Page 39 of For the Love of the Bull Rider

“After my check clears, would you please call me so we can arrange delivery. I assume the price includes hauling him to Holloway. Also, I need him to stay here for a few more weeks. He’s a Christmas gift, you see.” Tim noticed his uncle smirking.

Stan Hanson stared at the two of them before he threw up his hands. “Damn. Y’all drive a hard bargain, but if that’s what you want, I’ll do it. You got a saddle for him?” Tim nodded, already having mapped out plans for a handmade saddle for Matthew.

“I’m planning to order a custom job, but if you’ve got an old one that you’d sell me for now, I’ll take it. Put it on the trailer when you drop off Charlie, and I’ll give you the cash on delivery.” Tim extended a hand to shake.

They had a deal which seemed to make both men happy. Tim ticked off one big thing from his Christmas list.

During the return trip to Holloway, Tim knew he needed to come clean with his uncle regarding the new developments in his life, especially since Farris March was scheduled to drop by the Katydid on Monday morning to do an assessment of the kitchen.

Tim had come to learn Ronni Turnberry had contacts everywhere and had been a gem at providing him assistance that weekend during her off-hours… though he was sure he was paying for her time. He honestly didn’t care at that point.

“You heard about the blonde on Wednesday?” Tim knew damn well Josh would have heard all about it from Hank.

Josh was yet to inquire about the visit from Ronni Turnberry, but Tim needed more help from the man, so decided his uncle deserved to know the truth.

“I heard talk of a blonde. I figured she was a salesman… woman… or somethin’. You need some advice about somethin’? I’ll do everything I can to help ya.” Josh touched Tim’s shoulder as they drove home in Matt’s truck.

Tim fought back the tears once again because Uncle Josh had shown more love and concern in that moment than Tim’s own father had shown in his whole life. He reached up and used the sleeve of his hoodie to dry his eyes without looking at the older man.

“You hungry? What time is Aunt Katie expecting us home?” Tim tried to divert his uncle’s attention until he could find a place to stop the damn truck.

Tim took the next exit, finding a little mom-and-pop diner at the first stop sign in the little town off the state road. It was still early for the church crowd, so they hustled inside to get a table and food before the place became crowded.

Once the two men had their drinks… sweet tea for Tim and coffee for Uncle Josh… the older man pushed back his Katydid Farmcap and looked Tim in the eye.

Tim hadn’t given his uncle time to shave that morning because he was in a hell of a hurry to get on the road after he left Ryan with Aunt Katie at the house. Jeri was coming over and they were going to start baking Christmas cookies, or so Aunt Katie told him the night before when they stopped by on the way home from Roanoke.

Uncle Josh cleared his throat, giving Tim the distinct impression that his time was up. Tim owed the man an explanation regarding where he got the money to pay for such an expensive horse.

He was sure his mention of a custom saddle was another topic Uncle Josh would want to discuss, so only full disclosure would satisfy the man he’d come to regard as a father over the years.

Tim took a deep breath. “I know you only met Joanne Moran a time or two, and I’m pretty sure she was as cold and rude to you as she was to everyone she met, including her son, Harold.

“Anyway, seems the old gal was a nasty piece of work, but I was the only grandchild she had, and as much as she hated the fact that I was gay, she still left me her money. That blonde woman is my new lawyer, Ronni Turnberry. She’s nice, and she’s helped me out with a lot of stuff this weekend.

“I have the money for Charlie, Uncle Josh, and I want you to help me get Matt a custom-made saddle and all the gear that goes with it. I’m sure it won’t be ready by Christmas, but my gift to you and Aunt Katie won’t be either. This is gonna be the Christmas of things to come, I guess.”

Uncle Josh was silent, though Tim could tell he was trying to process the information he’d just admitted. Maybe a little more?

“I own properties in Philly and the ‘burgh. I also own our old house in Trenton, which I’m gonna have torn down, but I’m planning to build something for the community there when I get a minute to think about it. I wouldn’t mind you and Aunt Katie giving me advice about things like that, you know.

“I haven’t told Matt about all of this yet because I’m not sure how he’ll take it, but I inherited about five million dollars. I’ve got the papers at home in my dresser, and I’d appreciate it if you’d look them over with me. It’s still a shock for me too, but I plan to do good things with that money, Uncle Josh.”

Tim was dying to talk about the money and what to do with it. Josh Simmons was the most influential man in his life, and seeing the astonished look on his uncle’s face made him smile. Josh wouldn’t steer him wrong, that much Tim knew.

They ordered a late breakfast because they’d left before Aunt Katie had a chance to feed them, and as the two men quietly chewed their food, Tim could see Uncle Josh chewing on what he’d told him.

As Josh buttered a biscuit, he looked up at Tim and laughed. “That old bitch always did like to cause a shit storm. Your momma had a world of hell with her, but if she left you that money, I guess I can’t hate her anymore.”

Josh stared at Tim until the two of them both started laughing. No truer words were ever spoken.

When they calmed down, Josh took a sip of coffee and stared at Tim. “Sure, I’ll help all ya need, son, but don’t go spendin’ money on me and Katie. We’re fine. We do okay with the operation at the farm, and we have some money tucked away from when Shane died. He left us a nice nest egg we can use when we get too ornery to run the farm anymore. Hell, I hate the idea of touchin’ that money since I had to lose my boy to get it.”

Tim felt the sting of tears at his uncle’s comment, seeing the pain in Josh’s eyes and hearing it in his voice.

“That’ll all come to you when we’re gone, you know.”

No, Tim didn’t know that, and he didn’t know what to say, but he guessed the tears that fell without his permission were all Josh needed to know how he felt about it. Tim prayed that day never came.

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