“You shouldn’t even be out here doing this, Pops. I haven’t gone to any of the doctor appointments with you, but I’m pretty sure this type of strenuous activity isn’t good for that heart of yours. This is why you needto sell this place. It’s going to kill you if you aren’t more careful.”
“Those doctors think they know everything. My heart can handle it just fine,” he grumbles, wincing as he stands straighter.
“Pops, I know you don’t want to face the fact that things need to change, but—”
“Enough,” he cuts me off. “I’m fine,” he says between gritted teeth before pulling himself back into the saddle. “I’ll see you boys back at the ranch.” He nudges Dolly with his heels, and she trots back the way we came.
I mount Cash, and Tripp and I follow behind Dolly who can’t stand to be behind the other two horses.
“He doesn’t like being told he can’t do something,” Tripp notes.
“I know it, but he’s gonna kill himself if he isn’t more careful.”
Tripp keeps one eye on Pops as he regards me. “He’s stubborn.”
“As an ox,” I note.
“Like someone else I know.”
I give him a sideways glance. “Who? Me?”
He snorts. “Yeah, you. Still set on convincing the old man to sell the place?”
I shift my eyes to Pops, who sits relaxed in the saddle now that Dolly has slowed to a walk after leaving the other two horses in the dust and nod.
“So, you’re still leaving at the end of the month?”
I swallow and the dust scratches my throat on the way down. “Yeah,” I say, my voice sounding dry and raspy. I clear my throat and try again. “That’s still the plan.”
I was really starting to hate the plan, but I’m not sure I can change my entire life, let down my parents and stay out here to run the ranch full time like I know Pops wants me to. Everything I wanted to promise Sawyer last night tangles with the obligation I feel toward my parents. My brain is a jumbled mess. No matter what I do, I’ll be disappointingsomeone.
Mom. Dad.
Pops. Tripp.
Sawyer.
Myself.
Tripp's face drops infinitesimally. “That’s what I thought.”
“It’s what I came here for,” I remind him, my tone taking on a defensive edge.
He raises his palms up. “Alright, settle down. I was just curious if you’d changed your mind, what with all the rumors I’ve heard about you and Sawyer.”
I roll my eyes. “What the hell is the town sayin’ now?”
“Oh, the usual. You’re madly in love, gonna pop the question any day now, get married and have a whole heap of cowboys of your own.”
“Jesus, this town sure has a wild imagination. I’ve been here six weeks, and she couldn’t stand me the first half of that. Who even told you all that nonsense?”
His shoulders shake with quiet laughter. “Linda.”
Fucking Linda.
“But everyone is talking about the two of you. People would have to be blind not to see there’s something there.” He glances my way, a knowingsmirk pulling up the corner of his mouth. “You ever gonna tell me whatisactually going on with you two?”
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
