“I suppose I could rustle up a quilt. But it will have to be one that won’t get grass stains on the backside,” she told him, and checked her messages while she waited on him to say something.Sure enough, there was a text saying the only match she had from the event was with Bubba Jones.
“Does that mean you will go?” He sounded surprised.
“If we matched, then I guess it wouldn’t be right for us not to go out,” she said, but inside her heart was doing a Texas two-step, and her hands trembled. “What time?”
“I have to do a couple of things this afternoon, but maybe six thirty. The movie in the park doesn’t start until dark. Do you turn into a pumpkin at midnight?” Bubba asked.
His deep drawl sent chills running up and down her spine. “No, but whatever vehicle you are driving could.”
“We can’t have that, can we? I’ll have you home by midnight, so you can play with your rocks tomorrow morning. Where do you live?”
She hesitated for a moment while she looked up the address on her phone.
“Hey, if you aren’t comfortable with me knowing where you live, then we could meet somewhere,” he suggested.
“No, it’s just that I haven’t lived here long, and I have to think,” she replied, and blurted out the house number and street. “If that’s too far …”
“Not at all. I’m up near Katy right now, so it’s not going to be a problem,” Bubba said. “I’ll see you at six thirty.”
“I’ll be the redhead who answers the door.”
“I’ll be the cowboy driving an old white pickup truck.” He chuckled. “See you later, and I’m glad that we matched.”
“Me, too.” She didn’t tell him that he was the only name she had put a yes beside. That would come later—if ever. “Have a great day.”
“I’d rather have a great evening as a wonderful day. Bye now,” he said, and ended the call.
Miles tossed the phone over onto the passenger seat of the old farm truck he had driven from Ringgold to Houston and started the journey around the border fences of the ranch he was interested in buying. He carefully eyed every aspect of the land, but his mind was still on Lula Ann and how much he was looking forward to more than five minutes with her. Hopefully, one date would lead to another, and they would take it to the next step so he could get the picture of her out of his head.
He drove into the next pasture where at least a hundred head of Angus cattle grazed. After he had closed the gate he let down the tailgate, hiked a hip on it, and called his father. Martin answered on the fifth ring. “Hello, son. Are we buying or not?”
“I’m sitting in the middle of a pasture trying to make up my mind. What did you think?” Miles asked.
“I’d buy the place without a minute’s hesitation, but the choice is yours,” Martin replied. “It comes with a house for you to live in, good-looking cattle from the pictures you just sent me, and lots of excellent pastureland. The only problem I can see is that it is five hours from your family, but then, you have access to the helicopter anytime you need or want it. Your mama and I would have liked for you to buy something between here and Nocona like your sister did, but there’s nothing that big in this area.”
“I’d need a foreman and at least a small crew,” Miles said.
“Much as I hate to say it, I think Elijah would move with you. He’s ready to retire and turn the foreman’s job over to his nephew here on the Circle C,” Martin said.
“Hot damn! Have you talked to him about it?” Miles asked.
“No, but he talked to me. Let me know something soon, son.”
“Yes, sir, I will. And thanks, Dad, for everything.”
“You are welcome, son, but it’s my job is to see that you and your sister are taken care of before I step off this mortal earth. I want each of you to build your own dynasty, but even more, Iwant you to listen to your heart. It won’t steer you wrong. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you real soon. Bye now.”
Miles took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His father had told him that same thing too many times to count, but today it seemed to carry a lot more weight. Getting to know the ranch like it was a woman was silly, but he wanted to know for absolute sure that this was the place to make his own dynasty like the one his dad had made on the Circle C Ranch up near the Red River. By the next afternoon, he had gotten the right feel and was ready to talk about an offer. He got into his truck and was about to close the door when a black-and-white dog hopped inside, ran across his body, and sat down in the passenger seat.
“Where did you come from and what’s your name?” Miles asked.
The dog wagged his tail so hard that it sounded like a drum beat on the seat. He barked once and then looked straight ahead.
“I don’t understand that language, but I guess you are telling me to drive, right?” Miles asked.
The dog gave him a side look.
“Okay, then. Full speed ahead.”
