Page 10 of Rancher's Return

“You know that if we try to keep them apart it’s only going to be worse.”

She bit the inside of her cheek and looked up at him with wide, amber-colored eyes. “Of course. Of course it will. Because then they’ll think they’re Romeo and Juliet.”

“Yeah. And I didn’t pay a lot of attention in school, but I know enough to know that ended badly.”

“Just a bit.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But let’s... Let’s talk to them. About ground rules. And maybe... There is a beginning of the school year carnival happening down in town. Maybe they can have a date, and we can supervise.”

“They’re seventeen,” she said. “Not seven.”

“Sure. But they’re on probation, right?”

“I guess so.”

He let out a long, slow breath. “I suppose it’s kind of big of you to not say you are extra suspicious of him because he’s my kid.”

“Like I said. I did my best to get over the past.”

“Sure. But you were awfully angry the last time we saw each other.”

“I also had a poster of Orlando Bloom as Legolas on my wall. So, things change.”

“Have they?”

“Yeah. I’m an Aragorn girl now.”

“I only vaguely know what that means.”

“It’s okay, you don’t need to get the reference. But yes, things change. I have a teenager now. She’s just a year younger than you were. A year younger than... Unfortunately, all of you were too young to take the blame. If it wasn’t Jason’s fault, then it’s not yours.”

He wasn’t sure he had been looking for absolution. He didn’t think he wanted it. Because holding the guilt close had accomplished a certain something in his life. And he didn’t really mind that, when all was said and done.

“I actually don’t need you to forgive me.”

“Well, too late. I do.”

That was irritating. He wasn’t sure why. “I came back here to raise the boys. I mean, they’re already mostly raised. But I wanted them to be around my family.”

“That’s a really nice thing for them.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to Colton. You can talk to your daughter. And this weekend, they can meet up for the carnival.”

“All right. That sounds like a plan.”

“I guess I’ll see you there.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

She turned and walked away from the door, and he was going to have to deal with Colton. But for just one moment, he reflected on the strangeness of this meeting. She might say that she forgave him, but that wasn’t what he was after. Her walking up to his doorstep, walking into his life, must be a sign of some kind. That was the problem with going off on your own for twenty years. It didn’t cure you of mystical thinking. If anything, that shit only got more profound. He had gone away looking for answers. Then he had found them. He had found purpose with the school, which had only deepened his certainty that there were times when a person stood at a crossroads and had to ask questions of the deepest part of their soul.

Hell, it was essential. And right now, he had a feeling this was meant to be. This was some essential part of his journey, and he had to pay attention.

He had a feeling that when they met this weekend, everything would become clear.

She got back into the car, her hands shaking. She was breathing hard. The events of the past hour didn’t seem real, and it had all culminated with running into Buck Carson.

Shedidblame him for Jason’s death. She just did. And as she sat there, trying to catch her breath, she became more and more certain of that truth. That no matter how much she had tried to get herself into a place that wasn’t angry—into a place filled with forgiveness, filled with understanding and acceptance that some people were meant to have a short life, and sadly, her brother had been one of them—it was all only theoretical.

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