Page 6 of Revelry (Cowgirls Do It Better #2)

Gertie

“Hey Gertie, what ya doing?” Leo asked.

“What does it look like? Knitting a sweater?” Sarcasm dripped from my words as I mixed the bowl of milk, sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract, stirring so vigorously I was in danger of sloshing it over the sides.

“Funny,” he grunted, reaching around me and dipping a finger into the bowl. I swatted at him with the beater. “Ouch, Gertie’s mean,” he whined at Kat as she entered the kitchen behind him.

She made a beeline for me. “Whatchya doing, Gerts?”

“I’m making ice cream.”

“Ooh, yummy!” she squealed. “Why are you doing it so aggressively?”

“Wait a second, how come Kat got a straight answer and I got a sassy one?” Leo complained.

“Because she’s my best friend and you’re an annoying rodeo clown,” I replied, flicking the beater at him and a little cream splattered on his t-shirt.

He frowned then swiped his finger through the blobs and put it into his mouth.

“Mmm,” he moaned. “Okay, you can stay sassy if you make me this forever.”

I grinned at him and went back to stirring, glad of the silly banter to distract me from my thoughts. He left us to it and I could feel Kat lingering beside me.

“What is it, Kitty Kat?” I sighed when she didn’t stop hovering.

She nudged me gently. “Why are you stress making ice cream?”

“How do you know I’m stressed?”

“Because I know you.”

I made a noise of disagreement which didn’t convince either of us. “I’m preparing to go see my mom.”

“Ahh,” Kat replied, leaning against the countertop, folding her arms over her chest. I stopped my stirring and turned to face her.

The Cartwright’s kitchen was a thing of beauty.

It wasn’t new or fancy with all the latest cooking gadgets, if anything it was showing its age.

It’s open plan, cottage style felt cozy along with the wooden cabinets and hanging pots and herbs, it was the epitome of small-town family vibes.

Maybe that’s why I felt so at home in it, not to mention I’d grown up having dinners at the battered oak dining table that was the focal point of the room.

“Yeah, I figured I’d just get it over with.”

“At least your bruises have faded a bit, it won’t be quite so shocking.”

I nodded, playing with the beater in the bowl, the cream sloshing around inside.

Kat dipped her head, her face coming into view. “Gertie? Talk to me.”

“I’m embarrassed to face her,” I whispered.

She clucked her tongue, like a mother hen. “Don’t be silly. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. What happened isn’t on you and she’ll understand that more than anyone.”

“Exactly!” I exclaimed, dropping the bowl down and slumping against the counter. “She’ll wonder how I could have been so stupid!”

“Hey! That’s my bestie you’re talking about and your mom would never think that. She, of all people, will understand.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”

I grumbled under my breath but Kat wasn’t standing for it. She pulled me off the counter and tightened my little apron strings and pouffed my small ponytail, tugging on an escaped curl.

“Come on, my Gertie isn’t a defeatist. A menace, maybe, but not a defeatist.” She tweaked my nose which had me wrinkling it and fighting a grin.

“Now finish stress making your ice cream and get that bubble butt to your mama’s.” She slapped my ass and left me to it, knowing I needed time to process my thoughts and feelings.

I finished my ice cream, keeping it plain ol’ vanilla, adding a pinch of salt to give it a little kick and offset the sweetness.

I transferred it from the bowl to a couple of small containers and set them in the freezer for dessert tonight.

A treat to myself for after I saw my mom.

My stomach tightened again at the thought of it.

Removing my apron, I pushed out a slow breath that puffed my cheeks, before leaving the sanctuary of the kitchen.

Kat was standing on the porch when I made it outside. “Want me to come with?” she offered, smiling at me.

I shook my head. “I’m fine to go on my own.”

She pulled me in for a hug, resting her cheek on top of my head. “Message if you need me.”

“Will do, see you later.” We pulled apart and she rubbed my arms before going back into the house.

I got into my Beetle, tugging the door closed sharply, making sure it didn’t stick like it had been recently.

Turning the key in the ignition, she stuttered to life.

My little Princess had been good to me and I was terrified of the day she gave up the ghost. But today was not that day.

Memories swamped me as I drove out of Redemption Ranch and through the old familiar Reverence haunts; Dough Re Mi bakery, where we used to go for morning bagels on Saturdays.

The Mini Mart that me and Kat TP’d one time.

I snorted at the memory of Kat with her arms wrapped around her waist, wheezing with laughter and toilet paper stuck to her shoes.

We’d almost been caught by the owner, Mrs. Brown, despite Kat stopping to keep laughing, we managed to get away.

I passed the art gallery that Mom’s partner, Cathy, owned. There wasn’t a huge demand for art here but some tourists liked the prints Cathy did of the Teton mountains and she had a great business online with postcards and pastoral prints. It was closed now so Cathy would be at home with my mom.

Eventually, I pulled onto my old street.

The small cul-de-sac only had a handful of semi-detached houses that surrounded the curving road.

They were paired up, two on the right, two on the bend and two on the left.

Mine was one of the two on the bend. The house next door belonged to Tate.

His driveway was empty which had me sighing in relief for some reason.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about running into him again after our meeting in the stables.

Tate had always intrigued me. He had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room whenever he spoke to you.

All that sharp intensity focused on you and you alone.

It made me wish for things that could never be.

There was still an air of vulnerability about him that made me want to wrap him in a big hug.

Which I absolutely wouldn’t be doing. I was swearing off men now.

I was restarting my life and didn’t have room for someone else anymore.

I had always wanted to fall in love and have a family.

I fell too easily as a teenager, picking the wrong men and I thought I’d hit the jackpot with Gary, but I was too eager.

I didn’t stop to see the signs. Call it daddy issues but I just wanted to be loved so badly by a man that I ignored the red flags until they were all I could see.

There was a time when we were teenagers where Tate had been the object of my affection, but he showed zero interest in me that way.

I even begged him to kiss me. My cheeks flushed as I remembered the way I’d thrown myself at him.

He’d declined me so gently and politely that I couldn’t even be mad, just embarrassed as hell.

Never again would I humiliate myself for a man.

Besides Tate couldn’t still be on the market.

A man that hot in this small town would be snapped up, probably married with two point four children by now.

And the last thing I wanted to see was his perfect wife coming out of the house with their perfect children, while I came home with my tail between my legs, starting life over in my mid-thirties.

Parking outside Mom’s house, I got out, smoothing a hand over the borrowed dress and I decided I would raid the attic to see if there were any clothes here that fit me. If not, I needed a shopping trip, stat.

I knocked on the front door. It had been so long since I’d been home, I didn’t feel like I could just waltz in. Especially now Cathy lived here too.

The door opened and Cathy was standing there. “Gertie!” she cried, her tan face splitting into a smile before her eyes clocked my fading bruise and split lip. “Oh honey,” she said in a way that made me want to cry.

“Hey Cathy.”

“Did you say Gertie?” came an excited voice from the other room. Cathy’s head whipped around, her auburn bob bouncing with the movement and moments later my mom came into view.

“Gertie!” she screamed when she saw me and I laughed despite myself.

She ran at me, flinging her arms around me and I buried my face in her neck.

I might be in my thirties, but I still needed my mom.

She squeezed extra tight then pulled back, smoothing my hair from my face before she saw the remnants of my bruise.

Her thumb stroked the edge of it and her mouth pulled into a line.

“Well shit,” she huffed, her eyes filling with tears. “Someone hurt my baby girl?”

I burst into tears.

She hugged me again and then Cathy was hugging me too. We stood there for a few minutes crying and hugging. “I’m so sorry, Mom.”

“Hey, hush it now,” she growled. “You have nothing to apologize for, you hear?” She cupped my face, brushing away my tears and I nodded. She tucked me into the side of her body. “Come inside, baby girl.”

The house was the same: wooden floors and white walls except now they had prints all over them.

The Teton’s, Yellowstone, local Reverence hotspots, some of the local ranches.

I assumed they were Cathy’s work, and they were stunning.

The prints of Redemption Ranch backlit by the sunset through the trees captured my attention.

I’d recognize that place anywhere, and was that a bison hiding in the treeline?

“They’re gorgeous,” I said to Cathy, and she flushed under the praise.

“Thank you. I’ll go make some tea,” she said, before leaving me and Mom alone. Mom walked us over to the light blue couch and squeezed us down on it, not leaving my side.

“How’s things going with Cathy?” I asked to break the awkward silence.

“Great, she’s a dream. It’s been eight years now and I love her even more every day, isn’t it sickening?” she gushed.

“Not at all, Mom. I’m so glad you found her,” I replied.

Mom had been lonely for a long time after Dad left.

Then on our calls she started talking about her friend Cathy that she met at pottery class.

Soon after, she would tell me about dinners they went on or movies they went to see and she gushed about her so much it was clear what was happening.

When I’d suggested she ask Cathy to move in, Mom had paused before asking, “Is that something you would be okay with?”

I’d laughed. “If she makes you happy then I’m happy.” Cathy had moved in five years ago. I didn’t come home much because of Gary, and I hated that I’d missed so much of their relationship blossoming.

Cathy came back with tea and some cookies, placing them on the coffee table in front of us, then settled on the other side of me. We might all be short but we were all also curvy so it was a tight squeeze but I kinda loved being smushed by them on each side, it felt comforting.

“So, tell me what Shithead Gary did.”

I took a deep breath and told my story, not leaving anything out. There were times Mom clenched her hands around mine. Cathy put her arm around us both comforting the two of us together. When I finished, Mom asked, “Are you home now?”

“Yep, for good,” I said cheerfully, glad to be back and spending more time with them both. Mom and Cathy shared a look. “What? What was that?”

“What was what?” Cathy pretended.

I arched a brow. “That look.”

Mom tapped her teaspoon on the side of her cup, sighing. “I was going to tell you but just hadn’t made the phone call yet.”

I looked between them, my stomach churning with fear. “What is it?”

“We’re moving to San Francisco!” Cathy cheered. “Yay.”

“Oh, wow. I mean, yay that’s so great!” I tried to sound happy, but I wasn’t doing a very good job.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Mom said, patting my knee. “But there isn’t much for us here anymore, especially with you gone. Cathy’s struggling with the business and we can do so much more in San Francisco than we can here.”

“I get that but it’s just…so far away.”

“I know, but I didn’t think you would ever come home again,” Mom said, tucking hair behind my ear.

Guilt ate at me. I’d been a shit daughter; I hadn’t called enough and sure as hell hadn’t visited enough. I couldn’t now be sad that they were leaving me.

I forced a grin onto my face. “No, it’ll be great. Retirement somewhere nice and by the ocean? Oh my God, you’ll love it!”

“I’ve already rented an art studio and have a couple of jobs lined up. More than I’ve had in six months here. Our apartment is almost ready for us,” Cathy said, smiling at my mom.

“Wow, so soon?”

Mom looked sheepish as she nodded. “We’re leaving at the end of the month.”

My eyebrows shot up before I had a word with them then they resettled.

I couldn’t be mad, or surprised. They had a right to live their life the way they wanted.

Mom had been to hell and back and deserved her slice of heaven in San Fran.

“But there’s no ‘For sale’ sign out front? Have you sold already?”

Mom shook her head. “No, you know me, scared of taking risks.”

I did know. It was one of the reasons she stayed with my father so long, she was scared to take the leap and be on her own. Mom and I were complete opposites. In fact, I’d made it my life’s mission to not be like that. I wanted risk, I wanted adventure, even if sometimes I found too much adventure.

“We’re keeping the house for six months, just in case we don’t like it, so we can come home.”

“You could stay here while we’re gone?” Cathy offered.

“That’s a great idea! Are you staying with Kat at the moment?” Mom asked. I loved that she knew I would be with Kat at Redemption.

Now it was my turn to be sheepish. “Yeah, I’ve been back for a week. I was worried about coming here.”

She scolded me immediately. “Never be scared to come home to us, no matter what’s happened.”

I hung my head. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited more or contacted you more. I didn’t know what to say, and I thought you would somehow figure it out.”

“I understand,” Mom said, her eyes so warm and caring and I knew she did, more than anyone.

“It’s settled then. You’ll stay here?” Cathy asked.

“Sure, if that’s what you want?”

Mom nodded enthusiastically.

“I’m just sorry we won’t get much time together before we leave,” Cathy sighed.

I leaned into her, resting my head on her shoulder which surprised her. “Then we’ll have to spend a lot of time together before you go.”