Flawless Surrender (The Surrender Trilogy, #2)(15)
Tanner snorted, “So you helped fix up the guys who were more than likely going to turn around and shoot you the first chance they had?”
Dalton shook his head, “No it’s not like that. I mean, sure, there is a chance of it, but for the most part, we are passing out food to people who are starving and treating them for diseases they’ve contracted because they don’t have the right stuff available. Anyways, I don’t want to talk about work. Tell me about Stone River? What’s changed at the Triple T?”
“Not much, man. I’m still working with the sun and falling into bed half dead at night. I just started working with Brooks Pastures to coordinate our breeding programs.”
“What?” Dalton stared at Tanner in shock. For decades the Triple T and Brooks Pastures had been in competition with each other. The idea the two families might work together had honestly never occurred to him.
“Yeah, Parker and Rogan have one hell of a stallion over there, and if I can get a few foals with some of our mares, well, I think it will serve us all well.” Tanner glanced at Dalton’s stunned face and grimaced. “Times have changed Professor. We can’t all avoid what’s happening around us by packing up and moving. I have to adjust our system or risk going under.”
Dalton hissed out a breath of air he hadn’t realized he was holding, “Shit, I’m sorry. You just surprised me. Are things that bad in Stone River?”
“Not bad so much as the bills are tight. We have had three straight years of drought. The Carrion River is way down, and the cost of water has gone up, so bringing more in isn’t an option. I have to find a way to keep us afloat without the crops.”
It was quiet between the two brothers for a few moments as Dalton pondered Tanner’s response. He was right of course. Changes had to be made in order to protect the ranch, and after almost fifteen years out of the ranching business, Dalton was the last person with a right to judge his older brother for his business decisions.
“Good for you.”
Tanner barked out a surprised laugh.
“I mean it, Skipper. That ranch is your heart and soul, and I admire you for doing whatever it takes to save it. If the Brooks boys are the way to do that, then I’m all for it.”
“Glad to hear it, because you’re going to have to help me explain it to pops when he comes to visit at Christmas. I haven’t told him yet.”
“Oh shit! Nope, you’re on your own with that, man. Besides, I’m not sure yet where I’ll be at Christmas time. I have a couple of months to figure it out.”
Tanner frowned, “If it means anything to you, it would make mama really happy if you would stick around for it. There are jobs in Austin, or old Doc Plass might be looking to retire? You have a home at the ranch, so you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to.”
Dalton turned his head to look out the window of the truck at the passing scenery. Now that they were on the highway there was only fields, cows, and the occasional scrub brush to look at, but he wasn’t going to let Tanner see the tears in his eyes. He wanted to be able to say yes. If only he had that option.
“We’ll see. I’m not sure Stone River can ever be my home again, Tanner. It wouldn’t be fair to Minnie and Walt.”
“Are you kidding? You’re still holding on to that? Walt and Minnie have grieved and moved on, Dalton. If they’ve managed to let it go, why can’t you?”
“Because they didn’t kill anyone, Tanner. I did. I will never be able to forgive myself, and they shouldn’t have to see their son’s murderer every day for the rest of their lives.”
“Dalton—”
“No! I don’t want to have this conversation right now. I just got my feet back on US soil and I want to use this time to rest. Do me a favor and let me know when we hit Stone River. I’m going to take a little cat nap.” Dalton promptly shut his eyes and ignored Tanner’s cursed mutterings under his breath. His brother was wrong. There was no way Walt and Minnie would ever move on and forgive him for Ben’s death. As well they shouldn’t. Forcing the whole thing from his mind, Dalton let his body relax and quickly slipped into sleep with the rocking of the truck.
*****
Tanner’s battered red truck pulled up in front of Zoey’s place at ten o’clock on the nose Saturday morning. Like any good weirdo, Zoey was watching for it from her apartment window. When the two broad-shouldered men climbed out, she could just barely hear their laughter through the thin glass, and a ripple of desire shot through her. Tanner’s cowboy hat was missing, leaving his buzzed head bare to her view, and when paired up with Dalton’s lighter sandy blonde hair they almost looked like a cowboy version of Good versus Evil. She wasn’t sure which option she wanted to taste first, the good or the evil, but at this moment neither was actually a choice.
Hurrying across the large room, she glanced around at the empty corners. She really didn’t have a whole lot that was hers. The sofa and chair along with most of the living room contents belonged to the landlord, as did the bed and dresser. That left her with just a stack of about twelve moving boxes, her bike, her television, and the cedar chest that she and Rachel had found at a flea market when they were seventeen. They had spent a whole month lovingly restoring the piece and it was Zoey’s most prized possession.