The Healing Ranch

Chapter 32

"That good for nothing piece of...." Cole started muttering but Caroline cut him off.

"And I assume she was talkin about the physical aspect of things. That's why she won't leave you alone and that's why Megan wouldn't get it?" She asked. Tate felt himself blushing and he drank a long gulp of his coffee before replying.

"Of course mama. When was our relationship anythin more than that? But that wasn't all. We ran into Mrs. Stone too. She gushed over me as usual but she was a little... cool towards Megan. Megan was extremely polite but she withdrew after that. Then after the whole Brea thing we didn't really talk." Caroline's eyebrows shot up and Cole groaned.

"You've got to be the dumbest man alive. Geez Tate, even I know better than that and I'm nothin but a heartbreakin roughie." Cole shook his head and Tate stared at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know how awful Megan must've felt after what Brea said to her? You think it didn't effect her? You were supposed to take her back to that truck, kiss her, tell her how amazin she is, and make her feel special." Cole was looking sorrowful now, rather than just irritated.

"I- she didn't want to talk about it." Tate sputtered.

"And just what gave you that impression?" Cole fired back.

"She just commented on Brea bein gorgeous and when I called Brea a psycho and tried to talk, she just shook her head and said don't. Besides I think we were both a little preoccupied since some people on the streets decided to take that moment to talk about what a good-for-nothin murderer I was." Tate rubbed his temples, trying to will the ache in his head away.

"We'll come back to that. But Tate you are just about as smart as a sack of rocks. Obviously she was upset after Brea." Cole just shook his head and turned away from him. Tate looked helplessly up at Caroline.

"Mama? Help me out here a little?" He was surprised to see tears in her eyes and she shook her head a little.

"You can't see it can you Tate?" She whispered. Frustration welled up inside of him.

"See what? I don't get what you two are goin on about." He burst and Cole sighed but didn't say anything. His mama put a hand on the top of his head, running her fingers through his hair. Tate felt himself relax and little and push into her touch.

"Oh Tate. Megan struggles a lot more than you could ever know. She constantly has to prove to be good enough, both to herself, and to everyone around her. She has to work twice as hard as the rest of us."

"I get that but..." She cut him off before he could finish the sentence.

"She doesn't feel like she is good enough for you Tate." Pain sliced through him and he turned to his mama.

"Why would she ever feel that?" He whispered and watched as a tear dripped down her cheek.

"Because she's different. We've had a long conversation about it. She thinks that she should leave you so you can find someone better." Tate started to get up, but Cole placed a heavy hand on his shoulder and forced him back down.

"That's crazy!" Tate started.

"I know. Everyone around her sees how amazin she is. How much she is worth. But she can't see it Tate. She thinks you are going to get bored of you. She doesn't know if she can give you children. She doesn't even know if she can give you satisfaction."

"As if I even care about that mama."

"I know darlin and I told her that but it can be hard to get through someone's head. Us woman are all the same. I thought I wasn't good enough for your dad and he fought hard for me to stay. With Megan it's worse. Every time she meets someone new they judge her. Everyone you met yesterday made her feel more strongly about not bein good enough for you. Everyone is surprised to see her with you. She's not the girl we pictured you to end up with Tate and people can't hide that initial moment of surprise. She tries to let it slide of her back but it doesn't work that way. Everyone in town yesterday had to bring down her confidence a little and Brea must've demolished it." Caroline's words resonated with Tate and he sat with his head down.