Chapter 265 – Post Show Talk
Once they were in the truck, Elizabeth gave Jack a huge hug and gave her congratulations to both Nathan and Doug as well. Jack gave her a hug back and then leaned over and gave her a kiss.
"Did you have a nice day?" Jack asked.
"I did." Elizabeth said. "I love to watch you jump and it was a chance to get to know Doug's sisters and mother better. I also had a nice conversation with Father Mark. He is definitely something special and I don't think you know how much you mean to him. Ask him about what he realized today. If he doesn't share, then I will tell you, but I think it would be better coming from him."
"I will do that." Jack said. "He is special and I am glad that he is a part of my life. I know that we are closer than most cousins, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I always looked at him as more of an older brother then I did a cousin anyway."
"I think he also saw you as a little brother." Doug said. "I mean he does have younger siblings, but he always seemed closer to you and maybe it was because of your shared love of horses and music."
"So how was it to run Athena in a competition?" Lee asked.
"She is an amazing horse." Nathan said. "I could never wish for a better horse. It was like she knew exactly what I wanted and I barely had to give her direction. It was more of me just holding on and letting her run."
A smile broke out across Jack's face.
"What is that smile for?" Nathan asked, seeing Jack in the mirror.
"How would you like Athena?" Jack asked.
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.
Nathan had to work hard to concentrate on the road and process what Jack was saying.
"I mean make Athena your horse, for good." Jack said. "You could keep her here or I could arrange for her to be in the city if you want."
"Really?" Nathan said. "But she was Laura's horse."
"And I have spoken to my grandparents about it." Jack said. "Even Father Mark agrees that she responds better to you than anyone else. I can easily transfer the papers to you. I would like to breed her, but we could co-own the foal."
"Can you hold off on that for now?" Nathan asked. "As much as I love the idea, I just want things to be more settled with my idiot brother-in-law. I don't want something to happen and him to find out about the horse. He destroys everything he touches."
"If that is what you want." Jack said. "I will wait, but as far as I am concerned, you are Athena's owner. She will just remain in my name for now. Also if your brother-in-law so much as looks at one of my horses, I will end him."
"John Parker." Doug hissed.
"No." Jack said. "I am sick of people thinking that they can do whatever they want and hurt the people that are important to me. I will not tolerate him making Nathan's life harder. That is why I had no problem adding his sister to my security detail. I also know about the offer that Grandpa John made to move them. Please try and get her to consider it. I have several buildings and if there isn't an opening, I will find one. Nathan is important and if helping his sister makes his life easier, so that he is more able to focus on his current job and the one I have in mind, then I will do it.
It isn't like I don't have the money or connections to make it happen. People are just going to have to learn that the days of me just taking a shot are over. I am not going out looking for a fight, but I have made the decision that I am going to defend myself and those that I care about. Why do you think I reacted the way I did when Tommy hit Frank? I am done. There are other things that Tommy has done. I am ready to have a conversation with my grandparents that involves laying down the law that Tommy is not welcome at the ranch when I am there."
"What did he do?" Doug asked. "I mean I know most of it, but is there something that I don't know?"
"He made Opal cry and then went whining to Grandpa that he had no right to let the little brat run around the stable." Jack said. "He was just mad that Opal was calling me Uncle Jack like the twins and Becky were. He told her that it was his family's ranch and children weren't allowed to run around in the stable and moreover they weren't allowed in the stable without a parent."
"What did you do?" Nathan asked.
"I assured Opal that I made the rules." Jack said. "And as long as her mother knew where she was, she was allowed to be in the stable to help Carlo. I also let her know that she was more than welcome to watch us practice in the sand ring as long as she remembered the rules."
"Good." Doug said.
"Nathan." Jack said. "Please think about the stuff for your sister. I meant when I said if there is anything that I can do. I want to keep you around and if that means taking care of your sister and niece then that is what I am going to do."
"I will try and talk to her." Nathan said. "But she is pretty independent. Also her work is close to where she lives."
"Then I will find her a new job." Jack said. "You said she likes to paint. I am sure I can find a place for her to have a studio as well. Also, since it sounds like Elizabeth and I are going to have security for a long time and I still have other plans for you, would you please consider taking my spot in the three bedroom apartment with Doug and Lee. I obviously will be in the two bedroom with Elizabeth. It will just make life easier. Devin is already working on moving some of my stuff over to the two bedroom and using the one bedroom for storage until we get back and sort things out."
"Told you." Doug said.
"I will have to give notice at my place." Nathan said. "I don't have a lot to move, but if Devin can take care of it and have it over at the new place by the time that we get back, it would be great."
"I will message him and let him know." Jack said. "You will just need to contact your landlord and give notice. If there are fines or penalties please let me know and I will take care of it. I will also make sure to have Devin bring in the cleaning crew to make sure you get your deposit back. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, but it can wait." Nathan said.
"Then we will sit down and talk later." Jack said. "Lee, are you okay with this?"
"I figured it would happen." Lee said. "Doug and I already warned Nathan you were going to do it. We will all be together on the same floor, so it is cool. I mean it will suck that Frank and Father Mark will be up here, but at least they will be close and we can see them."
"Depending on how things go." Jack said. "Gran was talking about Thanksgiving weekend up here."
"I said we would have to see about things." Elizabeth said.
"I already know that my brother and sister aren't coming home." Doug said. "So I don't know what Mom has planned."
"I know that my mother was talking about going to England to see Suzanna that week." Lee said. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go or not and she was okay with whatever I chose."
"Then we will figure it out later." Elizabeth said.
Jack then pulled out his phone and sent a text to Devin who texted back that he would talk to Nathan. Jack then looked up the guitar on his phone that he wanted. He quickly found what he was looking for. Lee happened to see what Jack was ordering.
"Who is that for?" Lee asked.
"Nathan." Jack said.
"What is for me?" Nathan asked.
"I am holding up my end of the deal." Jack said. "You beat me, so I am ordering you a vintage acoustic guitar."
"What deal?" Lee and Elizabeth both asked.
"When we were waiting for the jump-off." Doug said.
"We were bantering back and forth." Nathan said.
"Doug teased that if he beat Jack, he wanted a certain fancy buckle." Nathan said. "This was after Jack offered to get us something special if we beat him. Like an incentive to win. When he asked what I wanted, I told him a vintage guitar."
"I agreed." Jack said. "But I told him that I got to pick the guitar."
"Mind if I ask what you are getting him?" Doug asked.
"I just ordered a vintage Gibson acoustic pre-war SJ-200 Rosewood in sunburst." Jack said. "It should be here by Friday."
"That is called the King of the Flat-tops." Doug said.
"Exactly." Jack said. "It is made of Adirondack red spruce. It is one of the finest guitars that Gibson makes. It is beautiful and sturdy enough for everyday use. When he said he wanted a guitar, I knew exactly what I was going to order. Bill's acoustic is a Gibson and I love it. It is not this model, but in the same line."
"Thank you very much." Nathan said. "And as I said, I don't want to know what it costs. I am sure it would be more than I could ever spend on a guitar."
"I won't tell you." Jack said. "Just make sure you use it and love it."
"I will." Nathan said.
The truck got quiet again, as everyone could hear the emotion in Nathan's voice. Jack and Elizabeth both knew that Nathan hadn't received a lot growing up so to get a gift just because it was overwhelming. Jack got back on his phone and added a custom flight case for the guitar, since the one he ordered for Nathan only came with a soft case. He had flight cases for several of his guitars and wanted Nathan to have one as well, since he had plans for them to travel. Whether Nathan knew it or not, Jack planned for him to be around for a very long time as he had worked him in his long term plans for both Coal Creek and Thornton Thoroughbreds. Jack was thinking something similar to Andrew's role for his grandfather, but then was also thinking if Nathan wanted to be a trainer, he would make sure that happened as well.
… … … …
Once they were in the truck, Frank wanted to check in with Father Mark. He had seen him smiling and interacting with people, but he also saw the sadness in his eyes. Frank knew that it would take time for that to go away.
"How are you doing?" Frank asked.
"Pretty good." Father Mark said. "I think it helps that I haven't been thinking about what happened. But for the most part, I just want to forget and move forward."
"Unfortunately, you probably will never forget." Frank said. "But it will get easier with time. Just remember that you didn't do anything wrong and even though you saw a woman in that state, you didn't cause her harm and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I take it you have also spoken to John."
"I have." Father Mark said. "He said he spoke to the Sheriff and if they have more questions for me, they can contact the lawyer that John is providing since I won't be making any additional statements."
"Good." Frank said. "Just because you get a lawyer, doesn't mean you did anything wrong, it just means that you realized that you have rights and want to protect those rights. Police can lie to people and manipulate them to get a confession. Again, not that you did anything wrong, but with what you said, I have a feeling that at least one of those officers' minds were already made up when they spoke to you."
"John pretty much said the same thing." Father Mark said.
"I know it isn't the same." Frank said. "But I hope you know that you can talk to me. I have seen things in combat that would probably scare most people. So there is nothing you can tell me that will be a shock. If you don't want to talk, I also understand. But just know that I will be here for you. I also know that talking about it helps, but if you aren't ready, you aren't ready."
"Thank you." Father Mark said. "But I am not ready to talk about it, but when I am, you will be the person that I seek out. As much as I share with Jack, I just don't think he would fully understand. I know that you have seen things, especially being a combat vet."
"That is all I am asking." Frank said. "It might help to make an announcement at supper. Something simple like you witnessed the aftermath of a horrible crime and you are working at processing everything and you would appreciate it if people didn't ask you about it as you don't want to share the gruesome details with everyone."
"Think that will work?" Father Mark asked.
"Yes." Frank said. "Because if it doesn't you let me know and I will talk to the boys. I am sure that it will be those three that want to know. I think that the other adults will just want to know that you are doing okay and might just ask you that for a few days. I think as long as you assure Elizabeth and the twins that you are okay, that they will be fine."
"Then I think I will do that." Father Mark said.
"So can I ask you about something else?" Frank asked.
"Yes, but I don't know if I will be able to answer." Father Mark said.
"Fair enough." Frank said. "So why did you really have to go into town? I saw the paperwork from the clinic. I won't say anything, but I am worried. I am not asking to be nosy, but like I said I am worried. I also know that if there something wrong you are not going to be able to hide it from Jack for long."
Father Mark let out a deep sigh.
"It was a routine appointment." Father Mark said. "But the news wasn't all that great. My blood levels were a little off and he wants me to repeat them next week."
"What is going on?" Frank asked.
"My blood sugar is a little higher than he would like." Father Mark said. "So they ran an A1C and it was also a little high. I had eaten before labs were drawn, so that could be it but it is concerning enough that he wants me to do fasting labs."
"Understandable." Frank said. "What day do you have to do it?"
"Wednesday." Father Mark said.
"If you want me to go with you." Frank said. "Please let me know. Even if it is to just wait in the lobby and then maybe we can grab a bite to eat. Since I will be working up here, I had an idea that I would like to run past you."
"Let's see what the week holds." Father Mark said. "But we will find time to sit down and talk. Even if it is somewhere here on the ranch."
"Sounds good." Frank said.
They were both silent for a few minutes and then something occurred to Frank, but he waited until Father Mark had parked the truck to speak.
… … … …
When they got back to the ranch, the boys went to shower and change. Gran had told them to come up and have a snack once they were ready. Everyone else also went to change out of their Coal Creek shirts. James left his on, and headed down to the office to get some work done. John changed and headed to the office, with Peter and Andrew. There was still a few hours before supper and there was work that needed to be done. Gran understood why James and John needed to get work done, just because they took time to be there for the show, didn't mean that their other work stopped. Once Gran and Trish were changed, they set about getting things ready for everyone to have a snack. While most had eaten while at the show, Gran wanted to make sure that everyone had a chance to get something since they were back. She also wanted to talk a bit about the show with everyone.
… … … …