“She’s an alcoholic,” Matt finally said. “My wife. My ex-wife.” He swallowed. “I—the kids deserve better than that, and it was up to me to protect them.” He spoke in a quiet, haunted voice. “I took her to Salt Lake City, to a treatment program there. Sold the house. Came here. Everything we own is in a storage unit in town.” He shook his head and finally tore his gaze from the pasture to look at Hunter.
“I’m really sorry, Matt,” he said. “Of course you can stay on here. Dad won’t care. We don’t use the cabin when you’re not here. The kids are welcome. In fact, Jane will be thrilled to have a girl closer to her age.” He smiled at Matt, hoping the message that all would be well would get across.
“You’re a good man, Hunter,” Matt said. “It’s been amazing watching you grow up.”
Hunter didn’t know what to say to that, so he didn’t respond to it. “I’ll tell Dad tonight. He really won’t mind, but they’ll be home soon, and I should let him know.”
“Of course.” Matt drew in a long breath and pushed it out. “Janice checked herself out of the program early,” he said. “A couple of weeks ago. I don’t know where she is. Keith isn’t happy about staying here.” This time, the sigh definitely carried frustration and heaviness. “I’m doing the best I can.”
“That’s all anyone can do.” Hunter clapped him on the shoulder, and they shared a look before they both turned their attention back to the pasture. Gloria rode a horse there now, moving it from a walk to a trot and back.
“I’m sorry things are rough for you right now,” Hunter said. “If there’s anything I can do—anything, Matt—please tell me.” He cleared his throat, trying to find the right words. “You’ve always been someone I look up to. I have plenty of money, and I know a lot of people in the city.” He paused, unsure of how to continue. In the end, he just plowed on, praying he wouldn’t offend the other cowboy. “A doctor for Brittany. A youth group for Keith. If you need someone to talk to….” He trailed off, because things had suddenly become really personal for him. “I have a great therapist,” he concluded.
Matt glanced at him, but Hunter kept his eyes out on Gloria and the pretty paint horse she rode.
Hunter smiled at her and her skill. “A reservation at a fancy restaurant so you can take Gloria to dinner.” He met Matt’s eyes, and the flush crawling up the other man’s neck wasn’t hard to spot.
“Is it that obvious?” Matt asked.
Hunter shrugged one shoulder, glad he’d changed out of his office attire and into a more casual and comfortable T-shirt. “I don’t know. I don’t normally pay attention to stuff like that, but you guys have…something. Maybe it’s the history you share.”
“We dated for a year,” Matt admitted. “A long, long time ago.”
Hunter let a few seconds of silence pass. “And?”
“And what? I’m five months into a divorce. I’m not ready for a new relationship.” He shook his head. “No. My kids aren’t ready for that. They love their mother, and they miss her.” Matt leaned against the top rung too. “I miss her,” he added in a near-whisper.
Hunter nodded, silent because he had no idea what it felt like to get a divorce. He thought of Molly, and he wondered if she still missed her ex-husband. She’d told him very little about the guy, or why they’d gotten divorced, and Hunter hadn’t asked.
His phone rang, and Hunter pulled it from his pocket to see Uncle Wes’s name on the screen. “Excuse me, Matt. It’s my uncle.”
Matt waved to him, and Hunter swiped on the call as he walked away from the pasture. “Uncle Wes,” he said in the happiest voice he could muster. He loved Uncle Wes, maybe the most out of all of his uncles. No, it was impossible for him to choose one he loved the most, as they each had played such an important role in Hunter’s life.
“Hunt,” Wes said. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Michael, Easton, Opal, and I are twenty minutes from the city. Want to meet us at Hounds? The kids want chicken fingers, and I could use a burger without all those fancy toppings they keep putting on them in Coral Canyon.” He chuckled, and Hunter joined in.