Page 55 of Red Hot Rancher

He heaved a heavy breath and called her.

“Yeah?” she answered in her raspy voice.

“Hey, Mom. Weren’t you going to meet me and look around?”

“Oh that. It’s cold and this town ain’t got nothing for me. I don’t even know why I came back.”

Really? There’s nothing in this town for you? Not one thing that’s walking and talking, that you birthed yourself? But he’d had an hour for the real reason to dawn on him. Mom’s new man had heard stories of profitable land with a house. He wanted to see for himself and scam his way into it. If the guy was anything like Mom, free money and a rent-free place to live were as intoxicating as the alcohol and cigarettes she loved so much. But no house and an adult son proved too many complications.

Wasn’t that why Russ had stuck around before he’d gotten sucked into Mom’s vortex so far he couldn’t get out until she’d done the unthinkable to him two or three times?

What would Grandma say? Her actions are for her alone. Don’t take no responsibility for them. Followed by the unspoken thought he heard from her loud and clear: Because she ain’t taking responsibility for you.

But damn, it stung. The woman who was always supposed to have his back had let him down over and over again. She always chose him last, if she chose him at all.

Made a guy feel wanted.

But tomorrow, Brigit was coming home. And he wouldn’t leave her waiting at an airport for an hour before he left her high and dry.

Mom was muttering something about good-for-nothing Moore when Caleb snapped back into the conversation.

“Nothing in Moore, Mom? I haven’t seen you for years, but you come to town and go to the bar.”

She was instantly defensive. “I never know your work schedule.”

“You can ask. Sorry there’s no house for you and what’s-his-name to crash in, but even when I get a house built, you won’t be welcome. Because here’s my warning, Mom. Any of your guys step foot on my property, I’ll call the police. And we both know they’re right next door.” And the other half of the reason Mom hadn’t hung around when he was growing up.

“Well, listen to you,” she sneered. “Just like your grandparents. You picked them over me, so don’t expect me to come crying to you about nothing.”

“I was a kid. I needed more than getting forgotten in a burning house while you and some random guy made it outside in your drunken stupor.”

Swear words ripped over the line, but he disconnected. His heart hammered. He draped his arms over the steering wheel and laid his head in the middle. What a mess.

Had he just cut his mom out of his life? Would this be permanent?

Would he know the difference? Aside from the occasional birthday text and one Christmas card he could remember, Mom was a blank spot in his life. But he’d lied to himself about it. He’d lived with the hope that one day he’d wake up and have a mom like his friends and coworkers talked about. A pushy mom who got too far into his business because she cared so much about him. A mom he could confide in. A mom who came to town to see her son.

Somewhere along the line, he’d given up on the dad side. He mostly used the moniker to blend in, not because it gave him any real hope that Russ would suddenly act like one.

Maybe he should’ve done this before he lost his grandparents. Then he wouldn’t feel so alone.

He had Brigit. And Justin. But their parents wouldn’t welcome him into the fold. More likely, they’d blame him for fucking up Brigit’s well-laid plans.

How would her talk go with them?

He kicked the pickup into gear and drove back to Justin’s. As he was pulling in, his phone rang.

He dreaded seeing who the caller was. Mom wouldn’t be calling to apologize. If it was her, it was to rip into him again.

Nope. It was work.

“Cruise,” he answered.

“It’s LT. I’m calling to tell you that you got the position.”

Caleb parked in his spot and relaxed in his seat. “Thank you, sir.” He’d needed this boost.

“You earned it. We’ll talk specifics when you work next. Congratulations, Cruise. You impressed even me, and I’ve worked with you since the day you started. You’re good at your job, but you can go as far as you want in this field. Remember that.”

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