Everly
I lookat my phone as the taxi pulls up to the ranch. It’s only eleven-thirty and I know for a fact my father is still awake even though he hasn’t answered my text about stopping over. I’ll likely find him outside around the firepit or working in his study.
“Thanks, Gina.” I give the taxi driver a wave as I finish sending her payment.
“You betcha, Everly. Have a nice evenin’. Gimme a call if ya need a lift back home.”
“I’ll probably just stay here tonight, but thanks. If I do, then you’ll be the first number I dial. You workin’ all night?”
“The bunnies started arriving last week, which means the rich old coots are comin’ in on the red eyes and late flights. Those cream puffs tip the best, so I don’t mind working late this time a year.” Gina’s one of a handful of locals who drive around town for a living. She also is the elementary school crossing guard and one of Michael’s fishing guides in the warmer months from June through August. She got me home safe a few times in high school when a call home to my father to pick me up after sneaking out was the last thing I’d ever want to do.
“Looks like you’re not the only one making a late-night call at your dad’s.” Gina tips her head toward the police cruiser parked in the roundabout of the ranch driveway.
“Have a good night, Gina.” I push the door closed behind me and she pulls away. What on earth could Callen be doing here right now? My dad better not be getting into more trouble, or worse, plotting something that’s going to require a hefty clean-up. With our annual Riggs Family Tree Lighting event coming up, I can only imagine the interference he might be running with the local police to look the other way about something he’s got cooking.
Before I reach the front steps, the door swings open, and a smiling Sheriff Callen Muldowney walks through. Laughing about something, he turns back, and my father moves to the doorway, leaning against the frame, smiling. Something tells me not to yell out to them, so instead I stand and watch. Something about the exchange seems personal, private, and I feel like I should have called and not just texted before showing up.
My dad reaches out and fixes something on Callen’s uniform and then grips his shoulder. They must have sensed me only a short distance away, because Callen looks over toward me and smiles. “Well, if it isn’t the biggest troublemaker in the Riggs clan.”
I make my way over to them and lean in to hug my long-time friend. “Shouldn’t I be saying that about my old man since you’re here? What did he do now?” I quirk my eyebrow and take in the beauty that is Callen Muldowney.
“Give me a break, Everly,” my dad tuts. “Callen was just returning some of the equipment I lent to the department for their recent training.” I lean over and kiss him on the cheek.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“Ash, thank you again.” Callen hitches a crooked, charming smile at my father. “Everly, it’s always a pleasure seeing you.” He tips his hat and walks backward toward his cruiser. “Oh, by the way, Quinn, down at dispatch, mentioned something interesting to me. Something about security footage earlier from the gondola. You wouldn’t know anything about that tonight, would you?” He smiles at me.
“I have no idea what you’re referring to, Sheriff.” We exchange a silent game oflet’s not ask and we don’t have to tell, then he shakes his head with a smirk, heading to his cruiser.
We both watch as Callen turns down the driveway and I use those few minutes to pull my head back to the reason why I’m here. “What’s going on, pumpkin? Why you here so late?” I just look at him and my dad knows the face that I’m giving him means he’s about to get an earful. “Okay, let's get a drink first. I feel like we might need one for this.”
After pouring us both two fingers of bourbon, we sit around an already blazing fire on the outdoor patio. The Colorado sky is pitch black. Being so far away from a city means no light pollution, making the stars come to life at all angles. It’s one of the things that I knew I’d always miss if I had never returned from New York City.
“I had dinner with Jin.” I look up over my glass at my father's unreadable gaze. “But you already knew that. I thought you were going to be with him to discuss issues that the board might have had, but instead, I was knocked sideways. Without any support or warning.”
Still, no response, no emotions, as if he’s conducting business right now. I suppose, in a way, he is.
“Jin knows more than he should, and to top it off, the son of a bitch suggests I leave the company, swipe the apparel line away, and start my own business!” My voice is raised now, and I remember again why I’m so angry at all of this. “Did you tell him about the apparel? About my designing?”
He just stares at me to continue my tirade.
Fine. Hold on to your hat.
“You’re my father, but let's just put that aside for a minute. You’re the CEO of this company and I’m your VP. Why on earth would you disclose one of our key business assets to him without discussing it with me first? And on top of that, he made it sound like you gave your blessing about me just up and leaving the company! I mean, Daddy, what the hell is that?!”
Still no response, but I’m not done either.
“You had no right to blindside me like that! You’ve betrayed my trust, not to mention a very thick non-disclosure agreement about the exclusive apparel line. Are you trying to push me out? Do you not want me to take things over anymore?”
He tilts back the rest of his drink and sets it down on the table just to his right. “Are you done?”
“No! I don’t know. Yeah, okay, I’m done. For now,” I answer, taking a deep breath.
“When I started Riggs, I never imagined it would turn into what you kids have made it over the past few years. You’re all so brilliant. It makes me proud. And sad at the same time. You all pour so much of yourselves into building it that I’m starting to see that maybe I’ve been doing my job as CEO far better than as your father.” He shifts forward and leans his elbows on his knees. Looking down at his clasped hands, he continues, “I fell in love with your mother when I came to Strutt’s Peak. I never planned to stay, but I was running from my responsibilities back at home. Your grandfather wanted me to stay in Montana and take over his ranch, but I wasn’t ready to give up my dreams, even if I didn’t know what they were yet, just to grow old on a boring ranch.” He laughs. “Look at where I ended up in the long run.”
I smile at him. “You may be on a ranch, Daddy, but you did it your own way.”
“That’s exactly my point, pumpkin.” He looks back at me, and for a beat I see his eyes water slightly. “You work so hard. Always harder than your bone-headed brothers when they were younger, trying to prove that you were as good as they were. And, sweetheart, you never had to prove anything. Those boys know, along with everyone in this town, that you’ve always been the best of us.”