Page 57 of Home to the Cowboy

Arlene shook her head. “I’m fine. Your mother was told the fight Jackson and Grayson had was because of me. Jackson never confirmed or denied it when I asked him. He just said it didn’t matter anymore. Your mother was very upset.”

For a few minutes it was silent. Upset didn’t begin to describe his mother’s angry moods. Dylan stared down at his plate. Arlene had told them the bare minimum and clearly much had been left unsaid.

“Dylan and Carson,” Arlene said and Dylan looked up. “I don’t know why your parents were unhappy, and I’m sorry that that is how you remember your childhood. What I do know is that you cannot change what happened, but you have control over your future. If you meet someone who makes you happy, who gets you, you shouldn’t let the previous generation’s mistakes keep you from allowing yourself to open your heart. In the short time you’ve been part of our lives, you’ve become like sons to me. I want you to be happy.”

Willow chuckled. “That means she would love to see the two of you get married. She pestered all of us until we found our soul mates. She wants the same for you.”

Carson quickly held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I’m very happy as I am.”

All eyes turned to Dylan.

Dylan was struggling to process what he’d heard. It wasn’t anything earth-shattering, but at the same time the whole thing was just so terribly sad.

Becket slapped him on the back. “Translation? Go to Seattle and get your girl, you’re not getting any younger.”

Before Dylan could say anything, Luke came back laughing, the dogs all yapping at his heels.

As everyone got up to clean the table, Arlene grabbed both his and Carson’s arms. “I should’ve told you a long time ago what I knew, I’m sorry.”

Dylan gave her a hug. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I have vivid memories of Dad on his horse, staring in the direction of The Weston Ranch,” Carson said. “It’s just so sad.”

Dylan nodded. “I remember that as well.”

“Come on, you two,” Willow called out. “It’s time to clean up.”

Cleaning up was noisy and chaotic like always. This was what family life was supposed to be like—imperfectly perfect.

Carson had picked him up earlier and as they were driving back to the ranch, they were both quiet.

Daisy had settled on Dylan’s lap and was soon snoring lightly.

“You okay?” Carson asked.

Dylan nodded. “I am. We’ll probably never know what really happened between Mom and Dad, but for the first time I can look back with pity and not anger. I certainly don’t want to make the same mistakes.”

“You know what you have to do, I hope?”

Sighing, Dylan watched the passing landscape. “How do I know what I feel is something that will last? I mean, at some point Mom and Dad were probably happy, so what changed?”

“We will never know. Look, I’m no expert when it comes to relationships, as you well know, but what I do know is that when you are around June, you’re a different person. Happier and … um … I don’t know. Maybe satisfied describes it best.”

“Well, June and I are texting,” Dylan said.

“Yeah?”

“It’s nice. There really wasn’t time to get to know each other while she was here.”

Carson grinned. “So what? You’re going to keep texting for the next thirty years?”

“I don’t know. At least we’re talking.”

“She’s gorgeous, and if you don’t make a move soon, someone else will, and you’ll have to settle for second best.”

Carson didn’t say the words like Dad did, but it hung in the air between them, nevertheless.

*