Page 19 of Rancher's Strength
“Are you our auntie then too?” Sawyer asked, his voice quiet as he tucked himself next to Ruby.
“Well, I guess, I could be,” Lydia stammered, as her gaze flitted from Lexie and the kids to me, waiting for an explanation.
Ryder leaned over and spoke quietly to Lydia. “These are Hank and Anita’s kids. Years ago, Lexie and I agreed to be their guardians if anything ever happened to both of them.”
“Oh, my god,” Lydia whispered as she covered her mouth. The kids had moved to my side, and I wrapped my arms around them as they rested their heads on my shoulders. “Lex,” she whispered. Tears filled my eyes, and I held onto the kids a little tighter. I didn’t want to cry in front of them, and they’d seen enough of that over the last week. Hiding emotions wasn’t what I was aiming for either, but I wanted this house to bring happy memories for them, even in the midst of their sadness.
“Hey guys, let’s give Auntie Lexie and Lydia some time to talk.” Ryder held out his arms, and the kids went willingly to his side. I watched them walk out of the room, and all I wanted to do was follow. They were reminded every moment of the day that their parents were gone, and the only reprieve they had was when they were asleep. So for my sister to barge in here and pull this shit? My blood was boiling.
“Outside,” I said through gritted teeth as I stood. Lydia and I’d had a somewhat tumultuous relationship growing up, but when I’d graduated and gone away, we’d been able to be friends. However, this nonsense of barging into my house and throwing around accusations wasn’t winning her any sisterly points.
“Lex, I’m?—”
“No, we aren’t speaking until we’re outside, well away from the house.” I marched out the door and down the porch steps. I didn’t have to tell her where we were going. It was the spot we’d gone to argue and fight without our parents hearing. Dad always wanted us to present good arguments and rebuttals, and most of the time we just wanted to yell at one another without being logical.
I walked to the orchard and stopped among the green leafy trees. Looking up, I was surprised that the trees were doing as well as they were since they’d been neglected when my dad got sick. Preparing them for winter was suddenly on my to-do list. Maybe it was something the kids could help me with. Ryder would be too busy to do it, and I didn’t want to lose these trees we’d worked so hard for when I was growing up.
“How dare you. How dare you barge into my house and act like an absolute brat.” I couldn’t stand still, so I paced. “You have no idea what’s gone on in the last eight days. I lost my best friend, those kids lost their parents, and your panties are in a bunch because I haven’t come to the bar, a place I absolutely despise?”
“Lex, I’m sorry,” Lydia pleaded. “I know you hate it, and I’m not expecting you to work there full time, but it would have been nice to know you were home.”
“Good, because I won’t be. I have clients I need to figure out what to do with, and I need to decide what my future in law looks like. I became a mom to two kids overnight and will have to figure out where to take them for therapy because I’m sure they have some shit to work through since… poof, their parents didn’t come home. Oh, and not to mention, we have to bury those parents still and give them some closure. So, I’m sorry if you can’t see past the end of your nose, but I have other priorities than that bar.” Finally, my pacing stopped, and I crossed my arms, waiting for her to say something.
“Are you going to work here?” she asked, the frown deepening across her face.
Out of everything I’d just spat at her, that’s what she hung on to. “Yes, I’m here for at least a year. When Anita asked Ryder and me to take the kids, we agreed. But we didn’t realize there was a caveat in the will that we had to be married. So now we’re planning a quickie wedding before Anita’s horrible mother comes to take the kids.” So much for keeping all this quiet. I’d word-vomited all over my sister like I always did.
She never even pushed. All she had to do was stay quiet, and I sang like a canary. “So, I guess we’ll see if we kill one another over the next year.”
I watched her face as she processed what I’d told her, and while I anticipated outrage and disbelief, there was, instead, acceptance of the news.
“You won’t kill one another—kiss one another maybe, fuck like rabbits for sure—but not kill.” Her smirk made it clear all the anger she’d carried when she walked into the house was gone.
“I won’t be fucking him,” I scoffed.
“Wanna bet? I give it three weeks.” She wiggled her eyebrows, and I stuck out my hand. “Same as always?” she asked, popping a hip out and placing her hand on it.
“Dr. Pepper and a bag of chips,” I said, grinning as she shook my hand.
“What happened to Anita and Hank?” Her tone changed from light and jovial to sad and concerned. Plopping down on the grass, I crossed my legs and pulled at the green blades one by one.
“They were going on a getaway to some cabin way up in the mountains. That has Hank written all over it, and he probably had to twist Anita’s arm even to go. She hates, hated the wilderness.” I couldn’t help but laugh. My best friend was a city girl through and through, and somehow she’d basically married Paul friggin’ Bunyan. Hank was outdoorsy and would rather chop down a tree than sit in an office all day. I think that’s why he and Ryder got along so well over the years. “They ran into a storm. Hank didn’t realize how unstable the rain had made the side of the mountain, and they were pushed off in a mudslide.”
“Oh, Lex,” Lydia whispered as she reached out and took my hand. “I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
“Nothing right now. I need to figure out how to get the kids in school and when they’ll even feel like going back, I guess. How long do kids usually need before life starts to feel normal again?” The silence was overwhelming, so I kept talking. “And we have to plan a wedding and reception convincing enough to fool everyone.”
“When I get home, I’ll send you the name of a therapist. She’s an old friend but she specializes in children’s therapy. Maybe she can help.” Lydia shrugged, and I leaned over, wrapping my hands around her. “As for the wedding, you’re on your own. I have to get to the bar.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been any help, but I’m here now.” I let my head fall against hers, and we sat among the trees; the only sound was our breathing and the rustling leaves.
“Don’t worry about me, I was just pouting,” she said, laughing lightly.
“I’m aware.” I laughed. “How’s mom?” We talked for a while about how dad was progressing and how mom was struggling with him not at home, but the new condo in Everton was a perfect escape for her. It didn’t have all the memories of her and dad over the years like the farmhouse had. She was able to go down and visit him a few times every day, and she was fortunate to have a few friends in town as well, so it sounded like she was managing.
“Ryder and I saw Dad yesterday.” My voice trailed off, and I wanted to know if he knew Lydia, but part of me didn’t want to know because I wasn’t sure I could handle him knowing Lydia and not me.
“Did he know you?” she asked quietly.
