Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I miss her so damn much it hurts if I let myself think about it. So I don’t let my mind go there often.
Sitting, I watch as he starts the coffee pot and then joins me across the table. He looks at me, and asks, “How long are you staying?”
“I leave Monday morning.”
“You lost a night to the storm.”
I wouldn’t say I lost anything, considering the storm brought me to Lauralee’s. “It was bad.”
“It’ll dry up quick out here. We’ve needed rain.”
The sound of a UTV reaches us before the motor is cut outside, and the squawk of the kids comes closer. “Sounds like we’ve got company.”
My dad gets up to check the coffee. “They keep me young.”
“That’s a good thing.” I get up and rush onto the porch to greet them. As soon as my niece and nephew see me, I bend down and open my arms wide. “Get over here, you rascals.”
Beckett runs into my arms with little Daisy teeter-totting up the porch steps. My sister is right behind her, glowing in the sunlight, and pregnant again. I give Daisy a big hug when she makes it up the steps. Standing with her in my arms, I whisper, “I missed you, Daisy girl.”
Christine says, “She missed you. She wanted me to show her Bay Bay photos again.”
I open an arm and bring my little sister in for a hug with us. “Did you miss me, sis?”
“I did. I’m glad you’re here.” She not-so-subtly checks her watch with a grin when stepping away. “Though you’re a little late. These kids are going to keep you busy today. Hope you got some sleep.”
I chuckle as I scrub a hand over my face. “Not much,” I admit, “but I’ll survive.” I don’t bother telling her that what I did get was even better and worth the lost sleep.
CHAPTER 6
Baylor
“Thought I’d catch you fucking off down at the river.”
Tagger starts laughing before he turns to see me heading toward the equipment barn. “The prodigal son returns. It’s been a few months.” He comes toward me in a summer straw cowboy hat, looking more at peace in the shadow of it than he ever was when he was living in the city. Tucking a rag in his back pocket, he holds out his hand.
“I can’t say I’m so golden anymore.” I take it, but we always bring it in for a bump against the chest. “I think you might have stolen the title when you decided to start dating my sister.”
His laughter gets deeper. Holding up his hand to show off his ring, he says, “I fell for her before I knew what hit me.”
I punched him when I found out he broke his promise to me. I forgave him when I realized how much he loves her. Three years later, I like to give him shit over it any time I can. That’s what friends are for, after all. “Is that how it happened?”
“Something like that.” He thumbs over his shoulder. “I want to show you something.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s head to the old barn and I’ll show you.” We start walking, and he asks, “Business keeping you away?”
“It’s booming. How about you? You still in the finance game?”
He waffles his head. “Dabbling online but mostly investing in the ranch these days.”
“I saw the last statement. Profits are up.” Grinning, I add, “I like to see it.”
“I’m sure you do since you get a cut of it.” He tucks his hands in his front pockets. “Your sister gets the credit. She runs this operation.”
“When are you going to let her retire?”
He balks and heads back toward the barn. “I don’t think Pris will ever be happy sitting still.”
I walk next to him, looking at how much the ranch has grown in the six years my mom’s been gone. She’d be proud of her daughter for what she’s accomplished. It’s obvious from the new equipment to the extra ranch hands she’s hired that the farm and ranch have grown exponentially.
I’m proud of her for taking on what I couldn’t back then.
We round the side of the newest warehouse, the equipment barn, and the original barn from generations past comes into view. I say, “That should have been torn down years ago.” It’s decrepit, and the walls are leaning. “It’s barely standing.”
He says, “I’m planning on it, but I found a few things that I need to get moved first.”
“Like what?” I follow him inside, hoping the ceiling doesn’t give while we’re standing under it.
Under the eaves of a now nonexistent second floor, he pulls back a cover. It’s not even revealed before my heart starts racing in my chest. I know what it is. “Wow,” I say, stepping closer. “I didn’t know we still had it.”
“None of us did. Well, maybe your dad, but he hasn’t talked about it.”