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Chapter 44
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2024-12-29 02:06:32
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The Age Plus Billionaire Cowboy Chapter 45
An hour later, the Steele family arrived back on The Cross Creek Ranch. Dax and Tom went upstairs to change and get ready for bed. They had school tomorrow. “Jesse, before you go to your separate corner of the world, I need to talk to you,” Ray said. He thought it best to address it at home than at the party.“Yeah?” Jesse said.“Why are you advising Dax about a girl he likes?” Ray asked. “I’m his father. You should have directed him to me.”“Hold on,” Ava interjected. “That wasn’t Jesse’s fault. You see, Dax came to me first about the girl. Well, we were talking about something else, and Dax brought it up, actually. I advised him the best I could, but I told him that if he didn’t like my advice he should go to Jesse.”“What? Why would you send him to Jesse and not me?” Ray asked, offended.“For one thing, I got the impression that Jesse was the ladies’ man in the family,” Ava said.“And your assumption was correct,” Jesse said with a nod and a small smile.“So
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Ray got up at five a.m. the next morning. He had only gotten three hours of sleep. Ava’s words and the conversations he had with the boys last night had plagued his mind. Ray put on a pair of dark brown cowboy boots, black jeans, and a turtle neck and sweater over it and hit the kitchen. He fixed himself a turkey sandwich and gobbled it up and left. What he needed this morning was solitude – and a good hard ride. Ray went to the stables and saddled up Nicklaus and he was off. He trotted the horse for a few minutes, letting him stretch his legs and then he broke out into a hard ride. It was thirty-four degrees. The cold prickled his face as he rode as hard as he could across the land. The leaves on the trees were shades of red, brown, and orange. The grass – not so green as it was this summer. Fall was definitely here. Ray rode across one of the more shallow creeks. The splashing was like music to his ears. A few moments later, he jumped a fence and then slowed
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Ava whipped the towel off and padded herself dry. She opened her closet and grabbed a long, light gray cable knitted sweater with a turtleneck collar and a pair of dark gray leggings. After getting dressed, she put on white socks and a pair of tennis shoes. “I’ll just be another minute, Ray.” “It’s fine. Take your time,” Ray yelled back. Ava grabbed a fresh towel and tried to dry her hair a little more. Then she ran a comb through it. She would blow dry it later. She walked back to the living room and rounded the kitchen. “One brandy coming up. Do you want a sandwich or some chips or something?” “No, the brandy is fine.” Ava poured herself a glass of red wine and she poured the brandy in a short glass. She walked back to the living room. And handed Ray the brandy. “Thanks,” he said as he took it. He took a sip of it as Ava sat down next to him. “So, what brings you by?” Ray pulled an envelope out of his
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Ray thought the first thing he could do to fix the rift between him and his sons was to make a conscious effort to be at as many meals as he could. He knew Ava was right about attending Dax’s games, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. So, last night he had stayed home as usual – and as usual the Bulldogs had won. They were now in the semi-finals. If they made it through that, they would play in the championship game. Now that it was fall it got dark earlier. He walked Nicklaus to the stables. Most of the hands were making their way to the barracks for some grub and to relax. They ended up putting the heifer and the calf down. According to the vet, if they were going to get better, they would have by now. It was for the best to end their suffering. Ray got to the stable door and stopped when he heard Dax and Jesse talking. “So, Lana accepted your apology and believed that you just wanted to spend time with her – not trying to pull a Hallowee
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Three weeks later . . . Ray had been floundering, trying to figure out how to connect with the boys again. They weren’t five and seven anymore. At that age, kids always wanted to be with their parents. When they were teenagers, they rather not have their parents underfoot as much. Ray’s situation didn’t only have to do with how old they were now but how they had grown apart to begin with. He had been so distant and busy, using the ranch as an excuse not to engage – to forget about his hurt and pain. Now, he was ready – he hoped. During the past three weeks, he had only been able to eat as many meals with them as possible. He tried to strike up conversations with them. Tom was a little more responsive to it than Dax. Ray could see some hope with Tom but Dax? It was still a little bleak. This morning Ray had gotten an idea to spend time with the boys outside of meal time. They were all having breakfast together this morning. Ava served what she called
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The next morning . . . The Steele family sat down for breakfast, including Jesse. As usual, Ava sat at the table with them to eat her breakfast. Ham and cheese quiche. After breakfast, Jesse and Tom went to the living room. Jesse wanted Tom to look at the pictures he had taken of him yesterday with the buck. Jesse had said he was going to have the best ones printed and framed. Dax stood. “Before you go to your corner of the world, Dax, I got something for you,” Ray said as he reached into his pocket. He had Dax folded bills. Dax slowly took it as confusion showed on his face. “It’s the money I owed you for doing extra work on the ranch,” Ray said. “Oh,” Dax said with realization. “I didn’t think you pay me so soon.” “It’s been a little over two weeks. I meant to give it to you yesterday but Tom bagging that buck distracted me,” Ray said with a little smile as he continued to sit
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Three days later . . . It was two days before Thanksgiving, and Dax was a nervous wreck. He rode in the back of Uncle Jesse’s green Jeep Cherokee as Ava and his father rode upfront. Uncle Jesse let them borrow it for the afternoon. “You’re awfully quiet,” his dad said as he glanced in the rearview mirror. “Wouldn’t you be if you had an audience when you’re about to . . . you know,” Dax stammered. “Ask a girl out on a date as you present her with hearts and flowers,” Ava guessed. In this case, it was candy and flowers. “Son, do you really think Lana’s father is going to let you speak to her alone when you show up? Especially after the way you had treated her last year? And he probably won’t let you take her anywhere without some sort of guarantee concerning her . . . person. Trust me. You want your father with you in a circumstance like this,” Ray said. “For back up.” Dax eased out a breath.
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Everyone was in the foyer of a very fancy house filled with expensive looking furniture and knick knacks. A dark varnished short table with two drawers with gold looking handles was against the wall under a large oval mirror on the wall. The floors looked to be white marble in the foyer. A brass coat rack was in the corner. A painting Dax figured was a copy of the Mona Lisa was on the opposite wall. “I don’t think any of us have formerly met,” the blonde haired woman said. “I’m Helen Anderson, Lana’s mother and this is my husband, Langley.” Ava and Ray introduced themselves. Ray didn’t make an overture to shake Langley’s hand. He looked like he was about to shoot all of them. “Would any of you like some hot chocolate or coffee?” Mrs. Anderson asked. “None for me, ma’am,” Ray said. “Oh, please, call me, Helen.” “All right,” Ray said. “Helen, why don’t you take um . . .” Mr. Anderson trailed
Last Updated : 2025-01-05
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“Darling, are you sure you’re alright?” her mother asked as she and Ava walked into her hotel room at the Doubletree Hilton in Helena. The room’s décor was all white for the exception of the dresser, bed backboard, and table. It was pretty plain for a hotel room by Hilton but Helena wasn’t the bustling metropolis New York was. Ava had the room all to herself. Her mother and father had separate rooms. “I believe so. I’m just curious about something,” Ava said as she sat on the bed. “How did you and Daddy find me? I’ve been missing for half a year.” “Oh, your father hired multiple private investigators. This last one had gotten a lead but what really sped things along was Lillian Steele.” “What!’ Ava shouted. Her shouting startled her mother, making her jump a little. “Sorry. Lillian told you and Daddy where I was? How does she know you two?” “She doesn’t. Through some P.I. work of her own, s
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Ray and Ava were silent for at least a minute before one of them spoke.“You okay?” Ray asked as kept standing close to the doorway.“Physically, yes. The other part feels a bit disoriented. Just thirty minutes ago, we were coming from the movies, having a good time and the next minute - wham. Not only does my past come rushing back to me, it’s in the driveway. Ray, I . . . it just all clicked when I laid eyes on Daddy. My therapist warned me it could happen – all my memories coming back all of sudden but . . .”“You didn’t think it would actually happen that way,” Ray finished for her.“Yes.” Ava took a deep breath. She looked up at her love. Wait. Did she still love him? Now that she was whole – mentally, she wasn’t sure. Ray Steele wasn’t her type – usually. He was rich but he was much older than her and his lifestyle wasn’t what she was accustomed to for herself or in a man she dated. Then another thought struck her. “Oh my god, I got money.”“Yeah, that’s obvious.”“N
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Lillian Steele had provided more information to Lester and Whitney on the Steele family on the way to the Hilton in Helena. They were one of the richest families in Montana – billionaire status in their own right. They just lived . . . they way that they do. It was strange to Lester but nonetheless he was going to address the patriarch like an equal. He wasn’t inclined to disrespect the man on his own property an in front of his family unless it was absolutely necessary. The Steele family watched Whitney guide Ava to the back of the house. Ava looked over her shoulder at them. Lester raised his hand to her, waving, letting her know everything was going to be all right. He turned his attention back to the Steeles. “Which one of you gentlemen is Raymond Steele?” “I am,” the tallest of the bunch said. “I’m Lester Bartholomew. And as I’m sure you have figured out by now I’m Ava’s father. And that was her mother, Whitney Bartholom
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Within the hour, the Bartholomews were heading to Townsend. Whitney had contacted her former doctor in New York on advice on how to handle Ava’s condition. He had said that if she was working with a therapist some things might have come back to her by now. All Ava might need is a reminder of her past – like seeing people she knew from before in person. “Are you sure you’re alright, Lester? You haven’t used your wheelchair since we’ve landed,” Whitney said. He snorted. “I have to say I don’t think I’ve heard such concern for my welfare from you in years.” “I know it’s quite disturbing,” she said flatly. They both looked at each other. Then they smiled. “I’m fine. I guess it’s the adrenaline running through me. The only thing I regret in this moment is us not having some time alone together,” Lester said as he continued to look over at Whitney in the seat next to him. “The last time we had private time alone – I hav
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The next day . . . December 30th “My god, what a ghastly place,” Whitney Bartholomew said as she looked out the limousine window. “It’s not that bad. The streets are clean and it seems like a good economy here,” Lester said as he looked out the other window. “Yes, but what is going on with the fashions here? At least ninety percent of the men are wearing cowboy hats. Even some of the women are wearing them.” she said with her nose turned up. Lester chuckled. “I guess that’s the fashion here. Despite Helena being a city, it’s rather rural.” Whitney grunted.The photo the woman had emailed his butler was legit. It was definitely Ava. She was standing in what looked like a downtown area, waiting to cross the street with what looked like a pre-teen boy wearing a cowboy hat.The Montana P.I. was still making progress but it was slow. When Lester had gotten the call it was the break he had been hoping for.
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The next day, Lillian went to Helena and deposited the check Jesse had given her last night and to check in to another hotel there. It was another Super 8. She didn’t want to over spend while she was in Montana. She needed the money Jesse had given her to keep her condo in L.A and keep up her lifestyle there. In truth, Luke and Lillian had broken up three months ago. Without his money, she had to spend wisely. She had gone to L.A. to try to make it in the entertainment industry there. She had been an extra in a few movies and TV shows but nothing that led her to getting a real break. In Nashville, she had been featured in a few country western bars and clubs but she couldn’t get an agent. Luke had paid for her to record a single but it barely sold a hundred downloads. So, when she and Luke split up, she had thought she could make it in Hollywood. It was harder than she had expected it would be – and way more expensive. Lillian wasn’t lea
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Ava and Jesse rode to the Super 8 in Bedford. It was almost ten in the morning. Ray had gone to work on the range. Dax had taken Tom with him to see Lana. Jesse had told Ray that he was driving Ava into town to do some shopping. Ava hated lying to Ray but what choice did she have? Dax had been right. In this case, Ray needed to be protected. The boys themselves needed to be protected. They didn’t say a word during the ride. Jesse didn’t speak until they were walking down the hall at the Super 8. “I still don’t believe it. I won’t believe it until I see her with my own eyes,” Jesse said. They stopped at room 203. Jesse knocked on the door. It didn’t take long for someone to open it. Lillian. “Son of a bitch,” Jesse said through gritted teeth as he stared at her. “Nice to see you, too, Jesse,” Lillian said with twisted lips. “You may as well come in. I don’t want to have this conversation in
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It was almost bedtime when Ava went to Tom’s room. He was in blue plaid pajamas, sitting on the edge of the bed.“Darling, I want to talk to you about something,” Ava said as she closed the door to his room.“What is it?”Ava walked to the bed and sat next to him. “Forgive me for bringing this up but . . . we never talked about your mother.”Tom physically shuttered but kept his eyes on her. “I don’t want to talk about her.”“Are you sure? You don’t want to talk to me about any . . . feelings you may have about her? I know what it’s like to have your own mother hurt you.”“You do? You remember your mother?” Tom asked with bewilderment. “You don’t have amnesia anymore?”“No, darling, I still have amnesia but I remember things from time to time. It comes sporadically.”“What does sporadica . . . ly mean?”“It means occasionally. I had a memory of my mother . . . doing to me what your mother did to your father.”“You had a husband?” Tom asked with furrowed brows.“No. He was my boyfrien
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Two days later . . . It was still morning. Ava went into Tom’s room to change the sheets on his bed. As she was doing so, she noticed what looked like a set of new drawing pencils on Tom’s new drawing desk that Ray had bought him for Christmas. At one time, Ray had called Tom’s art meaningless doodling a young man needed to grow out of. But, now, Ray supported Tom’s talent to draw. I wonder when he got those? I don’t remember him buying them the last time we went shopping. Ava continued to make the bed. That’s when she noticed a brown case under the bed. She pulled it out. She had never noticed it before. The boys were out with Ray working the range so they wouldn’t be back till lunch. Ava unzipped the case. There were a few drawings in it. One was of a woman who looked to be standing next to a SUV in the fog . . . or snow. Ava wasn’t quite sure. She shifted to the other picture. A blonde, who looked very beautiful, but she had fangs. Bl
