Page 25 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“Haven’t been here through a heavy rain, but winter is coming.”
“Just have someone come look at it.Better to know the cost ahead of time.”
“Will do.Now let me show you where the grill is, and you can start the fire.”
While Rye used the charcoal to get the fire going, and then seasoned the steaks, Ansley microwaved the two potatoes for five minutes before wrapping them in foil and adding them to the grill and then made a quick summer salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions.
Once the steaks were on, Ansley and Rye sat on the covered back porch and relaxed, reliving today’s events at the rodeo, discussing what Rye expected tomorrow, and then as Rye rose to flip the steaks, Ansley blurted out what the doctor had told her at the hospital this afternoon.
Even though his back was to her, she could tell Rye was listening, and once the steaks were flipped, he turned to look at her.“That wasn’t the news you expected,” he said quietly.
She shook her head.“I thought they’d tell me I’d have to cut back on sodium on his food, or something like that.I didn’t realize he had dementia, and I didn’t realize he’d had a series of strokes.By not getting him treatment, I made everything worse—”
“I don’t think you can take the blame.It’s bigger than you.You said you hadn’t even met him until Memorial Day weekend.”
“Yes.”
“How did you find out your uncle was doing so poorly then?”
“The Campbell ranch butts up to the Wyatts’ property.Melvin Wyatt’s sons grew up with my dad and Uncle Clyde, so he’d stop in every week or two to say hello, aware that my uncle was struggling after my aunt passed away.Mr.Wyatt was the one who noticed my uncle’s decline.He tracked down my dad and insisted something be done, that it was a family matter, and family needed to step in.”
“He was right,” Rye said.
“He was.Without a doubt.”She chewed on her lip a moment.“Now I have to call my parents and let them know it’s worse than they thought.My uncle needs significantly more care, and I’ll be honest, I’m not the right person for that.I don’t mind cooking and cleaning the house, but I’m not comfortable bathing him, or dressing him, and he’s going to need that in the coming year or so.I don’t actually know the timeline, but Dr.Maida said my uncle can’t be left alone anymore.”
Rye checked the potatoes and then moved the steaks from the grill to a plate.“Can your family afford care?”
She nodded.“I don’t know Uncle Clyde’s financial situation, but my dad has done well.He’s also a savvy investor.While he might not want to be here, I can’t imagine he’d refuse to pay for help.”
“That’s good.Not everyone can afford to hire an outsider.”
“I know.We’re lucky.”She rose.“Do you want to eat out here on the porch or in the house?”
“Out here, if you don’t mind.I like the view.”
She looked past him to the rugged golden hills and the aspen trees just beginning to change colors.“It is beautiful.I thought the Hill Country was pretty, but this… this always takes my breath away.”Her gaze skimmed the fence and the distant windmill before glancing back at Rye.“I’ll grab the salad and dishes and will be right back.”
They ate sitting on the top step of the porch, their plates balanced on their laps.“This is nice,” Ansley said with a contented sigh.“I wish Uncle Clyde wanted to eat outside, but he has a routine, and we don’t vary from it.”
“I take it you’re more of a free spirit.”
“I’m okay with structure, but he’s pretty inflexible.That’s hard.But beneath his gruff exterior, he’s a good person, and from everything I’ve heard, was a good husband to his wife.”
“That’s important to you?”
She straightened.“Of course!I don’t really think it matters how successful someone is, if he or she isn’t good to those they say they love.”
Rye’s brow raised.“You’re sounding cynical about love.”
“Not about love per se, but about people.It’s easy to say you love someone, but the hard part is showing up, behaving in a loving way.”
He set his plate on the step next to him.“Do your parents have that kind of marriage?”
Ansley hesitated.“That’s a good question.I think they’re happy, but it’s not the marriage I’d want.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a little too traditional.I think Mom is content, but I wouldn’t be.Dad controls the dynamics a bit too much.He’s not unfair, but he’s just the alpha, the head of the family, and sometimes it doesn’t seem as if there is much room for Mom.”
