Sweet and Wild - Carmen Jenner Page 0,8
the bed-and-breakfast guests. “I’m sorry I ran out on lunch.”
“It’s alright, darlin’. I mean, you know I have rules about anyone leaving my table before their plate is clean, but I understand why you needed to get away. I’m sorry I pushed.”
“It’s okay.”
“You know, I remember a time I couldn’t get the two of you to quit holdin’ hands at my table. Seventeen years old and you couldn’t stop touching him.”
I wince. “Things change, Mama.”
“Mm-hmm, and sometimes things change so much that we find ourselves right where we need to be.” She walks over to the counter and picks up my plate before setting it down in front of me. I bite my lip to hide my smile. Once upon a time, if you left my mother’s table without finishing your plate, what was left of your meal went to the chickens and the dogs. I lift one half of the sandwich and dig in, rolling my eyes back in my head as mustard and home-cooked roast beef roll over my tongue, and I moan. Mama grabs two glasses from the cabinet and fills them with sweet tea, then she pulls out the stool beside me and sits.
“So, Colton Hayes has grown up a lot,” Mama ventures.
“Yep.”
“He’s a fine young gentleman and he’s been such a great help around here. The ranch wouldn’t still be running without him and West.”
“Well, he always did love this place.”
“He was devastated when you left. Daddy found him drinking himself to dea—”
“That’s enough, Mama,” West booms, and we both turn to see my brother, livid as he stands in the entrance to the kitchen. I hadn’t even heard the sneaky bastard come in.
“Well, someone has to tell her.”
“Tell me what?”
“Nothing,” West snaps at the same time Mama opens her mouth. “You ran off to marry someone else. You weren’t here, so you don’t need to concern yourself with the fallout after you left.”
“I didn’t run away to marry someone else. I ran to get the hell away from … this.”
“And what exactly is wrong with this?” Mama’s tone is icy as she turns her own livid expression on me.
I pinch the bridge of my nose to stave off a headache. It seems like every time I open my mouth, I’m jamming my foot in it. “Nothing, Mama. I just needed a change. I wanted to do something different. Something no woman in this family has ever done.”
“Bullshit,” West growls. “You left because you couldn’t stand the sight of Colt after what happened.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I felt. You have no idea what we went through, what I went through.”
“Maybe if you’d stayed, we might’ve. You broke a lot more than just Colt’s heart when you left. You broke ours too.”
“Well, there ain’t nothing to be done for it now, is there?”
“I guess not. So how long before you’re back to your rich fiancé and your fancy New York City apartment?”
“Geez, West. Why don’t you make it a little clearer that you can’t wait to be rid of me?”
“I’m just looking out for everyone. You ain’t just Winchester Wild. You leave a trail of chaos wherever you go, little sister. You always have. You’ll forgive me if I’m on damage control while you’re in this house.”
“That’s enough, West. Your daddy hasn’t even been gone a week and already you’re chasing away his only daughter.”
“I ain’t chasing anyone away.”
“No, because Lemon’s made of tougher stuff than that, but you’re trying for all you’re worth.”
“I’m just making sure we’re all—”
“Why don’t you head back to work and let me worry about this family? We certainly don’t need protecting from Lemon,” Mama says.
“Yes, ma’am.” He grabs his hat off the rack by the back door and heads out, slamming the screen back on its hinges.
I let out a sigh. “Maybe I should just stay at the cabins?”
“You’ll do no such thing.”
“They don’t want me here, Mama.”
“Then they know where the door is and how to use it.” She pats my hand and I squeeze hers back. “Now, come help me with this pie. We got a lot of baking to do for your daddy’s wake.”
“Mama, have you even stopped since you left the hospital?”
“I’ll stop when I’m …” she trails off and for a beat, I just watch her, waiting for her to finish a sentence I must have heard her utter a thousand times before.
“Mama?”
Tears form in her eyes and she wipes them away with the backs of her hands and keeps rolling out her