Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sloan
It had been two weeks since we got the dreaded phone call. Two weeks since I walked with Brady to identify Harold’s body. The first few days had been some of the hardest. I’d only known Brady as this big strong man who could get through anything. It was hard to see him look so weak and so hopeless. The worst part was knowing that there was nothing I could do to get Harold back for him. But I think he was glad to have me there, and I was so glad that I had come back for him.
He was slowly starting to get back to normal, and every day he seemed to improve. The worst was having to go to the ranch without Harold around, but we went a little every day just to make sure that things were being run smoothly. That was all we could do. I woke up early that morning, earlier than Brady. It was starting to become a habit. I had a feeling that he battled to sleep at night because every morning he slept in late and looked exhausted. I climbed slowly out of bed and made my way downstairs. I decided to send Victoria a message and asked her to let me know when I could call her. I’d messaged her to let her know that I wasn’t coming back the Monday as promised and that I’d get back to her, but with everything that had been happening, I hadn’t gotten around to it. I was surprised when she messaged back to say that she was free to talk.
I made my way outside and closed the door so that I wouldn’t wake up Brady. Victoria answered after a few rings.
“Hey, Vic,” I said.
“Sloan. Man, it’s good to hear your voice. I’ve been so worried about you. I thought you were coming back? It’s been over two weeks, and I haven’t heard a thing.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. Vic. I owe you an explanation as well as an apology.”
“Tell me everything.”
I sighed. I decided that it was time to test our friendship by telling Victoria everything there was about me. If she didn’t want to be friends with me afterward then I would simply walk away. But I owed it to her to at least try. I took a deep breath and told her everything that I had told Brady. About growing up poor, about my father leaving, and my mother having no money. About working hard, and how I’d thrown it all away to make some quick money for my sick mother. It was the second time I was recounting the story, and it still wasn’t an easy thing to say out loud.
“Oh, Sloan, you should’ve told me.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I . . . I mean . . . we only really went shopping and stuff. I think of you as my best friend, and yet sometimes I feel like we don’t even know each other. I didn’t know how you were going to react.”
She sighed. “I’m going to tell you a little story about me,” she said. “A story I haven’t told anyone before.”
I listened as Victoria told me all about how her father used to abuse her, and how she had turned to drugs and alcohol when she was younger. She told me that she’d been in rehab for two years and had been clean now for eight years. She told me how messed up she was and how she’d done things that she would never dream of doing now.
“It was the worst time, Sloan. I did all those things. But I’m not that person anymore. I regret all the things I did, but I don’t want them to define who I am now. I can’t. If I do, then I will never be happy, and I will never move past from that time in my life. I’m a different person now. I guess you and I had sort of a superficial relationship, because we were both scared of letting each other in. I don’t want to be like that with you anymore.”
I started crying. “Same here. I love you, Vic.”
“I love you too, Sloan. You’re not coming back, are you?”
I wasn’t sure how she knew. I’d never even told her about Brady. “I don’t think so. How did you know?”
“I don’t know. I just do. You met someone, didn’t you?”
I laughed. “You’re psychic.”
“It’s called best friend syndrome. So, tell me all about him.”
I sighed happily. This was a topic I was more than comfortable to talk about. “He’s amazing, Vic. His name is Brady Maxwell, and he’s a cowboy.”
She chuckled. “A real cowboy! Hey, is he the one from the ranch? The one that taught you how to ride a horse and all that?”
“The very one. He’s also teaching me how to drive a car.”
“Wow, he’s teaching you a lot. What’s he like in the sack?” she asked bluntly.
I giggled. “The sack, the barn, the field, the bed, the living room. Yeah, he’s amazing.”
“Wow! No wonder you don’t want to leave. You know what, Sloan? You sound happy. In fact, this is the happiest I’ve ever heard you sound.”
I smiled. “I am happy.”
“Then stay. You’ll figure things out. Right now, it sounds like you need him.”
“I do.”
Then I thought of Harold. And he needs me too.
We said our goodbyes and I walked back up to see if Brady was still sleeping. I opened the door and sat on the bed, just watching him. He looked so peaceful. When he woke up, he jumped.
“Are you watching me sleep?”
I giggled. “Yeah.”
“Such a creep,” he teased.
“I can’t help it. You’re just so beautiful.”
“I thought it was only my legs you liked.”
“Your face isn’t bad either.”
“Well, that’s a good thing. I mean, you probably see my face more than you see my legs.”
“That’s what you think,” I said and laughed. “Come on; you need to get up.”
“Why?”
“First, we’re going to the ranch today. I want to help you work. Second, I’m desperate for some coffee.”
We made our way to the ranch, with Brady making me drive the whole way. I stalled once, but otherwise I didn’t do too badly. He was right; this was the best place to learn how to drive. Especially since it was one straight road from his house to the ranch. When we arrived, we made our way through the ranch, making notes of everything that had to be done.
“I can’t believe you’re making notes. I don’t know why I’ve never done that before,” he said as he looked at my notepad.
I chuckled. “You see, you need a woman around here.”
“I think I do.”
“Hey, Brady,” I said softly. “How are you doing?”
He sighed and nodded. “I’m okay. It’s strange not having Harold around. I mean, one minute he was here and the next he was gone. I sometimes feel like the whole thing is just a dream and I’m going to wake up and see him again. But I’m okay. I’m getting better.”
“Yeah, it’s so weird. But you’re doing well. I can’t believe he left you the ranch. I knew he would, but it’s crazy isn’t it? I mean, the whole ranch. It’s all yours.”
I looked around the ranch at the vast expanse of land. We’d gotten the call from the lawyers a few days ago. Apparently Harold had put Brady’s name down about two years ago. He left absolutely everything to him.
“And yet, I’d give back every cent that I’m going to make or that I already have just to have Harold back again.”
“I know. But you’re going to do so well with this ranch. I know you are.”
“I’m going to make him proud,” Brady said.
“I think you did that long ago.”
“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” he asked me.
I looked down at my notes and told him everything that needed to be done. “It’s a long list. I think we need to call in your friend Trace to help and maybe look at getting someone else in. I don’t mind helping you with all this admin, Brady. I don’t have a job at the moment, and I’m happy to help.”
“Are you sure? That would be amazing. I’m not so good at that kinda stuff.”
I smiled. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, it will be nice to have something to do. And I’d like to feel like I’m helping. I want to do it for you. And for Harold.”
“Thanks, Sloan.”
We spent the rest of the day figuring out the logistics and doing what we could for the day. I helped Brady with the horses, as that was the part I enjoyed doing the most, and at the end of the day, we took them for a ride. This time I let him have Betty.
When we finished up, I drove us home slowly, and he chuckled at my atrocious parking skills.
“We need to work on that next,” he said.
“What do you mean? I’m an amazing parker,” I said. I got out the car and laughed when I saw how badly I had parked. I hadn’t actually realized how bad it was until I was seeing it from the outside. Brady was chuckling at me, but I refused to admit it. I looked at it again and smiled. “Yes, this is perfect. This is exactly what I intended to do.”
“You’re so stubborn, you know that?” he said.
I chuckled. “And you’re not?”
“Two peas in a pod, then. Come on; I’m ordering pizza.”
The pizza delivery man came an hour later, and we made a little picnic outside on the grass. I was hoping to invite Grant and Emily, whom I still hadn’t met, but they were away for the week. So we had the whole place to ourselves. We sat outside on picnic blankets with pizza and a glass of wine. The sky was absolutely incredible. I kept stopping just to look up and admire the view. Other than the sound of a few birds or the occasional car, there was nobody else around. It was the most peaceful evening ever.
“Brady, have you ever thought of speaking to your father again?” I asked suddenly. I knew it was a touchy subject to bring up, but it had been on my mind ever since he had told me the story. I’d thought about it even more after Harold had passed away. I’d been wanting to bring it up all evening, but I hadn’t had the courage until then.
“Harold was my father,” he said defiantly. I didn’t say anything, and after a while, he sighed and shrugged. “Yeah, I do think about it sometimes.”
“I know Harold was like a father to you. And I know your father did some awful things to you. It’s up to you whether you want to forgive him or not. But Brady, I also did some terrible things once upon a time. And I’m not sure what I would do if you only saw that side of me without realizing that I’ve changed. Your father probably regrets what he did and wants nothing more than to have you back in his life again. I just want you to think about it. I don’t want you to one day look back and regret not doing this. But of course, this is your life, and it’s up to you. So, whatever you decide to do, I will support you.”
Brady didn’t say anything for a while, and I hoped that I hadn’t overstepped the mark. But eventually, he nodded. “I’ll think about it. I promise.”