is beautiful in its own way, though it’s a rugged, plain sort of beauty. Mostly vast acreage barely broken up by fences or trees. It looks best when framed by a gorgeous sky, which Texas usually delivers, whether that’s the pink gold of sunrise, the purple velvet of sunset, or like, right now, the bright blue of summer punctuated by white clouds.
“Mother said you were rich,” Ella says, as though this is normal conversation. When you’re eight, it kind of is.
I remember asking a friend’s dad how much their summer cabin in Colorado was. I wondered if that was something my parents could afford, mostly because I’d always wanted to see real, snow-capped mountains and to try out skiing. I didn’t understand when he got offended.
“My family was lucky enough to find oil,” I say, wanting to shift the conversation without blowing Ella off. “You see that?” I point toward three wells in the distance. “That’s the pumpjack. The part going up and down is actually called the horsehead, and that wire coming off is called a bridle.”
“Cool.”
Zoey and Ella are both pretty quiet, and I fill the silence with little facts about the ranch and what I hope are funny stories from growing up here.
“That fence is electric,” I say, pointing toward one of the wire fences that keeps the bulls in. “My brothers and I used to have a contest to see who could hold on to it the longest.”
Zoey laughs and swings her head toward me, her braid flying out behind her. She says she’s only ridden a few times, but she looks like she grew up on the back of a horse.
“According to your mother, that’s not all you used to do,” she says.
When my eyes widen, Zoey laughs even harder. I’m going to have strong words with my mama when we get back for telling Zoey that my brothers and I also used to urinate on the electric fence, which can also deliver an unexpected shock.
“What else did you do with the fence?” Ella asks.
Zoey mouths Oops to me, and I narrow my gaze at her. “Just throw rocks at it. Dumb stuff. I wouldn’t recommend touching it,” I tell her. “Forget those stories. Let’s pretend I never told you. Stay far away from the fences.”
Ella giggles, the sound making a squeaky wheel in my heart straighten and run smoothly. Was it just yesterday that she was a sullen, bratty, too-old kid? Secretly, I had wondered once or twice if Eleanor had broken something in her that was irreparable. The drastic change now that we’re on the ranch gives me hope.
Except you have to give her back.
That thought thuds against me like the flat head of a hammer on the top of a nail. I still barely know her. I’m not sure how this will work. I need to talk with Thayden about all of this. Custody, paternity, and even things like changing my will. Making provisions for Ella. All this is already on my mind, even without the confirmation that she is, indeed, mine.
Did Eleanor do this with other men? Make them believe they were Ella’s father, only to yank her right back. The blow of a hammer becomes more like a sledgehammer. I need to know for sure in order to protect Ella. To protect us both.
Sliding the phone out of the front pocket of my button-down shirt, I fire off a quick text to Thayden.
Gavin: I need to get some things moving as far as paternity tests, custody arrangements, and more. As soon as possible. Do you have time this weekend?
Thayden: It would be best in person. Can I stop by?
Gavin: I’m at my parents’ ranch.
Thayden: Great. I need some time in the air anyway. See you in a few hours.
I groan, giving my head a slight shake before tucking the phone away.
“Everything okay?” Zoey asks.
“Lawyers,” I say.
“Can’t live with ’em, can’t kill ’em?” she says with a smile.
“Something like that.”
“Can we go a little faster?” Ella asks.
“Sure.” I look to Zoey, who nods.
She told me earlier that she’s had some experience on horseback. Not a lot, but enough that she looks natural with her hips swaying in the saddle.
Mind off her hips, Gavin.
Right. No hips. Or the curve of her waist. Or—
“Like this?” Ella nudges Snowflake, who moves into her awkward pony trot, jostling Ella in the saddle. She grasps the horn for a second, then seems to calm down and regains her posture, tossing me a quick smile.