16. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Tyler

I stared at my mother. She put the skewers on the grill, and then cornered Mosby next to her. Meanwhile, I was stuck with Beau. Who the fuck was Beau, and why did he keep staring at me without saying a word?

"So, cattle, huh?" My eyes locked with the cowboy, a battle of wills commencing.

"Yeah. You're a barber?"

Was that hard to believe? "Yes. And a damn good one. Are you a good cattle…? What do you call yourself? "

Beau smirked. "I'm a rancher. I took over my family's ranch in Cheyenne about thirty years ago when my father died."

"It's a legacy ranch? Leslie owns a legacy property on the mountain. That seems like a lot of responsibility. Are you there alone?"

"No. I have ranch hands that help move the cattle around. My daughter and her husband live on the property with their daughter. My brother and his wife live at the southern end of the property. We have fifteen thousand acres."

I nodded. "Your daughter and her husband? How about your wife?"

The man glanced at the ground. "She died two years ago. Cancer."

Okay, I couldn't be mean. "I'm sorry. Losing those we love is never easy." I thought of Mosby and the losses he'd suffered. I didn't want to be patronizing to anyone when it came to death.

"True. How about you? You ever lose people you love?"

The man studied me as he waited for the answer. I glanced down at the patio table. "I really only ever had my mother. I didn't have a father, and my grandparents disowned her when she got pregnant. I've only had one person I loved and thought of as a grandparent, Edith Rey, the woman who owned Shear Bliss where Mom's worked since I was a little boy."

Beau didn't need to know about Mr. Harold. That wasn't his business at all.

Beau's face seemed to fall. "I'm really sorry to hear that, Tyler. Your mother is an incredible woman. The two of you deserved much better."

Why the fuck did he care? They dated years ago before I came along, and it didn't work out. Apparently, his wife died, and he came back to do what? Rekindle an old flame? Take advantage of my mother? Not if I had anything to say about it.

"Ty, dear, can you set the table out here? It's such a pleasant evening." I stood and hurried inside to do as Mom asked. I went to the buffet and grabbed a tablecloth she used outside and the matching napkins that were perfectly pressed.

I found one of the many trays Mom had and filled it with dishes, glassware, flatware, and a few candles to put in the middle of the patio table. I came out and set the table as Mom asked. There was a big smile on Mosby's face as I placed everything.

"Looks beautiful, Bunny." His words of encouragement made me feel warm inside.

"Thank you. "

I put the four wine glasses on the table before I turned my attention to Beau. "Do you like wine? Mom has beer if you'd rather."

The man seemed to relax. "That would be great."

"Tyler, may I have a beer, too?"

I turned to Mosby, but his smile told me he was sincere. Maybe Beau didn't want to take a chance on what kind of wine we could get in Foggy Basin? Poor Mosby would probably tell him to steer clear of it too. I had no idea what a cattleman would like, but beer seemed safe.

I hurried into the house to get their beers. Mom was busy taking the shrimp and vegetables off the skewers, and next to her on the counter were two frosted mugs, which were new. "You gonna tell me what's going on with Beau?"

Mom was pouring her special steak sauce into a bowl and wouldn't look at me. That was when I realized there was something she wasn't telling me.

"Marlie? You like that?" I watched her every move.

Mom spun around, and I could see the fire in her eyes. "Oh, you're going to criticize my choices? You're seeing a man who we believed to be homeless not two weeks ago. Where do you have the audacity to judge me?"

Tears immediately sprung into my eyes, so I hurried to the bathroom and closed the door. My heart was breaking. I'd always been supportive of my mom, and I thought she'd always be supportive of me. She had been great while I was in prison, but she was going to turn on me now?

This strange man suddenly comes into her life, and I'm not allowed to question his intentions? Bullshit.

I freshened up my face as best I could and opened the door to see Mosby standing there with his fist lifted to knock. "Are you okay, Bunny?" I flung myself into his arms, sobbing and cursing myself for being so weak.

He pushed me back into the bathroom and closed the door. "Aw, sweetheart, it's okay. Let it out. I know it's hard to think of your mother having another man in her life, but I don't think it's as bad as you might believe. Marlena will always stand by you, Bunny. She loves you very much. It's easy to see."

Mosby rubbed my back and whispered sweet things that made me feel cherished. Mom always made me feel loved, but I'd never felt the love and safety Mosby gave me from anyone other than my mother.

Finally, I calmed down and stepped back, seeing the mess I'd made of my face. Mosby lifted his hands and gently raked his thumbs under my eyes to take away the tears. "Good call on the waterproof mascara."

Glancing into his eyes, I saw the crinkles around them. Evidence that he smiled more than he let on. "Thank you for coming to check on me. "

"Always. I'll always check on you to be certain you're getting the best life has to offer. I'll always fight by your side. You can depend on me to be there to cheer during the good times and hold you tight during the bad. I want to be in your life as much as you'll let me."

I was slightly astonished by his comments, but then he kissed my forehead, and a warmth enveloped me like nothing I'd ever felt before. I could feel how much Mosby cared about me. I hoped he could feel the same coming from me.

"I want you to be in my life too."

Mosby smiled. "I want to discuss what we want our relationship to be. Can I spend the night tonight? You don't work on Sundays, right?"

"I'd love to have you spend the night. Sometimes I go to the salon to do the books, but I already did them. I'm free tomorrow. Would you like to do something?" I was excited, which took away the sting of Mom throwing me over for her new boyfriend. It was a selfish way to look at it, and I knew it, but I couldn't help myself.

"Yes. I have a surprise for you at your place, and then I'd like us to go hiking tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"Yes please."

There was a soft knock on the bathroom door, so Mosby stuck his head out. "Is Ty okay?"

He turned to me and smiled. "Are you okay?"

I stood a bit taller and opened the door. "I am. I apologize, Mom. I acted like a child, and I'm sorry. I'm just used to having all your attention, and I was caught off guard by Mr. Fletcher. I'll apologize to him."

Mom hugged me and headed back toward the kitchen. Mosby wrapped me in his arms and kissed my forehead. "I'm very proud of you, Bunny. That was a kind thing to do. You're a wonderful boy."

For a reason I couldn't understand, the kiss on my forehead and the praise made me giddy. It filled me with a warm feeling I wanted to experience every day.

I sent Mosby out to the table while I put three candles on the cake Mom and I had made earlier in the day—past, present, and future. I hoped the future was the brightest for him.

Mom walked over with two more beers sans chilled mugs. She put the bottles on the counter and touched my shoulder. "I'm sorry if this took you by surprise, my love. You know you are my world. You always have been, and you always will be. Just because I have another man in my life doesn't mean I don't love you or won't put you first."

I hugged my mother. "I love you too, and I'll get used to Mr. Fletcher, I promise. Thank you for forgiving me for behaving like a spoiled brat. I won't do that again. "

Mom's eyes watered, and I giggled. "Oh, now, don't have a meltdown. Your man won't want to see those red eyes."

Reaching up, I opened the cabinet and handed her one of the single-dose eye drops, taking one for myself. After we dropped, I dabbed each of us with a paper towel. Once I was done, we looked red carpet ready—or ready for birthday cake.

Mom grabbed the matches from over the gas range and lit the candles, and I carried out the cake while she grabbed the beers. "Happy birth—"

We sang the damn song and sounded terrible, especially when Beau joined in, but Mosby's smile was brighter than the candles. Once we finished, he closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles.

"Thank you all for such a special night. I appreciate it."

Mom cut the red velvet cake, and I scooped the vanilla ice cream. Beau was the first to speak up. "Damn, Marlie. This is delicious."

I took a deep breath and smiled. "You're lucky to have my mom in your life. She's a fantastic cook."

Beau turned to Mom, but she gave him a slight shake of her head, so he grinned. "I definitely appreciate that, Tyler. I hope to get to know you better when I come back to Foggy Basin. I need to head back to Cheyenne, but I'm hoping to take your mama with me."

That was a surprise. I turned to Mom seeing she wasn't surprised.

I scanned the yard behind her, trying to figure out what to say. "I—. Uh, Edina can manage the salon. I'll rebook your clients if they're not willing to allow someone else to handle their hair needs—how long will you be gone, Mom?"

Mom stared at me with a tender smile. "I'll call Edina, but Ty, I want you to manage the salon. If any of my clients don't want to be serviced by Edina, Camila, Alice, or you, tell them to find another salon."

I was a bit stunned, but I nodded. "Whatever you want, Mom."

She hugged me, and Beau extended his hand. I reached out and shook it. If he made Mom happy, then who was I to object?

"Are you okay, Bunny?"

Was I? Hell, I wasn't sure, but Mom had been happy when I'd shaken Beau's hand, and honestly, if she was happy, I had no right to question it. She'd stuck by me while I was in prison, calling me and coming to visit when she could.

She'd sent me care packages in the beginning, as if I was away at college until I told her to stop because KC took everything she sent. It broke my heart back then, but I appreciated her loving gesture.

"I think so. You're right. I have to learn to share." I sighed heavily as Mosby pulled into the alley behind the salon. He parked next to an odd vehicle. It looked like a small truck with a bed, though it was much smaller than any truck I'd ever seen.

"Who parked that here?"

"An inconsiderate asshole, I'm sure." Mosby stepped out of the Bronco and walked over to the vehicle. I got out to join him.

"What is it?"

Mosby reached into the seat and picked up an envelope with my name on the front. "It appears to be a Polaris ATV. It looks pretty sturdy."

I took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a note.

Bunny—

I researched this and contacted a lawyer to confirm. I know you can't drive a car right now, and you won't have a driver's license for a few years, but in this, you can drive around town without a problem.

I want you to be able to come to the cabin, and I'm told this will get you there easily.

Please don't reject this. It's mine, but I want you to use it. I think we'll have a lot of fun with it.

Daddy

A set of keys fell out of it into my right hand, and I turned to Mosby. "Is this from you?"

Mosby grinned. "What if it is?"

"I don't need a father, okay? I definitely don't need you to be my father." Something about it had me keyed up, but I wasn't sure what.

Mosby stepped forward and took my hands, pulling me over to the ATV. He helped me get behind the wheel and then slid in beside me.

"Bunny, you can drive this around town and up the hill without the police giving you trouble. I've looked at this up and down, and you're well within your rights to drive an ATV up to the cabin without a driver's license. There's a gate on Mountain View Road with a trail straight up to the cabin. Tomorrow, I'll ride up with you so you know the way."

I stared at him in disbelief. Was he for real? Nobody had ever… My mom had tried, but she couldn't give me… What was I supposed to say?