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

Jesse shot a look over toward his father. Sonny flashed a smile and said, “Mia just got home from college last week, and she’s missed the ranch.”

Mia opened a cabinet door and took down six plates. “I wouldn’t even be in college if I hadn’t promised Nana and Poppa that I’d go. I can learn more right here on the ranch than I can sitting in a classroom.”

“If I’m going to turn all the bookwork over to you, then you need to understand agriculture business and learn all that computer crap that you can. It confuses the hell out of me, and Pearl refuses to have anything to do with it,” Sonny said.

“Some of us old dogs don’t want to learn new tricks.” Pearl took a pan of perfectly browned biscuits from the oven.

Jesse watched as Mia set the table. There were only five of them, but she was getting ready for six people.

“Is someone else coming for breakfast?” he asked.

“Dr. Grady Adams comes on Saturday morning,” Mia answered. “He comes early so he can check Poppa before he does his rounds at the hospital over in Bonham.”

“You’ll remember Grady Adams.” Pearl dished up a bowl full of scrambled eggs. “He graduated with you and Addy. He’s your dad’s doctor.”

Of course Jesse remembered Grady. As a kid, he had always had his nose in a book, so it wasn’t any wonder that he had become a doctor. But Grady Adams wasn’t the person causing his heart to pound out of his chest, and his breath to come in short gasps.

At that very moment, Grady poked his head in the back door. “Anybody home?”

“Come on in.” Sonny motioned him inside with a flick of his wrist. “We was just about to say grace, so you’re right on time. Have a seat, and we’ll have some breakfast before we go talk medicine and cures for this disease.”

Grady set his black leather briefcase on a side chair and stopped to kiss Addy on the cheek. “How’s my patient today?”

“I’m fine. This new trial drug seems to be helping a lot,” Sonny said.

Grady hadn’t changed all that much. His light brown hair was a little thinner, and he’d either traded his thick glasses for contact lenses or else he’d had Lasik surgery. He still had a round, baby face and he’d put on a few pounds that had collected mostly around his middle.

“Hello, Grady.” Jesse took a step forward and stuck out his hand. “Been a long time.”

“Well, hello to you, too. You weren’t supposed to arrive for a few more days. So you’re out of the service now?” Grady’s handshake was firmer than Jesse thought it would be. “It’s good to have you back home, and yes, it has been a long time. I don’t think I’ve seen you since the night we all graduated from high school.”

“That sounds about right, but it’s great to be back home.” Jesse pasted a smile on his face. “So you’re a doctor, and you make house calls?”

“Just for Sonny,” Grady answered. “I’m the head of the ER over in Paris, but I come out here once a week to check on this new trial drug that Sonny is taking, and to get a free breakfast.” He winked across the table at Jesse.

“Married? Kids?” Jesse asked.

“Was married. No kids. My wife died a while back, but I’m moving on a baby step at a time. I’m dating a really nice woman who works in pediatrics at the hospital. She can’t make biscuits and gravy like Pearl does, though.” Another wink.

Jesse almost sighed with relief. At least Grady wasn’t dating Addy.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your wife,” Jesse said.

“Thank you,” Grady replied. “You and Addy were best friends if I remember right. Bet y’all have got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Yep, we sure do.” Jesse shifted his focus over to Addy. Their eyes caught for a moment, and then she blinked and turned toward Mia.

“Before you start on the books, you should take care of your sheep and the alpacas. They’re your responsibility when you are home,” Addy said.

“I’ll start that tomorrow,” Mia said.

Her expression and tone reminded Jesse of a few recruits he’d gone through basic with—full of defiance and attitude.

“No, darlin’.” Addy smiled. “You’ll start right after breakfast.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mia said with a head wiggle. Jesse was glad that he had never married and had kids if that was the way they acted.





Chapter Two



Addy thought she’d have another week to prepare herself before Jesse came home to Honey Grove. Seeing him there in the kitchen, with a chest that seemed to be an acre wide and his green eyes with those gold flecks, had left her speechless. She’d thought that twenty years would erase all those old feelings. But she still felt a thrill at seeing him.

Like “Delilah,” the song that Blake Shelton sang a few years ago, she thought. The lyrics said that she couldn’t blame anyone but herself because she never bothered to look at the best friend sitting right beside her. She’d been afraid to tell Jesse how she truly felt, and she’d paid the price.

Like always, Sonny said grace before they ate. As soon as he said “Amen,” Addy began to pass the food around the table.

“Jesse, I understand you were a medic in the Air Force,” Grady said as he helped himself to the scrambled eggs. “See much action?”