not for the screw-up that cost their youngest brother, John, his life.
With that memory on his mind, Matt’s tone was sharp as he snapped, “Can’t you shut him up?”
“He’s a friendly dog. Hunker down and let him get to know you. That’ll calm him down.”
Matt stayed where he was. “He doesn’t need to get to know me. I won’t be here long.”
Rather than respond to that, Branch managed to bend down and scoop the dog into his arm. Addressing the animal, he spoke in a calm voice. “This is Matthew, Paco. I’ve told you all about him. He’s the only one of my boys who’s moved home to Brazos Bend. We don’t get to see him much because he travels a lot protecting our country.”
The dog quieted as Matt smothered a sigh. He hadn’t moved to Brazos Bend. He kept an apartment in Virginia. Though he could count on both hands the nights he’d spent there in the past three years, it remained his permanent address. If he took the desk job he’d been offered, he’d probably buy a house.
“Come on in, son. It’s afternoon snack time. I think the Garzas baked Snickerdoodles.”
“It’s after five. You’re having Snickerdoodles instead of scotch?”
Branch patted the left side of his chest. “It’s the ticker. Doc limits me to one drink a day.”
So he substituted fat and calorie-laden cookies for booze? Matt doubted that’s what Branch’s doctor had in mind.
But that was none of his business, was it?
“I’m not staying. I was in town on an errand—I thought I’d drive by and say hello. I have to get back to the vineyard. Les has a list of chores for me a mile long.”
At mention of his partner, Branch’s expression went mulish. “I can’t believe you let that damned grape farmer run roughshod over you. He wouldn’t have anything if not for you.”
The anger that bubbled up inside Matt had been aged like fine Bordeaux. “I wouldn’t be alive if not for him,” he lashed out. “I guess that gives Les one up in my book. Always will. He was there for me when you weren’t and don’t you forget it because I never will.”
His father took it like a fist to the chin. He closed his eyes and cuddled his pet closer, his expression stricken. The tension in the air caused the dog to whimper.
Matt’s mouth settled in a grim line. He felt like a heel. “I don’t know why I even try to do this. Every time I come here, it’s the same crap. I shouldn’t come.”
“No, you’re right.” Branch set the dog on the ground, then drew himself up and squared his shoulders. “I screwed up with you boys after your mother died and we all know it. I’m trying to make amends, son, if only you and your brothers will let me.”
Amends? That was easier said than done. Way easier. “It isn’t as simple as amends, Dad. What you did to us as kids—maybe we needed that. But what happened afterward ... with John ...” Matt raked his fingers through his hair. “There’s a lot of anger.”
Branch Callahan’s voice broke as he said with wonder in his tone, “You called me Dad.”
Matt bit back a curse. He was fumbling for something to say when his phone rang. Checking the screen, he recognized Mark’s number. Good. “Excuse me, Branch. I have to take this. I’ll ... uh ... see you later.”
He stepped around to the driver’s side of his truck and brought the cell phone to his ear. “Whatcha got?”
“More than you probably want to know. Are you somewhere you can talk?”
Matt’s gaze flickered toward his father, who had turned and was shuffling his way up the walk. He looked old, Matt realized. Old and sad with nothing but a purse pet and the Garza sisters to keep him company. Matt swallowed the lump of guilt and regret in his throat and muttered, “You don’t want to know where I am.”
After a beat, Mark snapped, “Damn. You’re at his house, aren’t you? You’re just a cliché, a glutton for punishment. Don’t get caught up in his schemes, bro. He’s playing on your sympathies,
With that memory on his mind, Matt’s tone was sharp as he snapped, “Can’t you shut him up?”
“He’s a friendly dog. Hunker down and let him get to know you. That’ll calm him down.”
Matt stayed where he was. “He doesn’t need to get to know me. I won’t be here long.”
Rather than respond to that, Branch managed to bend down and scoop the dog into his arm. Addressing the animal, he spoke in a calm voice. “This is Matthew, Paco. I’ve told you all about him. He’s the only one of my boys who’s moved home to Brazos Bend. We don’t get to see him much because he travels a lot protecting our country.”
The dog quieted as Matt smothered a sigh. He hadn’t moved to Brazos Bend. He kept an apartment in Virginia. Though he could count on both hands the nights he’d spent there in the past three years, it remained his permanent address. If he took the desk job he’d been offered, he’d probably buy a house.
“Come on in, son. It’s afternoon snack time. I think the Garzas baked Snickerdoodles.”
“It’s after five. You’re having Snickerdoodles instead of scotch?”
Branch patted the left side of his chest. “It’s the ticker. Doc limits me to one drink a day.”
So he substituted fat and calorie-laden cookies for booze? Matt doubted that’s what Branch’s doctor had in mind.
But that was none of his business, was it?
“I’m not staying. I was in town on an errand—I thought I’d drive by and say hello. I have to get back to the vineyard. Les has a list of chores for me a mile long.”
At mention of his partner, Branch’s expression went mulish. “I can’t believe you let that damned grape farmer run roughshod over you. He wouldn’t have anything if not for you.”
The anger that bubbled up inside Matt had been aged like fine Bordeaux. “I wouldn’t be alive if not for him,” he lashed out. “I guess that gives Les one up in my book. Always will. He was there for me when you weren’t and don’t you forget it because I never will.”
His father took it like a fist to the chin. He closed his eyes and cuddled his pet closer, his expression stricken. The tension in the air caused the dog to whimper.
Matt’s mouth settled in a grim line. He felt like a heel. “I don’t know why I even try to do this. Every time I come here, it’s the same crap. I shouldn’t come.”
“No, you’re right.” Branch set the dog on the ground, then drew himself up and squared his shoulders. “I screwed up with you boys after your mother died and we all know it. I’m trying to make amends, son, if only you and your brothers will let me.”
Amends? That was easier said than done. Way easier. “It isn’t as simple as amends, Dad. What you did to us as kids—maybe we needed that. But what happened afterward ... with John ...” Matt raked his fingers through his hair. “There’s a lot of anger.”
Branch Callahan’s voice broke as he said with wonder in his tone, “You called me Dad.”
Matt bit back a curse. He was fumbling for something to say when his phone rang. Checking the screen, he recognized Mark’s number. Good. “Excuse me, Branch. I have to take this. I’ll ... uh ... see you later.”
He stepped around to the driver’s side of his truck and brought the cell phone to his ear. “Whatcha got?”
“More than you probably want to know. Are you somewhere you can talk?”
Matt’s gaze flickered toward his father, who had turned and was shuffling his way up the walk. He looked old, Matt realized. Old and sad with nothing but a purse pet and the Garza sisters to keep him company. Matt swallowed the lump of guilt and regret in his throat and muttered, “You don’t want to know where I am.”
After a beat, Mark snapped, “Damn. You’re at his house, aren’t you? You’re just a cliché, a glutton for punishment. Don’t get caught up in his schemes, bro. He’s playing on your sympathies,
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