Rodeo Reunion (11 page)

“Brant, calm down and put your fists away.” Raquel scurried after him holding Lorraine.

“Just listen to me, Brant.” Tori cut in front of Slade.
“It's not what you think. Do you really want Lorraine to see you hitting someone?”

“She's too little to understand.” Brant ground out his words. “Now, y'all both stay out of the way.”

“My first memory is of my father hitting my mother.” Tori's tone chilled Slade's blood.

His feet stalled.

And so did Brant's.

“Now that we've all calmed down, I have news.” Tori scooped Lorraine out of Raquel's arms. “Slade is my brother.”

“Your brother?” Brant and Raquel echoed each other.

“Yes.” Tori heaved a sigh. “Now, can we all talk about this calmly?”

“How about some coffee at my house?” Raquel squeaked, obviously shaken by the news. “I could use something to settle the nerves.”

“It's about time for Lorraine's nap.” Tori threaded her arm through Brant's, who was clearly shocked silent. “Where's Hunter?”

“He spent the night with Max since it's spring break.” Raquel checked her watch. “Lacie's bringing him home later.”

“Let's get one thing straight, Walker.” Brant jabbed a finger at him. “You're gonna have to prove this news to me.”

“That's not a problem.” Slade handed him the paternity test results.

“What was your dad's legal name, Tori?” Brant scanned the document.

“Walter Eaton.” Tori rolled her eyes. “But you already knew that.”

“Just making sure. Even so, I'm sure there are other Walter Eatons besides the one who became Slim Easton.
And even if this is the same Walter Eaton, it could still be a fraud.” Brant's gruff tone was intended to intimidate.

But Slade wouldn't back down. “If you don't believe me, you can check with my lawyer.”

“Why would anyone go to all this trouble if it wasn't true?” Raquel sounded calm, reasonable.

“One word. Inheritance. He wants a cut of Tori's pie. He just admitted he's already got a lawyer.”

“The lawyer who contacted him about the will.” Tori's frustration sounded in her voice.

“Oh, really. Did he show you the money, Tori? Why should we believe anything he says?” Brant shoved the paper at Raquel. “You're a nurse. Does this look real to you?”

Raquel took the document and looked over it. “Yes. But all we have to do is check the hospital records.”

“Just know, Walker, even if all of this checks out and you're on the up-and-up, you're not entitled to any of Tori's inheritance.”

“Why?” Slade locked on his gaze. “Afraid your gravy train will dry up?”

“For your information—” Brant's low growl came from between clenched teeth “—I signed a prenup so Tori would know her money meant nothing to me.”

Hurt reflected in Tori's eyes and Slade closed his—the fight gone out of him. His words had hurt her instead of his intended target. “I'm sorry, Tori. I didn't mean to infer that Brant would only marry you for your money. It's obvious he loves you very much or he wouldn't be so protective of you.”

“Don't act all innocent with me,” Brant barked. “I know this whole thing's about money.”

“Brant, please.” Tori's eyes grew shiny as Lorraine's fussing became a steady whimper.

“It's not about the money.” Slade put a vise grip on
his temper. “I got my own cut. I didn't even want it and I haven't touched it for myself. I don't want anything from her other than for you to let her be my sister.”

“I am Slade's sister,” Tori snapped at Brant, “whether you
like
it or not. Whether you
accept
it or not. Whether you
allow
it or not.”

“You're upsetting Lorraine.” Raquel's soothing voice of reason cut through the tension.

“Raquel's right.” Tori patted Lorraine's back. “Let's go home and get your nap, sweetie.”

Tori headed to the truck and Brant fell in step beside her.

He opened the door for her, but she turned back to Slade before getting in. “But I will see you again. Soon.”

“Sure. As long as your husband is okay with it.” Even though Brant pushed all of his buttons, Slade didn't want to cause problems in their marriage.

* * *

Nervous energy zinged through Raquel as she set two coffee cups, along with creamer and sugar dishes, in the middle of the table. Tension still sizzled as she took her seat across from Slade.

He'd barely said two words since Tori and Brant had left. Poor Slade. He'd never known his father. And now his first meeting with his sister had turned into an argument. With poor Tori caught between the two men. Raquel couldn't imagine how she'd feel if she'd just met Brant and learned he was her brother.

Slade gulped his coffee black. “She'll be okay, right? Brant was so mad.”

“At you. Not her. He'd never take his anger out on her.” Raquel sipped her coffee. “Normally my brother is very gentle and loving, but you fray his nerves. He loves her and sees you as a threat to Tori.”

In spite of her calm tone, her hand shook as she set her cup down. “He doesn't want Tori hurt again, so you're the
enemy in his eyes and the hibernating bear of his temper surfaced. But he'd never intentionally hurt Tori.”

“You mentioned a man hurting her once before.” Concern coated Slade's voice. “Who hurt her?”

“That's Tori's story to tell. I'm terrible at keeping my mouth shut, but something I let slip to Tori last year almost kept her and Brant apart. So I'm done. You'll have to get Tori's story from her.” Raquel made a zipping motion across her mouth.

“If Brant will let me. Don't you think our arguing hurts her?”

“Yes. But he'll settle down and she'll reason with him.” Raquel shrugged. “It'll work out. Just give it time.”

“What are the odds that I turned out to be Dylan's widow's sister-in-law's brother?”

Raquel chuckled. “How long did it take you to figure all that out?”

“A while.”

“So you came here to find Tori?”

“I knew she lived here from our dad's obituary and I found her wedding announcement, so I knew her last name. At first I was hesitant to track her down. I mean, I didn't know what kind of person she was—if she'd be happy or mad to know she had a brother.”

“But then you ran into her and Brant.”

“And I held on to her hand too long, which got Brant and me off on the wrong foot. I fully intended to track her down after that and tell her who I was. But then you invited me to dinner.”

“You didn't—” her mouth went dry “—use me to get closer to her, did you? You're not doing that now?”

“I truly had no idea you were Brant's sister until our tension-filled dinner.” He covered her hand with his. “Any time I've spent with you, and Hunter, before or since, it's because I wanted to. I like your company. Both of you.”

Despite the calloused strength of his hand, his gentleness showed in his touch. Her breath came in quick spurts. Could he tell she was about to hyperventilate?

“I'll help defuse Brant if you'll promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Don't cause a wedge between Brant and Tori. They're still newlyweds. Don't make her choose between y'all.”

“I will get to know my sister, but I'll do my best to not be a burr under Brant's saddle.”

“Mom!” Hunter called from the front of the house. “I'm home.”

Raquel jerked her hand away. “In the kitchen.”

“Slade!” Hunter bounced into the kitchen. “Can you believe it? Our first game's in a week.”

“It'll be awesome.”

“Want to play catch?”

“I don't know, Hunter.” Raquel interjected caution in her tone. “Slade's had a long day and you have to remember his shoulder. He's really not supposed to be pitching.”

“I don't mind.” Slade stood. “I'll throw you a few balls if you'll go with me to take Blizzard, Flurry and Snow for a walk. That is, if it's okay with your mom.”

“Sure.”

“I'll get these.” Slade set both of their empty cups in the sink and ruffled Hunter's hair. “Come on, sport.”

Hunter beamed under the male attention. Raquel shouldn't let him get so attached. But since Tori was Slade's sister, maybe Slade would end up sticking around.

Maybe Raquel could help ease the tensions between Brant and Slade so Slade would stick around.

But what about his calling?

Yes, she'd be supportive of Slade in his relationship with Tori, but simply for their sakes. Whether Slade stuck around or went back on the road and visited Tori occasionally—it
was none of her concern. Raquel had to keep her own feelings out of the equation.

Her stomach tensed.

But how?

* * *

During Slade's chaplain years, he'd tried bareback broncs and bulls, but he had more of a knack with the broncs.

His chaps swished around his legs with each step and his spurs jangled as he headed for the chute. Manure, dirt, sweat and hay—smelled like home. Music blaring, Quinn announcing, calves bawling and horses whinnying—sounded like home.

Thoughts of Tori and Raquel wrestled for his attention. He'd had a pleasant lunch with Tori in Fort Worth one day this week. And he was pretty sure Brant didn't have a clue about it. They didn't need to do that again. He wouldn't get points with his brother-in-law by sneaking around behind his back.

And then there was Raquel. She took his breath away every time he saw her. And he'd seen her a lot this week. After the big showdown with Brant on Monday night, during practice and dinner on Tuesday and Friday, and when he'd played pitch with Hunter on Thursday.

Slade leaned against the fence railing and tried to focus on the cowboy riding a bronc. He'd planned to go to Tori's church tomorrow, but he didn't want to set Brant off. And Tori had already had Garrett Steele call him about the cowboy church.

The guy he needed to talk to was a pickup man at the rodeo and attended Wyatt and Star's church, so he could get with him after the rodeo or maybe at church tomorrow. He'd give it another week or so before he inflicted himself on Brant at his church.

“You're up next.” The chute boss pointed at him.

Clear the brain and concentrate on the bronc.

Right at home, he climbed the chute, gripped the handle of the rigging and eased onto the bronc. The earthy warm scent of the horse welcomed him as the bronc tried to buck, but quarters in the chute were tight. Slade held his left arm aloft, positioned his feet high at the horse's shoulders and nodded that he was ready.

The gate opened and the horse careened to freedom, twisting and bucking. Slade stayed in rhythm with the bronc, twist for turn. The buzzer went off and he dismounted flawlessly.

“That was Slade Walker.” Quinn's voice boomed over the speakers. “First-timer at Cowtown Coliseum, but obviously not a bronc first-timer with a score of eighty-one.”

Applause echoed from the stands as he climbed the fence to exit the arena.

“Great ride.” Wyatt Marshall clapped him on the back. “Come hang out behind the chutes. That way when the broncs and bulls are over, you can meet some of the guys. I've been witnessing to some of them for years.” Wyatt made his way through the maze of contestants to a huddle of cowboys around the chutes. “Maybe they won't listen to me because they remember when I was a real rounder.”

“Former rounders have the best testimonies.” The change in him now blew Slade's mind. Especially when he'd learned Wyatt was married to his mild-mannered real estate lady, Star. “Sometimes I feel like mine is weak. I became a Christian at a young age. I gave up having a girlfriend, getting married and having a family for baseball. And my career ended before it even began. But God was there to catch me.”

“Don't ever regret you weren't a rounder.” Wyatt cringed. “And it sounds pretty powerful to me. You could have gone on a bender, turned your back on God. Instead you come out preaching for Him.”

“It sounds better coming from you. Maybe you should share my testimony for me.”

“But you've got something I don't. Some of these guys are baseball fans. And that one time I listened to you on the circuit, it was because I was a baseball fan.”

“I was on the diamond a long time ago.” Slade chuckled. “But I'll see what I can do.”

They leaned against the railing watching the ride. The cowboy had good control and the bronc was giving him what for. A good ride.

“I'm up next.” Wyatt strode to the chutes.

“See ya later.”

“I can't seem to avoid you these days, huh, Slade,” Brant shouted over the country song blaring over the speakers. “Like you're stalking me or something. Or my wife. Or my sister.”

Slade's jaw tensed. “As far as I know, Raquel and Tori don't hang out at the rodeo.”

“Wrong. Tori and I come quite often since I used to sing here. We like to support the cowboys.”

“She's here?” Slade looked around hoping to catch a glimpse of her. She'd said she'd come watch him ride. But he hadn't planned to hold her to it, considering how Brant felt.

“She's here. But you're going to stay away from her.”

“L
ook, Brant, we got off on the wrong foot.” Slade's fingers tightened on the fence until his knuckles turned white. “I should have told you who I was that first day when I ran into you and Tori. But it just didn't seem like something I needed to dump on her in the middle of the sidewalk.”

“Maybe if you'd been honest from the get-go, I'd feel better about your motives. You could have contacted me—broken the news to me. And then
we
could have broken the news to Tori,” Brant growled.