Chapter 21

21

T ex couldn't help looking to the white house next door as he reached the bottom of the steps. His carryon bumped down beside him, and the only thing he experienced was pure exhaustion. The past couple of days had been a whirlwind of activity, from laundry to packing to band meetings.

Everyone seemed as excited as him to build the recording studio on the ranch and make their album right here in Coral Canyon. Everyone except the one person Tex wanted to be happy for him.

He tore his eyes from Abby's house. She wasn't there, as it was mid-morning on Monday, and she'd gone to the library hours ago.

"Move, Dad," Bryce said with some urgency in this voice as he came down the steps behind Tex. Tex hauled his bag out of the way to make room for his son, and together, they managed to get their luggage over to the truck and in the back.

"Ready?" Tex asked.

"Did you get the music I left on the piano?"

"Yep."

"What about the demo CDs?"

"Got all three of ‘em," he said, grinning at his son. He put one hand behind Bryce's head and touched his forehead to his son's. "This is going to be great. Don't be nervous. They already think I'm a Rockstar."

Bryce chuckled, and Tex dropped his hand. "Because you are, Dad. But I'm not." He moved toward the passenger side of the truck. "You're better than me, and they'll know it with two chords."

"I am not better than you," Tex argued. They got in the truck and he looked at his son. "You're far better than I am, Bryce. They'll see it." He started the truck and backed out. "They won't say it, but they'll see it."

Bryce's excitement filled the cab of the truck, and Tex basked in it. He didn't like being with his own thoughts, and he told his son to cue up the music that would get them to the airport in Jackson Hole.

"Aren't we getting Uncle Mav?" Bryce asked.

"No," Tex said. "He took Beth back to Portia last night, so he's already there. He'll meet us at the airport."

"Oh, I thought he said he needed a ride."

"Changed his plans," Tex said, his eyebrows folding down into a frown. "He called last night after you went to play video games with your friends. I guess Dani isn't feeling well, and school's starting soon, so he took Beth back to her mama."

"Dani looked real tired last night," Bryce said.

"Yeah." Tex suspected his brother's wife was pregnant, but Mav hadn't made any sort of announcement yet, and Tex wasn't going to ask. When Mav wanted to share, he'd share. With the country music playing, the drive happened quickly, with Bryce singing along while Tex let his thoughts go into the corkscrew they'd been on for several days.

He told himself time and time again that he'd prepared for the meeting tomorrow. He'd gone over his arguments with Otis, then Luke, then Trace. Separately, and they'd pretended to be Meryl, asking hard questions and refusing to give in to Tex's ask to record in Wyoming.

He'd then refined his arguments and points and presented to all of them, Morris and Mav included. He'd gotten some good feedback. Morris had a good idea to mention how he would arrange everything for the people who needed to come to Coral Canyon for the recording. Mav had reminded Tex of how Meryl liked to think he'd come up with the ideas. There was so much going on inside Tex's head, and he needed it all out.

Still, Abby managed to crowd herself into the midst of everything else going on inside his mind, and that made him calm for a moment. Then he remembered he'd broken up with her, and he glanced over to Bryce.

His son typed away on his phone, probably texting with his friends he gamed with or Bailey. Maybe one of Tex's brothers. No matter who, Bryce seemed happy. That's the most important thing , Tex thought.

He needed to create a stable life for Bryce. His son needed him right now to be his father, help him know what to do with his future, and Tex couldn't do that unless he could get King Country to agree to his idea to record in Coral Canyon.

He had to focus on that and worry about Abby later. He thought about texting her just before the plane took off, but he wasn't sure if that would make things better or worse between them.

In the end, he stayed silent. He dozed on the way to Nashville, courtesy of his sound-cancelling headphones. With the majority of his brothers on the plane with him, the headphones actually saved his sanity.

They had an evening before the meeting at the record label, and they all piled into a huge van Morris had rented for them. "Just like the tour bus," Otis joked from the way-back.

"Come on," Luke said. "If this were the tour bus, your knee wouldn't be in my back."

"You like it," Otis said, chuckling.

Tex buckled himself behind the wheel and looked at Bryce, his navigator. "You ready?" he asked as Morris and Trace started arguing with Otis about minding his manners. Mav sat in the row right behind Bryce, shaking his head.

"Come sit up here," he finally barked at Luke. "Move this luggage there if Otis's knees are that big of a problem."

"Let me up there," Luke said, trying to climb over Trace, who hadn't had time to move a muscle.

Tex rolled his eyes but waited patiently while suitcases and men got rearranged. When everything quieted down, he looked in the rear-view mirror. "Are we ready, boys?"

"Yes," Luke practically yelled. "Let's go."

Tex had actually booked all of their rooms at a hotel near to King Country, and he'd been to Nashville so many times, he didn't really need a navigator. He'd brought Bryce through the city a few times too, but a few years had passed. His son exclaimed over the differences he saw, as well as the old things they'd tried and loved.

"Dad," he said, swinging his attention wildly toward Tex. "Can we go to that hot dog place where they put the sweet-and-sour sauce on the bun?"

Tex chuckled and said, "Sure."

"Are we playin' cards tonight?" Trace called from the second row where he now rode alone. Otis and Morris sat in the back, and they'd been quiet since Luke's movement.

"Are we?" Mav asked.

"We have time," Luke said in a bored voice, his eyes out the window.

"Did anyone bring cards?" Tex asked.

"Did anyone bring cards," Mav muttered. "Twenty bucks says they all brought cards."

Tex pulled up to a red light and looked once more in the rearview mirror. Luke met his eye and nodded, a slow smile pulling across his face.

"I did," Otis said at the same time Morris said, "I thought we always played cards when we got to a new city."

"This ain't a new city," Trace drawled, looking over his shoulder. When he faced forward again, he added, "But I brought cards too."

Tex grinned at everyone in the van and said, "Sounds like we're playin' cards tonight then." He glanced over to Bryce, whose smile mirrored that of a mad man.

"This is so great," he said, and Tex enjoyed his boyish enthusiasm. He didn't want to spoil the fun for anyone, so he said nothing. He'd play cards and try to enjoy himself. He'd go over his notes one more time. He'd talk to Trace privately and get the reassurance he needed.

Then, he'd get down on his knees and pray. He'd pray for the band, for the meeting to go well, for Meryl to see his point of view, and for his own clarity of mind.

After that, he'd pray for Abby, and then he'd beg God to help him find the road back to her, that prayer already starting to stitch itself together inside his mind.

He wasn't sure why he'd let one of their arguments go all the way to a break-up. He didn't want to break up with her. In fact, if Tex would just allow himself to admit it, he'd say he was in love with Abigail Ingalls.

"Dad, that's the turn," Bryce said, and Tex pushed his personal problems out of his mind. Right now, he needed to focus on driving and tomorrow, business.

He could figure out how to get back to Abby after that.

The following morning, Tex felt like he had after that first and only night in the rental in Coral Canyon—like he'd swallowed a dozen spiders. His stomach lurched to the left and right with every step he took. Coffee only made his blood buzz louder.

Trace, Morris, and Mav showed up at his and Bryce's hotel room with their favorite pastries from Ringgold's, but Tex could barely get the gooey cinnamon roll down his narrow throat.

"Come on," Trace said. "Let's just go, and maybe you'll calm down."

"Bryce," Tex said, and his son came out of the bedroom and into the suite. He carried the small pack with their demo CDs and the folder of music. "Got it all?"

"Got it all," he confirmed. "I'm bringing this box of sweets with us." He picked that up while Mav grinned at him, and Tex simply allowed himself to be led down to the van.

"What about the others?" Tex asked as Bryce got in the front passenger seat.

"This isn't their meeting," Trace said, not moving to get in the van.

"I said they could come."

"Yeah, well, I told them not to come."

"Trace."

His brother wouldn't look at him. "You're already a basket-case, Tex. You don't need Luke's temper in the room, or Morris's nerves." He slid a look at Tex, who didn't like what he heard but he could admit it was probably true.

Mav said, "I know you haven't said anything about Abby, but I know something's wrong there."

"Yeah." Tex looked back toward the hotel, not wanting to talk about his girlfriend in front of anyone. Mav raised his eyebrows, and Morris stood back, watching. "Like Dani's been sick for weeks now."

"No," Mav said way too fast.

"Then we don't need to talk about this right now," Tex murmured.

"Fine," Mav agreed.

"Come on, Tex," Morris said. "Mav and I are going with you."

"Just for the beginning," Mav said. "I'll introduce Morris around, and then we'll wait in the lobby."

Tex looked around at everyone, wishing they'd all come in with him. "Fine," he said. "Let's go."

He got behind the wheel of the van, and the drive to the studio happened in silence. Tex exhaled as he looked up at the tall building, the windows reflecting the late summer sunshine. He said nothing as he got out of the van, and he put on the brightest smile he could when Bryce stepped out of the vehicle.

"Ready, Dad?"

"Yes."

"I've heard all of your arguments. They're going to agree with you." His encouraging smile gave Tex more courage than he normally possessed, and he led the way inside. The woman sitting at the welcome desk several feet inside the lobby had the same curly hair and winning smile, and Tex's step lightened.

"Ramona," he said with a laugh. "I can't believe you're still here."

She stood, also laughing, and came around the desk. "Tex Young, my boy." She stood barely over five feet, but Tex wouldn't try to sneak anything against the rules past her. He bent down and hugged her, lifting her right up off her feet.

"I thought you were going to retire," he said.

"I am," she said as he set her back on her feet. "At the end of the year." She beamed at Mav and squealed. "Maverik, how's your new wife? Did you get the basket we sent?"

"Sure did," he said, grinning for all he was worth. "Didn't you get the thank you card?"

Ramona stepped back and indicated the wall behind her desk. "It's right there."

Mav just smiled at her, though Tex would've been asking why she'd asked.

"And who is this fine-looking young man?" she asked, eyeing Bryce.

"My son," Tex said. "Bryce. Bryce, this is Ramona Wiggs. She runs King Country."

"Ho, no," Ramona said. "I do not run King Country." She shook Bryce's hand and trained her eyes on Morris. "And you must be Morris. I've heard all about you."

"Oh, boy," Morris said with a chuckle.

He shook Ramona's hand too, while Mav said, "Good things, Morris. I promise."

She rounded her desk once everyone had been greeted sufficiently. "I saw you on the schedule. Go on up, fellas."

"Thank you," Tex said, the tension in his stomach easing up a little bit. He tried not to think of Otis, Luke, and Trace, all waiting to see how he'd performed. He couldn't look at Morris or Mav or Bryce. The one person he wanted to comfort him and soothe him wasn't speaking to him right now.

He looked up at the ceiling on the elevator and once again called upon the Lord to help him. Just a little strength , he prayed silently. For a little longer.

He opened his eyes when the elevator slowed and came to a stop, and he found everyone looking at him. "Ready?" Mav asked.

Tex didn't feel wildly different than he had a few seconds ago. But he knew the Lord had always been on his side, and that allowed him to step out of the elevator with confidence.

Jason greeted them moments later, with offers of water or coffee, soda or juice. Tex said, "I'll take a water, Jason. Thanks."

He introduced Bryce to everyone who rose from their desks to say hello, and Mav did the same for Morris. Tex's heart filled with love for the pair of his brothers, especially as he watched Morris smile and exude confidence and charisma like he was born to be the band's manager.

As he glanced around, he realized how King Country had prepared for his arrival that day. No less than three album covers for Country Quad papered the cabinets, the walls, and a floor-to-ceiling poster of their last tour covered Meryl's closed office door.

"Wow," he said as he looked around. "You guys go all out."

"We're just thrilled to have you back in Nashville," a woman gushed at the lot of them.

"Thank you, Lucy," Mav said, because it had always been his job to know everyone's names and handle all of the details. "This is Country Quad's new manager, Morris."

Tex and the others shook hands until Jason returned, and while Meryl's assistant moved swiftly to his desk, Tex uncapped the bottle and took a sip. He told himself not to guzzle it, because that would show his nerves.

He'd never been nervous at King Country before. Everyone here treated him and his brothers like royalty—like they were right now. Morris turned down offer after offer for muffins, and finally Bryce said, "Hey, I brought some pastries too."

Someone led him into a conference room, and Tex caught something about much he looked like Tex. He looked back at Jason, who held his desk phone at his ear. "Yes, they're here. We'll be in conference room four, sir."

He hung up and gestured for Tex to go into the room where Bryce had already been taken.

"We'll stay out here," Mav said, giving Tex a meaningful look. Morris chatted with Larry, who worked primarily with Otis and had to okay all of their songs before they even started learning them.

Tex went into the conference room alone, with Jason bringing up the rear and closing the glass door behind him.

Glass. Tex couldn't believe he'd forgotten he'd have to give his pitch to the whole dang office. His nerves bubbled and brewed, and he could only smile as Jason said, "We've been getting a lot of fan mail recently. Did you guys know one of your songs is trending on social media right now?"

Tex took the oversized bag of mail while Bryce instantly pulled out his phone. "Really?" he asked. "I'll find it."

Tex swallowed, wishing he'd made cards for his notes, but everything had been held in his head. That wasn't a great place to be right now, and he stared at the various doughnuts, muffins, and bear claws that sat on the table.

"Oh my heck," Bryce said a few seconds later. "Look, Dad. It's Wish You'd Gone First ." He held up his phone, the Country Quad song blaring from the speakers while teenagers in cowboy hats did something. Tex blinked, confused as to what he was looking at.

"Yep, that one," Jason said. "Ah, here's Meryl now. He never makes our biggest stars wait for long."

Tex got to his feet as he twisted to see the famous record producer—the top dog at King Country—pass by the windows toward the door. He slicked his hands down his jeans, glad he'd dressed as if he'd be performing on stage any moment now. Jeans. Cowboy boots. Bright plaid shirt in blue, black, and thin yellow stripes. The white cowboy hat that sat on the front of all eight Country Quad albums.

He added a smile as Jason moved to open the door for the music mogul, and then Meryl entered the room with a laugh—as well as Mav and Morris. "Tex and the Young brothers," he boomed. "My favorite cowboys." He engulfed Tex and Mav in a hug, one of them in each arm, the scent of his old-school cologne thick and making Tex choke.

He managed to turn that into a laugh and he looked at Meryl as he stepped back. "Howdy, Meryl." The man had gray hair from root to tip, but the brightest pair of blue eyes Tex had ever seen on a man. Those eyes knew, and they saw, and Tex could only send up one more prayer that they'd agree with him.

"Sit, sit," he said. "You didn't get a doughnut?" He reached for a maple-frosted one, and Bryce followed him and took a twisted tiger's tail. "My word on Fridays," Meryl said, his eyes landing on Bryce. "Is this your twin, Tex?"

"My son," Tex said with a forced chuckle. "Bryce, this is Mister Bigler. Meryl Bigler. Sir, my son."

"The pleasure is all mine," Bryce said with precise diplomacy, and Tex couldn't be prouder of him in that moment. Meryl undid his suit coat button and pulled out his chair. He sat, and that meant everyone else could too.

Tex did, Mav did, Morris did, Bryce did, Jason did. Meryl looked at Tex, and said, "It's your meeting, son. What's on your mind?"

Tex's mind went blank, and he clutched his own hands, trying to find a thread of thought. A whisper would be great. So when Bryce said, "It's really my issue, sir. See, my dad has full custody of me now, and I'm a senior this year in Coral Canyon, Wyoming."

The sound of his son's rich, handsome voice spurred Tex to get his act together. He met Bryce's eyes, and his son nodded at him. With the two of them perfectly in sync, Tex faced Meryl.

"Yes," he said. "Which means I can't be here to record the album in Nashville."

Meryl said nothing, but he did take an astronomically huge bite of his doughnut.

"I know Otis has the songs almost ready to go," Tex said. "We did a dirty run-through of our favorite one in my kitchen on Sunday night. Bryce has it in there, and we can listen to it if you'd like."

Meryl nodded, those eyes as bright as sapphires, and that helped Tex to keep breathing and keep speaking too.

"So," he said. "Once we pass the initial stage of song selection and approval—which Otis can do here in Nashville. All the boys can except for me, and I can be looped in via video or phone call. But after that." He drew a deep breath, all of his arguments saved in his mind should he need them.

"I'd like to propose that the band and I do all of the recording in a custom-built studio on the ranch I own in Wyoming."

There. He'd said it, and Meryl could respond. Tex took another breath as Meryl finished his bite of doughnut and swallowed, the silence in conference room four about to swallow him whole.