Cowboy Come Home Read Free Page B

“Brett.”
    Though Brett continued to grin, he stopped teasing Red.
    Griff studied Red, trying to picture his mother as she’d been when Red knew her. She would’ve been better off with Red, who seemed a decent man, than with the one who’d betrayed her.
    “Would you like more tea?” Camille asked, leaning toward him.
    He drew in her scent, finding it disturbing. “No, thank you.”
    His gaze followed her as she crossed the kitchen, unable to resist watching her.
    Jake leaned toward him. “Camille is Megan’s step-sister. She’s not a Randall.”
    Griff blinked several times, his gaze returning to the man beside him. When he realized Jake had noted his interest in Camille, he hastily backpedaled. “I’m not—I’ll be leaving as soon as possible.”
    “Leaving for where?” Pete asked, the first time he’d spoken since Griff’s revelation.
    “Chicago.”
    “Is that where Margaret lived?” Red asked.
    “Yes.”
    Another silence filled the room, the only noise the scrape of silverware against the dishes.
    “How the hell did you learn how to handle horses in Chicago?” Pete finally demanded, staring at him.
    Griff didn’t answer at once. Then he looked Pete in the eye. “My mother taught me. She insisted I grow up around horses. We frequented a riding stable on the outskirts of town.”
    “But you know more than how to ride. You calmed Rambo without any problem.”
    “Margaret,” Red said succinctly.
    “What?” Pete asked, his gaze turning to the older man.
    “Margaret was a dab hand with the horses. Better’ n Gus.” Red rubbed his face, as if remembering was painful. “She could talk to them.”
    Griff nodded.
    “Well, the job’s still there, if you want it,” Pete said.
    “Hell, Pete, he probably owns half the ranch,” Chad interjected, heat in his words.
    For the first time, Griff heard the anger he’d expected. He didn’t want their ranch. But he wasn’t going to relieve them of that fear just yet. And fear was visible on several faces around the table.
    But not on Jake’s.
    “We’ll talk after dinner,” he reiterated. “Pass the potatoes, Chad.”
     
    WHEN JAKE LED the way into an office near the kitchen, Griff followed without protest. It was time to clear everything up. The other three Randall brothers gathered around the desk as Jake sat down behind it, leaving a chair for Griffin.
    Again Griffin noted Jake’s authority. None of the others spoke, waiting for their oldest brother to take the lead.
    “Why don’t you tell us why you’re here, Griff?” he said calmly.
    Griff sat up straighter. “My mother fought cancer the past year. Her dying request was to be buried on the ranch. I promised her.”
    Jake nodded but said nothing.
    They all sat in silence. Finally, Chad spoke. “That’s all you want?”
    “Yes.”
    Several of the men released pent-up breaths, but Griff didn’t bother to check to see who it was. “You don’t have a problem with my burying my mother here?” he asked Jake, wanting to be sure he’d understood the nod.
    “Of course not. My father would have been pleased. He would’ve been more pleased to have Margaret come home before her death. He made some effort to find her but was unsuccessful.”
    Griffin nodded, acknowledging what Jake said, relieved that his mother hadn’t been totally forgotten. Maybe her bitterness shouldn’t have been so complete.
    “How do you know all this?” Chad asked. “I’d never heard of her before.”
    Jake shrugged. “Dad talked about her sometimes when we were boys. And Red has said some things.” He shook his head. “Dad’s income was dependent on Granddad, and the old man didn’t want to look for Margaret. He was mad at her.”
    Griff didn’t ask any questions. His mother had talked about her past frequently.
    “Why?” Pete asked. “Why was Granddad mad at her?”
    Jake shrugged, as if he didn’t know, but Griff wasn’t sure whether to believe he knew nothing or simply wanted to save Griff’s