My big brother looks out over the ranch, squinting into the sun.He’s taking our father’s illness very hard.I wonder if his concern over me is simply misdirected worry about Dad.
We don’t say it aloud, but we’re all thinking the same thing—this might be the last Christmas we have with him.My brothers know I dropped everything in my life to move home last year after he was diagnosed.And they know that in addition to my nursing work, I’ve picked up the slack at home and on the ranch.
I appreciate how much my oldest brother cares for me, but I wish he’d give me some credit for knowing what I’m doing.If I were the careless type, I wouldn’t be alive.Heaven knows that this isn’t exactly a safe, suburban cul de sac around here.
Travis Ranch is six hundred square miles of untamed, rugged land.
“At least the weather is clear,” Jake says.
“Yes, and it’s just ninety minutes out and ninety minutes back.”I smack the top of the large gear locker on the back of this beast of an all-terrain vehicle.Inside are the supplies I’m taking out to Jeb and Louise, the caretakers of our farthest out grazing land, along with extra gas, food, tools, and anything I might need in an emergency.
“Do you have your phone?”
I unzip the breast pocket of my coveralls and provide the evidence that I do, in fact, have my phone.Then put it back and zip up again.
“Got your avalanche whistle?”
I pull the cord out from my thermal turtleneck so he can see the bright orange plastic of the rescue whistle.“Here you go, even though it’s flat nearly the whole way, it’s not even snowing, and there will be no avalanche in my future.”
“Thanks for humoring me,” Jake says.“Do you have extra ammo for your rifle?”
“Sure do.”I snap my helmet’s chin strap, put on my giant gloves, and settle the goggles over my eyes.“See you this afternoon!”
“Please be careful, Phoebe.”
I punch him in the upper arm.“Jake!I freakinglivehere.You’re just visiting.I do this kind of stuff all the time while you’re out smacking hockey pucks around an ice rink.So please, please, just give it a rest,will ya?”
He nods, surrendering.He’s a sweetheart, even if he’s a pain in my butt.
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Jake.”
“But you’ll always be my baby sister.”
I stand on my tip toes, pull my mouth guard aside, and kiss his cheek.Then I put it all back in place and yank up my balaclava to protect my lower face.“I love you, you big goof.”I jump on the ATV and turn the ignition switch, checking the multifunction dashboard.Everything’s a go.
Jake decides to resume arguing with me, but I pull my goggles into place, smile, and point to my ear as if I can’t hear him.I give him a thumbs up and take off down the dirt lane.
I look back to see him standing with his arms crossed over his chest, scowling.I blow him a kiss.
CHAPTER 9
Evander
I burst through Dad’s front door and flip the light switch.
“Turn off the lights!”
Five furious females turn to me, their outraged expressions backlit by the TV.
“They’re about to kiss in the vineyard, Uncle Evander!”My eight-year-old niece, Jasmine, jumps up from the beanbag chair and points at me with an accusing finger.“It was romantic!You’ve ruined it!Turn off the lights!”
“Yeah, dude.You weren’t invited to our party, so beat it.”That’s Summer, our ranch hand.She throws popcorn at me.
My future sister-in-law says hello.“Welcome home, Evander.How was the London trip?”
“Great.Thanks, Emma.”
“Get fitted for any new suits?”That’s my current sister-in-law, Cal’s wife, Victoria.
