Let me love you

5

Mary wrapped her jacket a little tighter around herself as the cool morning air sent a chill down her spine. She admired the horses in front of her, all of which were from good breeding and each contained their own special talents. "Travis knows how to pick a horse," Mary commented. Rip watched the five million dollar horse spin a hole in the ground. "He sure does," Rip murmured in awe. Mary chuckled at Rip practically drooling over the animal. "Dad we can't afford it," Jamie added in. John turned forcefully to face his now oldest son and looked him straight in the eye. "Don't ever tell me what I can and cannot afford. You understand me?" Mary was surprised at John's tone and carefully placed a hand on his back. "John," she warned cautiously. John glanced back at her before sighing and turning back away from Jamie. Jamie seemed startled by it all, but more so at how Mary seemed to rein his father in. Jamie turned to walk away but froze when he saw Monica and Tate but Kayce no where to be found. "Dad," Jamie said gaining the older man's attention. John and Mary both turned and Mary grew concerned at the look on Monica's face. Mary had briefly met her at Lee's funeral and instantly liked the young woman. "Hi Grandpa!" Tate greeted as the trio approached. "Hey, Grandson." John ruffled Tate's hair back. "How your stitches feeling?" He asked. "Good! Mary did a good job!" Tate grinned, causing a smile to form on Mary's face. "John, can I talk to you?" Monica broke through. John nodded and guided her away from the group. "Is everything okay?" Mary asked Tate gently. Tate looked up at her and shrugged. "My dad got arrested. I don't know why." Mary sighed and looked over at Jamie. Jamie shook his head knowing the reasoning behind it. "Well, good thing your uncle Jamie is a lawyer," Mary told the boy and Tate quickly shot his uncle a hopeful look. "Jamie!" John called him over. "I'll get your dad back," Jamie told Tate and walked away. Jamie went off into the helicopter. Mary smiled gently at Monica as she approached. "Are you two going to wait here for Kayce?" Mary asked. Monica glanced back at John before looking at Mary. "If that is alright." John nodded. "You're family. It's more than alright. Come on, Grandson." Tate ran off after John. Mary looked at Monica. "Would you like to go inside? Gator made fresh iced tea." Monica offered the woman a small smile before nodding. They went inside and got their drinks before taking a seat on the front porch. Mary smiled as she watched John and Tate throw rocks into the horse trough. Monica stood by the railing watching as well. "You're not like the man in the stories I've heard," she told him. John paused and glanced back at her. He sighed and approached the porch. "Well, Monica, being a grandparent gives me a second chance. Allows me to do the things I wished I had done with my own children. I can't change the past though." Mary watched John carefully before turning to look out at the land around her. She often thought about what kind of parent she would have been if given the chance to raise her child. Mary knew she would have been patient and loving, never laying a hand on him. She knew for certain she would be fiercely protective, never allowing anyone else to hurt her baby, especially in a way that she had been hurt so many times before. She wondered if Jamie would ever settle down and have a family. What kind of father he'd be. John noticed the far off look in Mary's eyes. He walked onto the porch and over to her while Monica went down to Tate. John sat down beside her, reaching over and grabbing her hand. She snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at John. She gave him a small smile as she gently squeezed his hand. "Where'd you go?" He asked quietly. The sound of the helicopter roaring over head allowed her to not dive into her thoughts. "Just thinking," she replied softly before standing up. She walked to the top of the porch stairs and felt at ease seeing Jamie step out of the helicopter alongside Kayce. John worried about Mary bottling everything in, never opening up to him about her past or talking about what she has been through. He walked past her and down to his sons. Mary sighed at the manipulative ways John was trying to force Kayce and his family back on the ranch. Mary wasn't afraid of John, but some of his characteristics concerned her. His idea of the ranch above all else made her feel uneasy as she clung desperately to the ideal of keeping his family together- to create the family she wished she had. Mary retreated back into the house, hiding away for the rest of the afternoon, not wanting to become entangled in the web John was stringing.
***
Dinner was an awkward affair, Mary trying desperately to make conversation without stepping on any toes. She could sense the tension radiating off the three other adults, her having no clue that John had gotten the local university to offer Monica a job. "How about you all stay the night here? It's getting late. Mary and I can keep Tate and you two can have the guest house." Mary looked at John surprised. Kayce glanced at Monica who seemed uncomfortable with the idea. Tate grinned at hearing the suggestion. "Please! I promise I'll be good for them." Kayce sighed, "alright."
***
Next thing Mary knew Tate was cuddled up in bed with John reading a story. Her heart felt full of love watching the two of them. She then heard a door slam and a loud scream filled the halls. Mary jumped and turned to find Jamie in the doorway. "What happened?" She asked him worried. "Dad, we should send her back to Salt Lake. I can handle things here." Mary looked at Jamie, taking in his facial features as if she were memorizing them. "I need Beth here. She can be something you can never be: evil." At hearing that Mary's blood turned cold. She turned to look back at John. Jamie left the room and Mary looked over at Tate. "Ready for bed?" She asked him. He nodded and rubbed his eyes. "Mary-" John started but she ignored him. "Can I sleep in here?" Tate asked. Mary nodded. "Of course you can," she said gently and started tucking him in as he laid on her side. "Do you have kids Mary?" Tate asked sleepily. "No, honey," she replied. "Why not?" He inquired. "Because God decided I wasn't meant to," she said quietly before kissing his forehead. She stood and glanced at John. "Goodnight," she said quietly. John quickly got out of the bed and followed her to the bedroom door. "Mary, it's not what you think. I'm doing it to protect him! But, I need someone to fight fierce and Beth can do it!" Mary shook her head. "Did you ever stop to think why Beth is so hard? Why she is so cruel to the world?" Mary questioned and John just stared at her dumbfounded. "Because the world was cruel to her," Mary said before leaving the master bedroom. She went to her old bedroom but did not sleep a wink that night.