Toby Randall drew a deep breath as the huge house came into view. Home. Like the man without a country, Toby felt as if heâd finally been pardoned.
He hadnât told his parents he was coming. Or even more importantly, that he wanted to stayâ¦if he could.
When heâd received that last e-mail from his mother Sunday afternoon, sheâd passed on the Randall family news, as usual. It had only taken one sentence to change the direction of his life.
A shout brought him out of his thoughts.
âToby!â
He recognized his baby brother Joshâs voice from telephone calls home. But the gangly figure jumping up and down mustâve grown a foot since heâd last seen him.
Toby waved through the open window. After waving back, Josh turned and sprinted for the house.
By the time Toby had parked, his mother, B.J., met him at the back of his rig, throwing her arms around his neck. âToby! You didnât tell us you were coming,â B.J. protested. Since his mother had cut back her hours as a vet when she was pregnant with Josh eighteen years ago, heâd figured sheâd be home. It would give him time to visit with her and Aunt Mildred before his dad got home.
âHi, Mom. Thought Iâd surprise you.â
âIâm so glad you did. How long can you stay? Whereâs your next rodeo?â She was patting his cheeks, tears in her eyes.
He knew his travels upset her and Mildred. He knew sheâd be happy for him to stay here. But she wasnât the reason heâd stayed away. He hadnât been ready to explain himself. He hoped he wouldnât have to now.
âIâm taking a little break,â he muttered, hugging her even closer. âWhereâs Aunt Mildred?â
âShe and Red are taking their afternoon siesta.â
When he, his mom and Aunt Mildred had moved to the Randall ranch twenty-three years ago, Mildred had taken on the role of housekeeperâor assistant housekeeper to Red, the cowboy who took care of the four Randall bachelors. Toby couldnât imagine those two being anywhere else, especially since theyâd married. Theyâd also played the role of grandparents to all the Randallsâ¦and him.
B.J. linked her arm with his and began tugging him toward the house.
âMom, Iâve got to unload my horses.â
âOh. Of course. Iâll help you. Any injuries?â
âCocoa got kicked by a mangy steer, but I think heâs healing all right.â
The two of them unloaded the geldings, and B.J. was feeling Cocoaâs leg when the back door slammed open and Mildred and Red, followed by Josh, spilled out of the house. âHey, whatâs Josh doing at home?â Toby suddenly asked. âHasnât school started yet?â
âNo. Heâs in college now, you know, or will be. Heâd be out with your dad, but heâs getting over the flu. Iâm making him take it easy one more day.â
By the time B.J. finished explaining, Red and Mildred swept him into a group hug and plied him with questions as his mother had.
âI called Dad!â Josh announced. âHeâs on his way.â
âYou shouldnât have interrupted his work,â Toby protested.
âHa!â B.J. snapped, with a grin. âIf Josh hadnât called him, I would. You know he complains when he doesnât get as much time with you as we do.â
Toby gave silent thanks for the father whoâd raised himâJake Randall. He never made Toby feel like a second-class Randall. The two of themâJake, thirty-five, and Toby, fourâhad become friends at once. The first thing Jake had done after marrying his mom had been to adopt Toby.
He cleared his throat, afraid someone would notice the tears in his eyes. Damn, it was good to be home.
AFTER PUTTING his horses in a corral where they could move around after having been in the trailer since five that morning, Toby followed the others into the big kitchen where heâd spent much of his life. Mildred immediately poured him a cup of freshly made coffee and added a plate of her cookies. Heâd loved those cookies as a child, and he still did.
With a casual shrug of his shoulders, Toby asked, âWhere is everyone?â
âArenât we enough?â Red asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
âSure,â Toby said heartily, hoping no one noticed his consternation, and took a big gulp of coffee.
âYour sister is already back in Laramie at school. Itâs her senior year,â his mother said, taking pity on him. âYou remember Caroline has decided to get a medical degree? She and Victoria and Jessica went down early to redecorate their apartment. And Lizzie is out. The twins and Jim are with the guys getting some work done. Jim and Josh are going down to Laramie this weekend. Drew and Casey are in class.â She looked at Red. âDid I forget anyone?â