I looked down and then back up at the clear blue sky. It was a beautiful Texas day in December. It couldn’t have been more than sixty-five degrees outside.
I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath before slowly letting it out. “God, I love it out here. I never want to be anywhere but here,” I said.
“Drew…”
I opened my eyes and saw something I’d never seen in my grandfather’s eyes before—fear. “Gramps…are you okay?”
He smiled slightly and nodded. “I am, son. I truly am. It’s just…when the whole heart attack happened…well, I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
I nodded. “Yeah, me, too.”
He stopped Big Roy, so I did the same with Firelight.
“It’s gonna happen someday though, son. I’m not a young stallion anymore,” he said with a grin.
My heart dropped to my stomach. Is something wrong? Oh god, please no…not with the new baby coming. Please…no.
“Jesus, Drew. Stop thinking so hard. I see your wheels spinning in that head of yours. Nothing is wrong. Matter of fact, I’m probably more fit now than I have been in a long time. The ticker is tickin’ just fine. It’s just…I was thinking this morning. Someday, I will be gone. I sure as hell hope I got at least another ten years or more, but—”
“Gramps, why are we even talking about this? I don’t want to talk about how you’re going to die someday. I know that.”
“Because I want you to know something. I want you to know that I couldn’t be more proud of you, son. You’ve done an amazing job, taking over the whole ranch with the help of Jeff and your father. To look out my window and see you and your father walking together with smiles on your faces…it makes my heart swell like you wouldn’t believe. If I had died—”
“But you didn’t!”
Gramps gave me a look. “Don’t interrupt your elder, boy. It’s rude.”
I tried to hold in the smile, but I couldn’t. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”
He nodded. “If I had died, I would have died as the happiest man on Earth. I have a woman who has loved me beyond my wildest dreams, two sons whom I’ve never been more proud of, and my grandchildren and great grandchildren…well, hell, they’re the best blessing of all. I just want you to know…I’ve lived a very good life.” He slowly smiled. “A very good life indeed.”
I smiled, knowing he was thinking of Grams. “Gramps, I bet your story with Grams is probably the best love story ever.”
He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “It is. Someday, I’ll tell you how I had to fight like hell to win that woman’s heart.”
I laughed. “Really? I figured Grams just took one look into those baby blues, and that was it.”
“Shit, I wish. That woman made me work my ass off to win her love, but it’s been a forever love.”
I started laughing as I noticed my father quickly riding up.
“Hey, y’all,” he said as he stopped his horse on a damn dime.
I had yet to ever win a race with this man.
“Ells? Alex?” I asked, trying not to sound panicked.
“They’re fine, but I got a call from Jeff. He’s with Scott at the Wild Coyote Bar. Scott is pretty drunk, and Jeff said—and I quote—‘Tell Gunner to get here before I punch the living shit out of Scott.’ ”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Damn it.” I turned to Gramps and tried to give him a small smile.
“Go, Drew. Your friend needs you. Just be patient, and try to understand what it would be like if Ellie had left you and you had no idea where she was while she thought the worst of you.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. I’d rather die.
“Thanks, Gramps. Let’s do this again, okay?” I turned to my dad and smiled. “Thanks, Dad. You should finish out the ride with Gramps. He’s being all emotional and shit.” I turned to look at Gramps.
His face fell. “You little shit.”
I laughed as I gave Firelight a good kick, and she took off.
I walked into the Wild Coyote Bar as Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” was playing, and the first thing I noticed was Scott dancing. I had no clue who he was dancing with, but I could immediately tell that he was drunk off his ass. I looked around and saw Jeff sitting at the bar.
I walked up and slapped him on the back. “I heard there was a problem,” I said with a wink.
Jeff rolled his eyes. “That motherfucker is gonna kill me!”
I sat down and ordered a beer as I looked back out at Scott. He was all over the girl.
“What’s going on?” I took a sip of my beer.
“For the last hour, I’ve been fighting with that little ho-bag out there on the dance floor.” Jeff looked out at the girl dancing with Scott.
I couldn’t help but start laughing. “What’s she doing?”
“Trying to get Scott to leave with her. I won’t let him do it, Gunner. I don’t care how upset he is. He’s drunk, and he’s hurting, so I won’t let him be unfaithful to Jessie…even if she thinks he already has been. But the fucker is starting to piss me off. He just wants to leave with this girl.”
The song ended, and they both came walking up to the bar. I smiled when I got a better look at the girl.
“Lucy…I don’t think your husband would like knowing his wife is out trying to pick up men.”
Lucy was married to a friend of mine who was in the Army and just happened to be deployed. My heart instantly broke for him, and I made a mental note to let him know that his wife was at the bar today.
Scott spun around and looked at Lucy as she shot me a dirty look.
“Fuck off, Gunner,” Lucy said.
Scott instantly removed his arm from her shoulder. “You’re married?” He shook his head. “Fucking women—you’re nothing but a bunch of deceiving, lying bitches.”
Lucy gave Scott a good push, causing him to fall toward Jeff and me. We both reached out and grabbed Scott before he fell to the floor.
She threw her hands on her hips and gave Scott a dirty look. “Asshole. You just keep crying over the girl who walked out and left your ass. You probably deserved it.”
I grabbed Scott and made him sit down. “What in the hell are you doing, Scott? You can’t drink or fuck her out of your mind…or heart.”
“Ain’t that the truth? Been there and done that.” Jeff took a drink of his beer.