Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (The Ryan Family #1) by Carolyn Brown

“I’ll be living right here on the ranch. How do you propose I stay away from your mother?” he asked.

“Find a way,” Mia whispered. Then she yelled: “You guys need to hustle. I’m not paying overtime, and you don’t get a check until these bales are stacked.”

“Tough boss, aren’t you?” Jesse asked.

“Tougher daughter,” she shot back at him.

Addy brought over the water and a stack of envelopes. “Looks like you guys are going to be done by noon for sure.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said the tall, lanky blond kid named Pete.

“What are you boys going to do tonight?” Jesse asked.

“We’re going to score some beer, take it to the creek, and build a bonfire,” he answered. “Hey, Mia, you want to go with us? I’ll pick you up at seven. You can bring a six-pack of your favorite beer.”

“Not tonight,” Mia said.

“Well, you know where we’ll be,” he said. “And Ricky will be there, if that changes your mind.”

“Ricky?” Jesse asked. “Boyfriend?”

“That would be none of your business,” Mia answered.

It didn’t take a brain surgeon to know that Mia wasn’t happy about Jesse being back on Sunflower Ranch. Maybe she was jealous of his relationship with Sonny and thought he was there to usurp whatever authority she thought she had. Or maybe she had felt the vibes between him and her mother, and she didn’t want to share Addy.

Jesse had just thrown the last bale onto the stack when he caught a movement in his peripheral vision. He whipped around to see Grady coming into the barn. The doctor was wearing light blue scrubs and white shoes and didn’t have a drop of sweat on him.

“Hey, I thought y’all shut down this business at noon on Saturday,” he yelled.

“We’re almost done.” Mia jumped down off the wagon and ran over to him. “I’d hug you, but I’m a mess, and I still have to sweep the trailer and truck.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Jesse offered.

Mia turned slightly and said, “It’s my job, so I’ll take care of it. You’re finished for the day, Jesse. Go on to the house.”

Jesse downed half a bottle of water. “Not me, boss. I’m going to help Henry fix a fence that’s down.” He brushed against Addy’s shoulder when he passed by her. “See you around. Is your best friend Grady coming for supper as well as Henry?”

“Nope. He has to be at the hospital on Saturday night, but he has Sunday dinner with us,” she answered as she handed the boys their checks.

“Afternoon, Grady.” Jesse nodded as he untied his shirt and slipped his arms into it on his way out of the barn.

“Jesse.” Grady nodded back. I’m her best friend, not Grady, Jesse thought.

But that was yesterday, the voice in his head reminded him. Jesse could feel Mia’s cold stare on his back all the way out to his truck. He’d love to know what he’d done to get under her skin so badly. She hadn’t been particularly warm that morning at breakfast, but at least she hadn’t sent him go-to-hell looks or practically told him to drop graveyard dead.

Tex came out of nowhere and jumped into the vehicle as soon as Jesse opened the door. The dog sat down in the passenger’s seat, barked once, and then stared out the front window as if telling Jesse to get on with the program.

“Well, at least you’re glad I’m home,” Jesse said as he got behind the wheel, rolled up the windows, and turned the A/C on high. “Grady is treating me like he’s afraid I’ll take Addy away from him. Mia is acting like I’m Lucifer come up from the pits of hell. And Addy…I don’t know if she’s got room for another guy friend in her life or not. And why is he here again on the same day anyway?”

Tex stuck his nose right against the vent and wagged his tail.

“Or maybe you just want some cool air and don’t give a damn who you ride with,” Jesse said. “You got any idea why Mia is acting so harsh?”

Tex licked him on the hand and whipped around to the side window to watch a rabbit bounding across the pasture.

“Maybe tomorrow I won’t let her be boss if she’s going to treat me like something she stepped in out in the pasture,” Jesse chuckled. “Whatever her problem is, she can get over it, old boy”—he reached over and scratched the dog’s ears—“because I’m here to stay. I probably should never have left. Dad needs me now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Tex barked once in agreement.

“I’ve had enough traveling in dry desert places and wondering if I would ever get home to see green grass again. I’m ready to settle down and maybe even give the folks some of those grandbabies they seem to want.” Jesse braked and parked in front of the tool shed.

Tex sat still when he opened the truck door.

“Are you planning on going with me to fix that fence or not?” Jesse asked.

He could have sworn that the dog nodded his head. “Well, then sit tight. I’ll be right back with what we need.”

He tossed the tools and supplies in the back of the truck, along with an extra set of gloves. The one thing he forgot was water, so he was almighty glad that the little chore only took an hour. The way the sun was beating down on him, he could feel dehydration setting in by the time he’d finished the job and got back to the barn.