Claimed by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter Fourteen
Jack would have liked to leave town, even the country, for the next few weeks. But he still had ranch duties, and then there was, of course, the wedding. He and Nick were in charge of the bachelor party on Thursday night prior to the wedding on Saturday.
He knew before Nick even proposed it that they’d have to stage it at Spirits and Spurs. It was the only good venue in town, which was why the bachelorette party had taken place there the night before. In Shoshone, you either had your bash at Spirits and Spurs or you moved the event out of town. The only person in favor of that was Jack, and he was outvoted.
So here he was, yukking it up with his two brothers, assorted ranch hands, various guys from around town, Josie’s brother Alex, and one of Morgan’s brothers who’d made the trek with his parents and youngest sister in the family’s battered and decal-decorated Volkswagen van. The thing had to be twenty years old, maybe more.
At Sarah’s suggestion, Morgan’s family had parked the ancient van at the ranch and were staying there over the long wedding weekend. Jack could tell Morgan was a little embarrassed by her latter-day hippie parents, but they seemed like nice enough people. The Jackson Hole area attracted all kinds, so the O’Connellis’ tie-dyed outfits, sandals, and beads didn’t stand out all that much.
For his part, Jack welcomed the confusion of overnight guests and a crowded dinner table. The hustle and bustle of the wedding preparations camouflaged his misery, making it less obvious to all but a select few — Gabe, Nick, Emmett, and Sarah. Ever since the morning when Josie had ridden home alone from their rendezvous in the clearing, Jack had worked hard to avoid being set upon by his stepmother, the foreman, or either of his brothers.
Thus far he’d been successful, and nobody had been able to corner him for a heart-to-heart about Josie. That’s how he wanted to keep it. The plan had worked well until tonight, because he’d had no need to actually see her.
Although thoughts of her had filled his dreams and most of his waking moments, he hadn’t been forced to face her in person. Two hours into the bachelor party he still hadn’t dealt directly with her. Tracy had delivered his drinks and he’d kept away from the bar where Josie was working feverishly to fill orders.
Some would say he was a coward, but he maintained that he was doing her a favor. She didn’t need him providing an unwanted distraction. Yeah, right. He had a yellow streak a mile wide down his back and he might as well admit it.
He was just beginning to think he might make it through the entire rowdy evening without ever having to talk to her, when he rounded a table to greet a friend he hadn’t seen in weeks, and there she was, right in front of him. The tray she had carefully balanced on her spread fingers tilted, and she lost her balance trying to catch it.
Jack had to choose between catching the tray or the woman, and he caught the woman. For one incredible moment he cradled her in his arms, bracing himself so that she’d fall against him and not tumble to the floor. The tray, however, went down, spraying sticky drinks and littering the floor with broken glass.
Josie swore softly. Then she lifted her gaze to his, and he saw the agony he felt reflected in her eyes, too. Damn it. If he’d been kidding himself that she was okay after they’d broken up, he’d been totally wrong.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s not your fault.” Righting herself, she moved away and called for a mop and bucket.
But it was his fault. Not the dropped tray and the spilled drinks, but the pain in her eyes. He was to blame for that, because he didn’t know how to give her what she wanted.
The party continued on, but Jack had no heart for it. He helped Josie clean up the mess, and she thanked him without looking at him again. She probably knew she’d let her guard down and wasn’t planning to do it again. He wanted to offer comfort but had no idea what to say. They finished mopping and parted without speaking.
After two more interminable hours, the party started breaking up. Jack figured he and Nick were in charge of getting Gabe home in one piece, so Jack went in search of the bridegroom. But he wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Jack glanced around, looking for someone sober enough to ask about Gabe. That person turned out to be Alex. Although Jack wasn’t crazy about talking with Alex, he didn’t have much choice.
“I’m looking for Gabe,” he said. “Have you seen him?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact.” Alex pointed toward the front door. “Left about five minutes ago. Said something about going to see his lovely bride.”
“Oh.” Jack massaged the back of his neck. “Guess he won’t be needing a ride home, then. Thanks for the info.”
“No problem.”
Jack had turned away to go locate Nick and tell him they could leave when Alex spoke again.
“Josie told me she broke up with you.”
Jack glanced over his shoulder at Alex. “That’s right. She did.”
“I think it’s for the best. I couldn’t see it working out between you guys. Too much history.”
Jack could have done without that unsolicited opinion. He shrugged. “Could be.”
“I’m impressed, Chance. It took guts to show up here tonight.”
“Nah. Haven’t you heard? I’m immune to all that stuff. Nothing gets to me. See you at the wedding on Saturday, Keller.” Jack turned away to look for Nick.
Moments later Nick and Jack climbed in the truck with Jack at the wheel.
Nick held up a six-pack. “I snagged this for us.”
“How come?”
“I figured we could use it. Dominique isn’t flying in until tomorrow and you just got kicked to the curb by Josie, so—”
“Thanks for reminding me, dickhead.”
“You’re welcome. The point is, we’re both without women tonight, unlike our baby brother. I propose we find a nice quiet place to get wasted.”
Jack laughed. “I don’t think we can get wasted on three beers apiece.”
“Maybe we’ll have to be satisfied with mildly happy.”
“I could live with that. Where to?”
“I’m thinking we should head out to the Rock.”
Jack nodded in agreement. The Rock was their nickname for the sacred Shoshone site located on the ranch. The Shoshone name was long and difficult to pronounce, and the Rock was appropriate because the main feature of the site was a large flat piece of granite streaked with white quartz. The rock was big enough to park a truck on, although no one ever had.
Jack hadn’t spent any time out there since their dad died, and sharing a few beers with Nick might be exactly how he should finish out the night. Maybe the Rock would provide some answers to his problems. “Too bad Gabe isn’t with us.”
“Yeah, but you know how it is. All he thinks about is Morgan.”
Yes, Jack knew how that was. All he could think of was Josie. He put the truck in reverse and backed out of the Spirits and Spurs parking lot before pulling onto the two-lane road leading out of town.
As they neared the intersection, Nick let out a whistle of surprise. “I’ll be damned.”
“What?”
“The light’s green. It’s never green.”
“I’m gonna predict it’ll be green a lot more from now on.” Jack smiled. “I think Elmer has seen the error of his ways.”
“Did you say something to him?”
“He’s a petty little tyrant who just needed somebody to challenge him.”
Nick grinned. “Way to go.” He rolled down the window as they passed the station and took off his hat so he could lean out. “Good decision, Elmer!” Then he left the window down and turned up the radio. “It’s about time the Chance boys got back in the game.”
Jack knew what he meant. All three of them had been blindsided by losing their dad in the prime of his life. None of them had expected it, least of all Jack. But life went on, and Jonathan Chance would have been the first to say that. He’d want his sons to make their mark on the town. He’d want everyone to know that the Chance boys had been here.
He’d also want them to look forward, not back. Jonathan had always looked to the future, while respecting the legacy of what his father and mother had given him. Jack was beginning to think he’d been too concerned about keeping things the way they were.
Jack considered that subject as they drove the quiet country road with the radio blaring, the way they used to when they were teenagers. Soon they reached the turnoff with its two giant poles and crossbeam marking the entrance to the ranch.
Jack swung the truck onto the dirt road and braced himself for the jolts as the truck bounced its way over the ruts. “Hey, Nick, what would you think of paving this road?”
“Tonight? I think we’d need a lot more beers for that, bro. Plus we’d have to steal a grader and a paver, and some asphalt, and—”
“Not tonight, numb-nuts. But soon. Before it snows.”
“I think you’d be wise to wait until after the wedding. Hot tar and bridal bouquets don’t really mix, if you know what I mean.”
Jack blew out a breath. “Yes, after the wedding. How many beers did you have at the bar, anyway?”
“One. I was mindful of my duties as the best man.”
“Just wondering, because you’re in rare form.”
“It’s been an interesting night.” Nick paused. “I felt him there at the bar with us, Jack.”
A shiver ran up Jack’s spine. “It was just memories. That’s the first party we’ve thrown there since he died, and you were probably remembering his sixtieth birthday bash.”
“Well, sure I was, but… you know me. I don’t believe in that stuff. Dominique tried to talk me into the idea that there were actually ghosts.”
“There aren’t. It’s pure imagination.” Or so Jack told himself.
“I’m not so sure anymore. I don’t know if Gabe mentioned it, but Morgan swears she saw a ghost in there after closing time on July Fourth.”
“So there you have it.” Jack took a rut too fast and had to grip the wheel to keep the truck on the road. “Women love the idea of ghosts, so Dominique and Morgan are going along with Josie’s claim that they’re around.”
“So you didn’t sense something, as if Dad was there tonight?”
Jack didn’t want to answer that.
“You did, didn’t you?”
“It was my imagination.” Jack drove past the ranch house looming in the darkness and onto the road that led to the Rock. “Dad loved that bar, so naturally I think about him every time I go in there, especially when there’s a crowd and something special happening, like tonight.”
“You know what? I’ve decided to believe that Dad’s ghost comes to the bar now and then. It makes me feel… better, somehow.”
“Yeah, you always were the sentimental sap of the family, Nick.”
“And you always were the hard-ass of the family, Jack.”
“And I wear that label proudly.” Or at least he had until Josie had accused him of building impenetrable walls around his heart.
They didn’t speak again until Jack had parked next to the flat piece of granite that probably had no powers whatsoever. Jack liked the spot, though, even if he didn’t believe much in the local superstition that a person could find clarity by sitting on the rock.
The moon played hide-and-seek with the clouds, and each time it peeked through, it made the streaks of white quartz sparkle. Jack had loved that sparkle effect as a kid, and he still thought it was pretty. Members of the Shoshone tribe didn’t visit this site very often anymore, although they had permanent right-of-way to it even though it was technically on Chance land.
Nick climbed out of the truck and walked over to the rock carrying the six-pack. “Gabe’s missing out. He only has two nights left to be single and crazy.”
“Yep, he’s the first one to fall.” Joining Nick on the rock, Jack sat cross-legged on the granite. It always surprised him that the rock retained so much warmth after the sun went down. He popped the top on the beer Nick handed him. “I guess you’ll be next.”
“Dominique doesn’t want to get married until she’s tied up all the loose ends back in Indiana.” Nick took a long swallow of his beer. “She still hasn’t decided whether to sell her photography studio back there or let somebody else run it. She’s not having good luck finding the right person.”
“But everything’s good with you two, right?” Jack hadn’t shared a few beers with Nick in way too long.
“It’s good. I hate that she’s not here all the time, but we both knew that being together would take some time and maneuvering.”
Jack continued to drink his beer, which tasted great. “I think Dominique’s doing the right thing, taking her time. I have to say, I never expected Gabe and Morgan to move this fast. I hope it’s not too fast.”
“Are you kidding? Have you seen his face when he talks about her? Hell, if Dominique lived here full-time, I’d be agitating to get ‘er done immediately, too. Don’t worry. They’ll be very happy.” Nick lifted his beer can. “To Gabe and Morgan.”
Jack touched his can to Nick’s and polished off the can. “Hand me another beer, Nick. This was a great idea.”
“I have those once in awhile.” He gave Jack another beer. “Oh, while we’re at it, let’s drink to Emmett and Pam.”
Jack choked on his beer. “They’re getting married?”
“No, but they should. Or just live together. I don’t give a crap about the legal part of it, but Emmett’s dragging his feet like an idiot.”
“He has his pride.”
“Pride isn’t going to warm his bed at night.” Nick opened his second beer and raised the can. “Here’s to Emmett figuring that out.”
Jack clicked his beer can against Nick’s, but he wasn’t thinking about Emmett. Almost two beers into this session and his tongue had loosened up. “Josie told me I need to give up calling Sarah by her first name.”
“She wants you to call her Mrs. Chance?”
“No, dummy. You know what she means.”
Nick gazed at him, his expression difficult to read in the dim light from the moon and the stars. “Yeah, I know. Josie’s right.”
“Hell, Nick, how can I start doing that after all these years? It’ll be damned awkward.”
“It’s damned awkward now,” Nick said quietly. “If you think she’s used to hearing Sarah when she wants — and deserves — to hear Mom, then you’re stupider than I thought.”
Jack stared at the shadowy bulk of the Tetons. “I don’t know if I can do it.” He sat in silence, finishing the beer.
“Want another one?”
“No. I need to think this through.”
“Suit yourself.” Nick opened a third beer. “Was that Josie’s main complaint? That you won’t acknowledge Mom as your mother?”
Jack straightened. “Hey, I acknowledge her! I remember her birthday, and I get her something nice at Christmas, and I order flowers on Mother’s Day.”
“Yeah, you really dance around Mother’s Day. The card always says just Jack. Unless I’ve missed it, you’ve never once physically said Happy Mother’s Day either in person or on a card. Face it, Jack, you don’t acknowledge her as your mother.”
Jack swore softly under his breath. He already knew Josie was hurting because of him. He hated to think that he’d been causing Sarah pain all these years, too.
Nick sighed. “I probably wouldn’t have the guts to say this without a couple of beers under my belt, but Josie’s the first woman who refuses to take your crap, and that makes her perfect for you. Don’t let her get away.”
“It’s too late, Nick. I already did.”
“Bullshit. It’s never too late until you’re six feet under.”
