Page 6 of Wrangled Love

“What if you and Caleb come to Bluebell for the summer?” Julie suggests. “I think it would be good for both of you.”

I come to a standstill, my fingers tightening around the phone. “You’re serious?”

“I am. Next week, the elementary school is kicking off a summer camp focused on outdoor learning. It’s run by some teachers and volunteers, and includes activities like painting pine cones, visiting local farms, and learning how vegetables grow. I’m sure Caleb would enjoy it.” She pauses briefly, letting me absorb her recommendation. “The camp is full, but I can squeeze him in. That’s one perk of being the principal,” she adds brightly.

My gut reaction is to immediately decline. I haven’t set foot in Bluebell since I was eighteen. It’s a reminder of my shitty childhood and the struggles I endured early on. Even though my parents have passed, the scars they left still haunt me—etched into every corner of that town.

New York City is my home now, and I’ve fought to build a successful career and the stable life I missed out on as a kid. So, returning to a past I’ve tried to leave behind feels like a step in the wrong direction.

“I know coming back here isn’t what you want,” Juliecontinues, seeming to read my thoughts. “But the sunshine and slower pace could do Caleb some good. A child therapist retired to Bluebell last year, and I often recommend her to parents at the school. So, Caleb can continue in-person therapy. I’ve always thought of you as my own, and I’d love nothing more than to support you right now. They say it takes a village and you have one here on the ranch, ready to help.”

As much as I hate to admit it, that does sound like the perfect setup. The truth is I’m isolated here in the city. I have my own business and employees, but not much support outside of work. Back in Bluebell, I’d have Julie and the whole Halstead family to help Caleb and me navigate this unexpected new chapter. Even though it would mean swallowing my pride and confronting my past.

“Where would we stay?” I ask, unsure why I’m still entertaining this idea.

“Briar lives in the cottage now, and there are two extra bedrooms. You can stay with her,” Julie answers without skipping a beat. “The cabins are full all summer, and the ranch house is too chaotic for Caleb. This way, you’d get separate rooms and a bit of privacy.”

Briar was only ten when I left town and we haven’t spoken since. She’d be twenty-four now, and I doubt she’ll be thrilled about sharing her space with her older brother’s best friend and his kid.

“It’s a lot to ask. Are you sure that’s something she’d be okay with?” I question.

“Oh, I’m sure she’ll be fine with it,” Julie chirps. “Especially when she hears about your situation. I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t think it’s what’s best for you and Caleb.”

She stops there, leaving me to stand in silence, weighing my options. Julie knows a thing or two about raising kids, and I believe her when she says she wouldn’t suggest Bluebell unless she truly believed it was the right move for us.

My chest tightens, knowing what I have to do.

“Alright. We’ll come, but just for the summer.”

“Really?” Julie exclaims. “That’s the best news.”

I exhale slowly. “I’ll need some time to get everything in order, then we’ll be on our way.”

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my son, even if that means going back to the small town I vowed never to return to.

Iwipe the sweat from my brow as I approach the cottage, squinting against the sun. My brother Heath is sitting on the porch swing with his arms crossed over his chest. I’m surprised to see him here. He rarely shows up on this side of the ranch unannounced, especially not in the middle of the day when there’s work to be done.

I lower myself onto the spot next to him. “What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too, sis.” He smirks as he bends to pick up a bag from Prickly Pear Diner I hadn’t noticed before and hands it to me. “Figured you’ve been fixing the AC in cabin six since dawn, and might want something more than stale chips and a soggy sandwich for lunch.”

He knows cooking isn’t my area of expertise and that pancakes are the only thing I can make without setting off the smoke alarm. Since I usually spend my days outdoors, I stick to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or whatever snack I have stashed in my Jeep or back pocket.

I blink in surprise when I open the bag and find a barbecue pulled pork sandwich and loaded cheese fries—my favorite.

If Heath is hand-delivering food, it’s either because Mama Julie sent him or he’s about to ask for a favor. My suspicions are confirmed when I catch him drumming his fingers against his jeans-clad thigh. His brow is creased as he watches me, waiting for the right moment to ease into whatever request he has up his sleeve.

“How about you tell me why you’re really here, so I can enjoy my bribe.” I don’t bother pretending I don’t know he has an ulterior motive.

He shrugs. “What? Can’t a guy drop by to check on his favorite sister?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m youronlysister.”

Many in town would argue that’s not exactly accurate since I was adopted at fifteen. Before that, I lived on the other side of town in a run-down trailer park with my mom, who bartended at the Blue Moon Tavern and was always chasing her next high—whether it came from pills or the fleeting attention of whichever man happened to be around.

My biological father was just one in a long line she never bothered to remember, and I doubt she could’ve if she tried. I never knew his name. He was merely an empty space where a dad should’ve been.

Julie Halstead, Heath’s mom, was my elementary school teacher at the time. She took me under her wing when she realized my home life wasn’t stable. I spent most evenings at her house where she taught me how to tie my shoes, garden, and ride horses. Her husband, Samuel, and their two sons made me feel like I was part of their family from the start, no questions asked.

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