Page 28 of Wrangling a Texas Hometown Hero

“Maybe she thought you wouldn’t want to hear them. She didn’t exactly grow up with a man who was interested in her ideas about the ranch. Hank’s a good man, but like a lot of old-time cowboys, he’s stubborn and set in his ways. He’s never made his girls feel like he values their opinions. I think Hallie has given up trying to make him listen.”

“Then I’ll talk to her,” Corbin said. “I’ll make sure she knows that I’d love to hear her thoughts on the ranch. And if I can convince her to stay on and take over the job of foreman, that would be even better. I might get back in Mimi’s good graces.”

Jace shook his head. “Unfortunately, that’s not going to work. You can’t just offer Hallie the job because she won’t take it.”

“Okay, I’m lost. I thought you said she loves the ranch and wants to help run it.”

“She does. She just doesn’t realize it. And anyone telling her what she should do is like telling Hank what he should do.”

Corbin groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Shit. Why do the Holidays have to be so damn difficult? I swear if I had known the stubborn family I was getting into—” He cut off and a smile spread over his face. “I still would have married Belle. They might be stubborn, but I love the whole damn lot of them. So what do I do? Just let her run off to Austin and buy a brewery and be miserable?”

“No. You just need to figure out a way to keep her here until she figures it out for herself. And me refusing the foreman job will help. Hallie has always put her family before her own desires. If she thinks you need her help, she’ll stay. Not to mention that Sweetie and Decker will need help too.”

“But I thought you were staying to help them.”

He had thought about it until his reaction to Hallie last night. Now it would be best if he left. Especially if she was staying.

“It’s time for me to head out.”

Corbin studied him for a moment before he nodded. “So what are you going to do? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Jace didn’t have a clue. All he’d ever wanted to do was play football. Now that it wasn’t an option, he wasn’t sure what he would do. But what he was sure about was that he wasn’t going to fall into the self-pitying pit he’d allowed himself to fall in before. As Hallie had so bluntly pointed out, he was luckier than most people. He had gotten paid to play a sport he loved for a long time. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he was going to count his blessings.

One of those blessings was his family.

He finished off his beer, enjoying the way the smooth brew slid down his throat, before he set the bottle on the table and got to his feet.

“Right now, I’m going to finish a baby’s room. Have you ever put together a crib, Corbin?”

Chapter Nine

There was nothing like hard ranch work to keep your mind off something you didn’t want to think about . . . or someone. Hallie spent the entire morning fixing fences with her daddy in the south pasture, and surprisingly, they’d yet to get into an argument. Of course, it was difficult to talk when it was so sizzling hot.

“Lord have mercy, it’s a scorcher.” Daddy pocketed his fence pliers and pulled out a bandana to run over his sweat-drenched face. Hallie took the opportunity to do the same.

“And it will only get hotter as the day goes on.” She used the bandana to tie her braids back. “Why don’t you head to the house, Daddy. I can finish up here.”

His eyes narrowed, and she figured their record for keeping the peace was about to be broken. “Are you saying I can’t keep up, girl?”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” She hesitated. “Although you shouldn’t even be out in this heat working considering you just had a heart attack.”

He snorted. “You sound like Mimi and your mama. I didn’t just have a heart attack. That was a good seven months ago.” He picked up the wire stretcher and moved farther down the fence.

She followed him and helped him with the barbwire they’d already laid out. “So you’re saying the doctor released you to fix fences in hundred-degree weather?”

“I don’t need a doc to tell me what I can and can’t do.”

“You do when you don’t have any common sense.”

“You better remember who you’re talking to, girl. I won’t be disrespected.”

She helped him stretch the barbwire into place. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, Daddy. I’m just trying to make a point. You shouldn’t be putting up fences. You should be back at the ranch sitting on the porch, sipping a glass of sweet tea.” Just the thought of a tall, icy glass of sweet tea made her mouth feel as dry as the Sahara.

“I’m not some doddering old coot that needs to be coddled, Hallie Holiday.”

Once her daddy had the wire stretched taut, she stapled it to the fence post. “You aren’t a spring chicken either.”

He glared at her. “I’m spry enough to keep up with my ornery daughter.”

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