Broken Creek (The Creek #1) (7 page)

Mom left for work early Saturday morning, and the men started showing up about fifteen minutes later. I was pleasantly surprised at how organized they were and how prepared they came, waders included.

We used the tractor to push some of the brush close to the bridge and started a controlled burn. As they pulled the wood from the bridge, they added it to the bonfire, and it helped keep everyone warm as they worked.

Not much in the way of conversation, it looked more like an assembly line of workers just going to and fro. By sundown, they guys had completed the bridge, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.

I’d offered to cook for them, but they insisted on going home. I didn’t know how to thank them.

Stephan sat with me on the porch and smoked his cigarette. A habit I never realized how much I hated until that moment.

“I’m not sure how I can ever thank you and your friends.”

“I know.”

Our eyes met. It was a painful longing that never seem to go away. We had a connection from high school. I’d been a freshman, and he’d been a senior, and even though we had our ups and downs, we’d always seemed to find our way back to each other, until one day it was just over. No amount of chemistry could heal the pain of him assaulting me.

“I can’t. Please, don’t go there.”

“You gonna tell me you’ve forgotten how hot we are together?” He took a long drag and allowed the smoke to slowly escape his lips in small circles.

“That’s just sex, and it’s only part of it.”

“You’re really gonna be that cold after everything?”

“Did you seriously just help me out so you could call in the favor for a booty call? Are you that hard up?”

“No, I’m that much in love with you. Why can’t you give us another chance?”

“After how many chances? The answer is no. Besides, I’m leaving in a few weeks, and I won’t be back much for at least a year. Things are different now.”

“Maybe I could move to Dallas?”

“Sure, there’re plenty of jobs in the area you could do. Traffic is a nightmare, but the people are nice.”

“I don’t need anything but you.”

I froze. His voice, the words, skidded across my heart like a leather strap striking a horse. Quick, ragged, and painful. I couldn’t have the argument at hand, but rather decided to pacify him. “We can be friends, okay?”

Mom’s headlights coming across the bridge were the icebreaker at the perfect time, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. Stephan stood up and extinguished the third cigarette he’d had since we’d been sitting there.

She got out of her car, squealing with excitement. “What have you done? The bridge, oh my goodness, and look at that bonfire. Stephan was this your doing?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, come here, son, and let me give you a hug.”

We stepped down off the porch, and Mom ran into Stephan’s awaiting arms. He spun her around. When he looked over her head at me and smiled, I knew it was some kind of redemption for him toward me, but in a way, it was a re-bonding of sorts for the two of them as well.

“How do I say thank you?” She patted his cheek.

“Cookies,” he joked.

“You got it, and I’ll make that an endless supply.” Mom turned to face the bridge, and I noticed she wiped at her eyes several times.

I had a glimmer of hope that maybe she wouldn’t fight me when Ben and Justin showed up for lunch the next day.

We said our gratitude and goodbyes to Stephan and went inside. That’s when the waterworks started…for both of us.

After about twenty minutes of small talk, I decided there wasn’t going to be a perfect time to pitch my idea to her, so there was no better time than the present.

“Mom, a man named Ben and his ranch hand Justin are coming for lunch tomorrow. They want to lease out the land, and Justin will find a room to rent in town.”

“You go off to Dallas for a few months, and then you think you can just make all the decisions when you come home.” Her voice was terse. The invisible leather strap was back.

“No decision has been made. It’s just a meeting and a discussion. You have all the power to say no. I only wanted you to keep an open mind. How long has it been since the land looked this good?”

“Years.”

“Okay then. That’s all I’m asking. Just keep an open mind.”

She put the footrest of the recliner down without gentleness and practically marched into the kitchen. “I’m exhausted and I’m going to bed.” When I heard dishes slam down into the sink, I knew I’d pushed her beyond her stretching point.

She was angry with me. I couldn’t remember a time in my life when my mom went to bed so upset with me, two nights in a row. Had I disappointed her that much?

The next morning, I awoke with a sense of excitement and anticipation. I was hoping the two men were the nice, gentlemanly type I had painted them to be, and Mom would fall in love with them.

I rushed to shower and dress and beat Mom down to start breakfast. I was piddling in the kitchen, making pancakes when she walked in from outside, all bundled up.

I’d thought she was still asleep. “Mom, where have you been?”

“I took a walk. I needed to think. I’m sorry, Wrenn. You’ve done everything to be helpful, and I’ve let my anger at your father get in the way.” Her face was puffy, and she’d been crying. I knew she’d been to the creek. It was where she felt close to my dad and to God.

I rushed to her and held her in my arms as she cried. I felt her body go limp. What I hadn’t realized until that moment was how much weight she’d lost. She appeared frailer than I realized.

She released me and took a seat at the table.

I poured us both a cup of coffee and sat down beside her. With her hands in mine, I hoped to reach her with my words. “This stress isn’t healthy for you. I’ve only been trying to fix it, but I mistakenly added to it.”

“No, you were right to do what you did, or it wouldn’t have gotten done. The pasture, the bridge, the pump on the well and you even cleaned out the barn.”

“Well, with the bridge down, I couldn’t do much, except watch the fire, so I kept dragging stuff out of the barn to get rid of it. There’s still more down there.”

“We’ve always been pack rats, haven’t we?”

“You and Daddy, yes. Me? No.”

She laughed and the beautiful sound put oxygen in my veins. I hadn’t heard her laugh very much, since I’d been home.

We continued to chat, while I made pancakes. I noticed she avoided mentioning our lunch guests. As we ate, she asked me about school and what my new job was going to be like. We talked about Karina and how I’d discovered I loved sushi.

“Remind me to put protection over the fish tank.”

We laughed together.

I looked over into the living room and thought about the fish tank and how long it had taken to get the thing going again. She had enjoyed it in my absence and had added several guppies to the collection, one of which looked like she was going to give birth any day.

“Your guppies would be tasty,” I poked at her.

“Oh, the things they teach you in big cities.”

“But, I’m the same person inside. I belong here. I’m only on loan to the city.”

“Don’t ever forget that. I’m going to go take a power nap before getting ready for our company. I’m leaving lunch and all the details up to you.” She appeared happier and her spirit was lighter, as if she’d made peace with the chains that were holding her back from moving forward.

I was more hopeful about the business arrangement pending and anticipated the afternoon held promise.

I prepared a big pot of Mexican stew and cornbread and even had a pitcher of sweet tea ready, just in case I was dealin’ with true Southern boys.

When Ben and Justin arrived in a truck with the Severs Ranch logo on the side and matching ironed logo shirts, my first impression was of professionalism and that left me comfortable.

Ben was a big, tall stocky man who looked to be in his late thirties, and Justin was a tall, slender guy who was baby-faced and looked about fifteen.

They came in the house and met Mom. She was very friendly and seemed taken aback by them. After we visited for a few minutes, they asked if we could drive all of our property. When Mom jumped up ready to show them the land, I was once again feeling hope swell within my veins.

Our tour lasted over an hour, and they walked some of the fence line. The two men discussed between themselves things about the land and the grass and even the soil. I watched them as one spoke and the other nodded and vice versa. Whatever they were discussing, it appeared important.

When we got back around the table and started eating lunch, it was Mom who took the lead, and I was thrilled.

“What do you think about our land, Mr. Severs?”

“Please, call me Ben. I think your place is amazing, Mrs. Cunningham. Justin and I were impressed with how well you’ve maintained it, considering the circumstances.”

“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve got Wrenn here to thank for that. She’s resourceful.” She gripped my hand in hers on top of the table.

“Resources, I have. Land, I don’t, and I rotate my herds, so I don’t always need as much as I do right now. So, I’ve got an offer for you to consider.”

“Understood. I’m listening,” Mom answered with quite a bit of warmth in her voice.

“You have over five hundred acres here total, you said.”

Mom nodded.

Ben removed a small tablet from his shirt pocket and started making a drawing. “I’d like to purchase the back lot here of two hundred acres at a price of $250,000 and lease the rest at $5000 per year, keeping the fencing, land, and barn up to par, included. With your permission, I’d like to add a couple of wells that feed out of the spring fed creek. Justin can find a room to rent in town for a while, but my ultimate goal will be to build a home and a barn on the back property, since it accesses the other county road. What are your thoughts about all of this?”

“Please call me Mary Ellen. I’m overwhelmed at your offer; it’s very generous. I’d like to discuss it with my daughter and call you tomorrow, if that would be okay?”

“More than fine. I look forward to the call,” Ben said with a smile.

We finished lunch, and the men left after taking another drive around the property without Mom or me.

“While his offer is great, the sale will be complicated because of what your daddy did. I’m not sure how to fix it.” Exasperation escaped her.