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A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I stared down at the two women before me. I found myself smiling a lot more since Valerie came into my life, dragging the women in front of me in it with her. One was Valerie’s mother, Nancy, and the other was Jackie, her nurse. Both were gaping at me as they craned their necks to look at my face.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” I drawled. Beau had just pulled up about two minutes ago in his truck. After helping Nancy down from the cab, Jackie joined her, and they’ve been staring at me since.
“It’s great to finally meet you in person,” I said, holding my hand to Nancy. She took it just as I heard Valerie burst through the front door. I turned to look at her. Tears were in her green eyes. She had been upstairs when they arrived, fussing about the spare bedroom, making sure it was perfect for her mother. It was. It was because Valerie made it so. She was making this old house feel like a home again, and fuck, that made me feel good.
“Mom,” she breathed before darting down the stairs. My chest ached at the sight of her nearly crashing into her mother. My baby stopped just before she did and wrapped her up in a gentle hug. Nancy was wearing her oxygen today, and I knew that she was weak from travelling.
That didn’t stop her from wrapping her daughter up in a hug so tight, it made me envious. Suddenly, the absence of my mother was heavier than before. When the women parted, the heartfelt moment came to an abrupt stop when Jackie spoke.
“That’s all fine and good, but—” she paused to gesture to Beau and me, “If all the cowboys look like this, I’m pitching a tent in the backyard.”
A low chuckle came from Beau, who was unloading the bags. When he was done, he shut the tailgate. He came around to us, a cockyson-of-a-bitchgrin on his face.
“Ms. Jackie, you are good for my ego,” he noted, putting on his sunglasses.
“Those abs I saw this morning are good for your ego,” she deadpanned.
I shot Beau a look as he winced, putting his hand on the back of his neck. “Jackie!” Nancy and Valerie scolded.
The woman turned to them, her dark skin glowing in the sun. She pointed at Valerie. “You already got a panty-melting cowboy, so, you don’t get to judge. And you,” she said, pointing at Nancy, “need some rest. Let’s get her inside.”
At her words, everyone moved.
Ten minutes later, Nancy was on the couch, drinking a protein shake that Jackie made. Jackie excused herself and went upstairs to unpack Nancy’s things. Valerie was talking quietly to Beau in the foyer.
I studied them from my place on the wall.
Beau’s hat was off, and his features were soft as he looked down at my enchantress, listening to every hushed word she spoke. She reached out and put her hand on his arm, and an unfamiliar jealousy sparked inside me. This was different from the time he made her laugh.
“My daughter is in love with you, you know?”
My train of thought was derailed at her mother’s soft-spoken statement.
I looked down to the couch and found the woman staring at me, her pale green eyes filled with something that looked a lot like acceptance. She had a pink satin wrap on top of her head and a chucky white sweater hung from her too thin body. Her eyes were sunk in, her cheekbones too sharp, her skin too pale.
Despite all that, and the pain I knew she was in, she smiled up at me brightly.
“I can see why,” she said softly in a tone that reminded me of Momma’s.
My heart flinched.
I shook my head, ready to deny it. Nancy’s drawn on brows came together as she studied me. Her eyes dropped, taking in my dirty boots, worn out Wranglers, dirty T-shirt and old flannel. When her eyes rose past my face to focus on my hat, she spoke. “You know, when you’re on death’s doorstep, you think about the things you missed. The things you could’ve done differently…and I have to tell you, Mr. Langston…” she trailed off to look behind her, where Val and Beau were standing in the foyer.
When she looked back to me, she whispered, “I’m glad that I got sick, because it led my daughter to you.”
My jaw tightened to the point of fucking pain andat this point, I wanted it toshatter. I remained silent, unable to speak from the raw emotion burning in my throat.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to fall to my knees.
I couldn’t. Valerie’s footsteps filled my ears, and I heard Beau call, “See y’all in a bit!”
“Mom, the guys want to come up here for dinner and meet you both, is that alright?” she asked her mother softly, taking a seat at the far end of the couch.
Nancy tore her eyes from me, her smile growing wider by the second. “I would love nothing more, Vallie.”
“Faster,Ranger!”Icommanded,kicking my boots. My horse’s hooves thundered against the rich earth below as the wind whipped all around us.
