Reed would take whatever he could get. This woman raised him and loved him unconditionally when his father had shown him little patience or understanding. Why should he talk to his father? They hadnt had anything to say to each other since hed turned eighteen and left home. No, I havent spoken to him.
He wants to talk to you.
If hed been so anxious to talk to him, why had he left as soon as Reed arrived? Ill catch him later. Its getting dark, do you want the light on?
Yes, thank you.
He reached above her and tugged
the chain for the floor lamp beside her chair.
His mother leaned back against the headrest. You dont have to wait here with me. William will be back soon. I could stand a little time alone. She chuckled. I like to take little naps now and then so that I can stay awake through my television shows.
Reed smiled. Okay. If youre sure youll be all right.
I will. Dont forget to talk to your father. Hes been meaning to speak with you since you came back. He just doesnt know how.
No kidding. Reeds lips tightened. The only way hed ever talked to Reed was to tell him everything he was doing wrong. Never a word of encouragement or love.
Give him a chance. Its not all his fault the way he acted when you were young. If its anyones fault, blame me.
He leaned across and kissed her wrinkled forehead. I couldnt fault you for anything. You were always there for me.
Her grip tightened on his hand and she held him close. I made mistakes, Reed. Unfortunately, you paid for them.
I dont understand.
She closed her eyes. Talk to William. He promised to explain for me. Her grip loosened until her hand dropped from his onto the arm of the lounge chair.
For a long moment, Reed listened for the sound of her breathing. Until he heard her long shallow breaths he didnt breathe himself. Grace Bryson was asleep.
After covering her with a light blanket and tipping the chair to a full recline, he let himself out of the house, locking the door behind him.
He felt strange leaving her alone, but shed insisted she would be all right. Six months into his mothers recovery, Reed still worried about her. What if she had another stroke?
Darkness had settled in over the town of Prairie Rock. From a distance, he could hear loud country-western music booming into the star-filled night sky. That would be his next stop for the evening. Leons Bar.
Fernando had insisted he should go to town and play babysitter to the two young hotheads whod been ready to tear each others throats out all day. Once off the ranch, with no one to hold them back, theyd probably succeed. Part of Reed was ready to let them go at it. The other part knew Jesse was no match for the much larger and meaner Dusty, and having two of them out of commission would only add more stress. Mona needed ranch hands who could work long, hard days, not men with broken bones, laid up for the next six to eight weeks.
Reed ran a hand down his face. Being up all night had left him tired and cranky. He was used to pulling all-nighters, but they got harder the older he got.
With a sigh, he climbed into his truck and turned toward the bar. He had another reason to come to Leons Barto track a rustler.
When he pulled in front of the ramshackle building made of heavy timbers and corrugated-tin siding, he noted the dozen trucks and cars lining the parking lot. With the band playing a lively tune, the night was just getting started.
Careful not to appear too obvious, he walked in front of the heavy-duty trucks looking for signs of damage from pushing through wooden fence posts. The trucks sporting heavy front grilles all looked as if theyd been driven hard over rough terrain. Any one of them could have done the damage.
At the door, Reed paid the cover charge to a burly man wearing a black cowboy hat and stepped into the smoky tavern. Scantily clad waitresses, wearing shorts no mother should let her daughter out of the house in, sashayed between the tables and bar, filling orders and swatting straying hands.
He spotted Catalina at the bar talking to one of the local ranchers, a tray balanced on one pretty, rounded hip. He could see why Jesse and Dusty were fighting over her.
Her long, blond hair reached down to the middle of her back and her smile and laugh had every red-blooded man in the room turning her way.
Dusty sat at the bar, dressed in clean, pressed jeans and a fancy western shirt with shiny pearl buttons, a sure sign he was on the prowl for a little female company. He shouted for another round of whiskey, his voice loud enough to be heard all the way to the courthouse on Main Street. Definitely loud enough to be heard over the band.
So far, Jesse hadnt made an appearance. Maybe Reed was in luck and he wouldnt have to break up another fight today. One had been enough and he wanted to take the time to people watch. If their black-haired rustler showed up with a cut on his head, he was going to nail him to the nearest post.
Choosing a table as far away from the speakers as possible, Reed sank into a seat in a dark corner, the bass woofer pounding against the inside of his head, even from this distance.