Roping Ray McCullen
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Rita Herron
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Harlequinđïž Contemporary
HarlequinPrologue
Ray McCullen hated all the secrets and lies.
He despised his father, Joe McCullen, even more for making him keep them.
In spite of the fact that his brothers, Maddox and Brett, thought he didnât care about them or the family, he had kept his mouth shut to protect them.
God knows the truth about their father had eaten him up inside.
Only now, here he was back at home on the Horseshoe Creek ranch waiting on his father to die, grief gnawing at him. Joe McCullen wasnât the perfect man Maddox and Brett thought he was, but Ray still loved him.
Dammit.
He didnât want to, but the love was just as strong as the hate.
Maddox stood ramrod straight in the hallway outside their fatherâs room, his expression unreadable while Brett visited their dad.
Ray moved from one foot to the other, sweating. He and Brett had both been summoned to the ranch at their fatherâs requestâhe wanted to talk to each of them before he passed.
Suddenly the door swung open. Brett stalked into the hallway, rubbing at his eyes, then his boots pounded as he jogged down the steps. Maddox arched a brow at him indicating it was Rayâs turn, and Ray gritted his teeth and stepped into the room.
The air smelled like sweat and sickness, yet the sight of the familiar oak furniture his father had made by hand tugged at this emotions. His mother had died when he was just a kid, but he could still see her in that bed when heâd been scared at night and his daddy wasnât home, and heâd sneak in and crawl up beside her.
His fatherâs cough jerked him back to reality.
Ray braced himself for a lecture on how disappointed his father was in himâMaddox was the perfect son whoâd stayed and run the ranch, and Brett was the big rodeo star whoâd accumulated fame and moneyâwhile he was the bad seed. The rebel.
The surly one whoâd fought with their father, left home and never came back.
âRay?â
The weak sound of his fatherâs voice forced his feet into motion, and he crossed the room to his fatherâs bedside. God, he didnât want to do this.
âRay?â
âYes, Dad, Iâm here.â
Another cough, pained and wheezy. Then his father held out a shaky hand. Rayâs own shook as he touched his fatherâs cold fingers.
He tried to speak, but seeing his father, a big brawny man, so thin and pale was choking him up. Joe McCullen had always been larger than life. And heâd been Rayâs hero.
Until that day...
âThank you for coming, son,â his father said in a raw whisper.
âIâm sorry itâs like this,â he said, and meant it.
His father nodded, but a tear slid down his cheek. âIâm sorry for a lot of things, Ray. For hurting you and your mama.â
Ray clenched his jaw to keep his anger at bay.
âI know I put a heavy burden on you a long time ago, and it drove a wedge between the two of us.â He hesitated, his breathing labored. âI want you to know that your mama forgave me before we lost her. I...loved her so much, Ray. I hated what I did to her and you.â
Grief and pain collected in Rayâs soul, burning his chest. âIt was a long time ago.â Although the hurt still lingered.
âI wish Iâd been a better man.â
Ray wished he had, too.
âWhen you find someone special, Ray, love her and donât ever let her go.â
Yeah. As if he would ever tie himself down or fall in love. His heart couldnât handle loving someone else to only lose them.
His father coughed, and Ray swallowed hard, the weak sound a reminder that this might be the last time he saw his dad. He wanted to tell him that nothing mattered, that he wasnât ready to let him go yet, that they still had time.
But heâd been called home because they didnât have time.
âThe will...â his father murmured. âI tried to do right here, tried to take care of everyone.â
Ray tensed. âWhat do you meanâeveryone?â
Joe squeezed his hand so tightly, Ray winced. But when he tried to pull away, his father had a lock on his fingers. âRay, the ranch goes to you boys, but I need you to explain to Maddox and Brett. I owe...â
His voice cracked, his words fading off and he wheezed, gasping for air. A second later, his body convulsed and his eyes widened as if he knew this was his last breath.
âOwe what?â Ray asked. Did he tell Maddox and Brett about his other woman?
âDad, talk to me,â Ray said, panicked.
But his fatherâs eyes rolled back in his head and he convulsed again, his fingers going limp.
Ray jerked his hand free, then rushed toward the door shouting for help. Maddox barreled inside the room and hurried to the bed.
Grief seized Ray as his fatherâs body grew still.
He bolted and ran down the steps, anguish clawing at him.
Damn his father. Heâd done it to him again.
Left him holding the secret that could destroy his family forever.
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