Page 7 of Wanted by the Lawman

“I’d like to come out there sometime soon and check things out,” Bo said.

“Come on out, Pa.”

“Better call first.” Nixon elbowed Cullen. “Maybe he’ll find someone who can stand to look at that ugly mug and he’ll have some fun.”

“I did always think you and Zander looked the most alike,” Beatrice directed her words toward Nixon.

“Good one, Mom,” Kace chimed in.

“Has anyone heard from Phoenix? I’d like to know where my son has disappeared to.” Beatrice thrummed her fingers on the table. “You all are going to send me to an early grave.”

“Ma, you don’t have to worry about us. We’re careful. Phoenix is just working on a case,” Zander said, hoping to help ease some of her stress. His mom had been both encouraging and paranoid ever since he could remember. Sometimes she forgot how tough she and Bo raised their kids to be.

“I hear you, son. I’m talking less career here and more grandchildren. If you’d all stop living and breathing your jobs, your dad and I might have some grandchildren by now,” she gave Bo a sweet smile.

“That’s putting the cart before the horse, Ma, considering none of us are even hitched,” Nixon stuffed his mouth with casserole.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. It won’t be your gun and star that keep you warm at night,” she sighed.

All but Zander lowered their heads and inhaled their food. He laughed. “Being that I’m the youngest, I deserve some slack here.”

Beatrice pushed her plate away. “You used the excuse that the uniform kept you from settling down, but now that you’re out of the SEALs, what’s your excuse? At thirty-four, your clock is ticking.”

He swiped a hand down his whiskered jaw knowing he’d walked himself right into the “lecture” trap. “I’m still wearing a uniform. It might be a different color, but a lot of the same challenges, and risks, are there,” he muttered.

“Hogwash. You own the uniform. The uniform doesn’t own you.”

Zander looked at each of his brothers. They sunk their heads down as if they couldn’t see her then she couldn’t see them. Cowards. He knew when it was best to admit defeat and keep his mouth closed.

After dinner was over, Nixon asked Zander to join him on the porch. The sun was setting on the family ranch and his mind naturally wandered to his mother’s words about his lack of relationship. He’d heard the lecture at least a hundred times, but lately, her words were sinking in. Not exactly wanting to settle down any time soon, but he could see her point.

“You’re not letting Ma’s words get to you, are you?” Nixon asked.

Zander propped his dusty boots on the rail and relaxed into the chair that had seen better days. The rotten wood creaked under his weight. Nothing seemed to last long with six siblings, and five of those rough and tough males. “No, yeah…maybe. She has been married for forty years and they’re still as happy as ever. Gotta say, out there at my new place the silence is pretty loud.”

“I thought you wanted the peace and quiet.”

“Sure, to a certain extent.”

Nixon snorted. “Ma sees us as lonely men, but little does she know we keep busy behind closed doors.”

“Speak for yourself,” Zander grumbled and shifted his boots.

“You and Mindy aren’t hanging out still?”

“Not for six months.”

“Hell man, I had no clue.”

Zander shrugged. The breakup had been for the best. “Sad thing is, I feel lighter since she broke it off. She never did understand that privacy was part of my job. I can’t come home and talk about my work. In the end, she made the smart thing by moving on.”

“Are you sure it’s not more about not wanting to open up instead of not being able to? I mean, us brothers always talk. Maybe you just didn’t feel a close enough connection with Mindy to take things to the next level, like you did with Samantha.”

His brother did have a point. “Both needed more than I could give them.”

“You do put walls up, brother. One day you’ll find a woman who can bust them all down and you’ll have no choice but to enjoy the ride. Mindy definitely was a looker though.”

The image of the tall, slender blonde who modeled lingerie for a living developed in Zander’s head. He couldn’t deny she was a beauty, but there’d always been something missing in their relationship. Somehow he’d always known that she couldn’t be satisfied with a man like him, not long term at least. Just like his ex-fiancé, Sam. Sex had been great, but outside of bed they didn’t have a lot in common. She liked fancy dinners at five-star restaurants and exotic vacations, and Zander was happy with a pizza and a ride through the untouched places in Wyoming. “Yeah, but looks wear off, personality doesn’t.”

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