Page 72 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“Do I need support?”Rye returned.
“Everyone needs help,” one of the brothers sitting on the couch answered.“Especially if you’re organizing a big move.”
Rye’s eyes narrowed.“I’m not sure I follow.”
“I think we’re handling this badly,” Vander said.“I think we should have asked for his help first.He might not even be interested.”
“Interested in what?”Rye hated that he felt like he’d been dropped into the middle of a scene and he’d missed the key setup.
“We have a situation, and it crossed our mind that you could be the answer to our problems.”
“If you were a religious man, I’d say an answer to our prayer, but I don’t know where you stand up in terms of faith,” the one who was probably Duncan spoke.
“I talk to God,” Rye said flatly.“But not sure what He’s got to do with any of this.”
“Let’s cut to the chase then.”Van was comfortable taking charge.He was obviously the oldest.“We have a big piece of land here in Montana.Even though my dad and uncle are estranged, Dad is still part-owner.Our grandparents left Cold Canyon Ranch equally to both of their sons.Uncle Clyde has run the ranch all these years, but he has no children, which leaves the ranch to us.”
“Our father wants nothing to do with it,” the brother on the couch said.“He’s happy in Texas and that’s where he calls home.”
“Most of us have made our homes in Texas,” Van added.“No one is ready to move to Paradise Valley, which is why Ansley is here.”
“I thought one of you was interested in this place,” Rye said.
“Possibly, but if you thought this could be a good home for you and Ansley, then that is what we’d do.”
Rye took a breath.“I’m not sure I’m following.”
“You’re a cowboy.You come from a family of cattlemen.You know what to do with Cold Canyon Ranch.You’d know how many head of cattle you can run on the property.You’d know which crops to plant.You’d know how to bring value back and stop the financial drain on my uncle,” Van said.
Lachlan nodded.“Uncle Clyde hasn’t made the necessary decisions to provide for his future.Short of selling the ranch, there’s nothing set aside for him.He has nothing liquid.In light of this, he is dependent on our family for care and financial support.”
This was a story Rye was all too familiar with.“I know, and I’m sorry your uncle is ailing.I’m sorry none of you can see yourself here in Montana.It can’t be easy making decisions for his care from Dallas or wherever you live.”
“We wouldn’t have to, if you were here,” Fin spoke up.
Rye suddenly saw where they were going with this.Ansley’s brothers wanted him to take on the ranch and for Ansley to care for Clyde, but that wasn’t what Rye wanted for either of them.“I don’t see that happening.”
“Why not?”Duncan asked.“This is a big piece of land and could be prosperous again.It would take hard work but eventually—”
“No.”Rye gritted his teeth.There was no way.It didn’t work.He wanted his mom close to town, near people, and he didn’t want Ansley having to take care of her uncle.They could hire a nurse and Ansley could visit, but he wasn’t going to turn her into a caregiver.She had dreams, and he would protect her dreams even if it meant that it inconvenienced her family.
“That was an awfully quick no,” Lachlan said.“Ansley could still paint.There are a number of bedrooms here.It’s not a long drive to town and your brother would get exceptional care at Marietta Medical.”
Rye shook his head, temper rising.“You have it all figured out.I’m supposed to move my family here, take over the ranch, ask my family to squeeze into this farmhouse so you don’t have to worry aboutyouruncle oryournest egg.”
For a moment there was only silence, then Fin smiled crookedly.“It doesn’t sound very appealing like that, but it’s an option.I don’t know about you, but I like having options.Options aren’t decisions.They’re just another opportunity, something to think about when you can’t sleep at night.”
“We don’t expect you to make a decision today,” Van added.“If it were me, I couldn’t make a decision without talking with my family.”
Rye wasn’t happy.This wasn’t the conversation he’d anticipated them having.He thought he was coming to the house to meet Ansley’s family, not have her brothers try to take charge of his life.No wonder Ansley wanted to get away from them.
The front door opened and suddenly Ansley was there looking at the room full of brothers.She glanced at them and then at Rye, a question in her eyes.It was obvious something was wrong from the tension humming in the room.
She looked at her brothers, and then back to Rye.“What’s going on?”
“We’re talking about some options with Rye.”
“Oh?”Her voice rose to match the lift of her elegant brow.“What options?”
