Page 15 of Say You Won't Let Go
“I think so. Whoever it was didn’t sign the card.” I clutch the words to my chest and grin. It has to be from him.
“Well, he’s very romantic and a good guy,” Grace replies. Trent’s voice echoes in the back. “Em, the baby woke up, and Trent doesn’t have boobs.”
I laugh. “Okay, kiss Hannah for me.”
“I will. Love you! Call him!”
Chapter Five
Cooper
“Well, well, well, Wade Rycroft as I live and breathe.” I clap his shoulder, and he stands.
Wade grips my hand and shakes. “Cooper Townsend. I heard you were in town.”
“Yeah, just a few days. I was hopin’ to run into you. I’m here for the new expo. How are you, man? How’s your family?”
Our families have known each other for a long time, and our fathers are good friends. They were both young ranchers who met at an auction and stayed in touch. Wade and I bonded over the years in the rodeo circuit. He was better than I was. I’ll never tell him that, though.
I grab the seat next to him at the small bar I found by the hotel. Today was draining, and I had to fight myself not to drive to Houston to see Emily. So, instead of staring at the white walls in my room, I opted for a drink.
“You know my brothers, they’re the same. Rowdy as fuck and always in trouble.”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “As much as I wish I had brothers to help run the ranch, I’m glad it was just Presley most of the time.”
“Family.”
“Exactly. You still in the Army? I didn’t know you were back in town.”
Wade drains the beer in front of him and shakes his head. “Nope. I’m out.”
“Well, thank you for your service.”
He lets out a short laugh and motions to the bartender for another beer. She returns quickly with another round for both of us.
“How’s the ranch?”
“I’m actually working for a security company, McKay-Taggart. Best around. Since I’m chock full of useless knowledge that doesn’t apply to bein’ a rancher. Army didn’t prepare you for what happens when they kick you out for injuries. Nice, huh?”
There’s an edge to what he says, and I realize just how much he’s changed. The Wade I knew was funny and full of life. The man on that barstool is battling something deep. I was there not all that long ago. I didn’t want my farm. I wanted to do anything else. I always wished I could’ve joined the service, but Pop needed me to take over. With my sister off in Philadelphia, it fell on me.
Being saddled with burdens I never meant to carry changed me. Left a bitter taste that made it hard to swallow. I see the same thing in Wade.
“Well, I’ll buy you another beer, and you can tell me all about it.”
Wade and I sit and catch up. He tells me about the McKay-Taggart security company he works for, how he isn’t married, and how different it is with both parents gone. Dad attended Mr. Rycroft’s funeral, said it was horrible watching all those boys look to Wade.
“Is the ranch workin’ without you being there?” I ask him.
“My brothers have it handled.”
He tells me more about his time in the service and the missions he went on. And, although I can’t really imagine what it was like or what injuries he sustained that brought him back here, I admire what he’s done.
“The company you work for now?” I press.
“Good men, most former military, which helps when it comes to this shit. You want to know whoever has your six knows what they’re doing,” Wade explains.
“I can understand that.”
