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

“Grady said that everything was fine, which was a relief. I would never forgive myself if the stress brought on by all this caused problems with his new medicine regimen. He’s really doing good on it,” Addy told him. “I should let you get back to your work.”

“Probably, but it’s good to hear your voice. See you in a couple of hours. Maybe you could come down to the bunkhouse and have a cold beer with me tonight. I’ll give you the rundown of our day, and you can tell me what’s on your mind,” he suggested.

“I’d love to. Be there about dark.” Her world suddenly seemed brighter.

The next two hours went by a little faster, and when Mia and Jesse came through the back door, Addy was pouring sweet tea over ice in glasses. Mia picked up one, downed it, refilled it and took it to her place at the table, then headed to the bathroom to wash up.

“A little thirsty, are you?” Sonny asked.

“Don’t know about her, but I’m spittin’ dust.” Jesse went to the kitchen sink and washed all the way to his elbows.

“How did she do?” Pearl whispered.

“Worked hard,” Jesse answered. “Probably just to show me, but I believe she’s worked some anger out, and that’s good.”

Addy tossed him a towel and then carried the rest of the glasses to the table.

“Thanks. I’d smile but it would take too many muscles. It’s been a long day,” he said.

“Yes, it has.” Mia yawned as she sat down at her normal place at the table. “I’m almost too tired to chew.”

Addy sat down beside her. “You’ve worked this hard before.”

“Not after driving for twenty hours, sleeping for maybe four, and crying for another five or six.” Mia bowed her head.

After grace, Addy nudged her. “Are you thanking God for a home and a job, or did you fall asleep?”

“If you’re asking both of us, I think it was the latter,” Jesse answered.

“I heard her snore,” Sonny added.

“I’d argue with the lot of you, but I just want to eat, take a shower, go to bed, and sleep until noon tomorrow,” Mia said.

“You can do all but that noon thing,” Jesse said. “We’ll be up early so we can clean out that watering trough and feed bin before we walk the alpacas over here. I want them to think they’re coming to a five-star hotel.”

Mia took out a big serving of chicken pot pie when Sonny passed it to her. “Don’t even talk to me about fancy hotels.”

“You didn’t like living like a queen?” Addy asked.

“Sure, for about two nights,” Mia answered. “Then I saw all my money dwindling away, and it wasn’t fun anymore.”

“Fun is expensive.” Sonny took out a helping of cranberry salad and handed the bowl off to Mia.

“Yep, Poppa, it is, and making the money is harder than spending it, or watching someone else lose it at poker tables. I don’t want to talk about that right now,” Mia said. “I’ve been thinking about Justine all afternoon. I’m going to call her in a few days. We need to talk.”

“That would be nice of you,” Pearl said. “Lots of her friends have turned their backs on her. I’m sure she would appreciate you reaching out. Oh, and before I forget. I’ve put you down to help with the church bake sale on Saturday afternoon. I think Justine will be there. Maybe you can talk to her then.”

“Nana, I can’t face the people that soon,” Mia whined.

“Yes, you can,” Addy said. “And on Sunday morning, you’ll be sitting on the pew with us, just like always.”

“But Mama, everyone will know what happened,” Mia argued.

“They probably knew you were on the way home before we did,” Pearl told her. “Ricky O’Malley is a mama’s boy who can do no wrong in her eyes. He would have called and told her some big tale about how you broke his heart, and Lylah O’Malley is the biggest gossip in Fannin County.”

Addy had gone to school with Lylah back when she was Lylah Green, long before she and Patrick O’Malley married. The girl had been the biggest gossip in town even back then, and marriage had not toned her down one bit. Addy felt sorry for Mia, but her daughter couldn’t hide forever.

* * *



Jesse took a shower, put on a clean white shirt and a pair of faded jeans, and sat down on the sofa to wait for Addy. The dust from all the drama of the day had settled, and now it was time for them to talk about what they should do next with their daughter.

“Our daughter,” he said out loud for the first time.

“What about a daughter?” Addy startled him when she closed the door and joined him on the sofa. “Do you have other children hiding out there?”

“Nope,” he said. “No other kids, boys or girls.”

“Are you sure?” Addy pulled her feet up on the sofa and faced him. “You didn’t know about Mia, so maybe there’s more surprises out there.”

“I’ve been in a couple of relationships, but neither lasted, and both of those women are now married. Their children didn’t come along until a couple of years after they got hitched,” he answered. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what are we going to do about this parenting thing?”