Chapter 9

Ezra pulled his trailer and truck in next to Vin's. The tall buildings of Reno fanned out behind the indoor rodeo arena, the empty space surrounding the arena filled with campers, trucks, horses, and cowboys.

"I believe it would be best if we kept our attempts at in-vehicle karaoke to ourselves," he said as he spotted Buck over near his oversized, outdated beast of a camper he and JD called home.

Kaylee looked at him and bit her lip.

Ezra steeled himself. "You spoke to Vin this morning."

She winced apologetically. "I just said we were having a lot of fun and you have a really nice voice. Because you do, Ezra!"

Ezra turned off the truck, saw Buck realize they had pulled in and call for someone else. "Maybe we could keep the nature of the artists and songs to ourselves, then."

She gave him a pained grimace.

Right, too late for that, too. There was no doubt in his mind he would never live this down. But, thinking of Kaylee, singing her heart out and laughing next to him as they drove, he decided it was worth whatever good-natured mocking he was due to face.

"Trouble," he said, quoting the one word from the first song she had turned on.

She gave him an unrepentant look.

With a smile, Ezra gave her a lingering kiss. When he pulled away, her eyes were still closed, her lips willing. It was getting more and more difficult to share a trailer with her out on the couch.

He took a steadying breath and focused his wayward thoughts on the men now approaching the truck. He got out, going around to the other side to help Kaylee out.

"This is quite the welcoming committee," Ezra said as Buck, Chris, and Vin approached.

"You got a visitor," Buck said to Ezra after giving Kaylee a tip of his hat.

Chris didn't beat around the bush. "Maude's here."

Everything in Ezra stilled. Turned to emotionless stone. He spoke without looking at Kaylee. "I assume you'll be checking on your horse." It wasn't a suggestion and Kaylee must have heard that.

"Ok…" she said uncertainly, looking between the men.

Ezra could see Buck silently telling him to say something to Kaylee. He forced a smile that didn't betray the turmoil of dread, fear, and anger his mother's visit stirred. "I'm sure I'll see you later." It was the best he could do.

Kaylee's brow wrinkled in worry for him, but she nodded.

"C'mon," Vin said. Kaylee gave Ezra a last look, then went with Vin.

"Where is she?" Ezra asked, as if his mother was visiting for nothing more than to see her only child. As if he wanted to see her.

"Ezra," Chris said.

Ezra cut off whatever he was going to say. "Thank you for relaying the information, Mr. Larabee. I'll go find my mother now and get reacquainted."

Chris gave a short nod. "We'll be around for drinks later if you need."

Buck clapped a hand on Ezra's shoulder and gave a squeeze of silent support. Ezra nodded a goodbye to both men and headed into the arena, where he knew he would find Maude Standish.

His mother was seated in the front row of stadium seating, laughing gaily at something Orrin Travis said. She leaned forward and rested a hand on his forearm before she spotted Ezra. Saying something that made Orrin Travis smile, she stood and hurried toward Ezra.

"My darling boy," she said warmly, her southern accent honeyed. She opened her arms as she approached.

Ezra obligingly gave his mother a welcoming hug, careful not to muss her hair, wrinkle her clothing, or hold on a second too long.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Mother?" he asked.

Maude began walking, leading Ezra away from Mr. Travis. She waited until they were back outside, in the sunshine, before she spoke. "Did you know that Orrin Travis is going to be producing the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this year?"

"I did." Ezra didn't bother to tell her he had several bulls who would be earning him money in the Finals.

"And he's willing to pay a very handsome sum for anyone who provides entertainment, vendors, any number of things." Maude's eyes gleamed and she smiled eagerly.

Ezra's stomach tightened. "No," he said firmly.

"Oh, but he is," Maude said.

"I mean, no, you're not going to swindle Travis," Ezra clarified, his voice hardening. "He's a good man and doesn't deserve to be fleeced by you."

Maude waved a hand in the air. "Oh for heaven's sake, Ezra. I'm not going to 'fleece' anyone. You contract with Mr. Travis weekly."

Ezra let out a laugh of disbelief, bitterness edging out the humor. "Yes, and I actually provide him with the animals he pays me for. I'm not going to take a deposit for providing trick riders, or fireworks, or whatever you have in mind, then not show up."

Maude's eyes hardened. "Mr. Travis can afford it," she said, her sweet tone at odds with the harsh look in her eyes. She eyed Ezra's trailer and something caught her eye, her interest, and had her narrowing her eyes like a cat watching a mouse. "Who is that?" she asked, steel underneath her sweet sounding words.

Ezra looked back toward his trailer and held back a groan. Kaylee was making her way into the trailer, her limp pronounced without any support to help her through each step.

"She's just a competitor," Ezra said, feeling as if being able to bluff his way through had never been so important as now.

Maude barely listened, picking up her pace. "Then what is she doing in your camper?"

It never failed to amaze Ezra at how quickly and gracefully his mother could move in her sky-high heels across any terrain. He nearly jogged to keep pace with her.

Maude gave him an appraising look as she ascended the steps into the camper. Ezra didn't have time for a steadying breath. He had to follow quickly after Maude, his only thought protecting Kaylee from whatever Maude intended.

Kaylee was seated on the floor, her big dog at her side, digging through her bag, when Maude and Ezra came in.

"Oh!" Maude said, sounding surprised. "I didn't realize anyone was in here." Her ladylike drawl thickened with sweetness.

Kaylee glanced to Ezra before giving his mother a genuine smile and trying to stand. Ezra moved to her side and helped her up, glancing at the painful abstract of leftover bruising on her knee.

"I'm Kaylee," she said, holding out her hand. "You must be Ezra's mom."

Maude hesitated, just long enough to leave Kaylee's hand extended, waiting for Maude to take it, and let Kaylee know just who was in the position of power in this introduction. Kaylee's smile faltered just before Maude finally relented and took her hand in a brief clasp.

"Maude Standish," Maude said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. Her gaze swept over Kaylee from head to toe. Ezra knew exactly what his mother was thinking about Kaylee's worn boots, cut off denim shorts and faded t-shirt. He also knew Maude wouldn't take the time to appreciate Kaylee's quick smile, compassionate heart, or good-nature. He shifted slightly so he was blocking Kaylee from Maude.

"How long will you be in Reno, Mother?" Ezra asked tightly.

Maude pursed her lips briefly. "Well, I was trying to set a few business deals in motion. But it appears my son has lost his nerve, as well as his senses." She flicked a glance at Kaylee again.

Ezra's shoulders tensed, but he didn't respond.

Maude lowered her voice, but continued as if Kaylee wasn't there. Or, worse, as if Kaylee didn't even matter. "It was enough of an embarrassment when you decided to run around the West like a common cowboy, competing on horseback," she said. "But to turn your back, not only on your own mother, when I come to you in good faith with a solid business proposition, but also any common sense and all I've taught you…" Her mouth thinned into an ugly line. "You're a disappointment, Ezra."

Kaylee shifted behind him. Remembering her fury at him for not disclosing enough about himself, Ezra could only imagine what she would unleash on his mother. He turned and gave her a small smile. Nothing was wrong, all was well. Ezra Standish didn't get hurt.

"If you'll excuse us, Miss Timms, my mother and I need a moment."

Kaylee's eyes glinted like polished jade and he could feel the anger vibrating off her in waves as she looked at his mother. But she thankfully just gave him a nod, reaching out to catch his hand in a reassuring grip, before leaving with a last look at Maude.

As soon as the door closed behind Kaylee, Maude spoke.

"Unbelievable," she murmured. "If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed it."

"What, Mother?" Ezra asked, suddenly tired of it all. "That I can be happy?"

Maude gave a small sniff of disdain. "That you, of all people, would be taken for a ride by nothing more than common white trash."

Lava slowly seeped through Ezra's veins. "Don't speak that way." Anyone else would have retreated at the quiet threat in Ezra's voice.

"Oh honestly, Ezra," Maude said scornfully. "She's cute, I'll give you that. And you're a young man, but I taught you how to read people, how to use people to your advantage to get what you deserve, and you get used by some cowgirl?"

"No one is being used." His jaw was so tight, there was a chance it would fracture.

"Really?" Maude lifted one professionally tinted brow. "So this girl is paying rent?"

Ezra didn't answer.

"She is doing something for you in exchange for what you provide? Besides the obvious, of course," Maude amended with a sarcastic smile.

Ezra took a step toward his mother. "It's time for you to go," he said dangerously close to losing the veneer of calm.

Maude's face was icy, the side she had presented only to those who scorned her. "I'm leaving, son," she said. "But I think it would be in your best interest to listen to me. You're too much of a fool for this girl to see it, but she is hiding something. I taught you to read people like a book, and she all but writes her pages in flashing neon. When you come to your senses, you'll see her for what she really is."

In a flash, Ezra took the last step that brought him within reach of his mother and grabbed her arm. His own smile was subzero. "I think it would be best if this was our last visit…Mother."

Fear flashed across Maude's face before she concealed it. "I'll be very busy in the coming year," she said, extracting her arm from Ezra's grip. "I wouldn't be surprised if I don't have a chance to contact you in the foreseeable future."

She swept out the door, her cloying perfume lingering in the air behind her. Ezra clenched his fists, his breaths coming in short gasps. He trembled violently with leftover rage, not just from today, but from years of his mother's schemes and manipulations.

He slammed a fist against the wall. Again, and again, until his fist was bleeding.

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Kaylee stood outside Ezra's camper. She wanted to go back in there and give that…that…ugh, she couldn't even think of a word vile enough for Ezra's mother. The way she had talked to Ezra. Telling her own son he was a disappointment? Kaylee swung around from where she had paced away from the trailer. She was going to go in there and tell that …that…woman what kind of man Ezra Standish was. And that he could never be a disappointment.

"Whoa there."

Vin's level voice and easy hand on her shoulder stopped Kaylee. Kaylee whirled on him. "Vin, I got to get in there. That awful woman! Ezra doesn't deserve—I can't believe the way she talks to him!"

Vin cut off her almost incoherent ranting with a silent nod.

"You know? Then why in the world isn't…doesn't…" she sputtered, not sure what anyone was supposed to do, but unable to stand the thought of what Ezra was hearing…what he had grown up his whole life hearing.

"Guessin' you had some of those same words growin' up," Vin said softly.

Kaylee clamped her mouth shut and looked away. Vin tucked his hands in his pockets. The sounds of the horses in their corral near them whickered to one another before Vin spoke again. "I heard some of those things myself."

Kaylee shot him a look.

"Foster care didn't always mean the nicest folks," he said wryly.

Kaylee's heart broke at the thought of this gentle man as a child being treated the way Ezra was. The way she had been.

The door swung open and Maude's gaze landed on Kaylee. She sashayed down the steps and toward Kaylee, her eyes gleaming as bright as the diamonds she wore.

"Kaylee," Maude purred.

Kaylee stiffened.

Maude gave Vin a winning smile, then leaned in close enough that only Kaylee could hear her words. "You may have pulled the wool over my son's eyes, but not mine." Her voice lowered further to a hiss. "I know you're a liar, and whatever it is that you're hiding will come out. Ezra is too smart to fall for whatever game you're playing for long."

She straightened up, gave Kaylee a winning smile and raised her voice enough that Vin could hear. "A pleasure meeting you."

Kaylee didn't have a chance to react before Maude sauntered off, a sultry wink for Vin on her way past.

Vin gave Maude an obligatory nod and tip of his hat before turning his back on her to go towards Ezra.

Kaylee hurried after Vin. He slowed enough to help her up the steps.

"Aw hell, Ezra," Vin cursed as soon as he got inside.

Kaylee tried to see around Vin. Ezra was at the sink, running water over his hand. Vin went to the small freezer and pulled out a frozen steak, slapping it over Ezra's knuckles.

Kaylee expected Ezra to make some comment about the waste of a perfectly good steak, but he barely acknowledged Vin.

"Ezra?" Kaylee asked. She got close enough to run her hand over his back and feel his muscles tense at her touch, but he didn't respond.

Vin nudged Ezra toward the couch. Over his shoulder he quietly instructed Kaylee. "Go get Josiah."

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