*Jethro wiped his brow and surveyed the new fencing. Chance had sent his father over to help, and between the two of them, they’d put in new posts and strung wire over the last week. It was well worth the blisters and backache to see the job done properly.
“Looks good. Hopefully that will keep the ornery bull in.” Jock pulled off his gloves, jammed them in his back pocket, and wiped his brow with a bandana.
“I really appreciate you helping me here today, Mr. Watson.”
“Name’s Jock, and you’re more than welcome, young man.” He walked over to the truck and pulled down a water bottle, took a deep drink. “You know you’re doing Chance a favor having that animal here?”
Jethro shook his head.
“He’s got a soft spot for Bulldozer even if the stupid thing finished his career. Lucky it didn’t kill him, I say. Thing is, Chance needs new blood in his herd, too, and having Bulldozer there with the new young bulls he’s purchased is making things a bit difficult at home. He won’t sell him and he certainly won’t butcher him, so having him here works for everyone. You get a good bull for your future stock, Bulldozer is kept busy, and Chance doesn’t have a dose of guilt.”
“He didn’t tell me that. Said it was more that Bulldozer needed more girls to work.” Jethro grinned. He hadn’t thought the eldest Watson brother had a shred of softness in him. Truth be told, Jethro really hadn’t had that much to do with him over the last few years. “I don’t understand. Why would anyone have a soft spot for something that almost killed him?”
“’Cause if he hadn’t had the accident with Bulldozer, do you think he would’ve met his wife?”
“Oh.” Jethro got it now. The Aussie girl who answered an advertisement for a mail order bride/ranch manager had been the best thing to happen to the rodeo hero, according to gossip around town. “Now that’s interesting. Funny he didn’t tell me that story, though.”
“Yeah, well, don’t go rubbing it in, but I didn’t want you to feel beholden to my son, knowing the way you boys always used to fight.”
“That was me and Tyson.” And those fights had spilled over into the delivery room. Thank goodness they’d made their peace. Last thing he would’ve wanted was to fight constantly with his lady love’s boss’s husband. Awkward!
“Was it?” Jock shook his head. “Guess I had my head in the bottle more’n I thought then.” He put the water bottle back in the truck. “Glad to see you came to your senses, too, before old Rupert died. Would’ve been a shame if you hadn’t.”
It still embarrassed him to think of how much he’d let down his grandpa.
Jock continued, “Yes, sir. I let the bottle get the better of me, and it almost cost me my boys. Thank goodness I had the sense to get my act sorted before I lost them all. Now those brothers of yours, how’re they going? Still drinking and fighting?”
“Some. Both of them have been helping out more lately. Want to get a job somewhere but they don’t have a good reputation in town. Not sure there’s anyone who’d want to hire them on.”
Jock rubbed his chin. “Leave it with me. If’n I hear of anything, I’ll give you a shout.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, in the meantime, is there anything else I can do for you, young man? I know we don’t know each other that well, but if you ever need a friendly ear, I’m your man.”
“Not that I don’t appreciate it, but not right now. Thanks.”
Jock grinned. “No problem. I remember when Layla came back to town, told Tyson she was pregnant. Stupid boy didn’t think he was good enough for her. Hope you’re not thinking the same thing with young Sadie. That girl’s gone on you. Any fool can see that.”
“It’s her decision.” He bent down and threw the roll of unused wire into the bed of the truck.
“Maybe, but don’t hurt none for you to ask for what you want. Far as I’m concerned, you’re a good prospect. Hard worker, own your own place, and from where the ladies stand, I guess you’re okay on the eyes.”
Jethro laughed. It actually felt good to have a conversation with someone old enough to be his father. He’d never had that before. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, Jock.”
The older man leaned against the truck. “All I’m saying is, don’t let her get away if she’s what you want. Money and education don’t mean much at the end of the day. It’s all about what’s in your heart, Jethro. That’s the only thing that counts. Love is everything. Believe me on this.”
“Love is everything. Okay, I understand.”
*
Sadie hung up the phone and rubbed her temples, trying to stave off the threatening headache. James Jr. had all but told her she should take the partnership and he would like to announce their engagement at the country club as soon as she came back to Denver. She’d tried to interrupt him and give her opinion, but he’d brushed her off while barely pausing for breath.
“Imagine the team we’d make, Sadie. My parents have always loved you. Father thinks you’d be a great asset to the firm, and we get on so well. None of this madly in love stuff. Between the two of us, we’ve seen more than enough broken marriages to know that there’s more to a good partnership than that first rush of love.”
“Your parents hardly know me. To be perfectly honest, neither do you, James. We had casual dates. I don’t think that’s enough to base a relationship on.” Sadly, once she might have gone along with him and entertained the idea.
“I disagree. We both come from similar backgrounds, have the same goals.”
“But I don’t love you, James.” She wanted to be with Jethro. For once she was listening to her heart. Callie was right, it was her life and she needed to do what made her happy, not her parents and certainly not James.
He didn’t listen, even when she said she was having second thoughts about the goals she’d set for future. That maybe she was happier in a small town, a small firm where she knew who her clients were and where she made a difference. The last thing she wanted to mention was Jethro. He was her business and nobody else’s.
“Nonsense.” James had ended the conversation by telling her—not asking but telling—her the best dates for a society wedding, informing her he’d spoken to her parents and had their blessing, leaving her with pains shooting behind her eyes. The idea of having no control over her future had started to take root. She had to put a stop to this.
“Looks like you could do with a cup of coffee and some of my oatmeal raisin cookies.” Emily walked in with a file and placed it in front of her. “This here’s your court list for tomorrow. Nothing too untoward, but I thought you’d like to cast your eye over it.”
“Thank you, Emily.” She opened it and took a quick look. A couple of speeding fines, a fight over a boundary fence, and a final hearing for a divorce. How apt that it should be now after James’s call. But she didn’t agree with him. Not at all.
Emily bustled back into the office with a tray in her hands. On it were two mugs of steaming coffee and a plate of cookies. The woman knew how to bake, and Sadie wasn’t complaining.
“So, going to tell me what’s got you so worked up?” Emily put the tray down and passed a mug over to Sadie.
“How did you know there was something bothering me?” She reached for a cookie and bit into it. If only these cookies could sort out her problems as easily as she’d like them to.
“That frown between your eyes for a start.” Emily peeked at her over the horn-rimmed glasses jammed on her nose. “Got a look on your face like you tasted something bitter.”
“Choices, Emily. It all comes down to choices, and I need to decide if I’m making the right one.” She leaned back in her chair and cast her gaze around the room. This office was small and intimate, nothing like the big, showy room James took her to in Denver. The space that would be hers as befitted a partner.
“Tell you the same thing I tell my kids. Go with your heart. Always the best way, if you ask me.”
Sadie heaved out a sigh. “It’s not quite that simple. Years of planning and copious amounts of money have gone into getting me to where I am today, and the plans for the future are set in stone. At least I thought they were.”
“Nothing’s set in stone. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s just a lame saying people like to bandy about.”
“I’m not sure my parents would agree with you. Sadly, I used to be the same. Now I’m not quite so sure.” Sadie sipped her coffee, her mind a jumble of contradictions she couldn’t sort through.
“Life is fluid. People change their minds. Called human nature, it is.” Emily sat forward in the chair and pushed her glasses up on her nose. “What’s your heart telling you?”
“To stay. Take Layla up on her offer and give Jethro and me a chance.”
Emily grinned. “He’s a lovely boy. Shame about his upbringing and how he behaved, but everyone deserves a second chance. Maybe you’re the person to give him that.”
She hoped so. There was definitely something special between them. Something that was missing when she met up with James Jr. again. At law school, they’d been close, but looking back on it, maybe it was a case of similar family backgrounds that they bonded over. Now that wasn’t enough no matter how much he promised her.
“Maybe I am.”