date of birth, but she does live here in Arrowleaf,” I give him what little details I have.

“What exactly am I looking into?” I hear Fletch clicking away on the other end of the line, more than likely inputting the information into his database.

“Divorce status.” Lawson lets out a low whistle. Fletch pauses in his typing.

“Another Johnson bites the dust. Welcome to the good side, brother. As for the status, looks like the final papers were filed a few months ago. You’re free to go get your woman.” Jesus, the way my chest finally unclenches. The inner turmoil of jacking off to visions of Sutton every night for what seems like a damn millennium no longer makes me feel like a piece of shit.

“Thanks, appreciate you lookin’ it up for me. Anytime you need something, I’ll return the favor. Day or night, Fletch,” I respond.

“Welcome, and I’ll hold you to it.” We say our goodbyes as fast as we said hellos. That’s Fletcher Wild. He’d do anything for you, but when he’s at work, he’s laser-focused.

“Mom is going to eat this shit up.” Lawson has a shit-eating grin on his face.

“She won’t be the only one. Case is infatuated with His Sutty. ” My boy lights up whenever she’s around. It’s different from when he’s around his family; he’s himself then, but when he’s with Sutton out in public, it’s something entirely different.

“Case isn’t the only one infatuated, Ry.” We toss around a few more words before Lawson heads toward the barn and I head in the same direction, him veering one way and me the other. I’ve got cattle to look after, and he’s got ledgers to deal with. No fucking thanks. I’d rather be in a saddle all day for the rest of my life.