Page 55 of The Prodigal Brother Returns

Nathan stared at the book, then gave Timmy a crooked smile. “Yes, you are, kiddo.” Switching his gaze to Blake, Nathan finally let go of his barriers. “So, what would bring in the most money the fastest?”

“The easiest to organize would be trail riding events or horse riding lessons.” Relieved, Blake sat across from his brother. Just those two wouldn’t get the Triple L completely out of the hole, but it was a start and would give them time to regroup. “With all three of us involved, it wouldn’t take too much upfront cash to put either one together. We could ask Malorie and the kids to help.” He forced the words out. It was time to get used to including Nathan and Malorie in the same conversation.

Not sure which way his brother would jump, Blake gave Nathan time to mull his suggestion over. That had always been their problem. Even when they were kids, Nathan kept so much close to his chest. In some ways, he was a little like Timmy, who sometimes had a hard time getting out what was on his mind.

When the silence stretched out, Blake couldn’t wait any longer. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that I can’t make any promises, but I’ll listen to your ideas—” Blake arched his brows. Nathan’s lips twisted into a half smile. “And I’ll think about it.”

Nathan had taken over their dad’s role, and he’d been running the ranch for too many years to circumvent his sense of ownership now. Still—

“You can’t think about it too long,” he reminded his brother.

Nathan held out his hand. “I know.”

Blake didn’t hesitate. He took the offer and gave his brother’s hand a firm shake.

They’d finished eating and Timmy was telling his uncles what he liked best about the ranch when Malorie, Andee, and Reece came in. It was the horses, of course. His kiddo had become especially attached to Bella.

“We brought vanilla ice cream for the pie,” Andee announced, handing over the quart to Jonas.

Jonas put the ice cream on the counter next to the pies and smiled at Andee. “Do you want to help me dish this up?”

“Sure!”

While Andee passed around plates of pie and ice cream, Blake hung back. Everyone sat around the table, talking and laughing. Even Timmy, who didn’t always hold up his end of the conversation.

This was what family should be. No matter how different they all were, or their dreams. Nathan and Malorie seemed very comfortable with each other and would probably end up starting their own family. Blake finally conceded he could no longer hold on to even a thread of his past anger and disappointment. It all had to go. It was time to move on to the next season.

His original plan that had him bringing Timmy to the ranch was the most important. No matter what it took, he and his brothers would save the ranch. The Triple L was his and Timmy’s home now.

Blake took the pie and ice cream Andee offered and joined the conversation at the table. Nathan was the most relaxed he’d seen his brother since arriving at the ranch. Malorie sat next to Nathan and joined in the laughter at a story he told about the brothers when they were younger.

Nathan tired out first. Malorie helped him to his room and pulled the panels for privacy. Everyone else helped clean up. When it was all put away, Blake knocked on the wall that bordered one side of his brother’s cubicle.

Malorie slid the panel open. She was so beautiful and her heart so big.

Blake couldn’t let himself go there. “If it’s okay, I’ll take the kids back to your place and get them started on a movie while you finish up here.” He nodded in Nathan’s direction. His brother was already half-asleep.

“Thanks. I have a few more things to do, then I’ll come home.”

Home?Did she mean that? Had she and Nathan come to an understanding while the rest of them cleaned up the kitchen?

Blake didn’t want to know. “Take your time. I’ll stay with them until you get there.”

He gathered up the children and herded them to the guesthouse, got them into their pajamas, and settled them in for a movie. This timeThe Princess Bride. They were halfway through when Malorie came in.

“I made hot chocolate. Do you want some?” he asked quietly. The kids were so engrossed in the movie, they barely looked up at Malorie’s arrival.

She smiled at him, pushing his heartbeat into overdrive. “Thanks. That would be great.”

While he poured hot water into a cup half-filled with the chocolate mix, she sat on the couch next to Reece. Blake handed her the mug and took a seat on the floor on the opposite end, leaning against the couch, with Timmy’s legs next to his arm.

They finished the movie that way and all Blake could think of was he wished Nathan had fallen for a different girl. Blake wanted to believe it wasn’t Malorie who’d captured his brother’s heart, but how could he when his recalcitrant brother had opened up about his feelings with the one brother he hadn’t wanted on the ranch?

Had Nathan told Malorie about his feelings?

The movie ended. Timmy’s eyelids were drooping. Blake shook himself free of the debate going on in his head. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you to bed.”

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