A Wild Raven

COAL

The new girl is pretty. I’ll give her that.

But everything else? Hmm… She seems a little slow: not hearing my mother speak, going through my stuff in the cabin. Maybe she has some intellectual disabilities.

I’m annoyed, to be honest. Yet again, Aunt Jean and Uncle Grey convinced my mom and dad to have strangers on the ranch.

I’m not a big fan of it.

I help take off Galvin’s saddle and bridle before I set Raven with hosing him down, giving him a carrot, and getting to know him. I need her out of the house so I can talk to my mother.

I come in through the side of the homestead, straight into the kitchen. Before I can take off my boots, my mom rushes over and gives me a big hug. I rarely spend time in the house, so it’s a surprise to see me voluntarily come into the kitchen.

They don’t understand. It’s hard for me to be around them. All the family does is talk about how much they miss my boys, Willem, Jonas, and River.

I miss them too.

My ex-wife, Cat, took them, but we made an agreement that I had not discussed with my family. It’s personal. And I didn’t want them possibly swaying the outcome.

I learned a long time ago that Cat is self-centered. But when she got pregnant, even though it was an accident, I wanted my child, and she wanted a husband.

It didn’t surprise me that we ended up divorced. Throughout the many hours of meetings with lawyers and judges, I was determined to end up with my sons. They adored me just as much as I adored them.

So, Cat and I negotiated.

Well…rather, the narcissistic bitch laid out her terms.

She would have the boys grow up with her, out of the country, in her home city. But when they reached high school age, they’d come to me.

Cat always expressed her disdain for teenage boys and their moods through puberty, so she wanted to palm them off to me when they aged out of childhood.

I only agreed because there was a benefit to me.

They will turn eighteen with me, and then they can decide if they want to live on the ranch or return to their mother’s city lifestyle. I already know the answer to that.

Even with the plan in place, it is painful talking about my sons.

And everyone in the family wants to talk to me about the injustice of having my boys ripped away.

Still, I have the plan in writing. My own lawyers have agreed that if I can wait until the boys are in high school, I’ll have a better chance convincing them to stay with me in the long term.

Cat got what she wanted: three cute boys to show off around the city. She has enough money to provide for them, and I gave them as much fatherly instruction as I could before they were gone.

Now I just have to wait a year. Willem will be sent my way when he turns twelve at the end of the school year.

I built this cabin as a gift for him—it was never for me.

My mind swims with all this now as my mom pulls me toward the kitchen island. It’s filled with all the food she is preparing with Anna, who is sulking as she peels potatoes.

No one else is in the kitchen at this moment, so I just speak straight to my mother. “We don’t need any more strangers on the ranch.”

“Please, Coal, you know your father and I don’t mind it.” She keeps her eyes down, lying to me but protecting her sister’s heart.

“This girl is going to be more of a nuisance than a help to me.”

“Raven is very nice,” my mother says, defending her vehemently, looking up with a fire in her gaze. “Now, tell me how the ride went with Timothy—”

“I’ll tell you about it later, with everyone else. We found a few things of concern. But right now, I’m here to talk about the girl. I don’t ~need~ her help, and I’d like you to send her on her way—I’m not interested in dating either.”

“Well, listen to me first. I met Raven in town with Jean. A thief tried to steal my purse, and Raven chased him down and got it back to me. She had no reason to help me—we didn’t know each other. I know in my heart she’s a good girl… That is why she’s here.”

“And I’m not interested,” I repeat, being a bit tough. Even though the story sways my opinion, I try not to show it.

“Now don’t worry about that, just help set the table.” Mom uses her firm tone, leaving no room for argument.

“There’s a winter storm coming in tonight; we’ll see our first snowfall,” I say, wanting to change the subject.

“You haven’t been home long enough to check the weather.” My mom is already smiling.

“I just know.” I smirk, and she winks as she reaches into a drawer and pulls out my favorite chocolate bar, dark peppermint, before tossing it to me.

I take it and smile, and my mother has to point it out.

“I haven’t seen that handsome smile in months.” She raises her brow at me. “Something’s changed, Coal?”

I lose the smile as I walk back to the door. “I need to check on Galvin.”

“Uh-huh. Don’t be rude to Raven, Coal.”

“I’m not rude—”

“You’re always a bit snappy with girls you like. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” My mom chuckles, and even Anna lets out a laugh.

“Oh, jeez.” I blush as I quickly head out of the kitchen. I stop briefly and look back in. “She didn’t even know what she said yes to, Mom.”

“Of course she did!” my mom yells out, not believing me.

“There’s not even enough room for two people to sleep in the cabin,” I growl out.

“Then sleep next to each other,” Anna snipes. “Don’t be a pussy, Coal.”

“Anna, I swear to God.”

“Don’t you two start,” Mom yells. “Work something out, Coal. Raven already agreed, and you didn’t say there wasn’t enough room in the cabin when I asked. Perhaps you were too busy looking at her as she was blushing at you, so don’t put this all on me like it’s now my problem. Besides, it can’t hurt for you to have some company out there for once. Especially if there’s to be a storm tonight.”

“I’ll set the table soon, I need to check on her first.” I get a glare from Anna.

“I thought you were checking on Galvin. Not her.” Annabelle smirks.

“Shut up, you brat.” I jump outside and slam the door, but I can still hear my mother.

“Don’t slam my doors. Don’t throw that peeler, Anna. You kids are so disrespectful.” My mother sighs, exasperated. “Can someone put on some music? Not that trash, Anna, some country…”

I try not to laugh as I walk to the stables. Raven is still hosing down Galvin, and Galvin usually doesn’t like it that much. Yet he stands tall and relaxed, letting her get close.

It was a bit of a test to see if Raven could handle Galvin when he was a little nervous, but it’s clear that she has a talent with horses. At least she’s not too green.

I like that she’s small. Her black hair is long, almost past her hips. I like that too.

Raven starts toweling Galvin off like I told her too, to dry him quickly before we put him back in the stables.

I move toward them from behind, not saying much. I’m curious as to why she acts so odd around me when my own mother speaks so highly of her.

I’ll admit, my mom has high standards when it comes to women. She wouldn’t like Raven if she wasn’t intelligent, strong, and capable.

Raven looks over her shoulder and gets a fright when she sees me. “Oh, Coal,” she exclaims, stepping closer to Galvin’s shoulder. Her eyes widen and she looks me over a few times. “You move so quiet. I didn’t hear you.”

I scratch behind my ear and don’t say anything. I’m just watching to make sure she does a proper job.

Raven gets a bit antsy now, causing Galvin to notice her change in energy.

He swings his head back and looks at me. “Stop making her nervous,” he seems to say.

I’m not doing anything but standing here.

I am satisfied she knows what she’s doing thus far, so maybe it won’t be such a burden to have her as a helping hand.

When Raven finishes toweling Galvin off, I walk with her to lead him back to the stable.

Once Galvin is in and into his feed, Raven looks up at me, holding her hands together. She boldly meets my eye, wanting to ask me something.

“Coal?” she says. “You were right. I wasn’t listening to Trish before. I was starstruck by Galvin. He’s a beautiful horse. I’m sorry, can you tell me what she said? I know it’s a little late to ask but…I think we should start over.”

“Pack some extra clothes, because after dinner we’re heading up to the cabin again for the night,” I explain. “You agreed to stay over…but it’s fine if you prefer to stay at the homestead.”

“I already said yes, so it’d be rather rude to change my mind, wouldn’t it,” she quickly says. “Um…”

“What?”

“I’ve never met someone who is half Native like me.”

“Does it matter?” I ask, confused. “I’m Coal and you’re Raven… You’re beautiful, Raven.” I add that not to be weird, just to tell the truth.

She instantly freezes, her eyes wide. But she’s not shying away though. She holds my gaze. I like that newfound confidence. But then I can’t help but joke, “And I’m ugly.”

Better.

She smiles and laughs.

It’s like a birdsong.

I gulp with how infectious it is and try not to laugh with her, lest she thinks we’re on friendly terms and not a boss-employee kind of relationship. I don’t mind her wearing my coat, either. I guess she can have it, since she looks even smaller with it on.

“You’re not…,” Raven starts to refute what I said, “you’re not ugly, Coal.”

“Oh, I know I’m not ugly.” I try very hard not to laugh at her for that. “I know I said you’re beautiful but…I’m still prettier than you. I’m the only darling here.” Now she blushes with my obvious teasing.

“Let’s go back inside,” she suggests.

I walk with her, going quiet again.

She wouldn’t know it.

But her presence really has made a difference.

I talked more in the last hour, to my mom, Anna, and Raven, than I had in the last two years combined.