Ira considered the idea instead of rejecting it out of hand as he might have just days before. He was a man on a mission, but nothing said he had to spend all his time alone. It would probably be nice to have someone to spend his evenings with.
“You found a job yet?” Robert asked.
“Not yet, still looking.” The trouble was not many people had a job for an out of work grunt soldier with a bullet damaged heart.
“I told you, I need help on the ranch. Come join me and my boys. Take your rightful place in the family and in your inheritance. We could use a good strong back and another brain. There’s even a cabin on our land you can live in. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean.”
The offer was a good one, and it wasn’t the first time Robert had made it. Over the past months they’d met half a dozen times. Today was the first time Ira had mustered the courage to ask the hard questions.
“When are you planning to tell your family?” Ira asked. “I think we should do it now. No sense putting off a task just because it doesn’t sit well. Quite the opposite. Better swallow the bitter pill without delay. It doesn’t matter what level of security clearance you slap on something; the truth always comes out. The longer a secret simmers; the uglier it seems and this one’s been at full boil for a long time. Too long.”
“Let them get to know you first. Then we’ll tell them about my sordid past.”
Sordid past? Was he kidding?First, he claims there was a serious relationship between Robert and Ira’s mother, now it was sordid? Anger wracked Ira. He banked it down for the time being, hoping the phrasing was a slip of the tongue and not his actual attitude. Because if that was Robert’s attitude, it needed a serious adjustment and Ira was just the man to do it.
That aside, they really should tell the family upfront. Ira didn’t want to step in on the ranch work without the rest of the family knowing who he was. He didn’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest. “I think not telling them upfront is a mistake. They deserve to know the truth.”
“And they will, when I’m damn good and ready. I’ve talked to Sue. She agrees, waiting won’t hurt anything. And we’ll do it one weekend when Beth is home from university. They all deserve to hear the truth in person, not through the grapevine. Hell, working for me might help. Introduce you once you’ve proved your worth.”
“Proved my worth? Are you implying I’m not good enough to be a Flint?” Snotty bastard. So much for being honorable. Ira rolled his shoulders to loosen the tension gathering at the base of his neck.
“Don’t put words into my mouth, boy. You’re my blood and entitled to your share. I’m just saying…” Robert yanked off his cowboy hat and scrubbed his hand over his face. “I’m saying my kids, all eight of them, are going to be hurt by this secret, and having them get to know you might ease the pain. But what the hell do I know, this is the first time I’ve had to reveal one of my deepest secrets.
One of his deepest secrets?Implying there was more than one. Strange.
“Fine.” Ira picked up his fork. “We’ll do it your way. For now. But I’m not hiding for long. I’m not starting out my life here with lies. I believe in truth.”
“As do I, boy. As do I.” Robert stabbed at a grape. It popped out of his bowl and flew across the room, landing on the floor with a wet thud. “Damned fruit. No grown man should have to eat the stuff.”
“Whyareyou eating it?”
“Damned wife. Won’t let me have my sweets. Cardiologist says I have to drop weight and eat better. Sue won’t let anyone feed me properly. One stupid heart attack and the whole town’s turned into one big conspiracy against feeding me decent food. Even the couple running the new German deli are in on it. Won’t sell me a single bratwurst.”
“Is your heart trouble why you’re taking me on as ranch hand?”
“Dammit, Ira, get that chip off your shoulder. No. It isnotwhy I’m taking you on. You’re my son. You have a right to be there, to take your place in the family, on our ranch. Don’t you ever doubt it. I may not know you, but I love you as much as my other kids.” His voice was gruff.
Wow! Rough guy rancher, Robert Flint, confessing love. The declaration reached inside Ira and touched something, bringing feelings he didn’t know he had to the surface. Rather than respond to the awkward admission, he changed the subject.
“You should know that my heart is damaged. Not badly enough to prevent a normal life, but too much for the military to keep me on.”
Robert’s eyes widened and he frowned. “What kind of damage? Is it genetic?”
“I was shot twice in the chest. One bullet nicked my heart. The diagnosis was no permanent damage once I recovered from surgery. I will live a normal life. I’m one hundred percent healed, but the army booted me out anyway.” He tried to bank the anger in his voice without much success. It still pissed him off that one little defect and suddenly Ira Castillo, grunt soldier and sniper, was unfit for duty. His personal heart surgeon said otherwise, but nobody bucked the army. He’d been a damned good soldier until his unit had got caught in the crossfire between rival factions in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Their small operation had taken way too much damage and had been pulled out shortly after Ira was shot.
“Well, if you’re fit for work, I don’t see any problem. It takes a tough back to be a rancher. You look strong enough. Tell me if you experience any trouble. I can always put you to work fixing equipment or doing accounting. One thing about ranching, there’s plenty of work to go around.”
“In that case, I’d like to come work for you.” A quiver of unease at the deception they planned lingered, but the decision was made. They discussed Ira’s wage and came to an agreement.
Robert set down his fork and thrust out his hand. “Welcome to the family, Ira. Good to finally be part of your life.”
Ira shook solemnly, recognizing the emotion behind the declaration. “Glad to be here.” His words were heartfelt. It was good to belong somewhere again.
