Love Remains (4 OAKS) Read online

  Love Remains (4 OAKS)

  Eden, Gayle

  Gayle Eden (2013)

  * * *

  Love Remains

  (A 4-Oaks Novella)

  Gayle Eden

  Copyright © 2013 Gayle Eden

  First publication 2013

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  The right of Gayle Eden to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  First Edition.

  All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental

  What came before…

  There was plenty of work on the 4 Oaks ranch to keep Kane Croft and his oldest brother, Carter, busy. Their half-brother, Rio, was helping out with the spring calving. They were a good team, considering they hadn’t grown up together—nor been anything resembling family until a year ago, when their Grandfather died and they’d inherited equal shares of 4 oaks.

  Kane had always lived on 4 Oaks, raised by their Grandfather, old JC Croft. Carter left 4 oaks as a young boy, with their mother Caroline, after their father had been killed in a car wreck. Carter’s mother had lived in the Carolinas for several years then wed a widower, Charles Harris and moved to Florida.

  Their Grandpa didn’t have any illusions about their father, John Calvin Jr. Disappointed with both his cheating and the heavy drinking that had contributed to his death in a car wreck. Kane had refused to leave 4 oaks. Caroline had let him stay. She had always been close to old JC, and remained so until the day he died. She felt he had already lost a son, and he understood her struggles with marriage to a chronic cheater. It was only recently though, that she and Kane had ironed out some old residue with their mother son relationship.

  Kane, was six feet tall, hard muscled, and had light streaks in his brown hair. Carter’s was also a sable brown. Both had green eyes. Carter’s were lime; Kane’s were more leafy green and deep set.

  JC Croft had claimed John’s illegitimate son, Rio. It took his death to finally convince Rio to move into the ranch house. Rio was half Mexican, dark skin, pitch hair, but had the croft green eyes with jade flecks. Tall, lean muscled; He worked the ranch, but his main profession was caring for, and transitioning rescued animals.

  Rio had a gift. He could communicate with animals in a way few humans understood. As a Croft bastard, with a mother who would rather spend time with her lovers than him, he had made his own scandalous mark before admitting he was in love with Jesse Vaughn—

  Jess had been crazy for Rio all her life. She and Kane were neighbors, good friends, often running cattle, and riding together. Jesse partnered with Skye in the theme wedding business. Their place was just down the road, commonly referred to as the barn, since it was in essence a converted one.

  Rio had a daughter from an affair with an older woman, when he was very young. Willow—now in college. She had secretly done a DNA test and forced Rio to admit he was her father. It all worked out, during her stay at the ranch before finishing high school, though all the brothers had their doubts upon meeting the girl with black hair, color of the week bangs, and dozen earrings around her ear. She had her mother, Delaney’s sherry eyes, full figured build, also her mother’s full lips, and wore a silver stud in her nostril. Willow was in college in Virginia, studying to eventually become a PI. She had wit, sass, and humor, so it was not long before they were all pretty crazy about her.

  Just two weeks ago, Carter had married Skye Cassel

  There was history there, with Carter having blacked a boy’s eye in school for mocking Skye—she and her half-brother Rayne having come up hard with a drug-addicted mother. Chloe was still doing hard time. When Chloe was shacked up with someone, they beat Rayne. He took it to protect Skye. They were homeless, and most of the time hungry…

  Recently Rayne, the bad boy of Maple Grove, ex bouncer and bartender, had recovered from a bad motorcycle accident. Skye had dealt with her bitterness. Cassel was not Skye’s father’s name. She had no clue who fathered her. She had fox red hair and indigo eyes and was an average five foot five, and her brother Rayne had black hair and violet/gray eyes, was six foot tall. It was finally out in the open that the well-respected rancher/lawyer, Brice Salinas, fathered him.

  Both Rayne and Salinas had finally set aside bitterness and arrived at place of understanding over Salinas not being able to see Rayne as a child and help him. The lawyer/rancher was now showing Rayne the ropes of running his ranch—something of a good natured joke among all of them, since Rayne still had his brawn, tattoos, and though his former long hair was now worn short, he still looked more the metal/biker than cowboy.

  Two days ago, Jesse’s brother, Judah had married Deputy Dani Sutton, who was very un-deputy like, out of uniform, with short red hair streaked with white, razor cut—and lovely brown eyes. They were building a house on land that Judah had bought— Judah being an ex-marine, veteran, and the divorced father of a soon to be five year old, Marc

  Everyone was getting on with life, high on love or new beginnings apparently.

  Everyone—except Kane.

  His habit of drowning himself in work on the ranch was working less and less effectively since he had discovered Sage was back in town. Going by the name of Sage Salla now. The one girl he never had gotten out his mind completely.

  When he was twenty-one, she was seventeen—too young—so he had been the one to end the brief two-week romance. Shortly afterwards, she had left. Since then, Kane had what he called accommodating female encounters, and not as often as he let on, nor that his brothers assumed either.

  What was it Rio had said to him, when they were clashing because he had jumped Rio’s ass for taking advantage of Jesse’s feelings for him? (You’re all or nothing on this ranch, but you do quick fucks with women you know want nothing else from you.”)

  “You taking up where Carter left off.” Kane had sneered. “Get off my ass.”

  “You went digging in my head first.” Rio shrugged. “It’s nothing to me except that you’re envious of Carter and Skye. You want that. You have told yourself the ranch, the ranch fills everything for you, and satisfies. But you know what the restlessness is.”

  “You’ve made an effort to have a relationship with Caroline. You never wanted to hold that with your mother grudge anyway. You find reasons, Kane, not to risk your emotions.”

  “Are you done?”

  Rio had said, “It’s not Kelly. It’s the other one. The one you never talk about.)

  Kelly, Carter’s stepsister, was an introverted young woman he’d brought to the funeral, who had stayed awhile. Kane had been tempted to have something with her, but in the end knew she was in a vulnerable state emotionally from her first/boyfriend breakup. No one could accuse Kane of being the sensitive, talkative or handles emotional scenes well, brother— but he’d grown a few years, was thirty four now, and he had the good sense not to let lust drive his actions.

  Chapter 1

  At present….

  A water bottle hit him in the chest. Kane looked up as Carter passed by on a big bay.

  “Time to head in,” he said, squinting and grinning at the same time. Dust on all their faces had also settled in the crinkles at the corner of Carter’s light green eyes. “Works done.”

  Kane caught the bottle, uncapped it, an
d drank most while Carter lingered, to mutter, “Where’s your head been most of the day, bro?”

  “Not where yours was.” Kane wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, having to listen to Carter extol the virtues of newly wedded bliss most of the morning. And put up with his smug smiles and hear the couple still very much on their honeymoon. It was a wonder the damn bed hadn’t gone through the wall or fell through the floor. Not, that the bed was the only place he came upon them getting hot and sweaty.

  Carter drawled, “You better get you a steady woman soon, Kane. You’re becoming one of those grumpy old ranchers who heads out once a month for a bottle and poke.”

  “Fuck you,” Kane uttered mildly. Carter’s laughter followed behind him, his brother, having kneed the gelding into a lope.

  Walking to his own mount, Kane untied the reins and swung up in the saddle, Rio caught up with him by the time he had turned it.

  Rio apparently overheard Carter, because he murmured, “He’s right, you know.”

  Kane glared at him. “And it’s been what? Two whole weeks since you started actually treating Jesse like your girlfriend, instead of your usual one-night stands. Mind your own damn business.”

  It had taken Rio a long time to settle into the (brotherhood) aspect of living on the ranch with Carter and Kane, but they were all grown men. All had pieces of old JC embedded in them deep. Truth be known, since Rio revealed to him that their Grandpa had the gift too, Kane could see a lot of the old man in him. Nevertheless, as men, and brothers, will, they told each other exactly what they thought, and didn’t pull any punches.

  More comfortable around his animals than social with people, not just because of the gift setting him apart, but also because of his upbringing, or lack thereof, Rio was in his first (relationship) with Jesse—completely in love with her—so it was softening his edges just a little.

  What he replied to Kane, as they came within sight of the big barn, was, “At least I’m taking the risk. At least I’m finally admitting to myself that love is something we all are searching for.”

  “Good for you.” Kane grunted and spurred ahead. He was in the stall by the time Rio came in, to tend his own mount.

  A while later, Kane sauntered out of the barn. The spring sun was lowering. He ambled to the corral fence where he usually stood after a long day in the saddle, surveying the land and watching the horses run in the bottom, near the section they grew hay in. It was ripening, greening, like the rolling hills that surrounded the 4 oaks spread.

  The valley was fertile and ideally placed for ranching. 4 oaks stretched all the way to the main highway—some of it pastures, some of it hay fields. A two-lane dirt road led to the ranch, with one off lane, leading to the Barn, and the Vaughn place, where Jesse lived. .

  In the center of the valley, behind Kane, was a rambling stone and timber house with long cement porch, and stone and timber pillars that had been built by their great-great Grandfather—who gave the ranch its name—because the drive leading up to the house sported four 200-year-old oaks, 2 on each side.

  Kane heard the dogs barking near the cattle that had gathered round the grain troughs. He was thinking about himself and Carter as little boys, playing and working with their Grandfather on the ranch. It had been hard for him when Carter left, but not hard to stay with his Grandfather. Every day the old man taught him something new. JC tried to teach him about life too, in his old ways and traditions. Kane, when he mended his relationship with his mother—having subconsciously resented her for leaving, and taking Carter— realized his Grandfather tried to show him how 4 oaks was a reflection of each of them.

  Probably, he had done the same for Rio, when he brought him here as a boy. But, Kane’s thoughts took a leap from boyhood to manhood, and he knew from the time Rio mentioned Sage—from the time he found out she was near that he had a gut-burning regret that he’d let her go so easily. Logically, it was the right thing to do. She had only been seventeen. He had been a young man—maybe not completely absorbed in the ranch as he was now, because the ranch had to fill all the restless spaces inside of him, but a rancher nonetheless. Sage had been a young woman in her last year of catholic school.

  That they had even met was a fluke. Her father had been buying up land to develop. They rented a big home in a well–to-do neighborhood by the lakes. The family stood out because her father wore Italian suits, and had an armed escort, no matter where he went. Rumor was, he had mob ties. Even if he didn’t, their social set consisted of doctors, lawyers, big shots— and that sort. So, it was not as if Kane would rub elbows with that society.

  Kane had been driving in from Memphis, where he had gone to one of the Blues clubs, something he did to avoid gossip in the close-knit town, if he wanted to hook up. He had seen the girl in the Catholic school uniform, and did a double take. Not just because she looked out of place on a country highway— but also because the sun had caught on her coal black curly hair—that day, worn in a braid down her back. She was built full and curvy. He had nearly passed her up before he read the scared look on her face.

  She needed a ride a home. Sage had missed the driver her father sent for her, and panicked. Her father was strict. In time, he’d learned she’d snuck off with a few friends—just far enough from her pick-up spot, to innocently smoke a cigarette. It was her father she was afraid of, and Kane, after picking her up, had helped her come up with some excuse to soothe him if he was mad.

  They were opposites. Completely. Yet she had fished enough information out of him to know his routine, such as when he’d be coming to the nearest town, Maple Grove. So they met again, and again, and the forbidden aside—Kane had found himself torn between the young woman who consumed his every thought, and the risks of their forbidden relationship.

  Kane reached in his pocket and got a cigarette, lit it, and pushed his cowboy hat back as he watched the brilliant spray of sundown—yet mentally looked back through time. It was still hard for him to believe he could get the rush and sensations all over again just from memories. He had broken it off, and not gently. He would drink. He’d told himself he forgot her in time. Told himself—he’d done the right thing. He slept with women. He kept emotional distance...

  Blowing a stream of smoke, he turned and leaned back against the fence. He needed to go in, shower, eat something, and maybe he’d sit out on the porch with coffee. He and Rio gave Skye and Carter privacy since they lived in the Ranch house. They could get that at Skye’s living quarters over the barn buy right now, she was entering a busy season, she and Jesse, putting on theme weddings, booked months in advance.

  Not that Rio hung around after work much these days. He was in Jesse’s bed as much as possible. Neither couple seemed to be able to keep their hands off each other.

  Kane’s deep-set eyes scanned the driveway, noting the new leaves on the giant oaks. He remembered bringing Sage to the ranch that first time—recalling her excitement and the way she drank everything in, the way she kept murmuring how beautiful it was and how lucky he was to live here. And her—living in a near mansion.

  He’d gathered enough about her home life to know he would probably be castrated if her father ever found out about him. It was futile. And because he feared for her too, he had been ruthless when he ended it. He had known—just known—by the way she kissed him, touched him, and held to him, that she would keep risking seeing him. He had known—by the speed in which he had lost his sense of caution and slept with her, a virgin that he was not going to be able to keep his head around her.

  Kane saw Carter and Skye emerge onto the porch and proceed down the steps, Skye’s red hair catching the last ray of sunlight. Since she used a diesel truck for business in winter but rode a Harley most of the time, she was carrying a helmet. As was Carter, whom Kane suspected was turned on by his wife’s free spirited side.

  “Dinner’s on,” she called to him, putting her helmet on.

  He waved and pulled away from the fence, crushing the smoke and field dressing it then he
ading to the ranch house.

  Before he got up the steps Rio came out, freshly bathed, damp hair, dressed in jeans, boots, and a T-shirt.

  “Headed to Jesse’s,” he said passing him. “Carter and Skye are doing some kind decorating at the barn for one of the weddings. Jesse’s there too, but I’ll probably—”

  “—Stay the night.” Kane filled in.

  “Yep. See ya.”

  Kane grunted and crossed the porch, then went in; taking his dirty cowboy boots off in the foyer. The great room with a fireplace was on his left. Dining and kitchen were on his right, and the stairs straight ahead.

  Gritty and rank, he hung his work hat up and padded to the kitchen, to see what was warming. A pot of chili sat on the stove. Starving, he still turned and went up to his rooms at the end of the hall and got clean clothing. Going to one of the four bathrooms, he showered, scrubbing his tanned flesh hard, rinsing the soap with hot as he could stand water.

  Afterwards he let the jets of water beat on his sinew nape. Hand braced on the shower wall. He was not going to get her off his mind until he went into town.

  She was waitressing at the Rocking Horse Café.

  Rio had asked him once, if that didn’t make him curious, considering her former status. Sure it did. It was a shock, actually. Nevertheless, it had been eleven years, and that was a long ass time. He even told himself that the memories might stir him because they were captured in those early days of young manhood. Seeing her now would probably prove to him that they were just that— memories. Maybe the fantasy of the forbidden he had once dared was tied to it.

  Turning off the water, he stepped out and dried roughly while the steam cleared on the mirror spanning double sinks. He should shave more often, but that wasn’t something he had paid particular attention to, because the ranch, working it, was how he spent most of his time.