Page 5 of Long Past Dawn
“Maybe not. It might sound like you’re concerned about Dawn’s wellbeing.” He had leaned back to sip his coffee now that he snarfed down two biscuits. I hated it when he eyed me like he knew all my secrets. He thought he did, but he didn’t, not anymore.
“Not happening,” I said firmly. “What do we have going today?”
His smirk told me he knew I was changing the subject. “Nothing outside if we can avoid it. It’s nasty out there and not conducive to anything but frustration and illness. I was hoping you’d run into town for me and pick up a few things while I do some paperwork.”
“Not a problem. Give me a list, and I’ll get it done. I have some work to do in the barn and something I need to finish in the workshop when I get back.”
“That’s fine since there isn’t much we can do in this kind of weather. The lawyer is coming out later. We’ll be drawing up the paperwork to put safeguards in place regarding the ranches. That way, if something were to occur, we’re all protected.”
“You’re getting a prenup?” I asked, surprised. “I thought you trusted each other.”
“It’s not a prenup like you’re thinking. It’s more like a trust, and Heaven agrees we need to do it.”
“Well, I’m glad Heaven was there to help you make decisions about our ranch.” The sarcasm dripped heavily from my words.
Blaze leaned forward and thumped the table with his finger. “You got something to say, boy, then say it.”
I sat mutely, sipping my coffee and eyeing the plate of biscuits. I carried them to the counter and packaged them up, planning to drop them by Heavenly Lane for Tex on my way to town. When I turned back to the table, he was still sitting there, but now steam poured from his ears.
“If you want to get me that list, I’ll head into town.” I leaned on the counter and waited for him to either get the list or explode. There was never any in-between with Blaze.
He pointed at the chair I’d exited and lifted a brow. Looks like he done chose explode. I slid into the seat and rested my arm on the table, tapping my fingers on the old wooden top. I looked relaxed, but I was steeling myself for the tongue lashing to come. You don’t badmouth Miss Heaven without getting a butt chewing.
“What’s your problem with Heaven?”
“I ain’t got a problem with Miss Heaven.” I made sure my voice was steady and sickeningly sweet.
“Then what’s your problem with me because you sure as hell have a problem with someone.”
“I don’t have a problem, Blaze. Let it go. It’s been a long winter. I’m ready for some warmth and sunshine.”
“And I fell off a bison and landed in a bed of roses,” he drawled.
My laughter echoed around the room, and I had to wipe the tears from my eyes. “Good Lord almighty, son! You suck at Texan phrases. Holy man,” I said, laughter bubbling up every time I thought of it. “You never could use them right.”
Blaze waited out my giggles until I was quiet again. “I can’t help but notice you haven’t slept more than a night or two in the house since January.”
“That’s not all that unusual,” I said, motioning around the kitchen. “I sleep all over the place on this ranch. Work has to get done, and someone has to do it who isn’t shacking up for a long winter’s nap.”
“There it is.” A smirk filled his face, but it wasn’t his usual sarcastic one. This one looked dangerous.
“There what is? You asked, and I answered.”
“I have more brains than a bumblebee, Beau. I can see what’s going on. I haven’t said anything in hopes you’d talk to me, but you aren’t, so now I’m going to speak my piece. I’m worried about your mental state.”
“My mental state is just fine. Don’t go getting all touchy-feely on me.”
Blaze shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, one brow going up in the air. “I don’t think it is. What I can’t understand is why you’re so upset about me marrying Heaven. You didn’t so much as blink when Callie and I got married.”
Callie was Blaze’s first wife. When Blaze’s daddy sent us up here to this frozen tundra to learn how to ranch bison, she refused to stay behind, even though Blaze tried to break it off with her. She stayed, worked the ranch, and died at the hands of one of the animals up on the ridge. That had been almost six years ago now. I didn’t begrudge Blaze’s happiness. He’d suffered enough here, and so had Miss Heaven. She was injured trying to save Callie, and now her left arm was completely paralyzed. That girl had seen enough hardship, too.
“Listen, I’m glad you’ve found happiness again. Can we leave it at that?” I asked, not making eye contact with the man who I had known for over twenty years. We were more than friends. We were brothers. I just wasn’t sure I could find a place here now that he was marrying his meant to be. They’d be starting a family once they were married, I had no doubt, and where did that leave me? No place that I wanted to be. That’s where.
“No, we can’t leave it at that. I may have found happiness again, but you are the furthest thing from it. Are you unhappy here? Do you want to return to Texas? If you do, I’ll understand, Beau. I won’t like it, but I’ll understand and honor your wishes.”
“I told you before, and I’ll tell you again, Wisconsin is my home now. There ain’t nothing for me back in Texas other than another ranch that means nothing to me anymore. If it makes you happy, I’ll make sure to be inside by eleven every night for curfew,” I said sarcastically.
Blaze shook his head slowly while his fingers tapped out a rhythm on the table. “I’m more concerned about what makes you happy, Beau.”
