Читать книгу Riding Hard - Vicki Thompson Lewis - Страница 9

Prologue

July 20, 1990

ARCHIE CHANCE WISHED he could be anywhere but here, sitting on a barstool at the Spirits and Spurs. Or, if he had to be here, he wished he hadn’t invited his son Jonathan to have a beer with him while the women went shopping at the Shoshone General Store.

The bar was mostly empty, which allowed Archie to hear two strangers at a table about ten feet behind them. Jonathan’s tight expression indicated that he could hear it, too. One of the men was reminiscing about a one-night stand he’d enjoyed in Shoshone many years ago with a woman named Diana, a woman who sounded a hell of a lot like Jonathan’s ex-wife.

Archie pushed away his half-empty beer glass. “Let’s shove off.”

Jonathan shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Look, does it really matter what—”

“Yes.”

Archie understood. In Jonathan’s shoes, he would have wanted to know, too. Diana had abandoned Jonathan and their young son, Jack, ten years ago and had severed all ties with the family. Archie wouldn’t be surprised if she’d also had affairs during their unhappy marriage.

Archie had heard enough. Way too much, in fact. The woman named Diana had mentioned being married to a surly cowboy whose family owned a big spread outside of town.

Archie sipped his beer and stared straight ahead, because he didn’t know what else to do. After what seemed like years, the two men left.

When Jonathan finally spoke, his voice was husky. “I was, you know.”

Archie turned, not sure what his son was admitting to. “You were what?”

“Surly.”

“Well, you had good reason to be, damn it. She was a difficult woman. Probably still is.” Archie wasn’t supposed to overreact to things and get his blood pressure up, but he couldn’t help it.

“She was unhappy. I had no patience with her.”

“Because you didn’t love her.” None of us did.

“I...” Jonathan picked up his glass, then put it back down. “No, I didn’t love her. I realize that now, because of Sarah. I’m still not very patient, but when she reminds me of that, I don’t get mad. I try harder. I’m lucky to have her, and I don’t want to mess up a good thing.”

Archie’s eyes grew moist. He’d developed an embarrassing tendency to get choked up over his family lately. Nelsie assured him that grandpas were allowed, but he thought it was unmanly. He cleared his throat. “You’re lucky to have each other.”

Jonathan glanced at him. “Just like you and Mom. I always wanted what you two have, and now, I have it.”

“Yep.” Aw, hell, now he was tearing up again thinking about Nelsie, the love of his life. He took a long swallow of his beer and hoped his son didn’t think he was turning into a sentimental old fool. Once he had himself under control, he looked over at Jonathan. “Hey, how about another beer? We can toast the ladies.”

That boy’s smile always could light up a room. “Great idea, Dad.”

In nothing flat, Archie went from wanting to get the hell out of the bar to wanting to stay forever. Funny how a situation that started out as a disaster could end up turning into something pretty damned wonderful, after all.