saying. I’ve got a whole lot of stalls that need rebuilding that I planned to put your name beside, but maybe you and the uncles want to go on an extended fishing trip instead.”
His father shook his head. “Other than getting things in place legally, just in case, for the rest of it, you treat me the same as you’ve been. I like working, and I love working beside my boys. Nothing in the world gives me more joy than being with my family. As good as it is to sit still every now and then, it wouldn’t feel right to be lazing about.”
Blake nodded. “Okay, okay.”
A soft chuckle escaped his dad. “I’m not looking to stop, but I’m preparing you. Ask questions, think forward. I want you to be ready and feel you have this under control and not have to scramble in the future.”
“I can do that,” Blake assured him. “But you make sure you tell me if you want things to change.”
“Use your judgment. Chances are, at some point, you’ll have to give me made-up chores like I used to give you when you were a little tyke, tagging along at my heels and wanting so hard to help.” Mike sat quietly for a while then dipped his chin. “But we’ll deal with that day when it comes.”
Blake’s head was whirling. “I love you, Dad.”
Mike paused for a second in the middle of rising to his feet then caught Blake up in a huge hug and squeezed him tight, pounding him on the back. “I love you too.” He took a step back. “Almost forgot. There’s one more thing I’m going to turn over to you.”
He pushed over the hardcover book that had been on the table. It was neatly labelled SP Ranch Journal with the current year.
Blake’s fingers jerked to a stop unbidden. “That’s your diary.”
“Hush. Men don’t have diaries,” his father said dryly. “Or so your grandpa informed me when I caught him writing in his.”
They grinned as they met each other’s eyes. But Blake had to take a deep breath before he continued. “Why are you giving it to me?”
His dad looked thoughtful for a moment. “Okay, maybe I’m not giving it to you. I’m going to keep journaling myself, but this is a tradition that’s been in our family for a long time. It’s not just the records of what crops or how many animals or that sort of thing. I wasn’t even quite sure what the hell it was for when I started, but it’s been useful. Making notes about what I see, what I feel. What I hope for, or what’s been disappointing and needs to change.”
Blake considered. “Not something I’ve ever given much thought to—keeping a journal.”
“And maybe it won’t be something for you, but I’d appreciate if you gave it a shot.” Mike coughed as he scooped the book off the table and pressed it into Blake’s hands. “I bet you Marion’s looking for us. Probably got the teapot going and ready to catch us up on everything amazing your kids have done since we left.”
Blake was still reeling a little when he and Jaxi got home. After all the kids had been tucked into bed, he sat in his big easy chair and pulled Jaxi into his lap.
She held the journal, tracing a finger around the label. “That’s a pretty big change for Mike to make.”
“He’s seventy,” Blake reminded her. “Seventy-one this year.”
She nodded. “He just always seems so invincible. Both your parents.” Her nose wrinkled for a moment. “My mom and dad have been out of the picture for so long, I don’t have any connection with them. Marion and Mike are mine as much as they’re yours.”
Blake had never understood Jaxi’s folks. They’d moved away from Rocky shortly after he and Jaxi got married. They’d paid a couple of visits and sent a few congratulation cards when the babies had arrived, but there’d been no real connection.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Ma and Dad are your parents in all the ways that count. We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. Loving them and appreciating them and being there for them, whatever that means.”
Jaxi put the journal on the side table, wrapped her arms around his neck, and squeezed tight. Holding on to him as if she could somehow soak up the sadness inside and take it away.
“Blake?”
“Darlin’?”
She sighed. “I love you.”
Nice try. Blake slid his fingers into her hair and tightened so he could pull