Cash grins. “Nah, I got four brothers; one of those assholes did it. I'm the oldest of five so I got to keep things in check over there at our ranch.”
The cousins all laugh and punch each other, in typical fashion, really.
Wanting to break up the rough housing, I tell Anchor, “Cash’s horses are some of the best rodeo horses this side of the Rockies.” I turn to my oldest cousin and add, “Your mama would be proud.”
Anchor's eyes lift.“You lost your mother too?”
Cash nods. “Yeah, cancer.”
“I'm sorry to hear that.”
“I guess I understand your pain in trying to figure life out after it's offered you some blows, huh?” Cash says, and I appreciate seeing him that way. So often Cash Rowdy is nothing but trouble. But sometimes I remember that there's some depth to that untamed cowboy. And in this moment, I'm glad he came with my brothers today because it pulled out something in Anchor that I was needing to see.
That he could handle my brothers, my cousin, my family.
Last night he was certainly able to handlemebut I'm not just a solo kind of girl. I’m a package deal and my family tree is sprawled out across these mountains and valleys. Cash is a part of it just as much as Mac and Graham.
“I'm gonna go change,” I tell them. “Anchor, you think you can handle my brothers and my cousin while I'm gone?”
The guys all laugh.
“We're going to show him the property,” Graham says. “If he's new here, I guess he doesn't know much about Stout Lake.”
Not sure what that means but guessing it entails whiskey and fishing, I head up to the loft where the girls usually sleep. Even though there's a few bedrooms downstairs, the girls have taken the attic loft as our bedroom since forever.
There are several twin beds up here and Pendleton blankets cover each mattress.
Considering I'm here for my own weekend, I suppose I could have gone downstairs to one of the rooms with a queen-size bed, but yesterday I dragged my suitcase up here just like I did when I was a kid.
Of course, I didn't sleep here last night.
I slept with Anchor.
The thought still sends chills over me. Last night was everything. More than everything.
It was a dream come true.
We tiptoed around the wordsloveandforeverandlife after this week. And if you would have asked me a few days ago if I could have been swept off my feet like this, I don't think I would have believed it was possible.
I exhale, opening my suitcase and picking out clothes for today: another sundress and a pair of sandals. I dress quickly, having already showered before Anchor came over with croissants and mimosas.
When I get downstairs, I see that I was right. The guys have pulled out fishing poles and spiked their coffee with whiskey.
Smirking, I realize that my birthday has been crashed by my brothers, but maybe that's okay.
This is my life. If I want to truly get away from the Rough family, I'm going to have to go to an exotic location like Iceland or Hawaii like my brothers did on their honeymoons.
I swallow.Honeymoon.
“What are you thinking?” Anchor asks, catching my eyes as we all head outside.
“Nothing,” I say, my cheeks burning. I was thinking about something so exotic I can't put words to it.
Now I understand why my brothers wanted to go somewhere far away for their honeymoons. They wanted to relax with their wives without the interruption of their family. It makes perfect sense why Abby and Bartlett whisked themselves away to the beaches of Maui and why Rye and Prairie went somewhere as decadent as Iceland. They needed space.
Maybe I don't need a week on Stout Lake. What I need is a wedding followed by a honeymoon. I laugh at that, pouring myself another birthday mimosa. “Hey Anchor,” I say, “let's go outin the boat.” I point to a small rowboat tied to the dock. “What do you think?”
My brothers are revving the motor on the boat next to it, and they ask Anchor if he wants to jump in.