Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)

“Of course,” his mother assured him.

“Only Clay’s a little more special,” Rafe called from the sideboard by the table. He pulled the cork from the bottle of wine May had insisted they would have with dinner.

“He’s rarely here,” May told them both. “That makes it special.”

“Face it,” Rafe said, returning to the kitchen to get the wineglasses. “He’s her favorite.”

May put her hands on her hips. “I love all my boys the same. You two know it, too.”

Rafe paused to kiss her cheek. “We do, Mom. But sometimes it’s fun to mess with you.”

It was just the four of them for dinner that night. Heidi and her grandfather had gone into town to leave the Strykers to enjoy their reunion in private.

Clay strolled into the kitchen and walked up to his mother. “You’re even more beautiful than the last time I saw you,” he said, pulling her close and hugging her. When he released her, he turned to Rafe. “Hey, there’s some white dress upstairs. You know anything about that?”

Rafe narrowed his gaze. “You didn’t touch it, did you?”

“No.” Clay held up both his hands. “I just looked.” He winked. “Marriage, huh? What does she see in you?”

“More than she’d see in you.”

Clay slapped him on the back then turned to Shane. “See my truck?”

“It’s hard to miss.”

“If you ask real nice, I’ll let you drive it.”

Shane grinned. “No, thanks. By the way, I took the Cadillac to San Diego. Got it all broken in for you.”

Clay’s dark eyes widened. “No,” he said slowly. “You didn’t.”

“That baby can corner and she’s got some speed in her.”

Clay lunged forward, Shane ducked out of the way, then caught his brother as he turned. The mock wrestling had May shrieking at them to stop. She grabbed a dishtowel and attacked them both with it.

“Not before dinner,” she yelled, slapping them in rhythm with her words. “Stop it, both of you. This is the first time our whole family has been together in three years and you’re not going to ruin it.”

Shane released Clay and straightened. He glanced at Rafe, who stared at May. Clay looked just as uncomfortable as he straightened his shirt.

“Not our whole family, Mom,” Clay said.

May’s happy expression shifted to wary. “No,” she said quickly. “I mean the four of us. Of course Evangeline isn’t here. Which is too bad.”

Shane felt the familiar boil of anger. “I’m going to check on the horses,” he said, heading for the door. “I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

“I’m just putting on the potatoes,” his mother called after him. “Twenty minutes. No longer.”

Shane went outside and drew in a deep breath. He told himself getting pissed off wouldn’t help anyone. That a case could be made he was as much to blame.

Behind him, the back door opened. He turned. Rafe stepped out beside him. The brothers stared at each other.

“It’s not your fault,” Rafe said quietly. “None of it. You were a kid.”

Shane shrugged. “If I hadn’t brought him home,” he began.

Rafe grimaced. “Don’t make me beat the shit out of you.”

“You really think you can?”

“I could make a dent.” Rafe moved next to him and leaned against the back porch railing. “You were eight, Shane. Eight years old. You’d lost your dad and heard your mom crying herself to sleep every night. You were trying to help.”

“It didn’t help. It made things worse. I’m glad we have Evie, but that guy…”

Some twenty-six years ago, after the death of their father, Shane had met a cowboy in town. At eight, he’d been unable to understand everything happening around him. All he knew was that his mom missed his dad and Randy, the cowboy he’d met, was nice and had agreed to come over for dinner.

Apparently Randy had stayed for more than dessert. Nine months later, Evangeline had been born.

“She should have given Evie up for adoption,” Shane said flatly.

Rafe stared at him. “How can you say that? She’s our sister.”

“I know who she is and I know what she’s been through. The youngest by enough years that we were all too busy for her. Mom never bonded or connected with her, or whatever you call it. Evie spent her whole life knowing she wasn’t welcome, wasn’t wanted. You think that was easy for her? Better for her to go to a family who wanted her.”

“She’s our sister,” Rafe insisted. “We love her.”

“Sure. From a distance and when it’s easy. I talk to her maybe once a month. Clay does the same. You haven’t spoken to her in what? Eight or nine years? And Mom does her best to pretend she doesn’t exist.”

“I saw her a couple of months ago,” Rafe said.

Shane turned and stared at him. “What?”