Page 113 of Roping Her In

“When do you think that will happen?”

Jake waved his hand. “I have no idea. Could be this month, or next, or in August. I don’t know.”

A peaceful feeling entered his heart. “And I don’t need to know, because I know that this is the path God wants me on, and He’ll help me take every step of the way.”

Tears leaked out of Momma’s eyes, and Jake reached up and pressed against his own, which also burned with the hot tell of tears.

“Anyway,” he said. “I just talked to Libby on Thursday, and I got sick immediately after that, so I haven’t had much brain power to look for a new job, or go over my financials, or figure out what I’m doing next.”

He shrugged one shoulder and forked off another bite of his cinnamon roll. “I thought about forming my own company and being a freelance veterinarian,” he said. “Because there are tons of hobby farms and even great big ranches in this area who don’t have full-time vets. I’m constantly doing house calls anyway, and why not have my own business doing it?”

Daddy smiled. “It’s a different kind of life.”

“Yeah,” Jake said. “And I need a different kind of life. I work too much out here. I can’t be a boyfriend or fiancé or husband and keep this job.” Pure admiration ran through him. “I don’t know how you did it, Daddy. You’re better than me. I can’t do it.”

“No, I’m not better than you,” Daddy said. “We’re just different. That’s it.”

Jake put another bite of cinnamon roll in his mouth and waved his fork toward his parents in what he hoped was a gesture of, Tell me if I’m crazy or not.

Momma and Daddy looked at one another, and Daddy raised his eyebrows. Momma gave them the courtesy of remaining quiet for several long seconds. So long in fact, that Carson growled.

“Just say it, Momma.”

She glared at him. “Number one, I think you’re both a little crazy.” She spoke in the rapid-fire way she had when she had a lot to say and wanted to get it out before she got interrupted. “But I also think it’s wonderful—not that you’re going to be moving to Dallas—and I think it’s reprehensible that you didn’t at least tell us where you were. What if something had happened?”

“I told Grady,” Carson said, referencing his best friend from high school, who he lived with.

“And you think I want to find out from Grady?”

“He’d be better than the police, Momma,” Jake said.

She zeroed in on him. “I thought you loved this ranch.”

“I do love this ranch, Momma.” Jake grinned at her. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t give up everything to be with Daddy? Even this ranch?” He looked at his father. “Would you have given up your position here to be with Momma?”

“Yes, sir,” Daddy said. “I would have.”

Jake indicated him with his free hand. “There you go, Momma. I’m not the one moving to Dallas. I’m just hoping Hailey and I can fix what I broke between us, and I’ll be able to move to town. And eventually, once we get married, I’ll move in with her.”

“I think it’s great,” Daddy said. “Both of you. We raised you to be good, strong men who can think, problem-solve, and follow their convictions.” He gazed fondly at Jake and then Carson. “And it sure seems to me like that’s what you’re doing, so I don’t see how we can be upset by any of it.”

“Yeah, but,” Carson said, “I just want to make sure that I’m not making a mistake. And you said we could always come to you, and you’d tell us the truth.”

“I just did,” Daddy said. “And your mother believes it too.” He looked at her and nodded.

She wept again, and then she launched herself off the couch and spread her arms wide as if she could hug them both on opposite ends of a full-size sofa. Jake leaned in, and Carson scooted over, and it turned out that she could.

“I love you both, my chicks,” she said fiercely. “And I do trust you to make the right decisions for yourselves.” She straightened and sat beside Daddy again. “And you will.” She nodded. “You have.”

Carson reached for the box containing the cinnamon roll and said, “Don’t eat all that.” He grabbed it away before Jake knew what was happening and could protect it.

“Hey,” he said. “I’ve been sick for days, and I specifically asked Momma to bring me food, and she brought leftover peach delight from the church potluck.”

Carson wore a stormy look in his eye, and he picked up the cinnamon roll and took a bite right off of it.

“Carson,” Jake said.

Carson simply picked up his phone and looked at it. “I think we timed this exactly right.”