Chapter Sixteen

Rick mounted his horse and noticed his father was giving him the long questioning glance that had never failed to make him feel guilty. “Any reason you’re studying me like one of the rigs that quit pumping oil?”

“I’m just taking a second to appreciate how relaxed and happy you are.” Wyatt Blakely let his eyes run over his son and then lifted the corner of his mouth into a grin. “I haven’t seen it in more years than I care to count and don’t want to take it for granted.”

Looking down at his saddle horn, Rick studied his initials engraved in silver and nodded. “Sorry about worrying you, Pops. I never wanted my dream chasing to cause you and Mama any grief.”

His father snorted. “Having three strong-minded, willful sons has always been a blessing. You know how proud we are of the service you and your brothers have given this country.”

Rick saw nothing but pride reflected in his father’s eyes. Which, truth be told, meant the world to him, because there was no one he idolized more. His daddy was one of the most well-respected men in South Texas, and he knew it was because of the level of integrity he used every day of his life. If he could someday become half the man he was, he would be very fortunate. “Thanks. I appreciate you lettin’ me do my thing as I put myself back together.”

“Son, I know there’s nothing more healing than the flat, scrubby South Texas landscape and was more than happy to have you ride every single one of our half million acres. ’Cause nothing is better than letting the bleached Texas light fill your soul back up.”

“Good thing it only took a loop around the first quarter million to allow me to find a bit of sanity.”

He stroked the neck of his horse and then tipped up the brim of his hat. “Being a steward of this land was drilled into me from the moment I was born, and I think you might be the only other Blakely who loves this land as much as I do. I always hoped you’d come home from the Navy and lead the way for the next generation, and it gives me peace to know you’re going to do just that. It will be up to you and your brothers to insure everything from the treeless coastal prairies to the ruins of the small port on Copano Bay don’t get despoiled.”

“I know, Pops.” Pushing his heels into the stirrups, he stretched out his legs and thought about the responsibility running the ranch represented. It wasn’t small by any means, but one he would bear proudly.

“This life isn’t easy, and your best chance of success is finding the right partner to have alongside you. A lot of people depend on us, and as you well know, we take care of our employees pretty much from cradle to grave.”

“I know, Pops. Any particular reason why you’re reminding me now?”

“Because I was informed by your mama that you and Emily have taken up with each other.”

Smoothing his hand slowly over his horse’s mane, Rick nodded. “Are you worried that we’ll get up to our old stunts?”

He let out a chuckle and shook his head. “Not at all. You’re too smart to let something like that happen.”

“Then what concerns you?”

“That you’ll screw it up and miss out on a woman who could end up being your perfect partner.”

Lifting his hat off, Rick rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. “I see…”

“No one is perfect, son, but Emily might be the perfect one for you.”

His father rarely gave his opinion on things, and Rick knew to pay attention. “Seems Mama gave you a full synopsis of the situation over morning coffee.”

“Just like she’s done every day since we were married. We’re a team, and she has strengths that I don’t and vice versa.”

“And you want the same for me?”

“Of course. My life is a thousand times better with your mama in it. It’s also more complicated, interesting, and downright entertaining. And I want all my boys to have a slice of the happiness that I’ve been blessed with.”

“Thanks, Pops.” He pushed his hat down and vowed he would do everything in his power to make his daddy’s wish come true. Not only because he wanted the very same thing, but because making Wyatt Blakely proud was a goal he would never grow out of.

“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s go check the herd down in the valley.”

Rick laid the reins over his horse’s neck and turned her toward the gate. “Are you saying that words of wisdom about my love life isn’t going to become a regular thing?”

“God no.”

Letting out a bark of laughter, Rick adjusted his hat and felt like the earth’s orbit fell back in place. “What happened to Weston this morning? I thought he was going to join us.”

“He was out of the house at the crack of dawn, and as far as I know, he was chasing down something on the men who are keeping company with Owen Pierce.”

Feeling the gravity of the situation, he resifted the facts and tried to make sense of them. “Have you ever had problems with his parents?”

“Of course not, son. We take care of the people who work for this ranch and always will. His daddy had a drinking problem way back when he was working the rigs, and we made sure he got into rehab and got himself cleaned up.”

Did the Pierce brothers inherit the problem? Maybe one or both of them wrestled with substance abuse and that’s why they were making the choices they were.

He let the smooth gait of his horse settle his thoughts. “I’m not standing by and letting Nash’s bullshit affect Em in any way.”

“And how is she dealing with you as a shadow?”

“Some days are better than others, and she knows I won’t fucking compromise on safety.”

“You may want to figure out a way to soften that approach, so you don’t find yourself standin’ on the wrong side of a slammed door,” his father grumbled.

Rick smiled to himself. “You know something about that, Pops?”

“Your mama is hellfire and holy water, and the way I approach things determines which I’ll be enjoying for the day.”

“I’ll definitely be keeping that in mind.” And he would, because the last thing he needed to do was stoke Em’s frustration. Moving his horse along the embankment of the river, Rick thought about exactly what it would take to get Em to tolerate his need to stay close. When nothing immediately came to mind, he decided the hours he had ahead of him would certainly produce a few.

Because nothing fixed the inside of a person better than being on the outside of a horse.