Short Rides (Rough Riders 14.5)
“Because she’s so full of hate that she doesn’t understand love.” She kissed his forehead. “Let’s go home.”
The counselor looked frustrated. “I don’t understand people like her, but there are a dozen exactly like her that have kids at this school.”
“So you’re telling us that Westin might always have a rough go of it here?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I hate it. I’m trying to change things, but change is slow. And I feel it’s better to be upfront with you.”
“Thanks,” Trevor said. “We appreciate it.”
But Chassie was thinking, don’t be surprised if we aren’t here for school come Monday morning.
After they returned home, Chassie and Sophia went to deal with the goats. Edgard took Westin along to check cattle. Max had thrown a screaming fit in the car until he’d crashed from exhaustion. So Trevor was in the house while Max napped, working on BLM land lease renewals.
He’d gone to the kitchen for a cup of coffee when he saw Ramona West pull up.
She immediately bounded up the steps. She smiled at him through the glass door, but her smile dried seeing the tight set to Trevor’s face. He let her in. “This is a surprise.”
“What’s going on?”
“Did Chassie call you?
“No. I’m leaving tomorrow and I came to say goodbye. Has something happened?”
Trevor was the type who wanted to keep family business in the family.
Ramona has been your family since you married Chassie.
“Yeah. Have a seat. Want coffee?”
“Nah. I’m good. What’s going on?”
Trevor sat across from her. “When you watched the kids last weekend did Westin mention anything that’d been happening at school?”
Ramona nodded. “Nothing specific. Just that some kid was talking smack about his family.”
“Did he ask for your advice?”
“No, but I think he wanted to. He’s a deliberate thinker, isn’t he?”
“Very. But today, he took action and punched the kid who’s been bullying him. He got suspended from school. The other kid’s mother said a whole bunch of nasty shit to us about our perverted lifestyle. Not only was Westin in the room, so were Sophia and Max.”
She reached for his arm and squeezed. “Oh Trevor. I’m sorry. That’s horrible.”
“So now Chass has it in her head to pull Westin out and homeschool him. Part of me doesn’t disagree with that. But there’s a part of me thinks it’ll be worse for him—for all the kids in the long run if we do that.”
“And you’re beating yourself up because Westin didn’t choose the unconventional lifestyle you live—and he’s getting the backlash for it?”
Trevor nodded, not at all shocked she’d hit his worry right on the head. “So maybe it is best to keep them all here until they’ve developed the skills to deal with them type of people.”
“It’s easy for me to say fight it because I don’t have the same life experiences you three have in living the way you do. I don’t know how I’d handle looking into Westin’s sweet face every day and telling him to suck it up.”
“When I think about dropping him off at the bus stop and leaving him to face that shit alone? At age six? I almost break out in hives.”
“What about changing schools? Hulett or Sundance? It’d be extra driving, but if Westin was in a happier learning environment, it’d be worth it.”
Trevor had suggested it, but Chassie refused to consider it. He’d been frustrated to the point that he’d reminded her that her years going to school in Moorcroft had been shitty too.
“Trevor, have you guys talked about this to anyone?”
“Not yet. We’re sort of in that state of denial or whatever.” And again, he didn’t want anyone in their personal business.
But Ramona did not feel the same. She dialed a number on her cell phone and waited for the person on the other end to pick up. “Colby? It’s Ramona. I’m good.” She laughed. “I did behave while I was here. One night out with Keely. One. That’s it, I swear! No, Cam did not have to break up a bar fight—Keely and I handled it. Anyway, I stopped by to chat with Chassie before I leave and I heard something really distressing. Westin was suspended from school for standing up to a bully.”
“Jesus, Ramona.”
She shushed him. “The Glanzer clan is having a hard time with this. Do you have time to swing by and offer your old friends and your cousin some support? Because they sure could use it. Uh-huh. No problem. Bye.” She hung up and said, “He’ll be here in half an hour. And he’s calling Colt.”
Trevor wanted to ask what Colby and Colt could do, but the truth was, outside advice might help them. “Thanks for meddling, Ramona.”
She laughed. “It’s what I do.”
“You and Keely went out and whooped it up?”
“Just one night. Jack frowns on her getting too wild.”
He grinned. “So that’s exactly what she did, huh?”
“Yep. I swear those two fight just so they can make up.” She shook her head. “I’ll never understand love. Which is why I’m still single, by the way.”
“As long as I’ve got you here, you wanna come clean about why you just ‘happened’ to be in Wyoming the weekend we need you?”
“Didn’t buy that coincidence, huh?”
Trevor shook his head. “I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth either. So what’s goin’ on?”
“That whole I don’t understand love thing I was complaining about? It’s because I swear I have the worst taste in men.” Ramona twirled a section of her hair. “The last guy I dated seemed normal, right? He’s rich, he’s good-looking, he took an interest in me and my life on a level I’ve never had. Which should’ve been a warning sign. Anyway, I broke it off. He wasn’t ready for that. He refused to accept it, actually.”
“Christ, Ramona, is he stalking you?”
“Sort of.” She blew out a breath. “Okay, yeah, he’s stalking me. Everyone thinks I’m being stupid, that I just don’t understand how a real love relationship works, because I’m more the one- or two-night stand kinda chick. But this? This is creepy as hell.
“He follows me everywhere and he doesn’t bother with stealth. He sends me gifts—ridiculously expensive gifts.” Ramona shot him a look. “Every girl’s dream, right? Wrong. I have no way of returning them to the store or the courier service that delivered them. And that’s exactly what he wants; me to come to him. That’ll add to his delusion I can’t keep away from him because we’re soul mates.”