Making Her Mine: Racing D Ranch Book 3: Mine Forever, page 7
"I’m not going anywhere without you."
As we leave the viewing room, we meet Bob in the aisle. He comes straight to us giving me a big hug.
"Welcome, glad to finally get ya’ here and have this gal back. The quiet was hard to live with."
The men laugh. I don't blame them since I do make a ruckus when I’m around.
They shake hands as Bob asks a few questions about how he's feeling and tells him to make himself at home. I can never say enough times what a great father he's been.
I take Jake up to a lounge area in the front of the barn, called Alvaro to bring the horses up to the front.
Out of nowhere Milt appears.
"What are you up to?" he asked.
"I thought I’d take the bay up the mountain. The sorrel is pulled for you if you want to come with me."
"Good idea, if you're feeling well enough to ride. You still look damn used up to me," he’s blatantly sarcastic.
"I feel fine. If my looks don’t meet your standards, I can’t help you. Now do you want to work these horses or not?" I see Jake's expression of deep surprise. He stayed quiet which I’m glad he did. I’m not fond of someone jumping in to save me. I can save myself most times. Jake turns away with his hand covering his mouth. I’m sure he's hiding a snicker. Seeing me face off against Milt would be like seeing a 2-year-old child go up against a gorilla. Yeah, it would look funny.
"Girl, don't you get your cocky mouth going with me. I'll pull you off a saddle if I want to."
I notice out of the corner of my eye Jake moving in to stand closer. He’s not pleased about Milt’s threat, that’s clear. He’s set, ready, just waiting to step in if puts a hand on me. It would be a disaster.
"Not today, buddy. If you're worried about me riding when I'm tired I guess I won’t be working again in the afternoons because by noon time, I'm long past tired."
Milt looks over at Jake who’s now come even closer, his expression showing his readiness to get in the mix. Jake’s boring a hole in him. At the same time Bob steps into the aisle, looks at us but doesn’t say anything. We both see him. Instantly, the overall tone changes.
Milt laughs. "Yes ma'am, let's get it done," he takes the horses from Alvaro.
"Is this sorrel the one you want for today? Or is there another one who needs the work more?" I asked.
"Nope, this is the one I would've pulled, you got it right."
"Good. I'm glad you want to go with me. I been missing you, don’t you know." I crack a smile.
"I can tell, all right. Yep, I can tell." He shakes his head as he laughs in a good-natured way.
"Just give in. It’s better that way," Alvaro tells him in a light tone. "My family, nine sisters. No win."
"You would know the truth."
I give Jake my I win smug look to cue him all is well, and he moves back.
Chapter 14
Race
While we’re throwing saddles, the male attendant arrives. A fast introduction with an overview plan to Larry, the therapist. He seems to hit it off with Jake.
"Babe, while we're gone it might be a good time to go rest. Maybe you can get started with therapy. We’ll be gone at least two-three hours. You'll see me come back." I lean over to whisper I love you. He squeezes my hand.
"Have fun."
As we ride out, we pass Jake when he’s going in the house.
"Bye honey." I wave throwing him a kiss while this bay is wanting to run off, he’s crazy fresh.
"You best quit playing kissy-face with your boyfriend and get hands on that stud. Who’d believe how you fuss over him. Never seen you act this way to anybody."
Milt sounds truly surprised but something else is in his asinine tone. It’s disgust. That’s what I hear. Disgust.
There’s no room for me to worry about it right now. He's always been temperamental.
"You watch your own ride. I’ll take care of mine."
"You sure do hover over him. He should be well by now with all the attention."
"Jake was in a bad way when I got to the hospital. He’s much better now, thank God. Right now, my guard is still up. It seems to bother you, but I don’t understand why."
He knits his brows together, adds a little confused twist to his lips. Looks like he’s thinking before he speaks, not his usual.
"In a way it does. I can’t say why. I guess because it's not how I see you. You don’t act like that. I'm not trying to make you feel bad. If you and him like it, then it's not my business."
"Technically, you’re right. It's not your business though I do care how you feel. Our promise to each other is we’d never break apart and we wouldn’t let the other one act like a fool. Do you think I’m acting foolish? Is that what you’re saying?"
"I can’t see you as a fool no matter what you do. Not gonna happen. I care about you too much. I wasn’t trying to upset you. It just surprises me. Don't be mad. You know it ruins my whole damn day when your mad with me."
"I’m not mad. Pissed off, but not mad." I am pissed but I have to make peace. The way Jake came to the ready scares me. He’s not well enough to take on Milt, but he would anyway. I can’t let these two men get on the wrong side of each other any more than what they already are. I’m not liking what I see between them.
Looking back on what Milt said in the RV gives me a hint to what could be bothering him.
"I’m not replacing you with anyone. If you were ill or hurt in any way, I’d be hovering over you, coddling you like I did when you had fever with the Rabies shots. I laid on your bed holding you in my arms day and night. I spoon fed you, sponged you to cool the fever and prayed constantly for you to get well. I did it because you’re pretty much the most important person in this world to me."
"Looks like I stand corrected. You did hover over me." He reaches his hand over to hold mine.
"You weren’t thinking clear then, guess you forgot. I’ll cut you slack this time."
"Tomorrow will be better. Being away from the ranch never has worked for you, me neither. Remember college?"
"How could I forget. You’re totally right, home is where I want to be. The worst cabin fever set in at the hospital."
"I could tell. Every time we talked, I heard your level of distress get higher. That’s why I called you so much."
"That bad, eh? I thought I hid it well." I can’t hide much from my brother.
"You’re home now, it’s all good. Come on, let's get these lazy horses moving." He hauls ass across the meadow up the side of the mountain. I'm right on his heels with this bay crow hopping every step. God, it feels great to be on the back of a fine horse.
The ride goes smooth enough considering the bay is jacked up as hell. The horses get a good workout blowing off steam which met the goal, and maybe Milt found more understanding. He seems to have mellowed out some. I don't like being at odds with him, it doesn't make me happy.
Alvaro meets us at the barn to hose down the horses for us.
"Milt, interested in having tea?"
"Think I'll pass."
"The sunroom if you change your mind."
I start towards the house then make a quick stop at the tack room to check a saddle needing repair. Out of nowhere there’s loud crashing noises coming from the feed room across the aisle. What the hell?
When I open the door it’s Milt throwing 30-gallon cans of feed across the room and punching the wall. He catches me out of the corner of his eye, turns to the door.
"Get the hell out of here. Now! I said go!" he yells at top pitch.
"Milt," I run up to him. He pushes me back.
"I told you to get the fuck out of here! Let me be," he growls, his face twisted up in a rage.
I go up to him again, he takes my shoulders holding me back.
"Don't do it. Don't push me away, Milt."
"Just go to the house, girl." His voice drops to very quiet. "Please, go to the house." I see his head drop as he moves his arms around my back hugging me tight. "Go on." His arms drop away as he turns to face the wall.
I back away. When I look again, he's leaning against the wall with his head down, breathing hard, sucking in air. God, I wish I knew what’s going on. I've seen him like this before, but not this bad. I never could figure out why. Then after a day or two he'd be back to normal. It didn't happen often, but it has happened. There’s nothing to do except the same thing I did back then, leave him alone to let him work through it.
I take a minute to regroup standing outside the feed room when Bob comes out of the office. He heard the ruckus.
"What's going on here?"
"He’s going berserk in there. He won't let me near him." He pats my shoulder, his way of saying it’s okay. It’s not.
"Ya’ go on to the house. I'll spend some time here with him. Don't you worry, it'll come good." Bob always has the right thing to say even when it’s not true.
Life has a bazaar way of making the happiest day turn into a sad day. I already know all about that from experience.
I find Jake finishing up his session with his excitement up front right beside his fatigue.
"Good timing since it's teatime. We’re having it in the sunroom. You guys finish and I'll take it in." Pat already has the tray set. He invited the Lancer’s to stay but they were ready for a rest after their visit with Jake.
I'm amazed at how cheerful and optimistic he is this first day of being here. I hope it stays this way so we can keep moving forward. I’m able to have a word with Larry to ask how he is doing. His report is encouraging.
If Milt would get his act together, I could say all is good. I'm glad Bob stayed with him. He'll be able to sort it out.
When I bring the tea into the sunroom Jake is stretched out on the lounge looking pink in the face from his therapy. It tells me the workout isn’t too easy.
"How would you like your tea?" I asked knowing he's not a tea drinker. He doesn’t know the full ritual of tea. It’s the one thing I remember quite well from Mother. She’d call me in to have tea each afternoon around 4, no matter what.
She taught me the how’s, the whys of it by saying, ‘use your china teacups with silver sugar, creamer, always serve on a tray with a pretty tea pot.’ She impressed how it calms nerves, soothes the heart making a woman ready to share the evening with her family. I followed in her footsteps in hopes of becoming a woman like her someday. I haven’t made it yet.
"I'll take mine like yours. Honestly, I don't recall having afternoon tea before. I like it."
"Why is that?" I asked him.
He looks around to see who's close then leans over telling me this.
"I can look at your bewitching face up close," he says. "Your charm shines through, you know. We were here doing therapy when you rode back in. While I watched your gorgeous ass in the saddle, you won’t guess what happened." Jake has a cheeky grin, I’m smiling.
"I can't even imagine so you have to tell me." I'm jesting him because he won’t say anything with the possibility of people around to hear.
"Damn it. You know I can't say right now. You can figure it out."
"You have to tell me later when you can tell me in detail. You know it makes me wet when you talk dirty to me."
"Race, Shh… There are people everywhere in this house who could hear you. You’re getting it later, I promise."
"You’re so funny, cute, too."
"Something not funny was your brother. What’s up with him?"
"He’s got a burr in his sock. He’s been sarcastic since he got to the hospital. Probably about us being far behind."
"You might be right but now, not only is my sister making a fuss, I have your brother making the same fuss with a different approach. What’s the problem with them? Why do they have an issue with us being together?"
"I don’t think he’s worried about us. It’s about the horses getting ready on time."
"I understand. I’d like to see it in that light. I have to say I don’t."
"Do I hear a trace of anger in your voice?" I know I do which I’m not happy about it.
"You do." At least he admits it. Milt won’t admit anything.
What the hell can I say. I have businesses to run, I’ve been gone for more than three weeks at the most critical time of year. I’ve played it down to keep Jake from feeling worse than he did about me staying at the hospital.
"Right now, everyone has tight nerves, we’re all short on patience. Please don’t take anything personal. We have to let everyone unwind then I’m sure things will come together in a better way."
"I am on edge. You need to realize I won’t let anyone come between us. Not my sister, not your brother."
"No one could get a breath of air between us, we’re just that close and you know it." I give Jake a few minutes to think about it.
I’m not sure which way to move to get this under control. I personally don’t see it the way he does but that’s not the point. He’s looking at it in a light of jealousy with his mind already made up it’s not about work. That’s pure craziness. Milt doesn’t have a vested interest in us being a couple. He doesn’t care. He’s all about the welfare of the whole ranch. I am as well, yet, I’m capable of being with Jake and running the ranch at the same time.
It’s not fucking rocket science.
"My guess is Milt’s worried about how far behind we are with the horses. That’s ranch income in that we make half our money during racing season. I’m the trainer, the jockey and I’ve been away. If I’m not up to par it reflects in my saddle time which reflects negatively in our income. The more important thing is the reputation of the Racing D program. I cannot put a horse on the track that isn’t going to perform at top level. Anyway, I can’t take his behavior personal. He gets this way occasionally and it has nothing to do with me, really. I only happen to be the one he takes his frustration out on. But I’ve not known of him breaking up things the way he did today."
"What happened?"
"I saw him punching the wall, throwing feed bins across the room. I tried to talk with him hoping to calm him down, but he kept yelling for me to leave him alone. Bob came then I left."
"He has a hot temper under his presentation of calmness. It doesn’t change anything. He can get pissed all he wants, what he can’t do is take it out on you." Jake sounds firm. "You might be right about it being ranch related issues bothering him. Men are temperamental and tend to act out on who's the closest. Don't worry baby, he'll settle down when work starts happening."
He tries to make me feel better which is one of the big things I like about him. It reminds me of Milt in a way.
"He started these rages years ago about the time I was 19, maybe 20." Jake tensed up turning to look at me. For some reason he took note of what I said.
"Why is that of interest?"
"It must be a phase guys go through. Brothers are knuckle heads. Sandy said the same about me for ages."
"I noticed you were on the ready in case he tried to follow through with his threat."
"Race, no one gets to put a hand on you, nor disrespect you, not even Milt. He needs to clean up his attitude when he talks to you."
"It’s important to me for the two of you to get along, at least on a level we can all live with." I tell Jake in a soft voice.
"I agree. But it doesn’t mean I have to stand back watching him treat you unkindly. I won’t."
This is the perfect time to embrace him and smooth things over.
"There’s no woman luckier than me. It’s nice how you watch over me. Just to tell you, I have kicked Milt’s butt before. I’m ashamed to say I did it the dirty way. Still I did it to put him in his place, just to show him I could kick his ass."
"Oh, I believe you. That’s why I work to stay on your good side girlie. I don’t want you to kick my butt."
"You’re ribbing me now. I saw you snickering. I almost laughed. Enough about Milt. I’d like you to share a romantic evening with me on the patio of my bedroom tonight, sound interesting?"
"Sign me up." Jake’s cheerful smile says he likes the idea.
"In that case, would you like to have a rest for an hour? I don’t want you overtired."
"Good idea, you won't mind?"
"I want you to. There’s plenty of work to do, I'll be in my office or at the barn. Pat can show you how to call me down there. You have a good rest." We walk to his bedroom where I fluff pillows, give him a long sweet kiss, the kind that makes me wet.
"I just love you cowboy."
Chapter 15
Milt
The jingle of Bob’s spurs goes silent when he takes a seat on the bench inside the door.
"I see it finally caught up with ya’," he says in a tone I’d take as down in the mouth. Seeing any of us have trouble bothers him more than he lets on.
No reason to look up from where I’ve slid down the wall to the floor. He knew years back how I feel about Race. In hindsight he tried to help me from the start, more than once but I was too stubborn back then to listen. Then he left me to work it out on my own. I fucking wish I could’ve. I’ll have to deal with it right here. He’ll sit there all night waiting for me to be ready.
"Yeah, it did." I’m not sure I can get the words out. "I planned to tell her how I felt before she went to the convention in Denver then she left a day early when I was at the cattle sale. When she got back, she was different in a strange way, real excited, then worried over something, so I held off waiting for her to level out. The next damn thing I know she’s flying off to take care of this Jake guy. She must’ve met him in Denver."
"That’s what happened."
"Seeing them together kills me. It makes me come unhinged enough to rip the fucker apart! He can’t feel about her the way I do — they don’t even know each other. She was in Denver less than three days. But that bastard means to have her. He’s got his mind set."
"What about Race? She’s the one caught in the middle here. She don’t know a single thing about how you feel. Ya’ never told her."
