Jake chuckled. “What is a cowboy supposed to sound like?”
“I don’t know. I expected a drawl or something.”
“Well, I was born and raised in Washington, not Texas. In fact, my mother grew up cultured and educated. She insisted on raising us the same way. She expected us to speak and act like gentlemen at all times.”
“Judging by your horses’ names, I assume your education included Greek Mythology?”
Jake grinned. “That was mostly my idea. Mythology was more interesting than most of the great philosophers.” Jake continued to talk about his mother’s influences: piano lessons, reading the classics, watching musicals. He had a hard time holding back a groan as he talked.
“I’ll bet she made you take dance lessons too.”
“Of course.” It came out a growl, then he smiled. “But the only dancing I do nowadays is country swing.”
“What’s that saying? You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink?”
Jake chuckled. “Something like that. Anyway, I went to college because my parents insisted. So I left the ranch for four years, not counting summers. They were the longest four years of my life.”
“Right, your rodeo years. What did you study?”
“My dad insisted I get a business degree so I wouldn’t run the ranch into the ground, and I had a double minor of animal science and agriculture.”
“All that in four years? I’m impressed. Tell me more about your family. I would tell you about myself, but...” She shrugged and smiled. “It would all be lies.”
Jake laughed. She had an interesting sense of humor, considering her situation.
“Well, you’ve met my older brother, Robert, and my mother, Faith. I also have a younger sister named Riley, who’s twenty-three. She’s away at college, completing her nursing degree this summer.”
“Does she find it easier to stay away from the ranch than you did?”
He shrugged. “She loves the ranch, but she’s driven to get her degree.”
“Does Robert live on the ranch too?”
“No. He built a house in town a few years ago. He always says he’d never trade his upbringing on the ranch for anything, but he wasn’t interested in taking over. He comes out and rides occasionally or helps with the round-up sometimes, but other than that he’s not that involved.”
“Your mother came back to visit me after you left this morning. She’s very friendly.”
“She’s a bundle of energy, isn’t she? Always on the go, needing to take care of anyone she considers less fortunate than herself, which is everyone. Your accident is timely for her. She used to tend Ben and Amy’s little girls, but Ben’s mom, who is the high school principal, is free for the summer and wanted to spend more time with them, so my mom is at loose ends.” Jake took time to savor a bite of ice cream before continuing. “She’s a nurse, or at least she used to be. She retired a few years ago when my father had a stroke. She took care of him for two years until he passed away.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Jake swallowed the emotion blocking his throat. “Thank you. Losing him was hard, but it was even harder seeing him no longer able to do what he loved. That was when I went from being one of the ranch hands to being the boss. Thank goodness I have Zane. He was my father’s right-hand man for my whole life, and now he’s mine. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
“I’m glad you have him. That must have been difficult trying to fill your father’s shoes at such a young age.”
He nodded. “Itwasoverwhelming at first, but I love ranching. It’s who I am.” Silently, he added, Icould never give it up.
* * *
Two hours later,Jake grinned as he walked to his truck, unsure why he’d been so anxious about visiting Emily. He’d enjoyed the time spent with her. He’d done most of the talking, but she’d been an avid listener and frequently asked questions.
She had a surprisingly positive attitude, considering all she’d been through. Of course, she couldn’t remember what she’d been through. Would she be different if she knew what kind of trauma she’d suffered? Would she have acted differently toward him if she knew she had a boyfriend waiting at home, worrying about her?
One thing was certain; he needed to be careful about getting involved with her. He couldn’t afford distractions that would pull him away from the ranch.I know nothing about her. She doesn’t even know anything about herself.
Regardless, he pulled out his phone. It was late, but he found the name he wanted in his call list and hit send anyway.
“Zane,” he said when the foreman’s deep voice answered. “Sorry for calling so late. I want you to go ahead and hire that other ranch hand we discussed the other day. I’m going to be busy breaking the colts this summer.”
