“Sweetie, I need this.”
“I know you do. I’m being selfish. Now go get your nephew before he climbs out of the crib on his own.”
“Is he doing that? At seven months?” Bree gasped.
“Not yet, but I expect he will any minute. That boy is his father’s son, and Carol told me Tucker and Jace started walking the day they turned ten months old. She said the twins skipped crawling entirely.”
Bree’s shoulders tensed, as they did whenever anyone mentioned Jace. She walked across the distressed wood floor that covered the surface of the great room, over to the carpeted curved staircase that led downstairs, to the bedrooms.
She stopped for just a moment, closing her eyes and letting the water that bubbled softly out of the twin sculptures Tucker had built into the stairwell soothe her. The two separate, yet identical pieces were made of bronze and copper, and sat on a base of river rock.
Bree continued down the stairs, willing the tension in her shoulders to release before she opened the door to Cochran’s bedroom.
She loved that Blythe and Tucker chose Bree and Blythe’s maiden name for their baby’s first name. With no boys in their generation, it was the only way their family’s legacy would carry on.
“How is Jace? Have you heard?” Bree asked when she came back with Cochran in her arms.
“Only that he’s settling into the life of a rough-stocker. I’m glad Carol and Hank are up there with him…”
Bree had heard the twins’ parents had partnered with Jace on a rough stock and cattle operation in Montana. The twelve-thousand-acre ranch had been part of the Beiman family holdings for years, but after the death of their father, the two sons decided to sell the Montana property to focus on their larger operation in Alberta, Canada.
“Lyric said she heard there was more to the story, though. Something about them having to sell,” said Blythe.
Lyric Simmons was the host of RodeoChat, and often heard industry news before anyone else. Blythe had been working for Lyric for close to a year, although she’d become more than a boss to Blythe; she had become part of their family.
“What did she hear?”
“She said the Beiman brothers got into trouble, smuggling Canadian bulls from Alberta into the States. Consequently, they made a deal to sell their US holdings, which included the Montana property. She heard Jace and his parents got a sweet deal because of it.”
Bree hoped so. Jace deserved to have something good happen in his life. It hadn’t been an easy year for him. His estrangement from his brother was the worst of it.
Last year, the brothers had a falling out. No one expected Tucker to stay angry as long as he had, but now it seemed as though he might never forgive his twin.
“Does Tucker ever talk about him?” Bree asked.
“Not really, but I know he thinks about him. I mean, he and Jace have always been so close. I can’t imagine not having you in my life, Bree. The truth is, as hard as it’s always been to get along with Brooke, it wouldn’t matter what she did. I couldn’t stay mad at her as long as Tucker has been mad at Jace.”
Bree understood. Brooke, their older sister, had never been easy to get along with, but she felt the same way. She was still their sister.
It was so much more than Tucker being mad at his brother, though. Jace had betrayed him by sleeping with his brother’s girlfriend. And after that woman’s death, Jace had kept the secret of their affair from Tucker for years. Bree understood that Tucker’s forgiveness might be a long time coming.
“He needs time.”
“Have you talked to him?” Blythe whispered, even though Tucker wasn’t anywhere near.
“Jace? No. I texted him a few times, but he never answered.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“There isn’t anything to be sorry for. I thought someone should send Jace a picture of this sweet baby.” Bree kissed Cochran’s forehead while he sat on her lap, quietly playing with her beaded bracelet. “You’re such a sweet boy, aren’t you?”
“He really is. I’ve been blessed with a very happy baby,” Blythe smiled.
“I’m sure Grandma Carol shows Uncle Jace plenty of pictures of his nephew. I should have thought of that.”
“I’m sure he appreciated the photos, Bree. I don’t know why he never answered you.”
Bree would never know. If she did see him again, which at this point appeared doubtful, she wouldn’t dream of asking why he hadn’t.