Chapter 21

Sunday morning came slowly,with beams of light breaking open a night sky that wasn't ready to leave. In the distance the Rockies were barely visible, not that it mattered, Taz wasn't in the mood to enjoy them.

He'd been up for hours. Brooding.

With a sigh he poured a second cup of coffee and wandered out to the porch. He'd pulled on a pair of jeans and wore nothing else. Already it was warm, with the previous evening not getting below seventy. He leaned against the railing and listened as the ranch slowly came to life. In the distance, Elvis the rooster crowed and was answered in turn by one of the barn dogs. Bailey, he thought. Cooper liked to sleep until it was time to be fed. The horses in the corral nickered softly and a light came on in the bunkhouse.

Rich was up, most likely getting ready for the long drive to Michigan. He glanced to the side as Angel appeared. She was already showered and dressed. After the barbecue at the Bridgestone's, he'd insisted she sleep in the guest room; it would save on driving back to meet up with Rich.

He gave a nod and the two of them sipped their coffees. They chatted about the new horse, the buffalo herd and talked about adoption plans for one of the mares. Small talk. Then Rich ambled over.

"I'll get the trailer hitched to the truck," he said, then looked at Angel. "Give me ten minutes."

"Sounds good," she replied.

Taz rolled his shoulders, the muscles already tight with the kind of stress he was having a hard time shaking.

"You okay?" Angel asked as she followed him inside the house.

"I'm good." It was a lie, but he wasn't in the mood to share feelings.

"I don't really have much experience with the whole relationship thing but?—"

"Angel," he interrupted. "I don't want to sound like an asshole, but I don't want to talk about Scarlett. We're fine."

"Yes," she replied with a nod. "Of course you are." He could tell she was a little hurt by his tone and that made him feel like shit.

"She needs some time is all." He headed to the kitchen. At least, that's what he'd been telling himself.

Angel pointed toward the guest room. "I'll just grab my things and Rich and I will head out." She disappeared for a few minutes and when she came back, he was loading their cups into the dishwasher.

"I'm out of here."

"Hey, I'm sorry," Taz said. "I did sound like an asshole."

"You did and it's okay. I know you're going through it."

Angel passed by him and headed for the front door but paused before leaving. "Like I said, I don't know much about relationships. I've never been in one. Not really. But I can tell the two of you are meant to be together. This is probably just a little bump in the road." She offered a smile. "I'll see you when I get back tomorrow."

"Sounds good." Taz watched them leave and twenty minutes later the girls appeared, hair in bad need of brushing, with sleep in their eyes and bellies that needed some food.

He got busy making scrambled eggs and bacon, and after they'd eaten, took the time to properly brush out their hair. He then braided them both, something he was damn good at, and they picked out their clothes for the day. Cameron decided to wear her Peter Pan outfit, while Ryan was sticking with the princess theme. There were questions about Scarlett and Hank, since he'd mentioned a wagon ride the day before, but he deflected like a champ.

"I think we need to stick close to the house," he replied. "Rich and Angel are gone and I'm going to need help with all the chores. Can I count on you two?"

"Yes," they replied together, squealing when he grabbed them up and twirled them in a circle and then set them down.

"Can I feed the chickens?" Ryan asked breathlessly. "By myself?"

Cameron frowned. "If Ryan gets to feed the chickens, then I want to feed the piggies."

"But I want to feed the piggies too!" Ryan stamped her little foot, forehead scrunched up.

"How about you both feed the chickens and the piggies, and while I get food out to the cows and horses, you can fill your little wheelbarrows with the vegetables that got delivered yesterday and take them to the goats."

"What about Eddie?" Cameron asked.

Shit. Right. It was time to feed the snake. "That one, we'll do together." They both jumped up and down.

"Okay, let's get at it." Taz pulled on his barn boots, and they started their day.

It was early afternoon when they finished up their chores; it always took longer with the girls. They liked to sing and dance while they worked, and the chatter was constant. Most of the time Taz was able to filter it out, but today he needed it. His mind was on things he had no control over. Earlier he'd received a message from Scarlett. It was short and sweet.

I'll drop by later.

There was no context. He didn't know if it was good or bad and Taz was a man who got shit done. It killed him that he wasn't involved in whatever the hell was going down with her ex.

"Daddy, look at me!" He tucked away any thoughts of Scarlett and headed for the swings. He was just wondering what to do for dinner when his mother showed up. She wandered over to him and the girls and watched the twins as they swung higher and higher, their giggles like musical notes.

"Gammy watch!"

"I am."

"We can touch the sky," Ryan shouted.

"Just like the angels," Cameron said.

"You're a good dad," his mom spoke quietly. "In spite of their loss, they're missing nothing. You've given them a home most folks only dream of."

"Ranching makes it easy."

"No," she said turning to him. "You make it easy."

After another ten minutes or so of swinging, he sent the girls inside to wash up for dinner and looked at his mother. "I'm surprised to see you today. Thought you had church."

"I did."

He knew she always went for lunch with her friends and lately, she would head up to the cabin to see Manley afterward.

"I wanted to check on you."

"Consider me checked, but you don't need to."

"I'm your mother and it's what we do."

"I'm a big boy," he replied dryly.

"Big boys still get booboos." She paused. "Have you heard from Scarlett today?"

He nodded.

"And?"

"Mom, do we really have to do this?" A weird look crossed her face, and already amped up and frustrated, he stared her down. "You drove out here to say something. So, say it."

Martha walked over to the swings and perched on the edge of one of them. She seemed to be considering her words.

"Don't sugarcoat," Taz said. "It's not what we do. We're always upfront and honest."

"How serious are you and Scarlett? I know you've spent a lot of time with her and her son, and the barbecue was to bring both families together, but…"

He raised an eyebrow and waited, his mood taking a turn and not for the better. "But?"

"You have the girls to think about, Taz."

"What in hell is that supposed to mean?" Surprised at his mother, he turned in a circle and stared up at the blue sky in an effort to get hold of his anger. "You just told me I was doing a good job."

"You are. You're the best kind of father there is." Martha hopped off of the swing but kept her distance. "All I'm saying is that?—"

"I love her, Mom." Shocked at his admission, for a moment Taz stood in silence, as if hearing the words for the first time. But that was wrong. He'd heard them before when they'd snuck in late at night. Hell, hadn't he been thinking them for the last few weeks?

"Have you told her?"

"No."

"Does she love you?"

"I think so."

Martha looked disappointed in his answer and for whatever reason that pissed him off even more. "Look, I don't need to do this right now. We haven't said the words to each other, but I don't need to hear them to know how Scarlett feels."

His mother walked over and reached for him. Her touch was gentle, and warm on his cheek. "I see how the two of you care for each other. You guys are good together and the kids get along so well. Cameron and Ryan act like Hank is a part of their lives and that's the thing that has me concerned."

"I don't understand where this is headed." But he did, and his gut churned at the thought.

"The girls lost so much before they were old enough to know what it was they'd lost. I don't want them to go through that pain with Scarlett and Hank."

"Jesus, Mom, you're looking at months or years down the road."

"Yes." She nodded. "I am. That's what parents do. You say you love Scarlett and I believe you. I see how she brings light to your life. I see how happy you are. And you think she loves you back. But thinking something and knowing something are two different things. With Scarlett, there's the added complication of Hank's father. He's here. He's in the picture. And he can trump love if he chooses to. He can cause problems. Problems that will affect our girls."

He swore and looked at his feet because everything his mother had just said was the god's truth.

"If it were just you, I'd tell you to fight for her. I'd tell you to fight dirty and do whatever you had to do to give you guys a chance. But honey, that's not the case. You've got the girls to think of. I don't doubt that she cares for you. Don't doubt that she cares for the girls either. But if there's the tiniest chance that Scarlett isn't all in with you and the girls, you have to step back. It will be the hardest thing for you, I know that, but it's the right thing for Cameron and Ryan."

For the longest time neither one said a word.

And heart heavy, Taz finally walked over to his mother and gave her a big hug. "You're right. I need to have a conversation with Scarlett."

"It's better that you both know where you stand. Not only for you, but for Scarlett as well."

"You want to come in for dinner?" He changed the subject.

"No." She shook her head and stepped away. "But thank you. I'm meeting Manley in town."

"Yeah? You two are spending a lot of time together."

"We are. I like him. He's a good man whose had a lot of darkness in his life. I can relate."

Taz walked his mother back to her vehicle and stood in the driveway, watching her leave. The front windows were open, and he heard the girls singing some song about a frog and a prince and a lily pad. He smiled. God, they couldn't carry a tune, but man they loved singing. It made for some spectacular entertainment.

He checked his phone, but other than the earlier message from Scarlett there was nothing. He realized that he hadn't answered back, so he typed out a simple response.

Scarlett: I'll drop by later.

Taz: Good. We need to talk.

He pocketed his cell and went inside to rustle up some eats for the girls. He'd get them fed and in the bath.

And then he would wait.