Page 49 of When It Reins
They want me to come train horses at the ranch. Jax also wants me to work part-time for the rodeo school, helping with the bull riding. I want to do those things, but I can’t when I’m keeping all of this to myself. Every moment I do, I feel like a ticking time bomb.
The house smells of all the delicious food everyone brought, from pies to rolls to the brisket I know my mom smoked on her big smoker grill all day. Everyone quickly gathers around the table. Somehow my niece, Lue, got seated between the two one-year-olds, Colter, Logan’s son, and Lawson, Jax’s son.
My brothers help their wives eagerly with the kids and settle only when they’re settled, making me realize my brothers are pretty damn good dads and husbands. Stetson chats my ear offwhile Bonnie, his girl, helps my mom with some things before we all settle down at the table.
The dinner is filled with chatter and conversations overlapping one another. Normally, it’s something that would set my teeth on edge, but this time I’m able to sit back and enjoy it. I love knowing that the next time we do this, I’ll have my own partner right next to me. Juniper is well-loved by everyone at this table. Adding her to the family is an easy next step.
I blow out a breath as I realize what I was just thinking. Adding her to the family. It isn’t as scary as it should be, but I need to rein in those thoughts before I scare the girl off.
After dinner, the sun is still high enough that all the girls decided to take the little kids outside to enjoy the playhouse and swings we set up last summer, leaving us boys inside to clean up the mess. Mom stays behind with us, enjoying time with just her boys, and it’s the perfect time for me to say what I need to.
Dishes nearly done, and the table wiped clean, I clear my throat before saying, “I need to tell you all something.”
Everyone looks at me then, probably not expecting me to talk at all, given that was my preference.
“It’s about Keith.”
Bringing up our biological father isn’t what they were expecting, given their mutually confused looks.
“Don’t tell me that fucker made parole.” Jax’s angry words slice into the silence, and I look at him, shaking my head.
Keith went to prison for a long time after the stunts he pulled with Jax and Felicity, and I was well to be rid of him. If I never saw him again, it would be too soon.
“No, it’s about a while ago. Before rodeoing.”
The confused glances of everyone at the table have my nerves bubbling to the surface, something I wasn’t used to feeling. So I look down at the table, tracing the grains of the wood, and let the words spill from me.
“After high school, I was a little lost in life. I didn’t know what to do with myself, and unfortunately, Keith approached me, claiming he was after getting our family back together.” I shake my head at how naïve I was to believe him and continue. “I thought he was being genuine until he started asking for money, then he started threatening me if I didn’t vouch for him with you all. He threatened you, Mom.” I look at her, her hand over her mouth as she listens, worry and sadness swimming in her eyes. Then I look to Logan. “He threatened Lue.”
Anger burns in his eyes at the news, and he shakes his head. “How come you didn’t tell us?”
“I was freaked out,” I admit, holding my head high and taking the blame I deserve. “I thought that I had messed up, nearly costing you guys the peace we had without him because I fell for his bullshit.”
“Then what happened?” Stetson asks, keeping the rest of the family from jumping on accusations like I expect them to. It’s okay if they do. I was the one who decided to keep them in the dark, who lied for years to try to keep them safe, and it backfired on me.
“I wasn’t sure what to do except leave.” I shake my head, sighing before I continue. “But I couldn’t leave and know he would leave you all alone. So I went to the Iron Horses. I made a deal with their old prez that they could have part of my rodeo earnings if they kept you all safe, watched out for you. Then when I returned, I would join the club, no questions asked.”
Jax eyes burn with accusation. “So that’s why you’re in the MC. Not because you want to, but because they’re holding you to your deal.”
I nod my head, shrugging. “It’s not as bad as I expected.”
“Oh, Mitchell.” Mom sighs and stands, coming around the table and gripping me tightly in a hug. “You didn’t have to do any of that, honey. You should have talked to me.” She slidesthe chair out next to me and sits down, her eyes meeting mine. “I have had a restraining order out on your father for over a decade. I had you all protected.”
“Keith wouldn’t have cared about that.”
“Oh, he would because he knew that I knew what he was up to, and I was under no pressure to keep his secrets if he came in and disturbed us.” Mom’s words ease some of the tension I was holding, but they also make me feel like an idiot.
“So that’s why you never came home. You were avoiding joining the MC.” Logan’s words hit the nail on the head, and I nod. “Makes sense.”
“I’m sorry is what I’m trying to say. I shouldn’t have kept that all from you.” I look at Jax. “Especially you. I should have told you instead of bossing you around. Could have kept you out of all the trouble you went through.”
Jax nods his head, anger still simmering beneath the surface. “It’s not your fault, Mitch. Keith’s a piece of shit, man. He would have found a way to mess with us one way or another.”
“Still.” I shrug, feeling relieved that my family doesn’t hate me, that they understand why I was doing what I did.
Juniper was right.
“Hey, when you came home, you were beat to hell.” Logan’s reminder makes me nod.
