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I almost regret salvaging his pride because he’s nearly gasping by the time he plants himself in the empty chair.
“Have you seen a doctor recently?” I can’t hide my concern.
“Y-yeah.” He nods, covering that damnable cough with his elbow. “Gracie took me to the emergency room one night not long before we left home.”
I stare, hating how his entire body trembles.
He takes a wheezy breath. “They gave me some pills, but…damn things sure haven’t helped much.”
“Maybe it’s time for a follow-up,” I suggest.
“Can’t.” His shoulders rise as he struggles to pull in air. Lungs rasping, he sits back in the chair. “It’s too expensive, and really…that’s what I want to talk to you about, Ridge.” Taking another struggling breath, he gestures to me. “I noticed your tattoo over dinner. Your man, Tobin, confirmed you were in the Army. So was I. Quite a few years ago, but I did my time in West Berlin, nose-to-nose with the Reds.”
My respect for him increases.
The armed services can be a tough road for anyone, but those who served years ago saw some shit many have forgotten. Nothing like enlisting during the height of the Cold War to make a man’s balls drop, staring in the face of very real conflict with another superpower, even the chance of nuclear annihilation.
“Brave times for braver men,” I say. “I’m aware things were different back then.”
He gives a slight nod. “Not as different as you’d think. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about, and as a fellow serviceman, I want to give it to you straight.”
“Okay, Nelson. Shoot.”
“We’ve had a change of plans. Gracie won’t be able to finish decorating your place, I’m sorry to say.” He pauses, coughing a few more times and wiping one eye. “But I’ll give you Rosie and Stern for your trouble, leaving a job before she’s barely started…I know how disappointing that can be. Consider it payment for letting us stay. We’ll be out of your hair tomorrow.”
Shit.
Tomorrow? In his state?
Obviously, I won’t take the offer, but I have to humor him to find out what’s really going on.
“Oh?” I ask. “Don’t you think sticking around for a few more days until you feel less like death warmed over would be a better idea?”
He gives me a friendly chuckle. “Maybe so, but frankly, we can’t.”
“Where’s the fire?” I fold my hands, looking him square in the eye. “Montana’s calling that bad, huh?”
Nelson flinches back, struggling to contain yet another cough.
“Listen, you’re a smart guy. You know we’re nothing but trouble. You saw what went down with Jackknife…we’re plenty grateful but we have to keep movin’, Ridge. Gotta be on our merry way before dragging you in any deeper.”
“What sort of trouble are you in, Nelson?” I tilt my head.
I’ll be damned if I won’t find out, whether I pull it out of him tonight or dig it up myself. I have my ways, and friends in the right places.
“The kind that’s got legs and follows,” Nelson says with a shake of his head. “I saw the driveway’s been plowed today, so we’ll head out in the morning. You’ve been real good to us, and I don’t feel right putting you out a minute longer. You’re a busy man, I’m sure.”
“How does Grace feel about the new plan?” I ask.
“She’ll…she’ll listen,” Nelson whispers, breaking off to hack into his arm again.
Goddamn.
So he hasn’t even talked to her yet.
At least that means there’s a good chance he won’t get far.
Grace is hardly a do-as-I-say woman, but the old man doesn’t need to hear it because I don’t think he sees his daughter that way either.
He’s flat-out desperate, grasping at straws, lost in fight-or-flight mode.
I think he knows he’s in over his head.
Another thought hits me that raises more alarm. My gut tells me that Tobin, in his subtle, yet always out-for-my-best-interests way, got to Nelson. Maybe he even put the bug in his ear to blow Dallas while the weather’s clear.
If it was anyone but Tobin, I’d be pissed, but I know him.
Hell, I expected something like this after our conversation this morning. The man doesn’t do confrontation, but behind the scenes, he could turn a pack of pirate-ninjas into total pacifists.
Fuck, I’ll talk to Tobin later.
For now, I tell Nelson, “You and Grace are welcome to stay here for as long as you need, without any sort of rent. Including your horses.”
“Oh, I believe you,” Nelson says with a nod. “But we have to leave, and to be honest, not pulling a horse trailer would be easier on the old truck.”
There’s no denying the logic. Not having their name on the side of their truck would be beneficial, too.
However, despite what Nelson thinks, I believe Grace will make the real decision. Somehow, I don’t think she’ll be cool leaving with her father so sick.
