Page 33 of Wicked Cowboy
After Ridley went to her room, my heart plummeted.
All my life, I'd avoided women who only spoke about money. I grew up with my mother, which was enough for a lifetime. In the end, I’d broken up with Dora because she’d always mentioned how much money she didn’t have like that was an obsession, being poor.
Yet, at the funeral, I was pricked. One was Ridley discussing money as she hit on an old wound, but I hadn’t expected that she hadn’t read the prenup. She had every right to question, but my stomach tightened. Discussion of money prickled my skin like money was the only reason to care about me. I knew that was a stupid thought and it wasn’t what happened.
And the bigger issue was that Bernie was dead. I swallowed and the silence in the air didn’t ease me.
I probably shouldn’t want to hold Ridley's hand in mine as I was too needy and wanting a fantasy that wasn’t real. I wanted her to care about me, which she didn’t.
We weren’t meant to be.
I looked out the window and hoped to go to Henry and help with his training, but not in my suit. Plus, someone might need me here.
Adrenaline still pumped in my body from unsaid words, but I headed to my office to get some work done, but the doorbell rang.
I returned to the door and opened it. Sally stood there, but her gaze was the same. Every time I looked at her, I remembered carrying Aaron’s body off the battlefield and then days later stepping off the plane to deliver his body in a casket. His widow nodded at me and I went to sit at my desk.
“Sally, I didn’t expect to see you right after the funeral.”
“I didn’t expect to be here, so we’re even.” She let herself in and glanced around as she asked, “Where’s Ridley?”
I pointed to the back of the house and wondered if they had some sort of plans now, but said, “She’s talking to someone. How can I help?”
She put her hands in the pockets of her black pants. “Today’s ceremony was like when I buried Aaron.” She dabbed her eyes to erase her tears. “Bernie never joined the service like you and Aaron, but we’re a small town and it’s like losing another part of my heart. We were all friends and Chloe was so good with my boys.”
Unlike the three of them, I’d not gone to the local public school, but when I’d been home from boarding school, I’d often hung out with Bernie and met Aaron through him, long ago.
I lowered my head and my throat was parched when I said, “Yeah. Bernie talked up the service more than anyone else. He was the Navy SEALs PR campaign back when we were kids.”
She let out a small laugh. “Guess his heart condition didn’t matter in the end.”
The Navy hadn’t waived Bernie’s heart issue, and ultimately, what killed him had been a car crash.
My body was tense, but I said, “No.” I asked as calmly as I could despite my arteries pumping blood through my body faster than usual, “Are you holding up okay?”
“Yes.” She made no move to leave and instead said, “I wanted to come by and see if you, or Ridley, or Chelsea need anything. I want us all to stay friends and you two seem in love, which is refreshing to see in you.”
This wasn’t why we were getting married. Last night had been mind-blowing, but I was the last guy to deserve happiness. Dora’s death and Sally’s husband’s were reasons why, but I asked, “You are?”
She whispered, “Yeah. You didn’t kill Aaron.”
Therapists had told me the same. They’d also said Dora made her own choice that night, but I was alive and the rest of my team was dead. This was my burden and I shook my head. “Don’t.”
She had tears in her eyes too. “You don’t have to feel guilty for living. He loved you like a brother and he’d want you to live your life.”
I was the only one in the spot with enough cover that day. When I closed my eyes, I still heard the gunshots and saw the pools of blood at my feet.
I’d not wish this on anyone but asked, “Yeah?”
Sally hugged me. “At the funeral today, it was clear Ridley steered your family and sweet Chelsea through some hard moments. You’re lucky you found a strong woman. I was worried you’d settle on some vain and vapid woman I’d never want to be around.”
My mother would roll in her grave, but I smiled. “Ridley’s not like my mom.”
“And I didn’t say anything about your mom.” Sally asked, “Is everything okay?”
“No. I wasn’t looking for a replacement.” I walked Sally to the door. “Look, thanks for coming over.”
She patted my cheeks. “No worries. Please tell Ridley to call me, okay. She strikes me as nice and I hope we can be friends.”
