Briar
“ I’m excited to see you
tomorrow,” I pulled on my favorite pajamas, the purple ones with
the blue clouds all over them. It’d been another beautiful day at
the ranch, and I was a little tired after a late swim with Chase in
the pond behind the house. Going to bed early was starting to
become a habit. I didn’t mind, considering I got up with the
chickens now. “But I’m nervous too.”
Grandma’s voice wavered over my cell
phone. The reception wasn’t very good, but I was honestly grateful
my phone worked at all up here. We were in the middle of nowhere.
Tens of thousands of acres on the McCree land. “What do you have to
be nervous about baby? It’s just the fourth of July.”
“ Chase’s mom.” His mother
and stepfather were flying in tomorrow with grandma for a massive
Fourth of July barbecue that the McCree’s held every year on the
ranch. They were leaving Chase’s younger half-sister with Todd’s
parents. Grandma had left a week ago with my parents; she wasn’t
going to pass on the opportunity to see me again so soon. I
wouldn’t be going back to Florida until Christmas. “She’s made it
clear she think’s I’ve made the wrong choice.”
“ Tell her to keep her nose
out of your business.”
“ I can’t do that. She’s his
mother.” I climbed into bed and hit the light, letting the darkness
of the room envelope me. I felt so much calmer now. “I just…I know
she’s going to try to change my mind all weekend.”
“ I think you’re talking to
the wrong person about this.” Grandma slurped her margarita and I
heard the salsa music she and grandpa liked to play come on in the
background. “Look cookie, you need to sit your cowboy down and tell
him what’s bothering you. That may be his mother, but you’re his
girl. In my book you come first.”
“ But how do I tell
him?”
“ Briar, just tell him like
you told me. He loves you and he’ll understand.” She gasped, and
the phone gave a sharp crackle. “Norman! I told you to put that
sombrero away. I’m not in the mood to dress up while we dance
tonight.”
The image of grandpa wearing a sombrero
with his sweater vest popped in my head and I laughed. “Have fun,
and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“ Can’t wait. I knew I’d love
me some Montana cowboys and horses.” She made kissy sounds over the
line. “If grandpa didn’t mind the cold, or wasn’t against leaving
the house in general, I’d move up there with you.”
I hung up and set the phone on my
nightstand. The house was silent. I hunkered down under the covers
and closed my eyes, trying to keep that calm feeling. It was hard.
In total I’d been with the McCree’s for a month and a half, give or
take a few days. I hadn’t exactly been keeping count.
I really did love it here. Staying with
Chase was the smartest thing I’d ever done in my life. Some things
were hard to adjust to. I hadn’t been raised on a ranch, but I was
learning. I took each day as an adventure, and with Chase’s help, I
found myself slipping into place right beside him. It was as if I’d
been here all along.
That didn’t take care of Chase’s mom
though.
I glanced at my phone. The glowing blue
screen said it was just after ten. I was not going to sleep knowing
that in fourteen hours Chase’s mom would be landing at the airport.
I’d been nervous before, but not this kind of nervous. It made me
feel uneasy, almost sick to my stomach. Something she said could
change things…maybe not to the point of me going back to Florida.
That was a little farfetched.
But still…worry ate at me.
I sat up, suddenly thirsty. A cool
drink would help. After a few sips I’d fall asleep. So I got out of
bed and headed downstairs. One of the herding dogs was lounging on
the kitchen floor. He perked up when I opened the fridge to pour a
glass of Millie’s lemonade.
“ What are you looking at,
Gunner?” he tilted his head to the side and his tail thumped
against the floor. I
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