When the Glitter Fades (Cowboys of Whispering Winds) (13 page)

Looking upward, Cody deliberated the merits of each choice. “Can I pick the story?”

“Sure thing, buddy. Whichever one you want.”

Lifting his arms, Cody removed the top part of the costume with an attached cape, then slid down the pants with an elastic-banded waist. He still had his regular clothes on underneath. 

Jeremy picked up the discarded items and folded them neatly, stacking the costume on Cody’s dresser. “Pick out your book then meet me in the living room.”

He went to the living room, stretching out his leg. A month had made a world of difference. Today, he’d ridden a horse again and it felt good. Really good. His leg barely felt sore, even after being on it most of the day and his limp was down to a subtle nuisance. Had someone asked him two months ago if he could be this happy, he’d have laughed, sarcastically, in their face. 

There were still times when he had a niggling sense that the axe was about to fall. The feeling would creep up at the most inopportune moments, and he’d have to shake it off, convincing himself it was residual guilt and shame plaguing him, not a foreboding omen.

Lanie came and sat next to him, her body against his. Effortlessly, he slid an arm around her shoulder and she snuggled into him.

“What was Cody doing?”

“Just what you said.”

She groaned, but still smiled. “Great. I wonder what he spilled on it this time.”

“Batman still looked clean. I convinced him to take it off.”

“Really? What magic did you work?”

“I bribed him with a story.”

Lanie laughed. He’d never get tired of hearing the melodious lilt. “You’re a quick-learner.”

“Okay, I picked the story for you to read,” Cody announced, walking into the room, and handing a book to his dad.

Jeremy removed his arm from Lanie and scooped Cody to his lap. For the next half hour they sat, as a family, reading the dinosaur book three times. They flipped through the pages a fourth time, letting Cody tell the story from the pictures.

“It’s bedtime, mister,” Lanie said firmly when Cody asked to have the story read for a fifth time.  She preemptively cut him before when he opened his mouth to protest. “Tomorrow’s a big day. It’s Halloween, remember?”

“Oh yeah. I can’t wait to get lots of candy.”

“Only little boys who go to sleep without a fuss get candy,” Lanie told him, using a trick from her mom arsenal.

Cody looked very serious. “Daddy, will you tuck me in?  I’d like to go to bed now.”

Jeremy bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Had he fallen for such things as a child?  “Let’s get your pajamas on and brush your teeth first.”

A few minutes later, he was tucking the sheets around Cody. 

“I like having you here.  Can you stay all the time?” Cody looked up at him through innocent blue eyes.

Jeremy’s gut tightened. “I don’t know, buddy.”

“Goodnight, daddy. I love you.”

“I love you too.” He brushed a kiss against Cody’s hair, then left the room, turning off the light on his way.

“What’s wrong,” Lanie asked when she the pensive look on his face.

“Cody asked if I could stay here all the time.”

“Oh.”

“I think it’s time to re-evaluate.”

“Let me tell him goodnight and then we’ll talk.”

Walking into the kitchen, he went to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer from the back, now that Cody was in bed. He sat at the table, waiting for Lanie to return. 

She came in, sitting across from him.  “He also asked me if you could.”

“We either need to tell him or spend less time with all three of us.”

“I agree.”

“I want to tell him, Lanie. I don’t like hiding things; especially from him. It’s only been two weeks, but I know my feelings and intentions toward you and Cody aren’t going to change. We’ll do what you decide, but my vote is for letting the cat out of the bag.”

“Why do you make everything sound so easy?” She laughed nervously, still not sold.

“Because I know the dangers of deceptions. I’ve lived that life and I don’t want to again. I don’t want to feel ashamed every morning when I leave, hoping no one sees me.  I don’t want people to find out by accident and think we doubt our relationship or are doing something wrong.”

“I never thought about it that way.”

“I know you’re worried about your family, but I love you. I’ll be by your side.”

“This is important to you, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll tell Cody tomorrow and everyone else this weekend,” she decided.

“Thank you.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Is that a sign?” Lanie joked nervously, rising from her seat.

Jeremy remained seated, as to not be in direct view of whomever was at the door.  Although his presence could be easily explained, he wouldn’t further complicate matters.

“Jase? What brings you out here tonight?” he heard Lanie say with surprise.

Silently, Jeremy groaned. Of all people to stop by tonight, why Jase? He really wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation. He didn’t hear Jase’s response, but then Lanie was inviting him inside. Confused by her behavior, he stood to announce his presence.

“Jeremy.” Jase acknowledge him with a terse nod.

Choosing to remain silent, Jeremy returned the greeting with a nod of his own, then stared at Lanie, trying to read her thoughts. She walked to him, taking his hand and weaving their fingers.  He shot her a surprised glance, waiting to hear what she had to say.

“We have something to tell you,” she said, looking her brother straight in the eye.  “I love Jeremy. We’ve forgiven the past and are giving ourselves a second chance. We want our family whole again.” She cut right to the point and didn’t mince words.

Jase’s mouth clenched shut tightly, his jaw twitching from the force.

Jeremy tightened his hold on Lanie’s hand, stepping into the, so far, one-sided conversation. “I love your sister.  I’m humbled that she can put her faith in me again, and I won’t abuse that.  Hitting rock bottom changed me, showed me what’s important.”

Sitting down, Jase darted his gaze between him and Lanie.

“We were going to tell everyone this weekend; but, since you’re here, we’re telling you now.  I need your support, Jase,” Lanie pleaded.

For a long time, Jase sat with his head down, his arms extended out with his fists together. After a very tense period, he slowly looked up. Fighting for control of his words, he spoke. “If this is what you want, you have my support.”

A breath Jeremy hadn’t realized he was holding, escaped in a sigh of relief.  There’d be no scene from Jase tonight.

“I think I’ll leave now,” Jase announced, pushing his chair from the table. 

“I’ll walk you out.” Lanie released his hand and followed her brother. 

Moving to the living room, Jeremy tried not to look out at them, but he needed to know Jase wasn’t going to run his mouth and say something to hurt Lanie. From his vantage point, he watched Lanie whisper something into Jase’s ear, and he returned the words with a brief hug before stepping into his truck and driving away. Another relieved sigh.

Lanie came back, closing the door behind her then leaned against the wall.

“Are you okay?” he asked, crossing the room and taking her in his arms.

“Yes.”

“What made you do it tonight?” He asked the pressing question he’d been wondering for the last half hour.

“I love you. I don’t want to give anyone reason to doubt that. When Jase showed up right after our conversation, it seemed like the universe was screaming loud and clear that it was time.” She leaned her head against him.

“He took it better than I thought.”

“He’ll come around. Despite the tough exterior, at his core, he believes in true love.”

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Lanie sat in Allie’s office working on marketing strategies for next year’s peak season and discussing which magazines they wanted to reach out to for advertising. They’d just narrowed the list down to the top five they believed would be the most effective while still staying within their budget.

Vera Tyndale walked in, dark circles shadowing her eyes.  “We’re having an emergency family meeting. Be in the conference room in ten minutes.” She walked back out with no further ado, her shoulders slumped.

“What was that about?” Lanie asked, concerned. “I’ve never seen your mom like that.”

“I don’t know,” Allie said, her eyebrows wrinkling with worry.

They set aside their papers and walked over to the meeting room, where Jase and Jeremy already waited.  Despite her worry, she was glad to see Jeremy included. Much to her surprise, no one had voiced much opposition to the resumed relationship, although she suspected her mom had told her dad, and Jase, Allie, so everyone already knew anyway. Whether the lack of opposition was due to knowing in advance or a testament to Jeremy’s change in character, she was just happy to have him back.

Jeremy strode to her while Allie went to Jase’s side.  No one spoke, but shifted anxious gazes at each other.

Her parents came in with the Tyndales, all of whom wore deeply grim expressions. Frank Tyndale stepped forward, clearing his throat.

“Something has come to our attention that threatens the future of Whispering Winds,” he stated.

Lanie’s heart tightened. This was her home, where she’d spent most of her life.

Frank continued. “Last week, we got a notice from the county that the property taxes have been improperly calculated for the past ten years, leaving us with a substantial tax bill.”

“How much are we talking?” Jase asked.

Frank gave a number, sending a collective gasp though the younger generation.

“Isn’t there some sort of statute of limitations?” Jeremy asked.

“We’ve met with our attorney and accountant. They say we’re legally obligated to pay it, and while the timing couldn’t be worse, since we rightfully owe that money, we’ll find a way to pay it.”

“When does it have to be paid?” Maybe, paid over time, the total wouldn’t seem so high, Lanie thought.

“Half is due by the end of the year, and the remaining by the end of first quarter next year.”

“That’s impossible.” Jase exclaimed. “Especially when money’s already tight.”

Lanie’s dad stepped forward.  “We’ve decide the best option is to start selling off a few parcels of land. That’s the only way we can bring in that kind of cash in the needed timeframe, but we wanted to talk with you kids first.”

Tears pricked behind Lanie’s eyes. It didn’t seem fair that her parents and the Tyndales had worked so hard over the years, only to lose part of their land because of a clerical error.  “There are no other options?” she asked.

“Not that we can think of in the timeframe that we need.”

Vera Tyndale stepped forward. “The important thing to remember is we’ll still have our homes and each other. We’ve talked to a realtor, and he believes that we can get the money quickly by selling only a few prime lots and we’ll still maintain the bulk of our land.”

“Which ones?” Jase queried tensely.

The parents looked at each other apprehensively, until Everett Callahan answered. “The ones behind your house.”

Jase’s Adam’s apple bobbled as he swallowed hard, the news hitting him in the gut. Lanie knew how much he loved the land surrounding the original homestead.

Allie stood, displaying a stoic front. “If that’s what will save Whispering Winds, then we should proceed.”

“Let’s spend the next two weeks focusing on Thanksgiving,” Lanie’s mom recommended.

“Diana’s right. We have many things to be thankful for. This is a curveball we’ll find a way through, but let’s focus on the blessings we’ve been given. Take this time and think about it, maybe between all of us, we can find another solution. We’ll reconvene the Monday after Thanksgiving, after the staff meeting.” Frank Tyndale took his wife’s hand and left with her from the room, followed by Everett and Diana Callahan.

Jase, Allie, Jeremy and Lanie remained. 

“There has to be a better choice. I can’t believe the county would do something like this.” Jase stood, pacing the length of the room.

“The economy’s hard on everyone right now. We’re all just trying to get by, even the county,” Allie tried propitiating.

Lanie looked at Jeremy, who’d been quiet the whole time. An idea came together in her mind, but would it even be fair to ask? He was the only person she knew who’d have that much money.

“What if we could get a loan?” she suggested.

Jase shook his head. “That’s a lot of money. Even if we could get the loan, we’d still have to repay it. In the long run, it would cause more problems.”

“What if it was a loan with flexible repayment options?” She pressed forward, looking at Jeremy.

“No, Lanie,” Jase asserted firmly.

“You have the money, Jeremy. Can’t you loan Whispering Winds the money?” To her, it seemed the perfect solution.

Jeremy looked at her, regret crinkling the corner of his eyes. “I don’t have that kind of cash.”

“Where did it go?” she demanded. “You earned a pretty penny the last few years on the circuit.”