The Rancher Meets His Match (The Millers of Morgan Valley #4) - Kate Pearce Page 0,104

you.” He refused to give up on her that easily.

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

He had to watch her walk away knowing that she might never walk back into his arms, or be willing to listen to him ever again. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do in his life. He swallowed down a barrel load of emotions. Funny how you only realized what you were losing and what you loved when it was too late.

* * *

Kaiden opened the refrigerator door as quietly as he could and got out the milk. After the awfulness of the party he hadn’t been able to sleep without reliving Julia’s expression the moment he’d accused her of selling out her own father. Even as he beat himself about that, he’d remembered how her father wouldn’t trust her because she was a woman, and realized that extra level of hurt he’d created. He should have called and laid it all out for her. He was an idiot.

He found the pan his mom used to boil the milk and retrieved the hot chocolate mix from the pantry. When he reemerged into the kitchen his dad was sitting at the table.

“Make that for two, will you, Son?”

“Sure.” Kaiden was way too miserable to argue with his father. He made the drinks in silence, brought them both to the table, and sat opposite his dad.

“Thanks.” Jeff took a sip. “That’s good.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Your mom thinks this helps me sleep.”

“She thinks it makes everyone sleep. It’s like her wonder drug.” Kaiden wrapped his hands around his mug. “I thought you’d be tired after the party.”

“I was, but that doesn’t mean I can sleep. I do my best worrying at night.”

“Me too.”

“We’re quite alike in some ways.”

“So everyone keeps telling me.” Kaiden kept his tone neutral. “I can’t say I see it myself.”

“That’s because you worked much harder than I ever did to control your temper. Getting riled up is fuel for me—it keeps me going. For you it was . . . destructive.”

“I don’t remember the last time I lost my temper,” Kaiden lied. He wasn’t stupid enough to tell his father he’d lost it with Julia earlier that night.

“I do.” His father blew on his hot chocolate. “You were in the barn and were supposed to be stacking the hay bales as I sent them up. You and Ben were messing around, and he knocked you flying. You got mad and rushed him, and he almost went over the edge. He probably would’ve broken his neck at that height if I hadn’t reached out, grabbed hold of his shirt, and hauled him back in.”

“I don’t remember that.” Kaiden studied his hands.

“Sure you do.” Jeff set his mug down. “You don’t want to, but it’s the truth. You cried your eyes out and ran off. I had to find you and bring you home. I didn’t even bother with a punishment because I thought you’d learned your lesson, and I was right. You never let your temper get out of control now, maybe too much.”

“I don’t like conflict.”

“I know, you’d rather turn it away with a smile and a joke, but sometimes you need to get your mad on, Son. Sometimes you need to dig in and do the hard work.”

Like he’d done earlier . . . and that had gone so well because he had no idea how to handle his anger. He’d learned to tamp it down and pretend it didn’t exist. Kaiden took another slow drink aware that his father might be onto something but unwilling to admit it. “So what’s that got to do with anything anyway?”

“Nothing much.” Jeff shrugged. “Just passing the time until you have something of interest to tell me.”

“Why would I tell you anything?” Kaiden asked.

“Because sometimes you need advice? And, because you are like me, maybe I can help you.”

“I screwed up. It’s on me. I’m the only person who can fix it,” Kaiden said firmly. ”I don’t need anyone to tell me that. I should have slowed down, I should have listened more before I jumped to any conclusions.”

“Story of my life.” His father nodded. “But, one thing I can tell you is that if the other party is willing, then you can make things right.”

“I’m not willing to wait twenty years until Julia returns to Morgan Valley, Dad.”

“Then do it sooner.” Jeff set his mug down on the table with a thump. “You’ve got no responsibilities here right now, you have a great skill set. You could

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