The Patriot A Small Town Romance - Jennifer Millikin Page 0,102
you want without having to—”
“I know what this allows me,” I say through clenched teeth. My elbows lean on the table and I breathe through a cupped hand. The heavy exhale is the only sound in the room, and it communicates my frustration more than words ever could.
“I don’t know what you’re upset about. You should be thanking your father. He’s getting you out of this mess.”
A few months ago I would’ve given almost anything to inherit the ranch without following the rule, but now it doesn’t feel too good. In fact, it feels like agony.
I’m not afforded even two seconds to figure out my reaction because we’re interrupted by Jessie, who bounds into the room and announces dramatically, “I’m starving past death.” She’s followed by the rest of my family.
Dad takes his place at the head of the table, Mom sits beside him, Gramps across from her, and the rest of us are in the seats we’ve sat in every day since we can remember.
We start eating, but I can’t taste my food. I’m on autopilot. My mom’s eyes look worried, and Wyatt asks, “What’s wrong, Mom?”
Her eyes flash over to me before she answers. “Just one of my goats. She was limping today. She’s just a little thing.” She bites the side of her lower lip, and I get the feeling she’s not making it up. “I’m not sure what happened. I hope she’s all right.”
“She’ll be just fine, Mom,” Warner assuages. “I think you love those goats more than you love us.”
“Depends on the day,” she teases. It sounds forced to my ears, but nobody else appears to notice.
When dinner is over we go our separate ways. Warner heads to his cabin, Jessie leaves to stay the night at a friend’s house, my parents are reading in the study, and Wyatt takes off in his truck, probably headed to a bar in town. I step out front and call Dakota again. This time, I leave her a message. “Hey. Just checking in. Haven’t heard from you.”
When I turn around, Gramps is sitting in a chair behind me, two cold-looking beers set out on the table. “For a slow-mover, you’re shockingly agile.”
He flips me the bird and tells me to sit. I listen, popping the tab on both beers and handing one to him.
He takes a long drink, holds a fisted hand to his mouth as he burps, and says, “Beautiful out here, isn’t it?”
“Always is,” I respond, taking a pull from my beer.
He gestures out at the sunset with a flattened hand, his palm parallel to the horizon. “You see that salmon color? It was your grandma’s favorite.”
I nod. “I bet you miss her. I know I do.”
“I miss her like you wouldn’t believe. Right here.” He thumps the skin over his heart. “I feel it right here. The rest of me just hurts because I’m old. I’m telling you Wes, aging is a real bitch.”
I chuckle and keep my own aches and pains to myself. Something tells me my saddle soreness is nothing compared to what he feels.
“How’s Dakota?” he asks, his gaze sliding over to me.
“Good, Gramps. She’s good.”
“You sure about that? Because I heard Warner telling Wyatt she’s ignoring you.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You can’t hear half the shit we say to you, but gossip about my love life you manage to hear?”
He doesn’t respond, just waits patiently for me to provide a real answer. I sigh. “My mom put her nose where it didn’t belong and something tells me Dakota didn’t appreciate it.”
“I’m sure your mother meant well.”
I nod. “She did. Still doesn’t mean she should’ve done it.”
“Good point.” He looks back out at the sky.
“Do you know Dad changed the trust? I can take over the ranch now without being married first.”
“Who do you think told him to do it?”
“You…?” My eyebrows lift. When he nods, I say, “Thank you.”
“The rule was outdated, and it means something different in these modern times. Back when my dad decided on the rule, people were more likely to marry for practical reasons, and nobody ever said love was practical. Did you know your grandma and I knew each other less than a month before we got married?”
I stare at him, surprised. “How have I never heard that before?”
“Your parents probably kept it from you because they didn’t want you going and doing something so crazy.” He laughs at his own joke, and it makes me smile.