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The beams of the spotlights lit up the cabin’s steps, cutting through the dark night. While Chase knew time was against him, that didn’t mean he was going to stop working. Besides, being at the ranch kept his mind off getting in his truck and driving over to Harper’s. She needed time. He would give it to her, no matter that keeping true to that promise was becoming harder as each minute ticked by.
With the warm breeze brushing across his skin, bringing a plethora of ranch smells with it, he took a nail from his mouth and slammed the hammer against the end of it, driving it into the wooden stair.
As he reached for the next nail between his lips, his mother said from behind him, “Are we going to talk about why you’re so miserable?”
Chase lowered the hammer and straightened, glancing behind him. Mom stood with a knitted shawl wrapped around her shoulders, holding onto a coffee mug. “Is Houdini okay?” Chase asked.
She nodded. “He’s sound asleep on the kitchen floor.” Which had become his favorite place since Mom fed him while she was cooking. She stepped forward and offered him the mug, giving him a hard look. “And stop distracting me with your own questions.”
“Thanks for the coffee.” He lifted the mug then took a sip, tasting the hazelnut flavor Mom’s coffee always had. Once he swallowed, he asked, “Do I have a choice in not discussing why I’m so miserable?”
“No.” She crossed her arms, giving him that same probing look she had whenever she saw right through him. “Are you upset because Harper has decided to stay in River Rock?”
Fucking Nash. He told their mom everything.
Harper was the last thing he wanted to talk about, but Mom was tenacious. He had learned years ago she never gave up. Ever. He took another sip of his coffee then set it down on the porch before explaining. “I never wanted any of this to happen.”
Mom tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Let me ask you this: If you knew what you know now, would you go back and do things differently?”
He considered that long and hard, finding the answer was not an easy one. But in the end, one truth remained the same. “I wouldn’t change a damn thing.” He could not imagine not having Harper. If they’d gone back and he thought he would never see her again, he would have made the exact same choices.
“Well, there’s your answer then, isn’t it?” Mom smiled.
Chase frowned. “What answer?”
Mom stepped closer and patted his face gently. “You love her. She loves you. You both need to simply finagle your way through all this before things settle into place.”
Overwhelmed by how easy she made that sound, he let his gaze fell to the grass below his steel-toed boot lit up by the spotlights.
“You’re a good man, Chase.” He glanced back up into her warm eyes. “You make me so incredibly proud. Your father would be so amazed with all that you’ve done here. But don’t be too good, okay? Sometimes tough situations are just tough. You deserve to be happy.” She leaned forward and said sternly, “So be happy. Life is so short. Too short. Don’t wait.”
Chase’s chest tightened. He knew his mother missed their father deeply. W
ith all that happened with Blackshaw Cattle, he didn’t think anyonehad had the time to properly mourn their father’s passing. It was a void that could not be filled. He took Mom in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you, Ma.”
She returned the hug. “I love you, my sweet boy.”
Car lights suddenly shone up the driveway, revealing Brody’s Jeep.
“Do you think he’s still angry?” Mom asked. Nash had obviously told her about Brody punching him too.
Chase sighed, releasing his arm from around her. “I don’t know.”
Mom smiled, patting his cheek again. “I’ll go get a bag of frozen peas ready, just in case.”
He chuckled, watching her stride back up to the house before turning his attention to Brody exiting his Jeep.
“Hi, Brody,” she called, giving him a wave.
“Hey.” Brody moved with a steady pace, his hands loose. When he reached Chase, he squinted his eyes, the side of his mouth curving. “I didn’t hit you hard enough. That cut is too small.”
“It’s not my fault my face is stronger than your punch.” Chase smirked.
Brody gave a quick smile then shoved his hands into his pockets. “So, ah, I came here ’cause I need to tell you something.”
Seeing that he wasn’t in danger of getting another hit, Chase reached for his coffee on the porch. “What’s that?”
He took a sip, and nearly coughed when Brody asked, “Did you know that inspector, Todd, is related to Joel Breckenridge?”
