Riding Tall by Kate Sherwood

Author:Kate Sherwood [Sherwood, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

MACKENZIE HAD never really believed in destiny. Never given it much thought, really. But insofar as he’d considered it at all, he’d generally thought of it as a force for good. Karma, or whatever. People got what they deserved because the universe had a plan for everyone. Not his philosophy, really, but at least he could understand it.

But when things started happening with Kami, his vague ideas went straight out the window. Everything was happening as if it was meant to be, that was for sure. He wasn’t doing anything to guide events, and he really wasn’t seeing Joe doing much, either, but somehow, it all just kept coming at them. Doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers. A dizzying array of well-intentioned professionals, all with their own understanding smiles and practiced optimism, telling Joe what he should and shouldn’t do, making schedules Joe needed to follow, setting routines and expectations and goals and contingency plans. It was exhausting for Mackenzie, and he was safely on the sidelines. He watched Joe working through it all, his smile becoming more forced, more robotic with every meeting, and he felt himself being pushed even further away from it all.

Joe had a new challenge. Raise his family? Pretty well finished and started on the second generation. Tame and captivate the feisty city boy? Done. Not even that difficult, to be honest. The new assignment, though… that would take all of Joe’s energy and attention. No time to rest on his laurels or fortify territory he’d already captured. He was pressing on, conquering new ground. Rescuing new souls and leaving the old ones to fend for themselves.

Mackenzie shook his head and scrubbed harder at the roasting pan. Ally had made dinner; Mackenzie had offered to help, but she’d widened her eyes and said Joe would skin her alive if he found out she was ditching her chores after promising to help out even more once Kami arrived. But she’d let him clean up; he was allowed to do that when Joe was home, so apparently he was allowed to do that when Joe was away too.

“It’s not his fault, exactly,” Mackenzie said to Griffin, who was lying annoyingly close to Mackenzie’s feet. “It’s how people react to him, not anything he actually does. He’s not like Red,” he said quickly, and both he and Griffin cast quick, defensive glances toward the old dog dozing by the outside door. “He doesn’t insist on being in charge. He doesn’t beat people up if they don’t go along with him.” He crouched down and took Griffin’s muzzle between his soapy hands. “But he’s pretty hard to argue with, isn’t he?”

Griffin panted agreeably. Yup, that Joe’s a character, all right, Mackenzie imagined him saying. I like him, but I wouldn’t mess with him. No way. He might not beat me up, but he’d guilt me until I cried. Then the dog lay down on his side and started licking his genitals, and Mackenzie stopped trying to put words in his head.

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