One to Take (One to Hold 8)

“She’s the only one you’ve ever kept.”

“Yeah, and it was a foolish decision.” He walks over to sit in a distressed brown-leather chair. “She’s always been wild, trying to escape.”

“But she always comes back.”

We’re quiet several moments, and I think about the different horses that have come through the place. Typically when Bill helps with a roundup, the wild horses only stay a short time and are sold for cheap. My uncle is more interested in ensuring they’re free to roam across his property, across the plains.

He interrupts my thoughts, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees. “Have you thought any more about taking over the place?”

My words from last night have been swirling in my head, low and disturbing, ever since I said them. “I’m sorry I spoke out of turn like that. Evan talking about cutting up the place and selling it got to me more than I expected.”

“You get used to it with a ranch this size.” His dark brown eyes study me. “Still, if it’s something you truly want, I’d be open to discussing it. You’re good with the animals, and I know you love it here.”

My boots make a dull thump on the yellow-pine floors. Rounding the desk, I rub the back of my neck, thinking. Five thousand acres is a hell of a spread, even with most of it being empty grassland. Still, the very thought of those miles of open wilderness filters a unique calm through my chest.

“I’m not sure how Mariska feels about it,” I hedge. “To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about it.” It’s a lie. I know exactly how I feel.

“Well, we’ve got time.” With a grunt, he pushes off his legs to stand. “The worst thing you can do is pressure the future. What’s going to happen will come.”

I glance to my right and give him a tight smile. Old hippie.

We leave the confines of his office and enter the enormous, open living room. The kitchen and dining area are on the opposite end of the space, and Winona’s standing at the bar quietly kneading what looks like dough.

“You never told me why you moved here from Scottsdale.” My brother and I grew up visiting Bill on a similar spread in the desert southwest. “You had a pretty sweet setup before.”

“I fell in love with the raw beauty of this place. One visit and I was hooked.” Stopping in front of the empty, black fireplace, he nods as if agreeing to an internal sentiment. “It’s spiritual.”

I know what he means. “Have you ever wanted to leave?”

“After your dad died, I considered it. You boys were too big to come and stay in the summers, and it looked like you were overseas for good…” His voice trails off, and I get the sense he has another reason he’s keeping to himself.

“What changed your mind?”

Glancing up, he gives me a little smile. “Who says it changed? I’m just waiting for the right offer.”

My mother’s words ring in my ears, He’s getting too old to manage the place, and again my insides clench at the thought of someone else being here. Last year is heavy on my mind. When things got so bad, when I had nowhere else to go, I came here and got back on my feet.

“I’m glad you were here last year,” I confess.

He reaches out and grips my shoulder. “Me too.”

Bill has battled his own demons in the past. When the time came for me to face down mine, he was the one person I knew I could trust. Of course, my brother Patrick and my partner Derek dropped everything to come here and see me through that dark time as well. Patrick just happened to bring Mariska… He also noticed something I’d never seen before. The tenderness my dad’s younger brother always shows to our mom.

“Mom seems to enjoy visiting the place, too.” It’s my turn to give him a sly grin. “She’s been coming out here quite a bit since December.”

His hand is still on my shoulder, and he gives it a gentle push. “It’s not her kind of life. It never has been.”

My dad came to Great Falls once, shortly after Bill bought the place. He was supposed to stay a week, but he left after two days. It was too wild, too uncontrollable. I remember a time when I wanted to be just like my dad, then I learned things I never wanted to know about my father. As a Marine, he died with honor, but he and I weren’t as much alike as I used to believe. He made my mother sad for a very long time.

I know Bill won’t confide in me about his feelings for Sylvia, his brother’s widow. I think I understand his reasoning, but still I wish he would. Instead he leaves me at the hearth with more questions than answers, as usual.

* * *

Mariska

Even with our trip to the craft store, Sylvia and I make it back to the ranch with plenty of time before supper. Stuart is in the round pen working with Jessie, and for a moment, I spy on the two of them. I watch as he quietly opens his hand to the side and she bows her head, walking slowly toward him. Her nose is at his chest, and he gives her a treat I can’t see.