Page 38 of Unyielding (Poplar Springs #3)

THIRTY-EIGHT

DECLAN

“ W hy am I always the last to know everything?”

“Well, hello to you too,” I said, shocked that my sister had shown up on my doorstep without so much as a text or call first.

Dahlia reached down to pet Ford, then pushed past me, a waft of her essential oil perfume lingering in her wake.

She was a funkier version of our mother, with the same bright blue eyes and dark hair but a more fashion-forward style.

She favored platform Doc Martens and glasses with a thick red rim over flowy rainbow skirts.

“Dec, someone at the grocery store told me that you’re leaving. What’s up with that? Were you just going to sneak out of town without telling your family?” She looked around my small rental cottage that was crowded with boxes. “I mean, look at this place! You’re almost all packed!”

It was true. I’d kicked my packing into overdrive in the depressing aftermath of my conversations with both Ruth and Shannon.

It felt good to throw myself into physical work, so that my mind couldn’t wander back to linger on my failures and the loss of what-ifs.

I was ready to get the hell out of Poplar Springs, the place that had welcomed me back with open arms, then turned on me just as quickly. I deserved it, but it still sucked.

“Yeah, sorry. I was going to tell you guys, I just got busy.”

She flopped onto the couch with a grumble and Ford jumped up and settled beside her. “So, what the hell happened? I thought you were back for good. Mom and Dad were so happy that we were all reunited.”

I stared at the stack of old textbooks in my hands. “I thought I was back for good too, but it turns out that’s not in the cards for me.”

Dahlia widened her eyes and gestured impatiently.

“I, uh, I wasn’t able to get unanimous support from the ranchers.

I got a little sidetracked by… stuff and messed up.

” I briefly considered telling her the whole story, but I wasn’t in the mood to rehash my mistakes.

“Anyway, that was a big deciding factor, so Ruth decided not to sell me the business. So here I am.” I gestured to the boxes piled around my living room.

“But where are you going to go? Do you have something lined up already?”

“There’s a large animal program at a Texas University that’s doing some interesting research into bovine diseases.

One of my classmates in vet school teaches there and he put in a good word for me.

” I shrugged, frowning. “It’s a good program.

I’d originally intended to take it online, but I think I’ll get more out of it if I’m there in person.

I’m going to put most of this stuff in storage and drive down a few weeks before it starts.

Visit a few friends from school along the way and see how they’re making out with their practices. ”

Dahlia was staring at me with her arms crossed and her lips pursed. “Why didn’t you tell me that you needed help with the ranchers?”

I frowned. “Why would I?”

Dahlia sighed loudly, making Ford jump. “Dec, their kids are my students! If they have elementary school aged kids, then I see them a few times a year at parent-teacher conferences and art shows. And it’s not just the parents, I also know the aunts, uncles, and grands.

I’ve taught in the district for years. The ranchers all know me and trust me.

” She smirked. “Believe it or not, they actually like me, even if they think I’m a little kooky. ”

I dropped onto a chair across from her, piling the books on the edge of a crowded table beside me. “I never realized that.”

“And did you forget about Adam? He’s the foreman at Broken Spoke Ranch. He’s got a ton of pull. We could’ve helped you.”

I didn’t know Dahlia’s new boyfriend well, but I’d heard of him around town, and she was right that people seemed to respect him.

But my family had always talked a big game about supporting one another without actually coming through.

When it came time for action, they usually dropped the ball.

I thought back to all of the times my mom promised to make cupcakes for middle school fundraisers, only to “forget” because she had to finish a project.

Or the time my father had skipped helping with my Boy Scout go-kart project to go to an art show.

The truth was that the only person I knew I could rely on was me.

“I don’t know, Dahl, you have to admit that sometimes you’re a little flighty…”

“Please.” She made a disgusted noise. “That might have been true back when we were younger, but I’ve changed. I wish you could see that.”

“Well, then how come you refuse to do anything about Mom?”

It was a conversation that was a long time coming but neither of us wanted to have. I braced myself for her answer, since she was going to be shouldering all of the day-to-day responsibility now that I was leaving.

“You mean her… forgetfulness?” She asked it tentatively, like she didn’t want to admit that it was happening.

I nodded.

Dahlia’s face went grim. “I really hadn’t noticed it the first time you brought it up.

But since then, I’ve been paying more attention…

and I think you’re right. You might be shocked to hear that I’ve already looked into a few doctors.

I like Dr. Murphy, but after all these years going to him, I think he’s too close to Mom and Dad to be objective.

I found a few memory specialists closer to Denver we could try.

Now, it’s just a matter of convincing them that we need to go. ”

I studied my sister with a new appreciation. Sure, she had all of the arty passion our parents had, but it seemed like she really had changed. She was… balanced.

“Wow. I’m impressed,” I said.

She frowned at me. “Why? Because I’m stepping up to take care of a loved one?”

“A little. I mean, I always thought you were like Mom and Dad, you know? All… driven by your passions. Sometimes it seemed to me like you three blocked out the real world to focus on them.”

Dahlia snorted. “Geez, tell me how you really feel, Dec.”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth. I’m not built like that. I know how to keep my head on straight.”

Except when it came to falling for a certain cowgirl.

“Yeah, no kidding, Mr. Logic and Science. But have you ever stopped to think that there can be a middle ground between following your heart and completely ignoring it? I mean, look at me. Sure, I stay up all night creating murals in my garage when the mood strikes me, but I also know how to run a classroom, make a year-long lesson plan, deal with school politics, and charm the kids’ parents.

I figured out how to tame that ‘gotta do what I love’ gene with some real-world practicalities like holding down a job, buying a house, and paying my bills.

I merged them, Dec. I love art, but I don’t bury myself in it, and I don’t lose sight of my responsibilities to my job.

That’s why I’m damn good at it, just like you are. ”

I sighed. “Doesn’t feel that way at the moment.”

She rolled her eyes in a move so reminiscent of her twelve-year-old self that I almost laughed. “You know you’re an awesome vet. You’ve always been terrific with animals. And hey, you know why?”

“Why?” I asked obediently.

“It’s because you love them. Your passion is animals and you turned it into your career. See? You found the middle ground too!”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Dahlia scanned me through narrowed eyes from the top of my head to my work boots. “Something else is going on with you. More than just not getting the practice. What’s wrong?”

Dahlia and I hadn’t hung out much since I’d been back, and I’d forgotten how perceptive my sister was. Or maybe it was the fact that I felt more down than I’d ever been, and it was as obvious as the perma-frown on my face. I needed to distract her with something else.

“Oh, hey. I have something for you.” I went into the kitchen to find the box that’d been delivered to the vet clinic before I left.

“Dammit, where did I—” There, next to Ford’s treat jar and a box of my kitchen utensils, was what I was looking for.

Grabbing it, I returned to my sister and handed the small box to her.

“What’s this?” Dahlia asked, lifting the flaps on the open box.

“The gloves you’ve been asking me to get for you. I’m so sorry it took me so long to order them.”

She grinned at me. “You’ve had your head pretty far up your ass for a while now. But that’s okay. I forgive you.” Dahlia looked inside. “Two boxes? I only asked for one.”

I shrugged. “Like you so eloquently put it, I’ve been… distracted. I figured these should last you a while. Let me know when you start to get low and I’ll be sure to order replacements.”

“I appreciate that—and nice redirect, by the way. Which means it’s gotta be woman trouble,” she continued, nodding like I’d confirmed it by not answering and changing the subject. Not that she was wrong. “Spill it.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m fine,” I said, starting to stand up.

“Sit,” she ordered. “Speak.” Ford looked up at her like the commands were for him.

I plopped down. “Shannon Cafferty.”

They were the only two words I could get out.

“Oof, there’s some history there. You used to crush on her back when you worked for her parents, right?”

“Yeah, and I guess it was mutual, it just took us all of these years to finally admit it.”

“Then what’s the problem, other than you taking off for parts unknown?” She gestured to the boxes strewn around the room.

“Honestly, I don’t feel like getting into it. Let’s just say I screwed it up.” I paused to think about our fight. “We both did, in a way.” But me more than her.

“So, it’s finito for good? All hope is lost?”

I shrugged. “Feels that way to me. With your in with the ranchers and them knowing we’re siblings, I’m sure the gossip about what happened will get around to you eventually.

” I scrubbed my head in irritation. “Let’s just say that we’re at a serious impasse and I don’t know how to get around it, so… ”

“Oh, now I’m intrigued.” She held up her hand to cut me off when I started to tell her that I was done talking about it. “Come on, Dec. You’re going to give up that easily? Just do what it takes to make it right.”

“I can’t,” I answered, crossing my arms over my chest. “I fucked up her chance at buying a mare that she really wanted. Now the damn thing is sold to someone else, and there’s nothing I can do.”

“Wait, hold on, you broke up over a horse ?”

I squirmed. “It’s a little more than that.”

Dahlia stared at me. “Okay, you clearly don’t feel like getting into it, but I can tell this is eating you up. There’s got to be something you can do. That is, if Shannon really meant something to you.”

She said it so that it sounded like she was taunting me. Dahlia arched an eyebrow and waited for me to take the bait.

“Well?” she pushed. “Is it worth figuring shit out to get her back?”

My heart answered before I could even find the words, lurching in my chest at the thought of working things out with Shannon, filling me with hope that my brain tried to smother. No. It just wasn’t possible.

Or was it?

When things were working between us they worked . I’d never been happier than I’d been when I was with her. It made sense that the horse she wanted was named Sunshine because that’s the way she made me feel when we were together: like we were basking in warm rays.

“Yeah, I think it’s worth it. I think she’s worth it,” I said quietly. “I just don’t know how to fix it.”

“Then it’s a good thing that you’re the smartest guy I know. You’ll figure it out, and if you don’t, I’ll be ready to help when you call. Got it?”

I smiled at my sister. “Got it.”

As depressed as I was about the state of everything, I realized that I had a lifeline in my sister. It made me feel slightly better about taking off until I remembered everything I’d be leaving behind.