Page 25 of Country Music Cowboy
“I think we’d best leave your brother’s business to your brother.” There was a finality to his father’s words that stunned even Krystal into silence. “I know I’m old and anything I say will likely go in one ear and out the other, but I’m saying it anyway. Your gramma used to say a relationship is built on three things.” He paused long enough to clear his throat. “Any relationship, mind you. Father, uncle, wife, or neighbor. The older I get, the more I agree with her.”
“What three things, Daddy?” Emmy Lou asked, taking the hand Brock offered and leaning forward to hear what their father said next.
“Honesty, respect, and loyalty.” He shook his head. “Honesty is a big word when you think about it. It includes things like trust, certainty, morality, confidence—it all means the same thing.” He sat back in his chair. “Now when I say respect, it’s not just respecting the other. It’s about respecting the relationship too. Enough to honor, to preserve and protect and nurture the person or bond you share.” His gaze fell to the paper he’d set aside, the muscle in his jaw tightening. “Loyalty isn’t always easy. Your gramma used to say she went three years not liking my father once, but that didn’t stop her from keeping her word.” He cleared his throat. “Some might say it’s easier to walk away when things get tough, but easy doesn’t mean better. You give up, you’ll be missing out on the good times as well as the not so good. It’s loyalty that gets you through. It’s peace of mind. It’s faith. Devotion. The roots that ground you. Or oath to keep.”
“What about love, Daddy?” Krystal had walked back around the table to sit in Jace’s lap, wrapped around him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Love?” Their father chuckled. “Well, baby girl, you put those things together and, to me, that’s what love is.”
Travis wasn’t all that fond of the notion of love. Life had twisted and warped in the name of love too many times for the word to conjure anything but unease. Sitting here, it was obvious love wasn’t always tainted that way. Jace had loved Krystal through some of the darkest times a couple could face. And Emmy Lou? She’d held on to the hope that somehow, someway, she and Brock would find their way to each other. Now the two of them would take their vows in what promised to be the most highly publicized wedding of the decade.
As happy as he was for his sisters, he knew he’d never risk opening himself up for that kind of damage. Love didn’t always end well—his parents were proof enough of that.
His father glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a call coming.” He stood, walked to the kitchen door, then paused. “You all sticking around?”
“We’ll be here, Daddy,” Emmy Lou answered for them all, her cheerful self.
But once the door closed, Travis ran his hands over his face and propped his elbows on the kitchen table. “Nothing like getting life lessons before you’ve had your second cup of coffee.”
“You’re not worried about him? You didn’t hear his voice? All the coughing and throat clearing?” Emmy Lou asked, her gaze darting back to the door.
Travis nodded.
“It’s worse today,” Sawyer said, staring into his mug.
“He needs to go to the doctor.” Jace shook his head. “He can’t risk his voice.”
“It’s not like I can force him to go.” But Sawyer and Jace were right. “But I’ll do what I can. I can be just as stubborn as he can.”
“Oh, we know.” Krystal rolled her eyes.
“Not just his voice.” Emmy Lou kept stroking her cat’s belly. “The whole thing with Momma—”
“I’m glad.” Krystal pushed out of Jace’s arms, headed for the coffee, and carried the nearly full pot to the table. “Your second cup of coffee.” She topped off Travis’s cup. “Daddy is better off without her. Back me up on this, boys.” She glanced at Jace, then Brock.
“I’m pleading the Fifth on this one.” Brock held up his hands. “We might not be all that fond of each other, but she’s still your mother. And, as such, I won’t disrespect her.”
Emmy Lou leaned forward. “I love you.”
“I love you.” Brock kissed her cheek. “But I do think your dad’s been done wrong.”
“Agreed.” Jace nodded. “Not that it’s our place to do anything about it. I get the feeling he’d say we need to let him handle his own business—same as Travis.”
“Like that’s going to happen.” Krystal turned, her green eyes pinning his. “You know I love you so much it hurts, right? And, just like you want me and Emmy to be happy,wewantyouto be happy. We’re worried.”
“We are,” Emmy Lou agreed.
Travis sighed, his gaze bouncing between his sisters. “Because?”
“You’re not going out—at all.” Krystal shrugged. “You haven’t been on a date since you got home. Not one. Like, zero.”
“Pretty sure that’s what not one means.” Jace laughed.
Brock chuckled.
“When I heard you were all tangled up in Loretta, I guess I was relieved.” Krystal picked up the paper to stare at the picture.
Travis smiled in spite of himself. Tangled up?That was about right. He still was.
