The boy shrugged.
“I was about your age when I started. So if you want some lessons, you come in here and see me.”
Luke swallowed down the lump in his throat. They were accepting him, wrapping their welcoming arms around him like a warm blanket. If he needed another reason to respect some of the people in this town, he’d just got it.
“Thank you,” Nixon said after Luke nudged him again.
“You better have some of those chocolate pastries in there,” Jack said.
“Get in the car and you’ll find out,” Luke said.
They all climbed back in and drove to the ranch.
“This is our place,” Luke said as they pulled into the drive. Land spread left and right, and behind that were the mountains. Nixon stayed silent, clutching his hot chocolate, his eyes taking in the barn and then the house as they approached.
“Your home now.”
Nixon leaned forward, his eyes going everywhere.
Dylan parked outside the house. Cars were there, and family, he knew, was inside waiting for them.
“No one inside that house will hurt you,” he said softly to his little brother. “I promise. This is all weird and new, but know that if you need anything, we’re all here for you.”
“Why?” The word was angry.
A simple word, but behind it was a lot to unpack. Luke said, “Because you’re my blood, just like Jack and Joe are. Brothers,” he added.
“I was his blood too.” The words were angry.
“Your father?”
He gave a jerky nod. Luke knew Joe and Jack were standing back and letting him talk to Nixon. Dylan had headed inside.
“Your dad’s shit is on him, not you. He’s who he is, just like you’re who you are. Because he chooses to live his life doing what he does is his deal, not yours. We were raised by a dad that hated us. He knocked us around and didn’t provide what we needed. But that didn’t turn us out bad. Okay maybe it did for a while, but we used what we were to be better. Strived to be the men we wanted to be.”
“This is not going to be easy.” Luke gripped one of his shoulders. “But we’ll be right here with you as you go through it.”
“Let’s go,” Jack said. “Time to meet the rest of your family, Nixon.”
“There’s more of you?”
“Plenty more.”
They walked inside with Nixon between them. The others were in the kitchen, as they always were. Joe pushed the door open and the talking stopped.
“Oh, my.” Aunt Jess pressed her hands to her mouth. “He’s the image of Luke.” She came forward, her hands outstretched before her. “Hello, Nixon. I’m your aunt Jess.” She folded Nixon into her big arms and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Welcome to your home, sweet boy.”
Looking down when he found a little hand in his, Luke saw Gracie. She was leaning on his legs, clutching the old blanket she’d always kept close. Luke bent to pick her up.
“Hey there, baby girl.”
“Hi.” She was unusually subdued, her head resting on his chest.
“What’s wrong, Gracie?” He moved away from everyone.
“He’s like me, isn’t he?”
“Like you how?”