Page 8 of Wild Mistake
“Thanks.” He slings his arm around my shoulders. “God, it’s good to have you home.”
“Speaking of that.”
“Yeah?”
“Now that I’m retiring from the Army, I’d like to discuss buying some of the family property. Just a couple of acres and one of the cabins.”
Ryan’s face falls. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that.”
I pull back, stricken at his denial. “I’m not looking to take what’s yours.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I can’t give you the property because Pops already gave it away.”
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I were. He lost half of the ranch in a poker game, which is worse because I can’t even give you money.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, and the new owners are raising cattle on the land. My new competitor owns everything north of the lodge.”
Well, shit.What do I do now?I don’t have another place to stay. This really messes with my plan. “Do you still have a spare room?”
He winces. “No. It’s Val’s office now.”
“Great,” I say dryly.
“We still have the small cabin. That’s where Pops is. He can’t be alone anymore, so we hired day and night caretakers who stay with him twenty-four-seven.”
“So, I can live with the strangers taking care of our father? Awesome.”
“There’s always the lodge.”
A dozen ranch hands with zero privacy? “Hard pass.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” I should have called. I should have come back sooner. “I’m back now. I can help with Pops.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” I want whatever time with him I can get. I’ve already missed too much.
3
SARAH
I’ve never spenta Christmas without my boys.
Yes, they aren’t little anymore but it still stings to watch them race outside to greet their dad as he pulls into my parents’ drive as we finish breakfast.
“You sure you can’t find a way to reconcile?” Mom says softly from across the table.
My gaze whips over to meet her somber stare. I want to scream, “Are you fucking kidding me?” but I refrain. I should tell her every sordid detail of how Jake broke my trust. But the truth sticks in my throat. I don’t need her pity or anger or understanding to validate my decision. She’d only use it to sour Gabe and Parker’s relationship with their father.
