Page 5 of Nashville Cowboy
“You sure?”
“Got over Eve years ago.” He clasped his hands behind his neck. “After my joke of a marriage to Winona, I’m never even thinkin’ of settling down again.”
“Oh. Well. That’s good to hear,” Lincoln said with the hint of a smile. “I’m relieved.”
“Glad to relieve you.”
“Because it’s Eve been staying at the house for a few weeks now, taking care of Mima.”
At first, Jackson thought he’d heard wrong. But then the roar in his ears grew louder, brighter, taking up every empty space, taking up everything, and he realized he’dheardright.
Eve, who humiliated him by making him a laughingstock, living in his family home.
His.
Family.
Home.
“Tell me Iheardwrong.” Jackson spoke between gritted teeth. “Tell me Eve isn’t staying at the house.”
“Yousaidyou’re over her.”
“That still doesn’t mean I want her living in my family’s home!”
“Shoot, she was the best person for the job.”
“Why? She’s a large animal veterinarian, not anurse. We could have hired someone. Arealnurse, hell, why not a doctor on call twenty-four seven? Only the best for Mima.”
“She’s got the best, far as she’s concerned. Mima loves her again, you know, after she got past all the, uh…the…” Lincoln struggled for words.
“The leaving her grandson at the altar shit?”
“Uh, yeah. That.” Lincoln had the decency to wince. “It was eightyearsago.”
“Thanks, I’m fully aware of how long it’s been.”
“You haven’t been back home since then, so you don’t know what went on. Eve came back and eventually she and Mrs. Hollis’s niece took over her practice. But hell, apparently vet school is pretty damn expensive. Mima figured she’d give her free room and board, help her get back on her feet paying back some of those loans.”
“She’s got loans to pay off, then we can all pitch in and help. I don’t want her at the house while I’m there. Fire her, or I will.”
“Boy, you must have swallowed a bottle of crazy if you think Eve will take ourcharity.”
“Not mine, but she’ll take Mima’s?” Fire churned in Jackson’s gut.
Years traveling the country, playing in Nashville honky-tonks and wherever else he could book the band. Then getting that elusive recording contract, losing it, getting another one, also losing that one. Still he pulled himself up night after stinking night. He’d been a mess after Eve stood him up. Left town for Nashville the next day, and the rest was history. So was Eve. His very unpleasant history.
“That’s different. She’s paid for all she’s doing to help out around the house. Cookin’ for the ranch hands, all the stuff Mima used to do. She doesn’t get a salary. Wouldn’t take one. Just the room and board.”
“Why can’t she stay with Brenda? Doesn’t she still work for the Trueharts?”
After her father had left their family, Eve’s mother, Brenda, took work as a live-in maid and cook on the horse ranch that abutted the Double C Ranch. It would be a long walk and a short ride.
“Mima wouldn’t hear of it. That cottage is so small for the two of them and Eve hasn’t lived there for years. But Brenda’s over now and again, to help out and visit with Eve.”
“I’ll get a room at the Lone Star Old Motel.”
“Closed down two years ago.” Lincoln shook his head. “Went the way of the gym. We knew it wouldn’t last.”
