Page 61 of Wrangling a Texas Hometown Hero

“So why do you want to run the ranch, Hal?”

She rolled her eyes. “Is that the only question you know?”

He laughed. “Pretty much.”

She took a moment to think of her answer. When she caught Mimi’s reassuring gaze, the words came easily.

“Like Reid said, there is something special about sitting in a saddle and looking out on acres and acres of land with no buildings or billboards to take away from the view. But for me, it’s more than that. It’s knowing that, for generations, our family has herded cattle and raised their children on the same chunk of land that I want to herd cattle and raise my children on. I want to preserve that land for those children. And their children. And their children.”

Corbin studied her for a long moment before he smiled. “That sounds like a damn good reason to me. How would you like to be the ranch’s new foreman . . . or should I say forewoman?”

Her eyes widened. “What? But you hired Reid.”

“As an assistant ranch manager. You’re the one who should be in charge, Hallie. Which is why I’m giving you total control of the ranch. All the decisions are yours to make.”

Fear welled up inside of her. “But what if I screw up?”

“You will. But mistakes are only learning tools.”

Cloe squeezed her arm. “All of us have faith in you, Hal. If anyone can make the ranch a success, it’s you. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

Rome leaned around her. “And we’ll all be there to help whenever you need.” He hesitated. “And Jace has always been one helluva cowboy.”

Just then, the crowd started cheering and shaking their cowbells and pom-poms. Hallie looked at the field to see the Wildcats football team standing outside the locker room in a huddle. They yelled “Wildcats!” before they broke apart and charged toward the field where the cheerleaders and drill team were lined up to cheer them on.

It was déjà vu all over again. Hallie couldn’t remember how many times she’d sat in that very stadium watching Jace take the field. At the time, she’d just been a starstruck little kid crushing on the high school football hero. Now, she was a grown woman and the crush had turned into something much more. Something that made her heart swell and brought tears to her eyes when her gaze finally found him in the group of coaches that followed the team.

He stood a good head taller than the other coaches. He wore his navy polo shirt with the Wildcats’ snarling emblem, the cotton stretching tight across his muscled chest and biceps. When he lined up on the sidelines, his jeans fit just as nicely. He glanced over his shoulder at the crowd that packed the stadium. Somehow she knew he was looking for her.

She jumped up to wave, but he’d already turned back around. Disappointment filled her. She wanted him to know she was there. She needed him to know she was there.

“I have to talk to Jace!” she blurted out.

“Now?” Sweetie said. “The game is getting ready to start.”

“Yeah, Hal,” Decker said. “You can’t go out on the field now. Texans put up with a lot of things, but messing with their football games isn’t one of them.”

“I don’t care. I have to talk to him.” She started down the bleachers right through the crowd. “Excuse me . . . sorry . . . excuse me.”

When she got to the stairs that led to the field, she had to push her way through the band that had just finished their pregame show. By the time she made it to the sidelines, the referee was already on the field with the captains of the teams for the coin toss.

What was she doing? Decker was right. If she talked to Jace and then the Wildcats lost the game, the townsfolk would lynch her. Or at least, not talk to her for years. She started to turn around when Jace glanced over his shoulder again and saw her.

“Hallie?”

She lifted a hand in a weak wave. “Hey . . . uhh . . . I just wanted you to know that I’m here.” She smiled. “That I’ll always be here.”

He stared at her for a long, uncomfortable moment before he said something to Coach Denny and started toward her. He stopped only inches away. Her heart beat as loudly as the bass drum someone was pounding when he took her hand and held it softly in his.

“I’m glad you’re here, Hallie. I planned on coming to see you after the game to apologize. You’ll never know how sorry I am. I said some things I had no business saying.”

“I’m sorry too,” she said. “Sometimes I get all riled up for no reason.”

“You had every reason to get riled up. I shouldn’t have tried to tell you what you wanted.” He released her hand and looked away. “It’s just that I . . .” He looked back at her and the love in his eyes made her melt like hot nacho cheese. “I love you, Hallie, but I struggled with saying it. Probably because I’m terrified to love someone again and have them leave me. But I figured a few things out since we last talked. I figured out that sometimes people you love leave. It doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of love. It just means that they have their own lives they have to live.” He smiled sadly. “I want you to stay here with me, Hallie. But you made it clear last night that you have other dreams. And that’s okay. I just wanted you to know how I feel and that I would never want to keep you from your dreams.” He hesitated. “Even if those dreams take you away from me.”

Her heart got that helium feeling again as tears welled in her eyes. “What if my dream is you?”

“Jace!” Coach Denny yelled. “We won the toss. What do you want to do?”

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