Read Online Blood Lines by Mel Odom - Free Book Online Page A

Father’s Day,” Don went on. “I thought maybe you’d like to spend part of it with me.”
    â€œYou’re here, ain’t you?”
    â€œAnd my family,” Don went on patiently.
    â€œSon, we’ve had this conversation a hundred times if we’ve had it once.” Tyrel stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray. “Comes a time in a man’s life when he cuts loose from his family to make one of his own. A man can’t ride two broncs. You gotta choose one or the other. I think you’ll find that in the book of Ecclesiastes.” He paused. “Personally, I think you made a fine choice in leaving. You married a pretty little gal, and you got two fine boys and a daughter. You got your family.”
    â€œThey’d like to see more of their granddaddy.”
    â€œYou and yours are welcome to come on out to the ranch any time. You know that. I’ve told you enough. And you’re coming out there enough that them boys are learning to ride good enough. Might even be as good as Shel someday.”
    â€œWe’d like to have you to supper after the service.” During Don’s eleven years of marriage, his daddy had never once stepped inside his house other than to help repair or install something. Even that was done after protest, after Tyrel became convinced his son really couldn’t manage it on his own.
    Occasionally, if he moved fast enough, Don managed to lay out steaks or burgers on the grill and get a meal together before Tyrel could leave. But despite Don’s best efforts at being cordial, he’d known his daddy wasn’t comfortable being there.
    He just didn’t know why that was so. Tyrel liked small children, and they liked him. Don’s sons and daughter adored their grandpa, and he doted on them when they were around. He just kept his distance.
    â€œI’m planning on stopping by the truck stop on my way home. They got that coconut pie I like.”
    â€œYou can always stop by there on your way home. After you have supper with us.”
    â€œI already got my plans in order.”
    â€œChange them. It’s Father’s Day.”
    Tyrel turned and looked at his son. In that unflinching gaze, Don felt somehow diminished, like he was looking at something that would always and forever be larger than he was. He was ashamed that he felt this way in front of his daddy. He didn’t like feeling weak and helpless, and he truly believed that God had put this work before him.
    â€œI’m not changing my plans,” Tyrel said. “They’re good plans. They fit me. I don’t plan my life around you, and you ought not plan yours around me.”
    â€œIt’s just supper, Daddy.”
    â€œI thought it was church, then supper.”
    â€œChurch won’t last too long tonight. I want to get everybody home early.”
    Tyrel sipped his beer. After a minute, he shook his head. “No thanks. I already got my mind made up. Don’t mean to not be social, but I got a lot to think about.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhere to move them cows. Gonna be hot and dry come August. Pasture might not survive. Hay’s expensive if you have to feed it during the summer. I don’t want to do that.”
    â€œYou get through every year.”
    â€œIt gets harder. Ain’t like that job you do. Just memorize a few lines of Scripture and quote ’em at people now and again.”
    Don knew that if he’d been Shel and had just heard his work tossed off so casually, an argument would have broken out then and there. Shel had always been defensive around their daddy.
    â€œYes, sir,” Don said instead. He’d always found it easier to keep the peace than to fight with his brother or his daddy.
    â€œThere’s a science to ranching,” his daddy said. “A man that don’t pay attention and learn what he needs to survive ends up sacking groceries somewhere. I’m too old to do