For the Love of the Broken Man (Love & Cowboys #3)

11. Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

A ringing phone at two o’clock in the morning was no one’s friend. “’Lo?”

“Dan, it’s Peggy Moss at Sunrise. Dorothy… We went to check on your mom because she wasn’t feeling well at dinner time. When the aid went into the room, Dorothy was already gone. I’m so sorry we didn’t call you when she said she didn’t feel well, but after you and Kayley left this afternoon, she was in great spirits. We had no idea…” The nurse’s voice broke, and Dan could hear her crying.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Moss. We had a great visit today, and I’d rather remember Momma with a smile on her face. Do I need to do anything?” Dan wasn’t sure what the hell to do next.

“We’ll call Curtis Funeral Home. I’m assuming that’s where you’ll want her sent, is that right, Dan?” Peggy was a nice lady, and she’d been good to his mother. If anyone had to break such bad news, he was relieved for it to be Peggy. She was a kind soul.

“Yessum. That’s where Momma woulda wanted to go. I’ll call ‘em in the mornin’ to set up a time to come about the arrangements. I need to call Zach and get him home. I guess… Her stuff there at the nursing home? There are pictures and stuff I’d like to have.” Dan was even more lost than when he’d left the Army.

He was ill-prepared to lose his mother. She’d been the rock in his life, and with her gone, he was pretty much alone—well, except for the little blonde girl asleep in the other bedroom. How the hell would he explain it to Kayley?

After he finished the phone call, he went to the kitchen, taking a seat at the table with a pad and pen to make a list of the things he needed to do. He vaguely remembered when his father had passed and all the arrangements his mother had to make in a short time.

He knew she didn’t have a will because—as she’d told him, “I don’t have a plug nickel to leave to anyone. All I got are the things in this house.” She had a bank account with fifteen-thousand-dollars left from his father’s life insurance policy the hospitals and nursing home hadn’t touched yet. It was the money she’d earmarked for her funeral and the headstone for her and his father’s graves, and it made his stomach turn when he thought about having to go to the bank to get the money.

Danny knew sleep was futile, so he made a pot of coffee. He’d started for the phone but changed his mind and determined he’d wait a few hours to call his brother. He still needed to process the news himself.

It was hard enough when Denise had died, and his mother had to hold the family together by herself. Without her, Dan didn’t know what he’d do. He thought about the visit he and Kayley had with her that day, and he smiled at the memory he’d cherish for as long as he lived.

“Flowers, Uncle Danny.” Kayley had pointed to the flower shop as they drove through town. Flowers by Felipe was on the right side of the road, so Dan pulled into the parking lot, looking forward to seeing Phil and his partner, Javier.

They’d moved from Arizona to Virginia to be closer to Javier’s family in North Carolina, but not too close, as Danny had learned when he’d run into the couple at the diner one day. They sat down together because the place was full, and they had a friendly conversation.

“Yeah, we can stop to see Phil and Javier. Remember, don’t ask for things, Sweet Pea. They’ll spoil you enough without askin’.” Danny was joking, but Kayley had the habit of walking out of the flower shop with an armload of flowers if Dan didn’t rein her in. Javier would open the case and let her pick what she wanted to take home until Dan shut her down.

They’d stumbled into each other around Holloway a few times, and they’d become friends. Dan stopped by the flower shop on occasion to pick up a bouquet for Miss Katie and Miss Jeri because they’d spend time with Kayley. He liked the florists, and he was glad they were his friends off the ranch.

They’d entered the shop and Kayley picked out a small bouquet of gerbera daisies because Dorothy had told her the multicolor flowers were her favorites one time, and after a brief conversation with his friends, Danny and Kayley left to go to the nursing home.

Dottie, as she liked to be called, was in a wheelchair sitting out on the back porch of the place under the awning because she wanted fresh air. When Dan and Kayley found her, Dan noticed it appeared she had more color on her cheeks, and she was smiling.

“Oh, my darlin’ girl, lemme see ya,” she greeted Kayley as the girl walked over to where her grandmother was sitting. She handed Dottie the flowers and climbed up on the bench next to the wheelchair, adjusting her shirt and ever-present, crooked ponytail.

Dottie laughed as she looked at Danny. “You’ve gotta find someone to teach you how to fix this child’s hair, Daniel. She’s goin’ to school in the fall.”

“I’ve been workin’ with Miss Katie, Momma, but it’s not easy for a me with these big fingers.” He held up his short, thickly calloused fingers. The braids Miss Katie showed him required slender, agile fingers, which he didn’t have.

His mother laughed. “I’m sorry to criticize. You do so well with her, Danny. I know your sister would be so proud of how you are raisin’ her daughter. So, tell me all the news from the Circle C.”

Danny had told her all the things happening at the ranch, leaving out one important development in his life. He was in love with a man. Well, almost a man, he supposed. He believed there would be more time to get into it.

“Momma, I guess you know the truth now,” he whispered to no one in the empty kitchen. He hoped she forgave him for not being honest with her. He prayed she was at peace and out of pain.

Dan turned on the radio attached under one of the cabinets in the kitchen to temper the silence in the house which was nearly deafening. He continued thinking about events from his childhood when his mother had been strong and supportive.

“Oh, baby, why? Danny, honey, why would you enlist?” His mother had tears pouring down her face.

When his father had arrived home from work that night, his mother was still crying. They’d been sad to see him go, but in the end, they were so proud of what he was doing. He hated the idea both of his parents would know what had happened to him that caused the Army to send him back home, but he hoped they were proud of him for putting his life back together after all that bullshit.

Danny poured himself another cup of coffee and glanced at the clock, seeing it was nearly five thirty. He looked out the back window of the little house to see the sky turning a pale purple as the sun began to rise. Dan took his coffee outside and sat on the back steps, watching the horizon dawn on the first day he knew he was truly alone to raise Kayley.

Zach was too caught up in his own life to care about the girl, and with his mother gone, Dan was sure his Aunt Rae would make another run at him regarding Kayley. He made a mental note to call Jon Wells.

An hour later found him making phone calls to the minister at the church his mother attended, the funeral home, his brother—who didn’t answer, so he left a message—and finally his bosses at Circle C. He explained things to Tim, and as Dan listened to the words coming out of his mouth, he finally broke down.

“Dan, I’ll be over as soon as I get Rocky and Ryan dropped off at summer camp, okay? Matt’s gotta be here for when Frazier, that new bucking bull, gets picked up today, but I know when he’s finished, he’ll want to come over. Just let me get breakfast for my crew, and I’ll be there. You need anything from the store?” Tim was thoughtful in that way.

“No,” he responded between sniffles.

No, he didn’t need anything from the goddamn store. He needed someone to hold him and remind him things would be alright, but that wasn’t going to happen—not if he didn’t ask for it.

“Can you call Mickey and Jon? I need to see Jon anyway.” Little feet were running down the hallway in his direction.

“Sure. Anybody else?”

“Just the family, okay? I don’t have it in me to make the calls, Tim. Kayley’s up, so I need to go. I gotta explain this to her.” Dan’s heart filled with dread.

“Yeah. I’ll be over in a little while, okay?”

Dan agreed and hung up the phone. He turned toward his niece—his soon-to-be daughter—as she settled into a kitchen chair with her wild hair a hot mess all over her face. She was still in her Little Mermaid gown, and she had an adorable, sleepy smile on her face.

“Cereal?” She pushed her hair out of the way.

“Or, how about eggs and toast?” Dan could make pancakes, which were a pain in the ass, but the girl seemed to like his eggs, toast, and jelly, so it was what he offered.

“Mmmm. That sounds good.” Her eyes were closed as her head lolled against the kitchen chair. The thought of breaking her little heart pained his, so he decided to wait until after breakfast to tell her what had happened to her grandmother.

“Okay, well, I need my helper. Get the ladder.” Dan grinned at her attempt to wake up by rubbing her fists in her eyes as she always did. It reminded him of his sister, Denise, who he guessed was now with their mother. It gave him a sense of peace.

Kayley scurried off the chair and found the little step stool with the handles Dan had purchased for her so she could help with dishes. She hurriedly climbed up and reached for the upper cabinet to pull down plates for them.

Dan had her break the eggs in a bowl and put the toast in the toaster. “Get the butter and jelly.”

He set the table for the two of them. After the eggs were finished cooking and the toast had been slathered in butter, the two of them sat down at the table and bowed their heads.

Kayley cleared her throat. “God is good, God is great. Let us… No, that’s wrong. God is great, God is good, let us thank him for this food. Amen.” It was something she’d learned at Vacation Bible School, which had been Miss Jeri’s suggestion, and when Kayley asked to say the blessing, Dan obliged.

“Amen,” he added, silently thinking, Momma, please help me break this gently.

They were talking about what she was going to do at camp that day as Danny contemplated whether to postpone the bad news. Just as they finished up, the phone rang. He checked the caller ID to see it was his brother, so he looked at Kayley. “I’ll clean up dishes. Why don’t you go get dressed and bring your laundry from your hamper, please?” She nodded as she took off, leaving him to answer the phone.

“Hey, Zach,” he greeted.

“Why the fuck did you call me at six this morning?” Immediately, Zach pissed him off, yet again.

“Well, I’m sorry to disturb your beauty sleep, but I was under the impression you might wanna know Momma died. Forgive me.” Dan turned off the landline, reaching over and unplugging the unit before he started clearing the table.

After the dishes were in the dishwasher, he heard a vehicle on the driveway and through the front windows saw Katie Simmons roll up in Josh’s truck. She hopped out with a bag in her arms and walked up the front walk. He opened the door before she knocked. “Miss Katie, you didn’t have to rush over here.”

“Nonsense, Daniel. Have you told Kayley yet?” Her voice was a whisper as she stepped into the house and gave him a hug.

Disappointment settled into Danny’s soul at the fact he hadn’t been able to tell Kayley the news of her grandmother’s passing. The previous day and the happy smiles played on a reel in his head. He didn’t like the idea of having to break the little girl’s heart.

Katie barreled into the kitchen and put down the bags before she wheeled around to study Danny for a moment. “Why don’t you go get dressed? I talked to Timothy, and after he gets the boys squared away, he’s on his way. I’ll finish cleaning up the kitchen.”

Miss Katie turned on the hot water in the sink. She opened the dishwasher and restacked everything before she set it to run.

Danny determined his kitchen was in expert hands, so he went to his room and closed the door so he could shower and shave. After both, he started to comb his hair, determining he could use a trim, and it occurred to him he didn’t have a pair of dress slacks to wear to his mother’s funeral. He needed clothes, and Kayley needed clothes, and he needed to call the funeral home and the florist and the cemetery.

It was all so damn overwhelming; he sat down on the lid of the toilet with a towel around his waist. Exhaustion settled into his soul, but he knew he had to be strong. There was too much to do for him to break down. He had a daughter to put first who had lost a grandmother she dearly loved.

Dan stood from his seat on the ultimate throne, brushing his teeth before he opened the bathroom door, seeing his bed was already made. It made him laugh because Katie Simmons was like a one-woman cleaning machine, much like his own mother had been when she was healthy.

He quickly dressed in a pair of jeans and a snap-front, cowboy shirt. He tucked it in and pulled on his good boots because he had things to do in town.

If Miss Katie would consent to watch Kayley for him, since he’d decided not to send her to camp that day. He’d get everything done a lot faster without her. He also knew she’d have more fun with Miss Katie, the woman was like an adopted grandmother, just like Miss Jeri. Kayley needed the female influences in her life, and Dan couldn’t think of two better than Jeri and Katie.

When he walked down the hallway, Danny saw Kayley standing on a chair as Miss Katie braided her hair and secured the bottom with a rubber band. “There you go, darling girl. Now, let’s go look in your closet to see what you have—” Miss Katie glanced up to see him standing there.

“Don’t bother. All we have are jeans and T-shirts and a few pairs of shorts. We don’t have anything we need, neither of us.”

“Okay. What size jeans do you wear, Daniel?”

“Thirty-two, thirty-four, ma’am.”

She nodded. “Shirt?”

“Fifteen with a thirty-two sleeve.” That was the size of the one dress shirt he owned, anyway.

“I’d guess you’re a thirty-eight-regular, off the rack?”

“When I was in the Army, that was my jacket size,” Dan replied.

She asked him a few more questions and smiled when she wrote down his answers. “Okay. Kayley and I are going on a girls’ day. We’re gonna shop and get lunch in Christiansburg. Are you gonna be okay to do the errands? You talk to Zach?” She cocked an eyebrow at him, which must have been a thing mothers knew how to do. His own used to do it to him and Zach as boys.

Dan felt his face turn red. “I got mad and hung up. I’ll call him back.”

Miss Katie nodded and took Kayley by the hand, leaving him alone in the house. He went about drying the breakfast pans to put away, along with the toaster before wiping down all the counters. He knew once Miss Katie heard they didn’t have the proper attire for a funeral, she’d take on the task of getting them straightened out.

It was then Dan wished he could talk to Jase, but he didn’t want to call Wonderland. He’d have to work up to it later, and he prayed Jase could see his way clear to get to Holloway. Danny would buy him a bus ticket if necessary. He needed the man he was sure could help hold him together.

“Okay, I cleaned out the fridge because I know Jeri’s gonna be cookin’ all day. She and Katie made a list of tasks and divided it,” Tim told Dan as they sat at the kitchen table with a beer later that day.

He’d been all over town to make the arrangements and stopped at the pizza place in town to set up food for the wake on Thursday night. The minister couldn’t do the funeral until Friday morning, so Danny had two days to stew and wonder what the hell to do. It was maddening.

“We don’t need a lotta food,” Dan responded as he took a sip from the bottle of Bud Light Tim had handed him.

Tim turned to him and cocked an eyebrow. “Dan, when your mother was in good health, what was the first thing she did when she heard someone in town had died?”

Like a scolded child, Dan lowered his eyes. “She’d make a pie or a casserole. God, what will I do with all that food? I stopped by Ike’s and put in an order to have food at the funeral home Thursday evening. What should I—” The house phone rang, interrupting the beginning of his rant.

Dan picked up the handset and saw the number, feeling a sense of relief as he answered. “Hi, Jase.”

“ I heard about your mom, Danny. How are you? I mean, are you okay? ”

Dan felt his heart beat a little harder in his chest, so he threw all caution to the wind. He needed Jase. “Can you… Are you able to get away? Can you come?” Dan tried to hide the tears in his voice as they poured down his face. He wasn’t used to needing someone, but hearing Jase’s voice, he couldn’t help himself.

“ Babe, I’ll be here as soon as I can.” Jase’s voice was comforting.

Dan’s clenched fingers relax. “Stay with me and Kayley, please? I appreciate everybody comin’ to support me, but can you stay at the house?” Dan hoped Jase could hear how much he needed him without having to say too much because Tim was staring at him.

“ You bet I can. I’ll get Mick and Jon to drop me off as soon as we get to town. You need anything ?”

Dan sniffed, unable to hold back any longer. “Just you.”

After the two of them hung up, Dan turned to look at Tim, a little nervous, knowing his boss had heard the conversation. “You got anything to say?” The challenge was in his voice. If Tim made a negative comment, Dan was ready to physically toss him out on his bony ass.

Tim grinned and met Danny’s glare. “Danny, Jason is a great guy. He needs someone to be a supportive influence in his life, based on what Savannah told Matt. I… uh... Matt and I have been in a bit of a quandary since Jason came to Holloway because he looks a lot like my husband, though a younger version of him. Matt lost his mind about it, and we’re still working on it.

“I won’t let Matt’s idiotic behavior have any bearing on your relationship with Jason, Dan. Just be careful. He’s young, though he seems very mature.” Tim reached out and held Danny’s hand.

Dan met Tim’s eyes and grinned. “He’s a great guy, Tim. I can understand why Matt would be jealous because Jase is hot as hell, but I know you’d never give another guy a second glance. If Matt doesn’t know it, send him to the barn to sleep with the horses for a few nights.” It was Dan’s attempt to lighten the mood.

The two of them were laughing as Dan heard Miss Katie park on the street. Dan went to the front door to see the kind woman motion for him to come help her.

Miss Katie was carrying bags from an outlet mall store nearby. Danny hoped she hadn’t spent more money than he could afford to repay. Before he could move off the porch, Tim ducked around him and walked up to his aunt, kissing her on the cheek.

They spoke quietly for a moment, and Miss Katie nodded as she headed toward the house. Dan hurried off the porch to help her.

“Miss Katie, you did too much. I can already tell.” Dan took the bags from her while Tim helped Kayley out of the truck.

Danny followed Miss Katie into the house and down the hall to Kayley’s room. “Daniel, did you call Zachary as you promised?” Her question had Dan lowering his eyes. After a moment. He shook his head. No, he hadn’t called his brother.

“Go call him while Kayley and I hang up these things. Timothy, we stopped at the house and picked up a pan of lasagna I had in the freezer. Can you go get it and turn on the oven? Three seventy-five, please,” she ordered. Dan admired the fact she operated like a general going into battle. He damn sure wasn’t going to challenge her.

As he followed Tim down the hallway, he heard another vehicle pull into his driveway. It was a large, pearl-white SUV, and he smiled, knowing it was exactly who he needed. He watched Mickey go to the back of the vehicle and open the door, moving out of the shadow with Megan on his hip. Jase went to the back and came around the side with his duffle and a garment bag.

“I’ll be back,” Dan told Tim as he hurried down the front steps in his bare feet, walking over to Jase.

“Thank you for comin’,” Dan whispered as he took the young man’s duffle.

Jase wrapped an arm around Dan’s shoulders and hugged him before he released him. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Danny. How’s Kayley?”

“I haven’t exactly got up the nerve to tell her the truth, but maybe if you’d sit with me? I need to call my brother as well because when I called him this mornin’ he was an ass. You’ll stay, right?” Dan held his breath for an answer.

“Let’s send Meg, Mickey, and Jon to the Katydid with Tim and Miss Katie. I can get dinner together, and you can talk to Kayley in private.” Tim was right—Jase was more mature than his years.

“You sure?” Dan was uncertain of where the two of them stood.

“Definitely.” Jase’s gentle smile was reassuring.

Jase went upstairs in search of Kayley as Dan went to the kitchen. “Y’all, I appreciate it you’re here. I need to talk to Kayley, so maybe you wouldn’t mind givin’ us a little privacy? I’ll be at the farm in the mornin’ to be sure the boys have everything under control. Jase can stay here and look after Kayley, okay?”

Katie stepped forward first with a small smile. “Honey, I’ll be over tomorrow to coordinate the food that’ll be dropped off, okay? I’ll help Jase with Kayley if he needs it. I’m not tryin’ to crowd ya, but she might need a woman to talk to, okay?”

Dan hugged her. “Thank you, Miss Katie. I don’t know what I’d do without ya,” he whispered before he released her. She kissed his cheek before she took her purse to leave, dragging Tim with her. He waved at Danny before they left.

Dan turned to Mick and Jon, having a last-minute change of heart. “Stay for dinner, please? Miss Katie brought a lasagna. I think Kayley would like to have Megan around after I explain things to her.” He glanced into the living room to see Megan napping on the couch.

“If you’re sure, we’ll get things set for dinner, okay? You take your time, Danny.” Mickey hugged him before he went to work.

He turned to Jon. “You have a chance to get the papers together?”

“My associate, Riley Manning, will file them first thing on Monday morning, Dan. It’s going to be alright.” Jon’s calm voice offered an assurance Dan hadn’t realized he needed.

Danny nodded and walked up the stairs to Kayley’s room where she and Jase were playing a board game with cherries that Zach had given her for her birthday when he did a drive-by visit. “Who’s winning?” Dan asked with a smile.

“Me,” Kayley announced. She was lying on her stomach on the bed while Jase was sitting on the floor. Dan sat on the corner of the bed near Jase, and took a breath, praying it would come out right.

He turned to Kayley, seeing the braid over her shoulder she seemed to be so fond of. “Sweet Pea, I got somethin’ to tell ya, and it’s not a happy thing.” Dan closed his eyes, trying to fight the tears.

“Gramma Dottie went to heaven to be with Mommy, didn’t she?” Kayley glanced up from the game, offering her bright smile.

Dan felt like the breath had been pushed out of him. “Who told you?” There was anger evident in his voice.

She stood on the bed and walked over to him, sitting on his lap and hugging his neck. “Gramma told me yesterday. She asked me if I wanted her to tell Mommy anything, and I said to tell her I loved her and I wished I knew her.” The little girl began petting Dan’s hair, seemingly trying to sooth him.

Danny broke down, unable to hold the tears. He felt an arm around his neck, pulling him into a warm, muscular chest. He couldn’t speak.

“Why he’s cryin’? Gramma said we should be happy she’s not sick anymore,” the child reasoned. Dan couldn’t even acknowledge her.

“Aw, Little Bit, I know, but sometimes, it’s hard for us adults to let go. It’s your Gramma, but it’s Uncle Danny’s mom. He’ll really miss her. She didn’t tell him like she told you she was ready to go be with your mommy, so it was a surprise for him,” Jase tried to explain.

“Oh! That’s sad. What can we do?” Kayley wiped the tears as they fell. Dan was still frozen in place, but he felt the love surrounding him.

“Well, Jon and Mickey are downstairs and Meggie’s here, but I think she’s taking a nap. Why don’t you go check on them while I look after Danny?”

“Will he be okay?” Kayley quietly slipped off Dan’s lap.

Danny sniffed and wiped his eyes. “I will be, Sweet Pea. Go make sure everything’s okay for dinner, and after I get cleaned up, Jase and I will be down, okay? I love ya, Kayley.”

She scrambled up onto his lap again and hugged him hard around his neck. “I love you, too, Uncle Danny. It’ll be okay.” Kayley’s assurance caused his tears to flow even faster.

The three of them, Kayley, Jase, and Danny sat on the bed until Danny was able to get himself together. Jase took Kayley to get washed up before she went downstairs to check on the Warren-Wells family. Danny heard the squeal when Meggie found Kayley.

“Babe, what can I do?” Jase asked when he returned to where Dan was still sitting.

Danny took a deep breath and turned to look at the handsome young man. “Just be with me, okay? I don’t want to pressure you into anything, but if you can stand next to me until I get through this, I might make it out the other side.”

“You got it.” Jase took Danny’s hand and pulled him into a hug. The pressure of the long arms around him was enough to calm Dan. He hugged Jase back, grateful to feel the warmth of him through his clothes. It was definitely soothing to Dan’s aching soul.

“You hungry? Miss Katie makes a great lasagna.” Jase kissed Dan on the forehead and released him from his grasp.

“Not really, but I guess I should eat,” Danny answered.

Jase urged him down the stairs with a strong arm around his shoulders in support, and at that moment, Danny felt he’d found the ying to his yang. In his heart, he prayed it would work out between them somehow.

It might take time, but Dan was willing to wait. He was sure he’d found his home base, his grounding rod, and while the fact he came in an eighteen-year-old package was a bit worrisome, Dan knew he was making more out of it than many others would. Love happened when one least expected, and it was pretty damn spectacular when it did.