Read Online Circle Eight Millennium: Lazarus by Beth Williamson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Beth Williamson
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reverberating through the barn. The gelding side-stepped but Pa laid his hand on the beast’s neck to calm it. “I’m tired of hearing that I spoiled you, gave you everything instead of making you work for it.”
Laz scowled. “I mucked my share of stalls.”
His father pointed a callused finger at him. “Shut up and listen. You’re playing the poor little boy who fucked up his life. That’s bullshit. You made some mistakes, we all do. That’s being human. From what I can see, you’ve matured into a responsible, strong man who spends his life in public service. Don’t tell me you don’t deserve a second chance.”
Laz’s ears rang from his father’s words. They sank in, one at a time.
“Pa, I was a little shit.”
“You made me plum crazy at times, but you always had a good heart. You got that from your Mama.” Pa’s gaze almost burned him in its intensity. “What you got from me is a stubborn mule head. It doesn’t matter if you don’t live here, or that you keep on being a ranger. What matters is that you stop running from who you are.”
When had his father become such a philosopher? He’d always been busy running the ranch and bellowing at everyone when they didn’t move fast enough. God knew Laz had gotten yelled at enough. He had left all that behind though, hadn’t he?
Pa was right. Laz wasn’t the same boy he was when he’d left the Circle Eight. Staying away had been to avoid the shadows of his past, to run from whom he’d been.
“I’m not going to make you stay. You stay if you want to. Leave if you got to. I expect you’ll help Beatrice and catch the son of a bitch who did this.” Pa picked up the curry brush again. “No matter what you think, I’m proud of you, boy.”
The words, ones he craved to hear for so long, settled on Laz’s shoulders and he took a few moments to absorb them. He’d spent more than a third of his life alone, without kind words or affection. His father offered him the return of the one thing he’d left behind.
Family.
“I can exercise the horses on my days off.” He’d spoken before he realized the words were ready to be said. Then another feeling rushed through him.
Relief.
“Good. Good.” Pa wasn’t one to be emotional, but he loved his family with a ferociousness that hadn’t dimmed over time. No matter the colossal mistakes his children had made. “You best go sort out Beatrice’s situation then. If I had a thief at my house I want to know about it so I can cut his balls off.”
Laz found himself smiling and it felt good. No, it felt great. “Yes, sir. I’ll be back on Sunday then.”
Pa turned and held out his hand. The big paw that had swallowed Laz’s smaller hand, had supported him when he’d stumbled, picked him up when he’d fallen, now reached out when Lazarus, like the character of old, returned from beyond.
After a long, hard handshake, Laz left the barn shaken. His nerves danced along his skin. What had just happened? Had his father really given him the salvation he’d ached for?
Atonement. He’d never expected it.
Chapter Six
‡
B eatrice sat at Mr. Graham’s desk, availing herself of the pens and paper that were stacked on top. She’d gone through the file he’d left her and made notes as she looked through details.
When Laz came back in the room, she glanced up at him. He held his hat in one hand, his expression odd.
“Everything okay, Ranger?”
“Yeah, it is.” He gestured to the papers spread out in front of her. “I should be doing the investigating here.”
“I’m enjoying the hunt. It’s exhilarating, isn’t it?” She tapped the pad of paper. “I found evidence that three of the five business owners attended the expo. Three! The other two could have been at a business event like that. Someone is targeting them. Now we have a list of who else was there.”
She felt a thrill in finding a clue, like a real detective or cop. The store had been her entire world, for nearly her whole
Laz scowled. “I mucked my share of stalls.”
His father pointed a callused finger at him. “Shut up and listen. You’re playing the poor little boy who fucked up his life. That’s bullshit. You made some mistakes, we all do. That’s being human. From what I can see, you’ve matured into a responsible, strong man who spends his life in public service. Don’t tell me you don’t deserve a second chance.”
Laz’s ears rang from his father’s words. They sank in, one at a time.
“Pa, I was a little shit.”
“You made me plum crazy at times, but you always had a good heart. You got that from your Mama.” Pa’s gaze almost burned him in its intensity. “What you got from me is a stubborn mule head. It doesn’t matter if you don’t live here, or that you keep on being a ranger. What matters is that you stop running from who you are.”
When had his father become such a philosopher? He’d always been busy running the ranch and bellowing at everyone when they didn’t move fast enough. God knew Laz had gotten yelled at enough. He had left all that behind though, hadn’t he?
Pa was right. Laz wasn’t the same boy he was when he’d left the Circle Eight. Staying away had been to avoid the shadows of his past, to run from whom he’d been.
“I’m not going to make you stay. You stay if you want to. Leave if you got to. I expect you’ll help Beatrice and catch the son of a bitch who did this.” Pa picked up the curry brush again. “No matter what you think, I’m proud of you, boy.”
The words, ones he craved to hear for so long, settled on Laz’s shoulders and he took a few moments to absorb them. He’d spent more than a third of his life alone, without kind words or affection. His father offered him the return of the one thing he’d left behind.
Family.
“I can exercise the horses on my days off.” He’d spoken before he realized the words were ready to be said. Then another feeling rushed through him.
Relief.
“Good. Good.” Pa wasn’t one to be emotional, but he loved his family with a ferociousness that hadn’t dimmed over time. No matter the colossal mistakes his children had made. “You best go sort out Beatrice’s situation then. If I had a thief at my house I want to know about it so I can cut his balls off.”
Laz found himself smiling and it felt good. No, it felt great. “Yes, sir. I’ll be back on Sunday then.”
Pa turned and held out his hand. The big paw that had swallowed Laz’s smaller hand, had supported him when he’d stumbled, picked him up when he’d fallen, now reached out when Lazarus, like the character of old, returned from beyond.
After a long, hard handshake, Laz left the barn shaken. His nerves danced along his skin. What had just happened? Had his father really given him the salvation he’d ached for?
Atonement. He’d never expected it.
Chapter Six
‡
B eatrice sat at Mr. Graham’s desk, availing herself of the pens and paper that were stacked on top. She’d gone through the file he’d left her and made notes as she looked through details.
When Laz came back in the room, she glanced up at him. He held his hat in one hand, his expression odd.
“Everything okay, Ranger?”
“Yeah, it is.” He gestured to the papers spread out in front of her. “I should be doing the investigating here.”
“I’m enjoying the hunt. It’s exhilarating, isn’t it?” She tapped the pad of paper. “I found evidence that three of the five business owners attended the expo. Three! The other two could have been at a business event like that. Someone is targeting them. Now we have a list of who else was there.”
She felt a thrill in finding a clue, like a real detective or cop. The store had been her entire world, for nearly her whole
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