Page 29 of Spilling the Tea

Felicia Laverne raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

“I have no memory of anything or anyone before I woke up in that hospital and was told I had lost my parents. Every single thing before that day has been wiped from my mind.”

“You remember nothing?”

“That’s right. Other than the few vague flashes of memory at Chance’s ranch this week, I remember nothing. Not even my parents or anything about them.”

Lordy. Chance hadn’t told her that part, Felicia Laverne thought. She couldn’t imagine how it would be not to remember things that were precious to you. Shifting her gaze to Corbin, she said, “I’m sure you have other things to do, Corbin. Please leave Zoey with me. We’ll enjoy a nice lunchhere on the patio while we chat. On your way out, please let your Gramma Bessie know we’re ready to eat.”

“Will you let me know when I can return for her?” Corbin said, chuckling.

“I’ll call you. Now, scat,” Felicia Laverne said, shooing him out.

Corbin grinned and gave her another kiss on the cheek. After telling them goodbye, he left.

***

“Mama didn’t tell me you were in town when I talked to her yesterday, Luke,” Chance said to his oldest brother.

He had checked out of the hotel and arrived at his parents’ home to find his older brother and his family—namely his wife, MacKenzie, and their three kids—were in town for a week. Also joining the family for breakfast had been his second-­oldest brother, Reese, his wife, Kenna, and their twins, as well as his brother Emerson, who never missed a free meal, regardless of whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Just as long as it was cooked by their mother, Sarah Madaris.

He was also glad to see his grandparents were there. That saved him a trip since Chance planned to check on them before returning to Teakwood Ridge. After breakfast, Emerson and Reese left for work. MacKenzie and Kenna had gathered all the kids for a swim in his parents’ pool.

“Mom didn’t know I was coming,” Luke said. “We surprised her, arriving late yesterday evening. Grampa and Gramma were already here since they’d spent the night. Mom loves having all of us together under one roof whenever she can.”

His parents’ home was on fifteen acres of land, and they had taken a couple of horses to ride out by the huge pond they played around as kids. Chance had always admired his oldest brother, who for years had been a rodeo star. Now he was a family man and rancher living in Oklahoma. Because of that huge rodeo school Luke had opened a few years back, he wasteaching young kids, including his own, how to perfect their riding techniques. Also, under Luke’s expertise, the older students who had dreams of joining the rodeo circuit as bull or bronco riders, or who were interested in calf roping or barrel racing, were getting Luke’s expert training.

They came to a stop by the pond, dismounted, and tied the horses to a nearby post. Chance felt he was being scrutinized by his brother when Luke said, “I was somewhat surprised when Mom mentioned you had planned to drop in for breakfast. I’m glad to see you getting off the ranch more.”

Chance shrugged. “I leave my ranch when I need to.”

He figured that’s all he needed to say. There was no doubt in his mind Luke knew what he meant. And because he knew news traveled fast in the Madaris family, and although no one had brought anything up during breakfast, he added, “I ran into Ravena last night at Vance’s Tavern.”

“I heard.”

Chance nodded as they began walking around the pond. “Then I’m also sure you heard how things went.”

“I didn’t have to hear that part. There’s no doubt that if Ravena’s return to Houston is due to her wishful thinking that the two of you will get back together, then that’s all it is. Wishful thinking on her part.”

He was glad to hear that at least someone in his family thought that, but still… “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you, Chance. You’ve always been easy to get along with, but you’ve become a lot like Dex over the years.”

Dex Madaris was one of their older cousins and Clayton’s brother. Dex had always been serious as a heart attack; he said what he meant and meant what he said and could hold a grudge longer than anyone they knew. He took what Mama Laverne referred to as the “Madaris pride” to a different level. If you got on his shit list, chances were you stayed there. However, when it came to the family, he was loyal to a fault.

“Dex was born with his attitude. Yours was acquired,” Luke added.

“Whatever.”

“And what about this woman I heard about?”

Chance didn’t have to ask but did so anyway. “What woman?”

“The one who showed up at your ranch. She must not have gotten the memo that nobody shows up at your ranch uninvited other than family,” Luke said, chuckling.

“She had a reason for showing up the way she did.”

“Well, you’re lucky Clayton didn’t have her investigated when he heard about her showing up like that. You recalled what happened with Skye.”

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