Page 76 of Brooke's Bliss
“My mom has another family.I found her last year.I guess Iwas curious.”A light rain started, gently tapping on the windows and the topof the cab.The good news was he’d put a rain poncho in Bay’s pack thismorning.“She’s in Nebraska.She married a grocery store manager and has twokids.I suppose they’re my half siblings.She’s got some socials.In her bioshe calls herself happy wife and mother of two.Like I never existed.Like Iwas a mistake she left behind.”
Max took a long breath and huffed it out.“So you found yourway here.Shane, this can’t work if you don’t value yourself.”
He was surprised at the words.“I thought you didn’t want itto work.”
“I want my sister happy, and the truth is I’m learning theolder I get the more I feel for young men like you.You come by your assholeryhonestly.I would probably be more freaked out if you weren’t on theassholishside.I don’t think going back to New York willmake Brooke happy.”
“You think she should stay here?”
“I think she needs a change.I was always worried about herliving in New York.Not because of the city.Because of the industry.She’s notruthless.She’s going to be taken advantage of, and quite frankly, she willnever like being told what to do.She needs to pick her projects.That’s what Iwant for her.I want to have given her an education and training that makes itpossible for her to not get stuck.I love working for us.Really working for myfamily in a way that maybe one day they’ll want to join me.I like buildingsomething for us.In our name.Brooke needs to do the same.”
“I think she’s kind of happy with the job at the theater.Iknow it doesn’t pay much.”
“She doesn’t have to make much.She doesn’t need to be highpowered,” Max explained.“She’s got it in her head that she needs to makesomething of herself to pay back me and Rye.We only want her happy andfulfilled.Honestly, right now I would just take her talking to us.I wasthinking about having all three of you out to dinner.”
He wasn’t sure he could handle it.“Maybe she could bringBay.I’m not real good with kids.”
“I suspect you’re excellent with them,” Max countered.“Tellme what’s happening.Up until real recently you and Bay wouldn’t take a crapalone.”
“Of course we… Look, I think Bay is giving this art showthing a go, and when he does, I don’t have a place there.Especially…”
“Especially what?”
“He doesn’t believe me about why we left our last job.Hethinks I made it all up.”
“Is this the Kale Kingman stuff?”
He shouldn’t be surprised that Max knew.He was sureeveryone knew and thought he was a lying asshole.“Yeah.”
“You think he was going to take you and your brother outbecause you caught him doing something criminal?”Max asked.
“I know it sounds…” Shane began.
“It sounds like that fucker finally might get caught.Iwould believe anything about that man.Why don’t you tell me what happened.”
Max believed him?There was suspicion in the back of hismind, but he was trying to be more open.Not everyone was out to get him.ButKale Kingman sure as hell was.
Before he could start, there was a knock on the cab.Heglanced over and Nate Wright stood there.
Max rolled down the window.“Now, Nate, I know what I saidsounds bad…”
“Max, we have trouble,” the sheriff said.He eyed Shane.“And I would like to have a talk with that one.”
His day had definitely taken a nose dive.
ChapterTwelve
Bay nodded to Trev as he closed the door to the cab.“Thanks for the ride.I wanted to make sure Brooke could get to the theater ontime.They’re starting dress rehearsals in a couple of days, and that meansBrooke’s got to work a lot.I don’t know what happened with Shane.I’msurprised he hasn’t called.”
“Yeah, I’m worried, too,” his boss admitted.“Beth said shesaw him but didn’t know he was leaving the ranch.He’ll turn up.He seemedupset this morning.Anything happen?”
Bay was at a loss.Shane had been cold and distant.Was hethat upset that Rachel was staying with them?
A voice in Bay’s head told him it was definitely his fault.He’d called his brother out in front of Brooke, and worse in front of Max andRye and Rachel.“I might have mentioned I thought that Shane might have fibbedabout why we left our last job.I don’t think he took it well.I didn’t mean toinsult him.I left when he wanted to.”
Trev joined him on the sidewalk that led to the Feed StoreChurch.They were picking up a shipment of organic feed.One for the ranch andanother they would deliver out at the sanctuary.Trev seemed real high on Nelland Henry’s newest venture.He’d said something about every creature deservinga second chance.“This is about Kingman?”
“It’s about something Shane claims he saw and then somethinghe heard,” Bay admitted.“Shane watches a lot of TV.And he reads a lot offiction.Sometimes I think he should be a writer.”
