said.
Richard gestured weakly. âI was never cut out to be a cowboy, even you have to admit that,â he said and glanced up at Grady for confirmation. âI could read the writing on the wall. With Dad gone youâd expect me to help around the place, and it just wasnât in me. Still isnât. Cows and me never saw eye to eye. You said it more than once yourself.â He gave a crooked half smile, enticing Grady to agree with him.
Grady remained cold and silent, his eyes as hard as flint.
âI know it was wrong to take that money. A thousand times since, Iâve cursed myself for being so stupid, so greedy.â
âYou should have phoned,â Savannah chastised. âYou could have let us know where you were. Grady and I were worried sick.â She looked to her brother to continue, to explain what theyâd endured because of Richard.
Once again Gradyâs cool silence was answer enough.
âI thought about coming home,â Richard said in a small pleading voice. âYou donât know how many times Iâve thought of it. Youâre right, Savannah,â he said, rushing his words. âI shouldâve called. I know that now, but I was afraid of what youâd say. I didnât have the courage to face you.â
âWhat happened to the money?â Grady threw the question at his brother with a vengeance.
âThe money,â Richard repeated, and the sigh that followed said it all.
âYou blew it,â Grady said with disgust.
âI put it up as capital in a business venture. My plan,â he said, glancing desperately at Savannah and then Grady, âwas to triple it and share the profits with you two. I thought if I did that, youâd forgive me and let me come home. Then we could go on the way we always have. Butââ he paused and looked away ââthe venture went sour.â
âIn other words you lost everything.â
Richard nodded slowly. âThe investment wasnât as solid as I was led to believe. It was a bitter lesson. But you have to understand,â he added, motioning toward Grady, âI was desperate to come home.â His voice shook as though the memory was as painful to him as it was to Savannah and Grady. âBy this time I missed you both so much I would have done anything to find a way home.â
âYou could have written,â Savannah said. âEven if you werenât ready to talk to us.â¦â For months sheâd prayed for a letter, a phone call, anything that would explain what had happened. Sheâd refused to give up hope, refused to believe Richard would steal from them and then just disappear. After six months she stopped making excuses, and when they hadnât heard from him after a year, his name was dropped from their conversations.
âI wanted to write,â Richard said, leaping on her words. âI tried. As God is my witness, I tried, but I was never good with words. How could I possibly explain everything in a letter?â
Grady snickered loudly. âSeems to me youâre about as slick with words as a snake-oil salesman.â
A flash of pain appeared in Richardâs eyes. âYou really hate me, donât you, Grady?â
âHow could we hate you?â Savannah answered in Gradyâs stead, fearing his response. âYouâre our brother.â
At her words Richard rallied somewhat and gazed around the yard. âYouâve obviously done all right by yourselves. The ranch looks great.â
âNo thanks to you.â
âThink about it, Grady,â Richard challenged. âWhat good would I have been to you if Iâd stuck around? As far as Iâm concerned, cows smell bad, have a negative disposition and are always needing something done to them. If Iâd stayed, I wouldnât have been any help. Okay, I admit taking the money was pretty underhand, but all I really did was lay claim to part of my
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