“Merrie’s home now,” Sari said curtly. “We’ll take care of her.”
“What’s going on?” Randall asked bluntly. “I mean, Ren got drunk. Really drunk. I’ve never known him to do that, not even when he found out Angie was cheating on him and broke his engagement.”
“Got drunk?” Paul asked.
“Stinking drunk, Willis said,” Randall agreed. “Couldn’t lift his head for a whole day.”
Paul had a good idea why the other man’s brother had gone off the deep end. He glanced at Sari and realized that she was thinking the same thing.
“I told Ren that Merrie was my girl,” Randall said, wincing. “If I gave Ren the wrong impression and caused him to, well, to offend Merrie, I’m very sorry.”
“She used her credit card, that’s all,” Paul said, smoothing it over. “We had to bring her back home after that.”
“Yes, but what happened to her today was no accident, was it?” Randall asked worriedly.
“Probably not,” Paul said.
Randall shook his head. “I’m just so sorry. I feel like the whole thing’s my fault.”
“Life happens,” Sari said quietly.
“Ren asked me to come by here. I was going to San Antonio to talk to a prospective buyer, anyway. He wanted me to see Merrie and apologize. He didn’t say for what.”
“He seems to be a few days late,” Sari said with cold sarcasm.
“He’s not a bad man,” Randall defended his older brother. “He’s had a hard life and it’s made him bitter. But my big brother doesn’t go on benders. Your sister means something to him.”
Sari softened, just a little. “When she’s in a room, I’ll tell her,” she said quietly.
“Okay. Thanks.” He scribbled down a number on a paper from the small notepad in his jacket pocket and handed it to Sari. “That’s my cell number. I’m never without my phone. If it isn’t asking too much...”
“Yes, I’ll keep you in the loop,” Sari told him. “And thanks for coming by.”
“I’d rather it was under nicer circumstances,” he said with genuine feeling. “Merrie’s very special. I’m sorry I’m such a rake, you know,” he added. “If I wasn’t, I might be tempted to try my luck with her. She’ll make some man a wonderful wife someday.”
“I don’t think she’s looking along those lines anymore,” Sari replied. “She’s enthusiastic about buying a local art supply store and gallery here in town.”
Randall just nodded. “I see.”
“It’s a nice little town. Sort of like Catelow,” Paul interrupted. “Tell Ren she’s going to be okay, will you?”
“I’ll tell him. I’ll keep you all in my thoughts. And my prayers,” he added. He noticed Sari’s expression, and he smiled sadly. “I went to college, too, but I wasn’t as easily influenced as Ren was. He was fascinated with one of his professors, a female physics teacher who was antireligion. I’m not sure he realized it, but the person more than the subject matter was what influenced him. He had a crush on the professor.”
“Merrie and I had little else except religion after Mama died,” Sari said with a sad smile. “Your brother may find that his priorities will undergo a radical change one day when he’s faced with a loss more personal than a cow or a bull.”
“I’ve been saying that for years. My mother is facing the possibility of cancer treatment. Ren hasn’t spoken to her in a long time, but he seems to be softening a little,” Randall said. “Whatever his faults, he’s still my brother and I love him.”
“Merrie and I would have liked a brother,” Sari said.
“I’d have liked a sister,” Randall replied. “Take care.”
Paul shook hands with him and he left.
“You should cut Ren a little slack, honey,” Paul said gently. “Men aren’t perfect.” He pursed his lips. “Well, I am,” he amended with twinkling dark eyes. “But you can’t hold the rest of the male population up to such exacting high standards, right?”
She laughed and hugged him, laying her cheek against his broad chest with a sigh. “I guess not. If he got that drunk, Merrie must mean something to him,” she conceded. “Unless it’s just a guilty conscience.”
“I never got drunk from just a guilty conscience.” He kissed her red hair. “But I did get stinking drunk after I left here that first time, after I’d told your father a whopper of a lie.” He held her closer. “I was hurting. I imagine the Wyoming rancher is hurting, too. If he was fighting what he felt, and he assumed Merrie was experienced, he’s probably kicking himself for what he did to her.”
“If she hadn’t come home...!” she began.