Winnie’s expression crumpled. “I thought you felt good about the farm.”
“I do. Jerry should have the papers ready for me to sign tomorrow. I just want to ask my daddy’s opinion on a couple things.”
She nodded.
“And then, to be honest, I’ll probably go home, pack a bag, and come stay here with the cats.”
“I know they’d like it,” Winnie said.
Ty realized then thatshewanted him to stay with her cats. He nodded and brushed his fingers along the back of her neck and into her hair.
“Do you miss me already?” he asked, needing to hear it.
“I do,” she whispered.
Ty pressed his lips to hers. Her mouth trembled under his, and he wished he could erase her anxiety and fears. But he couldn’t change her sister or her parents, and he told himself he didn’t need to try. Winnie was a grown woman; she knew how to handle her family.
“Maybe I’ll come on Saturday,” he said.
“It’s a long drive,” she said. “I’m going to be making sure my daddy has everything set up at home, so it’s really accessible.”
“Okay. I just want you to know that I’d come.”
“Of course I know that,” she said. “And you’ll tell your parents how sorry I am that I had to cancel dinner.”
“They understand.”
“It’s still frustrating,” Winnie said, frowning out at the river.
“Someone told me once that how we deal with the frustration is what matters.”
Winnie whipped her attention back to him. “Are you seriously quoting me…to me?”
He laughed and pulled her tighter. “Sometimes you say really smart things, sweetheart.”
“Sometimes?” she screeched, laughing.
Ty laughed too, glad Winnie relaxed in his arms and leaned her head against his chest.
“All right, we better get going,” she said a minute later. “Or I’m going to be pulling into Oklahoma really late.”
“You’ll text me when you get there?”
“Yes, cowboy.” Winnie slid off his lap and turned back to offer her hand. Ty didn’t need help getting up, but he slid his hand into hers and let her pull him to his feet.
“Don’t let your sister make you feel small,” he whispered. “Because you are mighty.” He swept a kiss across her cheek and tucked one against her ear. “I think you’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. Don’t let her make you think otherwise.”
Winnie sniffled and nodded, then stepped out of his arms, took his hand, and led him into the house for their goodbye dinner together.
An hour later,Ty pulled into his parents’ driveway, Winnie’s final goodbye kiss still burning against his lips. She might not have said everything in plain words, but the way she gripped his collar and clung to him told him everything he needed to know, at least for now.
He parked on the street in front of his parents’ house and looked at it. He’d lived here until very recently. His parents had been very, very good to him and always there for him no matter what. Now that he knew more about Winnie’s family, he realized how good he’d had it.
He sat with pure gratitude streaming through him. Momma stepped onto the front porch, clearly worried, and he grinned, waved, and got out of his truck.
“Winnie feels really bad about canceling dinner,” he said as he started up the steps.
Momma and Daddy had installed new railings when he’d first come home after being injured, and he still used themto this day.
