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

Addy’s phone rang, and she fished it out of her purse. When she saw that it was Mia, she sighed.

“Mama, I won’t be having Sunday dinner with the family. Ricky and I are going to Bonham to eat at that little café over there, the one that serves those wonderful chicken fried steaks. See you later. Don’t wait up for me. I might be late coming home tonight.”

“Whoa, girl! You’ve got evening feeding chores,” Addy said.

“Tell Jesse to do them.” Mia ended the call before Addy could say another word.

“Want to cash in that rain check now?”

“Not just yet, but there are times when I wish I could ground her like I did when she was in high school,” Addy admitted.

“Amelia wanted to start a family when we first got married, but I wanted to wait until I was established. Look what it got me. You ever going to tell Mia who her father is?” Grady asked.

Addy shivered in spite of the heat. “Maybe someday, but not today. She’s not in the right frame of mind to tell her anything. I can’t understand how she turned into a person I hardly know.”

“Jesse came home,” Grady said as he drove toward the ranch.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Addy asked.

“He has always been the wonder boy, and she could live with that. But now that he’s back, she feels like her place on the ranch is threatened, like you said before, and one other thing. Ricky is bad news, and he’s probably encouraging her behavior,” Grady answered.

“Jesse’s not like that. He’s doing his best to get along with her, but she just won’t cut him any slack at all,” Addy defended him.

“It wouldn’t matter if he had wings and a halo. The point is that she has always had first place in your life, in Pearl and Sonny’s and now she’s having to take a step down to second place,” Grady said. “I know how she feels.”

“What are you talking about?” Addy shivered again.

“I had a crush on you for a while in high school,” he admitted, “but the only boy you could see was Jesse Ryan, and he didn’t ever even ask you out. I would have been so honored to take you to either of our high school proms. And there you were with Jesse in your eyes, and he didn’t even ask you.”

“Was it really that obvious?” Addy asked.

“Yep, it was, but then Amelia woke me up and made me feel like I was somebody even better than one of the almighty Ryan boys who were always best at everything. I knew I’d fallen in love with her the night we won the academic bowl. I wouldn’t have even joined the team, but she talked me into believing that together we could beat the socks off Jesse Ryan’s team, and we did.” Grady’s whole face lit up at the memory.

“I never knew that,” Addy said.

“Doesn’t matter now. We’re all adults. I’m just trying to make you understand how Mia feels.” He patted her on the shoulder.

“Jesse was always just my best friend, like you are now,” she said. “We decided in junior high that we couldn’t ever get involved because it would ruin what we had.”

“Honey, everyone knew how you felt about him back then except you. I’m just glad that he’s not Mia’s father. I’d rather it was anyone but him. Was it a guy who worked on your grandmother’s farm?” Grady asked.

“Her biological father isn’t important. She belongs to me.” Addy air-slapped him on the shoulder.

“You’ll have to tell her someday. That could be part of her attitude right now. Everyone she knows has a dad, whether he’s worthless or a wonderful person, and she’s needing to know where she comes from.” Grady parked in the front yard and said, “I’ll see you at the end of the week. Call me if you need a listening ear.”

Addy undid her seat belt with one hand and opened her door with the other. “Thanks for the ride and for the therapy session.”

“Honey, you know you are welcome. God only knows how many times you’ve gotten me through the tough spots.” He nodded.

Her high-heeled shoe got stuck between two boards on the top step and she stumbled, threw out her hands, and tried to grab something, but all she got was an armload of hot Texas air. Then Jesse’s strong arms scooped her up like a bride. She wrapped her arms around his neck and took a deep breath.

“Where did you come from?” she asked.

“I heard a vehicle drive up and thought maybe Mama might need help with Dad,” he said. “I slipped out the side door after church and came straight home. I don’t remember you being clumsy,” he chuckled as he carried her into the house and set her on firm ground. “But back then, you wore cowboy boots everywhere, even to church.”

“Thanks for…” she huffed, “saving me from a fall.”

“Anytime. I’m a knight in shining cowboy boots, just looking for fair damsels to rescue. I thought Grady was coming to Sunday dinner.” Jesse sat down on a ladder-back chair in the foyer and pulled off his boots. “Been a while since I wore these except when me and the guys went out. I’ll have to get used to them again.”

Addy sat in the chair beside him. “Grady can’t come after all, and Mia is off with who I assume is now her boyfriend.” She kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes. “Give me cowboy boots over these things any day of the week. I’m not so sure I like this boyfriend of hers. He’s one of those wild, bad-boy types who would cause any mother to worry.”