Tanner adjusted his hat on his head and hopped off the back of the truck. He turned, hands in his pockets and leveled her a look that was pure West grit.
“I mean it, Liz, what if he stays? What if he’s the West who’s supposed to run this damned place and Dad knew it? Lets us keep our hands in the dirt. Do what we’re good at.”
With that, he turned and walked away. Trademark Tanner-last-word antics. He was whistling as he made his way to the barns, his hands still in his pockets. Almost like a weight had been lifted.
“Tanner, wait—” she called after him, but he just waved and disappeared down the path.
Of all people to suggest it, that it was him and not Brady was a small miracle. Liz sat back and closed her eyes for a moment, still processing his statement when the truck jostled. Brady hoisted himself up beside her, right on cue.
“Tanner looks happy. What’d you say to him?” he asked, his tone light.
“He, well—” she stuttered, gesturing, not sure what to say. “He suggested that Jake stay on, even said that he should be the one running this place. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was drunk again, but—”
Brady burst out laughing, his head back, his eyes shut tight. It got Liz going, and in moments the two of them were howling, holding their stomachs.
Brady put his arm around Liz once he’d gotten himself back under control. She leaned into him, thankful once again for these men who had adopted her as one of their own all those years ago. Tanner for his no-nonsense work ethic and decision-making, Brady for his spirit and sense of humor. Both of them buffers from Brett, there when she needed a hand. If not for them, she’d have thrown in the towel long ago.
Jake had remarked that they made a good team when they had gone out for that ride. They did. Jake was part of that now, too, whether he wanted to be or not. She had already considered him so, and apparently now Tanner did too.
“Of all people,” he said through his laughter, then sobered a bit. “But he’s right, you know. It could work. Jake has to want it, though. He’s not from here, not a rancher. He’s a chef. A damned good one. Shouldn’t he be doing that?”
Liz hung her head, all the levity from a moment ago sucked out of her in that statement, like air escaping a balloon. Brady was right, damn him. Jake needed to be where his career was. Which was not running a ranch in Alberta. It was running fancy restaurants in New York City, cooking for millionaires and celebrities.
Brady squeezed her and then let her go as he stood. “I know. If he stays? Holy hell, that would be awesome. But if he goes, we gotta be okay with that too.”
“No. I don’t,” Liz grumbled, and jumped down, slamming the tailgate closed, her eyes filling with tears yet again. “I don’t gotta be okay with it, Brady. Because, damn it—”
She let out a sob and his arms were around her again, this time comforting her as she attempted to get control over herself. She was entirely too emotional for her own good right now, bouncing in and out of moods like a damned tennis ball thrown from the roof.
“Fuck,” she warbled, through tears. “Mom warned me about this. I—”
“Mmmm, ya think? She does have some experience with West men, maybe?” he replied, and gave her a squeeze. “I’m sorry, Liz. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Liz wiped at her eyes and stepped away from Brady. “No, it’s okay. Shitty as it is, it’s reality, and I walked into it with my eyes wide open, right?”
“And your heart too. You love him,” Brady stated, eyeballing her.
She nodded and he grinned widely, gesturing out with his hands. “Then tell him and see what happens, you big stupid marshmallow!” he exclaimed, and pulled her under his arm while they walked toward the stables.
Would it be enough to make Jake stay? She didn’t want to put him in that position. What if he did? Would he resent her over time? All her doubts and worries crept in as she and Brady walked.
She had no doubts about how Jake felt—they’d said as much in the hayloft, he’d shown her in the following days. But was it enough to make him change his entire world for her, and this place? Feelings were one thing, but life was more than just feelings and desires.It had to be more than just love to make it all work.
“Stop thinking so hard,” Brady admonished as they reached the stable door. “Just take it one day at a time right now. Nothing’s been decided. I think Tan needs to have a sit-down with New York and see where his head’s at.”
“And you. You’re part of this as well.”
Brady frowned and stopped, leaning against the bars of a stall. He looked away from her and she reached out to touch him, to reassure him. This was another wrinkle in the entire drama that they’d been living through.
“Brett wasn’t my father. I have no claim to this place,” he said tiredly.
“Brady,” Liz intoned. “You do, and that is ridiculous. You grew up here, Brett gave you his name, you were his son, even if he knew—”
“Knew what?” Brady blurted, his voice tight.
Liz met his eyes, unsure of what she should say or not say. He needed to process this on his own schedule, but should she say something? It might make things more complicated if she was wrong.
“Even if he knew you weren’t his, or knew whose you were,” she replied finally. “He raised you anyway.”
