Page 47 of Axel
“You look like you had been dragged through the mud and hit by a bulldozer. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Axel had tried to sleep while on the flight over, but every time he closed his eyes, he kept seeing her sprawled out on top of him.
“You had me ditching everything and running here.” Lowering himself into the rocker next to William, Axel glared at him. “Don’t tell me it was you crying wolf again.”
“Relax boy.” William blew smoke in the air, light blue eyes squinted as he stared out at the rugged terrain. He had been born on this ranch, had seen his granddaddy and daddy work their asses off to make it work.
But he had failed them. He had spent too much time riding the range and not enough time courting Mary Jo who had been sweet on him for a long time.
By the time he decided that he should settle down, it had been too late. Mary Jo had married his best friend. He had lost his chance. Afterwards, he had been too tired and not motivated enough to start looking around for someone else.
“The doctors said I should get my affairs in order.” He murmured now.
Axel glanced at him sharply. William Gamble was ornery and a hard taskmaster. But he had profited from being with him, here on the ranch where he had learned things he would not have done otherwise.
“The cancer is back.”
The old man nodded. “Pour me some of that scotch, will you?”
“Aren’t you taking medication?”
“As far as I know you don’t have a medical degree, and you are not my damn wife. Pour yourself one too, you look like hell.”
William watched as the young man shoved out of the rocker and went to grab the bottle from the table in one corner of the porch. The sun was going down, the large orange and ruby red disk making its slow descent behind the mountains. Gamble Ranch was set on an incline and looked down on the spread of land surrounding the building.
Operations had been scaled down drastically a few years ago when William had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had gone into remission soon after spending thousands on a clinical treatment and for a while it looked as if he was going to bounce back.
Handing him the glass, Axel strode over to the strong column. Leaning against it, he turned to look at the wizened old man. A pang went through his heart when he noticed the additional lines on his face and the weary stoop of his thin shoulders.
“I am eighty-six and I feel every inch of my age.” He remarked as if reading Axel’s thoughts. “I am tired and just want to hang it all up.” Taking a sip of his drink, he eyed Axel thoughtfully. “You are the closest thing to a son I have, and I made arrangements with those bloodsuckers that call themselves lawyers. You get everything.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do with a ranch? Especially one as broken down as this one?”
Instead of taking umbrage, William grinned at him. “The property was just appraised a week ago and I would have you know that it is still valuable. Sell it, break up pieces of the land, if that’s what you want to do.
There is an outfit in Dallas who has been sniffing around. They have plans to build luxury apartments and according to them - this is the perfect spot.”
He shrugged. “I don’t care a damn. I am the only surviving Gamble and the name is going to die with me.” His sharp gaze landed on Axel. “You should do well to give thoughts to your own life. Why the hell are you still single? I know you were involvedwith that greedy gal; you introduced me to a year ago, but she was never for you.
Heed my advice and find someone you can settle down and have a life with. You have been running all over the world, making your fortune, but you need someone to warm your bed at nights. Take it from me, son. Loneliness is a bitch.”
Chapter 12
He took one of the horses out. After a supper of chili, his long-time housekeeper Maria had made up for them, Axel declined the offer of coffee and whiskey. He told the old man he wanted to take a look at the land, but in reality, he just wanted to get some air.
He also suspected that William had more than just a casual relationship with the woman. He had seen the subtle nuances, and the intimate looks passed between the two. He was happy that the old man was not entirely alone.
The air was bracing, the crisp breeze seeping through his jacket as he gave the animal its head. The land was slightly uneven in places and several times he had to pull at the horse’s rein to avoid being unhorsed.
Tugging on the reins, he brought the animal to a halt among the towering trees. The wind whistling through the leaves was kind of eerie. Vaulting out of the saddle with an expertise borne of experience, he looped the reins over a strong sapling.
“Easy boy.” Running a gloved hand over its glossy flanks, he quieted the restless horse absently as he surveyed the denseness of the area. William had not exaggerated when he said he had sold most of the livestock.
Aside from a few cattle grazing on the hill and the horses in the stable, there wasn’t anything much to see. It was a private area with the closest neighbor several miles away. Axel had been here when the place was running full tilt, and it was strange and extremely sad to see it like this.
Moving away from the animal, he strode towards the pretty lake that had always fascinated him. Would she love a place like this? The thought popped inside his mind before he could stop it.
No, she wouldn’t, he decided firmly. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he rocked back on his heels. She was a city girl. He had seen it stamped all over her. And had heard it from the conversations they had. But Christ, he missed her!