Cheering the Cowboy_A Royal Brothers Novel by Liz Isaacson

Author:Liz Isaacson [Isaacson, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEJ Creative Works
Published: 2018-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Austin’s headache ran deep, and the four painkillers he’d taken with breakfast hadn’t touched the pounding behind his temples. If it wasn’t for his scratchy throat, he’d just take more pills, drink more caffeine, and find some sugar and hope for the best.

But as he climbed up to the seat of the tractor, he knew he was getting sick. He hated getting sick more than anything else. He dashed off a quick text to his mother, who had a couple dozen home remedies for sore throats and headaches, and he waited for her response before rumbling out to the fields.

His phone vibrated, but it wasn’t Austin’s mother.

He hissed out a sigh, but his eyes had already caught on his father’s message. What about Christmas Eve here in San Antonio?

Austin wanted to throw his phone as far as his muscles could get it, and he stabbed at his phone as he formed his response.

No thanks.

He had a whole lot more to say, including how exhausted this game made him, but he hoped he could get his meaning across with fewer words.

He sent the message, and this time his father called. Austin could’ve just ignored him, but he wanted to get things out and over and done. “Hey, Dad.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on with you, Austin.” No hello. No how are you? No nothing. Just a needling, half-whining voice on the other end of the line.

“No, I’m sure you don’t.” And he’d never cared before. His dad hadn’t cared, because Austin had always done what his father wanted. He’d driven to San Antonio when Shane and Dylan wouldn’t. He’d tried to get them to come. He responded to the family texts.

He’d been caught between two worlds for long enough, and he was tired enough trying to keep up with the life he was living. He couldn’t keep one foot in a life with his father, because his dad only wanted him there when it was convenient for him.

“San Antonio is a short drive,” he said. “You could come for an early dinner on Christmas Eve and be back to the ranch in plenty of time.”

“You’re probably right.” Austin stared straight ahead, sifting through the angry things he could say to his father. In the past year, they’d surged to the surface, made him clench his teeth and hang up before he blurted them all out.

But now, he felt…annoyed, sure. But he didn’t feel like he was about to go nuclear, and that was a huge improvement.

“I know you said Shane and Dylan won’t come, and Joanna is fine with that. We just want you to come. You’ve always been so much fun, Austin.”

Austin pressed his eyes closed, the seething fury roaring to life with just a few simple words. He felt like he was being ripped in half. His loyalty to his father and his family had always run through his blood. He’d trusted his father explicitly growing up. Had enjoyed working the ranch at his side, learning what he needed to know, telling jokes, laughing, and sweating under the sun.

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