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Either way, that rumor needed to go, and needed to go now.
∞∞∞
Today was Thanksgiving. My father had come home from the hospital the day after being admitted, and I spent as much time at home with them as possible. Cassidy had come and picked up the two heifers from the clinic a week ago, and I told him the rumor that my dad had heard. Carly poked herself into that conversation, listening while he quietly explained to me that it was apparently an old one that circulated every so often, started by the ex-girlfriend herself. It would typically die quickly, as it seemed no one was quite willing to believe it entirely.
Weston had texted me a few times to let me know that there were no new locoweed cases that had popped up. All I replied with was a simple “thanks for the update” text, unsure of how to traverse this new, rocky road I was walking with the disapproval from my father. Plus, my mind was reeling with the constant thought about how ineffective locoweed poisoning seemed to be. As long as the plant was found quickly and the cattle couldn’t graze on it for long periods, they’d be fine. But how relevant that thought was, I wasn’t sure.
A few days ago, Doc had come and snagged my car keys, returning them later that evening, and I’d left work no longer driving on a donut. Doc refused to tell me who’d done it and refused any money I tried to offer him.
But I was numb most of the time, feeling guilt and shame over not being there when my father had passed out. Now, both him and my mom had continually pressured me to get out of the house and go see Cassidy again, even though he wasn’t the friend I wanted to visit, and to head to the Duke Ranch, but I refused. There was no way I would risk not being around for my father again.
I flopped down on the couch, ready for the holiday weekend. I had the next three days off; Doc volunteered to be on call since his wife’s sisters were coming to town. He’d informed me that he needed an escape just in case.
“When are Maddie and Luke getting here?” I asked while my mom finished putting away the last dish I’d washed after breakfast this morning.
“Within the hour, sweetheart,” she replied.
“So, when are we starting the turkey for dinner tonight?” I twisted my hair between my fingers. With today being a holiday, I’d decided to leave it down and curl it in gentle waves. I’d even applied a full, but simple face of makeup and was wearing a nice, dark rust orange long-sleeved dress. The skirt was ruffled and came to about mid-thigh, simple but sweet, and the color looked so nice against my skin. It also paired nicely with the thigh-high black heeled boots that Trixie had shipped me as a gift she’d brought back from her trip.
Despite everything that had happened, the newfound confidence I’d felt growing had remained.
My mom finished drying her hands and walked around the kitchen island while untying the apron from her floor-length checkered dress. “We aren’t,” she stated.
My eyes widened and I blinked, taken aback.
“Why not? We always have turkey for Thanksgiving!” I sat up on the couch as my dad grunted from his recliner. Today was a rough day for him already, and we were only nearing noon.
“Because we have been invited to join another family for Thanksgiving dinner. They asked us to provide a few green bean casseroles and some desserts,” she answered by pulling the four pumpkin pies from the fridge that I’d been told to make last night and placed them on the counter.
“What family, Mom?” I questioned.
She began to stack four dishes of casseroles beside the pie. “The Dukes.”
I looked between my father and my mom. He coughed, his eyes full of sympathy and warning at the same time. “Why?”
“Because Nancy and I were talking the other day, and she mentioned she misses seeing you at the ranch. So we chatted and she invited all of us there for Thanksgiving dinner, including your siblings and their families.”
I sighed and grabbed a pillow beside me, tucking it against my stomach as she grabbed two pies. “Now, help me carry all of this to the truck so we can be on our way the moment Luke and Maddie arrive,” she commanded, and I glared at her. “I really don’t understand why you stopped going there, Tenley. Your father and I want you to be happy, and you seemed to be enjoying your time spent there.”
Grunting, I aggressively tossed the pillow to the edge of the couch and stood up. Stomping towards the kitchen in my black boots, I grabbed two casseroles and followed her out to the truck.
“Because I haven’t had any work there, Mom. That’s why,” I said as she pulled open the back door and placed her pies on the seat. Pushing past her, I placed my casserole dishes beside the pies.
She shoved her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. “Why can’t you be like every other kid in the world and rebel a little? Or at least have a life outside of work?”
I spun back around to stare at my mom in shock “What?” I asked.
“You heard me. In high school you never snuck out, always telling me where you, and Trixie, and your girls were going. You didn’t sneak around with any boy and even in college you never once went to a party. Now, you’re here and all you do is work and come home to take care of your father and I.” She shook her head. “Seriously. I don’t actually need you to take care of me. The doctor said I’ve healed just fine, and you know it was simply an excuse to get you to move home. Go do something that isn’t work for once! Do something adventurous! I’d rather have to call your sister because you’re off making out with some guy when your dad collapses than to have you already there. Live a little!”
“Live a little? I tried that!” I snapped at her, and she blinked, stunned. “I was at the Duke Ranch when dad ended up in the hospital, remember?”
“Working! You were working Tenley!” she shouted at me, raising her voice.
“I was being thrown off a sled from the back of a four-wheeler and then was chased after by a bear!” I yelled back, throwing my hands in the air as a tear slid down my cheek. I was exploding. Everything I’d shoved down a couple weeks ago when it happened came flooding back.
My mom’s gaze widened, shocked. Everything from happiness to terror flashed across her beautiful face. “You were what?” she whispered, and I sighed, my shoulders sagging.
“I tried to live a little. And now all I feel is guilt and shame for doing something fun when you and Dad had to call an ambulance to go to the hospital,” I quietly answered as two SUVs turned down my parents' road. “I tried.”
