So Tough to Tame (Jackson Hole 3)

“Please. We’d love to have you. You know that. But you’ll have to promise to behave. Half of my friends have a crush on a photo of you I have in the living room.”

Walker grinned. “Yeah? That might be nice. All the attention without any of the temptation.”

“You sure? Some of them are damn hot men.”

Walker burst into laughter and raised his cup in a mock toast. “I guess we’ll find out. But after all the years I’ve spent in bunkhouses, I can’t imagine I could ever find any male part appealing.”

Micah waggled his eyebrows. “Oh, bunkhouses. Nice. Remind me again why I didn’t become a cowboy?”

Walker shook his head. “I’d have beaten your ass before I’d have let you waste your brains on driving stock. Seriously, Micah, I’m proud of you. And so was Dad, when he was still clear.”

Micah’s smile faded. “Dad was proud of you, too.”

“Bullshit. He hated having me for a son. Called me an idiot every day of my life.”

“Walker...”

He waved his brother off. “Don’t defend him. He was a miserable bastard.”

Micah finally gave up on whatever speech he’d been about to make. His shoulders dropped. “He didn’t understand.”

“Yeah. No shit.” There hadn’t been any such thing as dyslexia to their father. There hadn’t been learning disabilities. There’d only been thick-skulled stupidity and laziness. There’d only been a stubborn, shiftless kid who needed a slap upside his head every day and an occasional good beating.

Their mom had sometimes shaken her head and clucked her tongue about her husband’s words, but that had been it. Walker had at least been able to shield Micah. That was why Micah was more sympathetic. More forgiving. Because he’d seen a calmer side to their dad. Walker had drawn the fury, and he’d been damn glad to be the one.

But by the time he and Micah were teenagers, things had calmed down slightly, if only because Walker had been big enough to fight back. And by then, they’d both been mostly out of the house. Micah had taken classes at the community college in addition to high school. And Walker had spent every waking moment out with friends or working. He’d worked hard. He’d saved up to move out. And he’d saved up even more to send his little brother to college. It was the best thing he’d ever done.

Micah was an amazing man doing amazing things. Walker was so proud of him. Walker might be destined to be nothing but a muddy ranch hand for the rest of his life, but he’d helped raise his little brother. Taught him how to ride and fight. He’d taken him fishing and hunting and camping. And he’d helped pay for the education that Micah had deserved and their father had scoffed at.

Micah set his coffee on the table. “We should get going. I think he has physical therapy at ten.”

He wanted to tell Micah to go without him, but he’d tried that before and it had ended with an argument that had left Walker feeling like an asshole. “All right,” he said, “but I’ll meet you over there.” He needed the time alone to brace himself for the visit. And the time alone after to stuff all his emotions back down where they belonged.

“Sure. I’ve got to hit the road after anyway.”

“You just got here. Stay for dinner, at least. Better yet, stay the night. I’ve got a couch that’s almost long enough for you.”

“Tempting,” Micah said, as he stood and waited for Walker to follow him out.

“Come on. It’s been four months since you’ve been through.”

“I’m sorry, Walk. I’m already running late. I have to get to Helena for a lunch meeting tomorrow.”

“No relief from travel with the promotion?”

“Oh, there’s some talk of hiring another team member, but so far I’m basically doing two jobs. So no.”

“Figures. I’ll see you over there.”

Walker closed himself up in his truck and took a deep breath as his brother pulled away. It’d only be a thirty-minute visit. Best to get it over with.

&n

bsp; The senior care center was at the outskirts of town, next to the hospital. A small place, but modern and clean. They’d talked of moving their father to Washington to be closer to Micah. After all, it wasn’t as if Walker ever dropped in to visit. But here in Jackson, they knew some of the nurses and attendants, so they didn’t have to worry that their dad would be neglected or mistreated. So here he stayed.

When Walker pulled up to the center, Micah was already going through the doors. He knew better than to wait for Walker, but this time, Walker forced himself to get out of the truck and walk right inside. No hesitation, no pacing around, no psyching himself up. He simply walked through the lobby and straight to his dad’s room.

Of course, his dad wasn’t there. He never was. It was only the stranger in his dad’s skin. A thin old man who seemed to be collapsing in on himself. A ghost who smiled as if that came naturally to him.