Branded as Trouble (28 page)

“Good to know.”

Both men leaned against the truck. Colby still favored the leg he’d busted up rodeoing, and had taken up a cockeyed position.

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Cord crossed his arms and his legs, keeping his face shadowed beneath his hat brim.

“So why
are
you here?”

Colby tipped his head up and looked Colt square in the eye.

“To apologize for bein’ a prick to you.”

Whoa. Not what Colt expected.

“I ain’t gonna make excuses about what I said a few weeks back, ’cause it’s over and done. We both know it was wrong. We all know this situation has been buildin’ for a while. You’ve pissed me off so many times since I quit the circuit and started workin’ on the ranch that I’m surprised we ain’t come to blows before now.”

“Hell, I’ve been pissing you off since I was born,” Colt said.

Colby shot him a smile. “Ain’t that the truth.”

“And Colt, you and I did come to blows,” Cord added.

Just another blackout drunk moment Colt didn’t remember.

“So until Cam pointed it out a couple weeks back,” Colby continued, “I hadn’t considered I’d kept up that shitty attitude toward you even now that you’re clean. Because I was used to actin’

that way, I realized I didn’t know how
not
to be mad at you, bro.”

Silence.

“Then when you built this house, away from us, and up the road from Trev, who’d always been
my
best friend, I guess I was pissed
and
jealous. Makes me an immature fuck to spout off the shit I did to you. You didn’t deserve none of it. Jesus. I don’t know if I can ever apologize enough.”

“You don’t hafta—”

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“Lemme say my piece. I’m sorry I—
we
—didn’t kick your ass when we saw you losin’ the battle with booze. You shoulda been able to turn to us, Colt, instead we turned you against us. I don’t blame you for wantin’ to distance yourself. No wonder you prefer Kade and Buck to us, at least they had your back when you needed it.”

Colt glanced away.

“As long as we’re spillin’ our guts, I’m sorry I didn’t try harder to include you in my life with Channing either. All Gib could talk about on the way home from dinner last night was you.”

“He’s a great kid.”

“And I’m really fuckin’ sorry you’ve borne the brunt of the work in your sobriety while I was workin’ banker’s hours because I’ve got a wife and kids to go home to.

“Bottom line is Cam was dead on and it pisses me off I was too stubborn to see it. I didn’t believe you could change, even when the proof was right in my face for the last three years. And it sucks that if Cam didn’t have the balls to speak the truth, we all probably would’ve gone on like this for years, huh?”

“Probably.”

Another moment of silence.

Cord shifted his stance. “I ain’t got much to add. Colby pretty much said it all. But I will say I’m just as much a sorry sonuvabitch.

Maybe more. Christ, Colt, I’m so fuckin’ sorry. It never shoulda gotten to this point. We all know the strained relationship Dad has with Uncle Casper. As the oldest kid I swore it’d never happen to any of us. I’ll be damned if I didn’t sit back and let it happen.

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“When you sobered up I wasn’t sure it’d stick. Hell, I watched you strugglin’ that fall when you returned from treatment until you found an A.A. meeting. And what did I do the instant AJ and I got married? I quit hangin’ out with you. I even went a step farther than Colby; I justified my actions by convincin’ myself you were better off with A.A. support than with ours.”

“Look, I ain’t gonna lie. I needed A.A. I wouldn’t have survived the first year if it hadn’t been for A.A.” If it hadn’t been for India. “I dealt with a lot of shit I didn’t want any of my family to know about. So blame on the ‘backing away’ response is equal.”

“I’m supposed to tell you from Carter that although he ain’t around as much as he’d like, he feels guilty,” Colby said.

“Especially since all of us banded together and knocked some sense into him when he needed it. Must’ve seemed like we couldn’t be bothered to do that for you.”

Colt looked back and forth between his brother’s hangdog faces. “Lemme ask you something. Did your wives put you up to this?”

“Nope. AJ’s been worried,” Cord said. “But she’s been feelin’

too crappy to do much but yell at me for knockin’ her up.”

“Same with Channing. Though, I gotta say, if either one of them were in top form, along with Macie, they woulda thrown their lot in with Keely and kicked all our asses. Keely knew what was up.

Might’ve saved us all some grief if we woulda listened to her.”

“What about Ma? Any of this her doing?”

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Colby shook his head. “I’m pretty sure Ma’s in worse denial than the rest of us. First thing she said after Cam blew up was she raised us to treat each other better.”

“That’s it?”

“Uh-huh. And Dad…”

“You don’t gotta explain nothin’ to me about Dad,” Colt said.

Both Colby and Cord smiled.

This time the silence wasn’t filled with tension.

Colt said, “I appreciate you guys comin’ by and bein’ up front with me. It’d been easier to ignore it.”

“No lie there.”

“So we okay?” Colt asked.

“I reckon. Except Colby and I would like you to help us draw up a more structured distribution of ranch duties.”

“Jesus. Dad’ll hate that.”

“Tough shit. That ain’t his decision,” Cord said. “This ain’t a monarchy.”

Wow. Bucking Carson McKay’s iron rule about “doin’ what needs done” and receiving apologies from both his brothers? This was shaping up to be a damn fine day. The family changes would take some getting used to for all of them, still, Cord and Colby had taken the first step to making things better and Colt admired that. He could work with that.

But they could all use a little levity. “So, do we give each other a big group hug now, or what?”

Cord said, “I vote for the ‘or what’ option.”

“Meaning?”

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“Let’s dick with Cam. I’m beginnin’ to think our little brother feels left out of our family dramas.”

Colby scratched his chin. “You know, we
have
been treatin’

him with kid gloves since he settled back here. Maybe it’s time we…”

“What?”

“Take the gloves off,” Cord and Colby finished together.

Colt grinned. “I’m in.”

***

Colt returned home hours later to find the light on his answering machine flashing. Probably a telemarketer. Most everyone he wanted to talk to called his cell. He hit play anyway.

Two messages.

“Colt. It’s India. Look, I’m going to be really busy the next couple of days. I hope you understand it’d be best if we just did our own thing until the weekend. I’ll call you then.”

Beep.

He hit pause on the machine and dialed India’s cell. She picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

“What the hell is this? You’re too busy to see me all week?”

“I explained in the message.”

“Like hell you did. What’s really going on, India?”

Silence.

“I know you’re there.”

“I need a break.”

“From me?”

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“From you, from us, from this…”

“How long is this break gonna last? Or is it a permanent break?”

“No! God no. I swear to you, I just need some time alone to think.” She paused. “Don’t you ever need that?”

Yeah, he did. Didn’t mean he liked it. “So do you have an end date in mind for this moratorium on seein’ each other?”

“How about Thursday?”

He bit back a growl. “Fine.”

“I won’t be at the meeting tomorrow night either.”

There went that plan. “Can I at least call you?”

“No. Thursday is not that far away, Colt, I think you’ll survive not talking to me for two days.” Softly, she said, “I’ll miss you.

Take care,” and hung up.

“Goddammit.” He hated this. Especially since he didn’t know what’d sent her into full retreat.

His family? Maybe.

Or maybe…he’d spooked her by his intent to tell her he loved her last night, before she’d stopped him. Why would that scare her?

She had to know how he felt.

Guess he’d have to wait until Thursday to find out.

The message light still blinked. He hit play. “Hi, Colt, it’s Ginger Paulson. I don’t know if you remember me, but we met a couple weeks back at the community center? My son Hayden was in a class and we talked when I picked him up? Anyway, if you could call me back, I’d appreciate it. There’s something I’d like to discuss www.samhainpublishing.com 289

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with you.” She rattled off the number and he scrawled it on the scratch pad by the phone.

Yeah, he remembered her all right. The redhead. He dialed her number. “Ginger? It’s Colt McKay. What can I do for you?” He waited while she explained. A big grin broke out when she finished.

“Sure I can meet you. Tomorrow night? At Dewey’s? It’s a date.”

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The bell on the front door clanked.

India threw her sketchbook on the counter and stretched. Talk about a slow day. She slapped on a smile and entered the main part of the store, which showcased the Sky Blue product line.

“Good morning. Something I can help you with?”

The woman turned around. Carolyn McKay.

India tried not to let her smile slip. She’d known Carolyn for a few years, in a professional capacity, as India the saleswoman who tempted Carolyn with new Sky Blue products. Was she supposed to act differently now that she was dating Colt?

“Hi Carolyn. How are you?”

“Fine. And you?”

I’m dragging ass because your son fucked me senseless and we
didn’t use protection, so I could very well be pregnant with your
grandchild.

Not a good answer. TMI, as Keely would say. “I’m good. You looking for something in particular? I’m afraid the lavender and sage hand lotion is backordered until next month.”

“Thanks for letting me know. But that’s not why I’m here.”

“Oh?”
Brilliant response, India, maybe you oughta be totally
stupid and her if she’s here for a tattoo.

Lorelei James

“Did you have a good time at our house Sunday night?”

“Yes. The food was wonderful. Colt has always told me what a great cook you are.”

Carolyn beamed. “Really? Sometimes I wonder if any of my family pays attention to what they’re eating. It’s good to hear my efforts are appreciated.” She paused. “Do you cook?”

“God no. Seems pointless for one. I tend to go for fast and easy.” That hadn’t come out right.

A knowing look entered Carolyn’s eyes. “I see. My niece Chassie tells me Colt is a good cook, not that he’s invited his father and me over for dinner.”

Colt’s choice of dinner guests was not India’s issue. “He is a great cook.”

“He’s cooked for
you
?”

Crap. She’d fallen right into that one. “Yes. Since I can’t crack an egg, I have to reciprocate in other creative ways.” Ooh. And didn’t that sound totally suggestive?

“I’m sure.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“And it’s not important. Anyway, I was surprised to hear you were dating my son. Aren’t there…rules against that sort of thing?”

India frowned. “Rules?”

“A.A. rules. About a sponsor not becoming intimately involved with a sponsoree.”

Carolyn was fishing. The relationship between the sponsor and sponsoree wasn’t spelled out on purpose, according to the A.A.

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guidelines. If she’d done any sort of research—and India would bet money Carolyn McKay had read up on A.A—she’d know that.

What Carolyn wanted was confirmation India was now—or had been—Colt’s sponsor. India wouldn’t betray that confidence, especially since early on Colt demanded everything about his A.A.

life be kept from his family, as was his right.

India said, “With all due respect, Carolyn, I’m sure you understand I’m not at liberty to discuss A.A. business with you.”

“Oh sure. I just wondered. I worry.”

“You worry about Colt? Or about me dating Colt?”

“Both, I guess.”

At least she hadn’t lied. “Why?”

“Can I be honest with you? You look like a straight shooter.”

India took it to mean she looked low-class and acted crass. “By all means.”

“My worry is that Colt has come to rely on you too much.”

“Too much?”

“At first it was understandable, he needed the support of others who’d been through the same types of…things. But it’s been a couple of years. Isn’t time he weans himself from A.A.?”

Weans himself? Jesus. Was this woman for real? Did she understand anything about what an addict goes through every damn day? “Recovery is a lifelong process. It doesn’t have a shelf life. Or a convenient timeframe. And the level of involvement in the A.A.

program is just as individual as the journey it took to get there. We don’t demand or command members. Participation is strictly voluntary.”

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“I realize that. I’m not talking only about A.A. I’m talking about you.”

“What about me?”

“Do you realize Colt’s pulled away from his family almost completely in the time he’s been with you?”

“I hate to argue with you on the family issue, but that’s not true. Colt spends lots of time with Cam. And with Kade, Skylar and the girls. He helps Buck out. I know for a fact he, Chassie, Trevor and Edgard have breakfast together most Sunday mornings.”

That didn’t placate Carolyn. In fact, it seemed to distress her even more. “Which is all good and well, but Colt doesn’t come over to our house for Sunday brunch or supper. He doesn’t have much to do with Cord or Colby or their families unless I organize it. He and Carter used to be close, but not now. Can you explain that away as easily?”