Page 37 of Her Cowboy Reunion

“I love working here and living here,” Jace went on. His gaze wandered the ranch, then lingered on the hills beyond. “My family helped build this town over a hundred years ago, and there weren’t too many black ranchers in these parts. Or anywhere. But things have gone downhill and I’ve got to go where there’s work. I’m going to sell my parents’ place and use that money to pay off Justine’s schooling and stake my business.”

His parents had passed away just over a year apart when Justine started college three years before. “You going to Sun Valley?”

“Where else?”

The rising fortunes of the picturesque central valley had drawn a lofty tourism trade while home values pitched up. Folks in Sun Valley would have the means to hire a guy like Jace and pay him what he was worth.

“I’ve looked the situation over every which way, but it seems like the only option on the table right about now. It’ll take some time to sell our place,” he added. “There aren’t folks lined up to buy houses around here, so plan on me being here at least a month. Maybe more. I’m sorry, Heath.” Jace tipped his cowboy hat back slightly. “This wasn’t how I saw things going. We’ve been friends for a dozen years, and I never thought it would go down like this but my hands are tied.”

They’d had plans as younger men. Thoughts about how to resuscitate the town, how to bring back jobs and hope. But the plans went on hold as the ranch grew. Sean’s vision and dreams kept them both busy, and they’d forged ahead without seeing the whole picture. Now it was too late.

“I get it, Jace. You know I do. A man’s got to have work and you’re too good a builder to spend your life running sheep.”

“I like working the ranch well enough. I’d like to have my own spread someday, a Middleton ranch like my great-grandpa had. That was always my dream.” Jace shrugged. “But I’m meant to hold a hammer and run a saw, and I knew that from the time my daddy taught me everything he’d learned. It’s not even just wanting to do it. It’s needing to do it. I just never thought I’d be doing it away from here.”

Heath understood completely. It wasn’t about the money or the power of heading up a high-priced property. It was about taking the right trail to get where you were going.

Lizzie texted just then. Maybe labor, maybe not. Nothing much happening. Will keep you posted.

OK, he texted back,

“I’ll turn the established pairs onto the meadow.” Once a ewe established her little family with strong nursing instincts, they were turned onto a select nearby pasture to eat, grow and socialize, making room for more newborn lambs. Head down, Jace moved toward the lambing shed.

Heath turned toward the stables. Lizzie didn’t need him if the horse wasn’t laboring, and he had plenty to do, but he owed her an apology for his outburst the day before. She’d put a light in his son’s eyes, and he’d squelched things by hitting the panic button. Now he had to eat his words because Rosie wouldn’t be able to watch Zeke for weeks.

He texted Cookie to keep an eye on Zeke for the time being. That meant the little guy had to stay inside on a brilliant spring day because Cookie had jobs to do.

Guilt rose within him but that had become more normal than not. Did all single parents face these dilemmas? He wouldn’t know because he’d become very good at insulating himself. Just like Sean.

He walked into the barn, crossed to the office wing and tapped on Lizzie’s door. She turned, surprised, then pointed up toward the monitor on the wall. “Nothing much happening. Didn’t you get my text?”

“I did.” He walked into the room, shoved his hands into his pockets, then pulled them right back out again. “I didn’t come because of the mare. I came to apologize.”

* * *

Apologize? She stood, faced him, then folded her arms. “I’m listening.”

Gorgeous eyes gazed into hers, as if searching.

“I was out of line yesterday and I’m sorry.”

She lifted a brow slightly but stayed quiet because he was right. He was out of line and no one got to treat her that way. Ever.

“I should have been glad you took Zeke for a ride. I know your skills, I know your instincts, I know you. I let old buttons get pushed and that was plain stupid.”

Still she waited, unwilling to offer him help or absolution.

“It’s been crazy busy here, not just since Sean died but since he got sick. I haven’t had time to do things I should with Zeke, and Rosie had her hands full. She was pregnant and watching Zeke and a set of twins.”

“Zeke told me about the twins. I think he felt trapped because Rosie was busy and he couldn’t do too much outside.”

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