When You Fall... (37 page)

“I won’t, though. Those proceeds are going to be used to renovate and make this property into something to be proud of. I can’t believe you would even ask me, after all you’ve done. And they are
not
my sisters. Never have been. I wish you would stop saying that.”

“Courtney,” he said, looking at her, a plea in his eyes.

“Hell no! I have no love for the family that disowned my father. You were his brother. It was your family,” she said.

“Will nothing change your mind?” Gloria asked.

“No,” Carter said, and turned to look at Courtney.

“No,” Courtney said.

“Fine,” her father said, clearly angry. “I can see now that I was wrong to take my anger out on you. I was angry and hurt. Your father had no right to treat your mother the way he did. I loved her. Not telling you was my way of getting back at your great-grandfather and my father, too. They loved Raymond. He could do no wrong in their eyes—thought he hung the moon. He was gay,” he said and spat that out. “I hated living out here. Hated all that talk about legacy. Your mother was the only bright spot, the only reason, I stayed around as long as I did,” he said, looking at Carter.

Carter remained silent.

“I’ll see you to the door,” Courtney said.

“We will see ourselves out,” he said.

“Good bye… Good bye, Gloria,” Carter said. Courtney remained silent as they made their way to the door.

#

It was late, Carter thought while looking at her watch, and then through the back windows of the kitchen. Rafael’s home was dark. It was midnight and he was probably asleep. Of course he was asleep. She wanted—no, needed—to talk to him.

What a mess this had turned into. She took a breath, reached for her keys, deciding to drive over instead of walking. She wasn’t up for running into any of the creatures that roamed these streets at night.

Courtney was asleep. Another trait they both shared: both slept like the dead. She had a sister now. It was enough to make her cry all over again.

She very quietly made her way to her car and drove over to Rafe’s. It was dark as tar out. She missed having lights. Any kind of lights would do. She’d even take some lightning bugs about now. She parked next to his truck and made her way to the porch. She knocked on his door. No answer. She knocked again.

“Who is it?” she heard through the front door.

“Carter,” she said.

“What time is it? What’s up?” he asked, opening the door, decked out in his boxers, no shirt—rumpled and sexy.

“Can I have something to drink?” she asked.

“You drove over here at what time is it? Midnight? To ask for something to drink?” he said, a small smile on his lips. She nodded.

“Sure.” He took her hand, closed the door and pulled her along behind him into the kitchen. He started up his coffee maker and pulled out two mugs. He grabbed the sugar and cream, waited until the coffee was ready, filled them each a cup, and then sat one in front of her. Then he grabbed his cup, pulled out a chair, and reached for her hand once he was seated.

“What happened?” he asked, and listened as she talked about her dad’s visit. She was confused and hurt all over again.

“I’m sorry,” he said when she’d finished. He watched her, sad for her, but glad that she’d stopped by. It was a boost to his confidence. It was wearing thin these days. He’d no idea if his plan with Courtney was working.

“So what now?” he asked, bringing his mind back to the here and now.

“I’m not helping them. It’s all about me for a while,” she said, staring at her coffee for a minute. “Not really. It’s about Courtney, too. My great-grandfather left this power to me for a reason. I feel bad about Madison, and she calls me all the time. The other sisters call, too, but Madison’s the worst. Let them hang in the wind for a while.”

“That’s just your hurt talking,” he said, squeezing her hand. “You’re going to be fine.”

“What would I do without you listening to me? You have always listened to me,” she said.

“You’ll be fine.”

“Don’t get married,” she said.

He chuckled. “I’m not. I haven’t asked anyone that I know of. Not lately, anyway,” he said, smiling. She stood up and put her cup in the sink. “Do you want me to go?” she asked.

“Do you want to leave?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then don’t,” he said. He stood up too, put his cup away, reached for her hand and turned off the light in the kitchen as he led her to his bedroom.

#

A week later

Rafael and Courtney walked toward the front of Rafe’s house as the sheriff’s car pulled into the yard. Rafael had started teaching Courtney how to run his tractor. Frank walked over to meet them.

“Rafael,” Frank said, glancing at Courtney. “Thought I’d stop by and check in with you.”

“I’ve been my usual busy. Have you two met?” Rafe asked, glancing between the two of them.

“No. I’ve not had the pleasure,” Frank said, eyes glued to Courtney with her wild hair and tight jeans.

“Courtney is Carter’s sister. They are working on turning their ranch into a bed & breakfast now. They aren’t going to sell the ranch after all,” Rafe said.

“Hello, ma’am,” Frank said, all serious. He even tipped the brim of his hat and that had Rafe internally rolling his eyes.

“Hello,” Courtney said.

“That’s good news. Carter will be around after all,” he said, glancing at Rafe. “The town could always use the business and increased tax revenue.”

“Glad we could help the town and its increased tax revenue,” Courtney said, tipping her imaginary hat back at Frank.

“So,” Frank said, not having anything further to add, turning a little red, caught off-guard by Courtney’s teasing. He turned to Rafe.

“You haven’t been at the bar much. Business picking up?” Frank asked.

“It is. I picked up some more restaurants so I’m thinking about adding some more hens,” he said.

Courtney rolled her eyes at Rafael’s talk of chickens and walked away.

“I’d better get going. Tell Carter I’ll stop by soon,” Frank said to Courtney’s retreating back.

“Tell her yourself. Stop by the house,” she said, looking over her shoulder.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, ma’am,” he said.

“It was a real pleasure meeting you, too sir,” she said, speaking in her best southern drawl, smiling as she did so, her hands in her jeans. Rafe guessed that was her imitation of a Texan.

#

Sunday – mid morning

Courtney was in the kitchen, cooking, testing out new recipes. She was dressed for another day of cleaning, hair pulled back in a ponytail resting on the top of her head, an old t-shirt and cut-off jean shorts. She felt, rather than heard, someone at the back door. He was tall, whoever he was.

She pulled out her tray of muffins from the oven and walked over to the door. It was a fine man in a uniform, and a good place for him to be, she thought. She opened the door, held out her hands, crossing her wrists as if she was a suspect preparing to be taken into custody.

“I’m ready. You can take me in. What crime did I commit, Sheriff?” she asked, batting her eyelashes. It was that cute and serious sheriff from the other day at Rafe’s.

He cleared his throat, and looked a little shaken. She inwardly smiled, happy to ruffle his feathers. Nobody should be that serious.

“None today,” he said, very serious and formal.

She laughed and dropped her hands.

“I like you,” she said, holding the door open so he could come in.

“I stopped by to check in on Carter, find out how she’s doing with the ranch. And see how you two were getting on,” he said.

“She’s not here. Went across the street, I believe, or who knows? She’s probably in the barn.”

“I’ll see her another time then. Tell her I heard the good news and stopped by to congratulate her,” he said.

“Well since I’m going to be working with her that’s more good news for you,” she said, looking him over, running her eyes over him, not bothered that he’d watched her.

“You married?” she asked.

He grinned at her assertiveness. “No, ma’am. I’m not.”

“That’s good to know,” she said, giving him another smile. He tipped his hat and walked away. She stood on the porch, still watching him. He smiled again as he opened his official car and got in.

She watched him drive away.

#

“Where do you think we could find ourselves an officer?” Courtney asked Carter later on that evening. They were in the kitchen, having finished dinner.

“A what?”

“An officer of the law. I was working with Rafe a few days ago when this cute officer stopped by, red-headed and tall. He stopped by today, looking for you, but really it was me he was after,” she said.

“When?”

“This morning. I told you, didn’t I?”

“No, you didn’t,” Carter said.

“Well, Officer Frank stopped by to ‘look in on you’ as he put it. Where is he from, anyway? Mayberry? I met him at Rafe’s a few days ago. He is cute, and back to my original question. Where would one go about finding him?”

“I thought you were interested in Rafe,” Carter asked, jealousy getting the best of her.

“Rafe? Don’t think so. He’s like a brother. Not my type, and anyways that one is only interested in you,” she said, her grin wide. “And… I know you too, have a thing for him. I see the way he looks at you and you get all giddy when we are anywhere near him. Either that or you’re in a funk ‘cause you think I like him. I don’t. I’ve noticed, and I don’t poach. Not that I’m interested anyway.”

“That’s good to know,” Carter said, relieved, staring into space, considering the ramifications of this new information.

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” Courtney said, snapping her fingers in front of Carter’s face. “Rafe told me that he and Frank are sometimes in town at our one-and-only bar. Let’s go check it out. See if he’s there this evening.”

“What if he’s not?”

“We’ll have a drink and come home.”

“I’m tired,” Carter said.

“Hey, you owe me. It’s not fair that you have Rafael,” she said, smiling. “I need a way to escape the sometimes boring monotony of cleaning and cooking. I think you should help me find Frank,” she said.

“You do know Frank is white.”

“No!” Courtney said, her hand at her chest, all drama. “He is? Oh my goodness. Oh, what to do,” Courtney said, falling back into the chair with her hand at her forehead. “I’ll be right back,’ she said, jumping up, running to her room. She was back two minutes later, with a photo of her mother.

“This is my mother.”

Carter looked over the picture. “Oh,” Carter said, looking at the portrait of Courtney’s mother staring back at her, smile on her face. She was very blue-eyed. And white.

“Yeah. Oh. So do I have your permission now?” she said, a bite to her words.

“Sorry. I’ve grown up listening to your uncle. Marry within your race. Slavery and all that,” she said.

“What about Rafe? He’s not the slave master.”

“No, he’s more the field hand.”

“Is that how you feel?”

“No, it’s not. You will admit that it’s hard to navigate race.”

“Who says you have to navigate it? Some people are nice, some aren’t. Some people are blue and others are purple. Some love, some hate, some eat peas, and others eat rice,” she said.

“It’s that simple for you?” Carter said.

“It is,” she said.

“You don’t carry the whole weight of the race and its future on your shoulders.”

“What?”

“Who’s going to keep the African American race going if we all up and marry into other races?”

“Hate to break it to you, Carter, but we are the same race. The human race. I am, although I’m not so sure about you sometimes. You may be part horse.”

“I do need a shower,” Carter said, laughing along with her sister.

“I know, it’s that part-horse I can smell. Fine. Don’t take longer than 15 minutes, or I’m going by myself and I’ll pick up Frank and Rafe and take them home and ravage them both,” she said with a grin.

“I can’t believe that you are my half-sister!”

“We can pretend we are whole. I know how blessed and lucky you feel to have me,” she said.

Carter threw a towel at her head. She ducked, laughing.

“Do you have any pictures of Raymond?”

“Not with me. I left them with my mother. She’s dying to come out. I’ll ask her to bring them when she comes.”

#

Rafael reached for his cell. The specific tone indicated someone had sent him a text. He smiled as he read it:
Meet me at the bar at seven. Bring the sheriff with you. I told Carter I wasn’t interested in you, so it’s now or never.

He left to track down Frank.

#

Sunday evening

“I don’t believe it. You are finally interested in a woman,” Rafe said, grinning at Frank. Frank had spent the last 20 minutes playing 20 questions with him about Courtney.

“Why is that funny?” Frank asked.

“Nothing. She is all energy, that one. Has a lot to prove in this world,” he said, grinning again.

“I can’t believe you’re not interested,” Frank said, turning to face him.

“Nope. It’s the cousin—no, half-sister—that I like.”

“Half-sister?”

“Long story. I’ll let them tell you,” Rafael said.

“Carter meets your list of requirements?” Frank asked.

“Honestly, Courtney meets it more. But you were right when you said it’s Carter that I love.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

“Does she know?”

“No,” he said.

“Well, it’s our lucky night, ‘cause here they are, and heading our way,” Frank said, his eyes glued on Courtney, taking in her devil-may-care smile.

Rafe swiveled around on his bar stool and caught Carter’s eye as she followed her sister over to him. He couldn’t read her, but it was back to acting weird around him, a little distant, unless she was interested in the sex with him part.

“Hello ladies,” Rafe said, when they stood next to him.

“Hi Rafe. Howdy, Sheriff,” Courtney said, in her mock western drawl.

“Carter, nice seeing you again. Ma’am,” Frank said, tipping his hat toward Courtney, a small smile at his lips.