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

“I’m up for it,” Jesse said without a moment’s hesitation. “Does that include everything, like what you are wearing to church on Sunday, or just boys and job schedule?”

“I can pick out my own clothing and my own food, but if I am going to date another boy, which I’m not for a long time, then you have to check him out first,” she said.

“I can do that,” Jesse agreed. “But first, tell me in detail why I get the job.”

“Poppa, Nana, and Mama have always trusted me to make my own decisions. You are practically a stranger, so you don’t know me. I’m good at getting my way, but you are former military so I’m trusting you to see through me like you did this morning. I know my faults, and I loved Ricky for not giving in to me all the time. He did teach me a few things,” she answered. “Does that make sense?”

“What on earth did that kid teach you?” Sonny asked.

“Not to trust someone until they earn that trust. That compromise is the basis of a friendship and a relationship. I gave in too quick on every issue and let him have his way because he told me I was pretty. I didn’t really want this tattoo, and I’ve taken my belly ring out to let the holes close up. He wanted me to change to suit him, and I loved him just the way he was until he broke my heart,” she said.

The first hard pains of fatherhood hit Jesse right in the heart. He wanted to hug her and protect her from any further hurts. For now, he would have to be content to have her opening up and talking to him without those go-to-hell looks.

“Do I get to stay in and make cookies now?” She almost grinned.

“No, we’ve got alpacas to move and a fence to build,” Jesse answered. “Meet you at the barn in ten minutes.”

“Oh, well,” she sighed. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

“I can smell saccharine a mile away.” Jesse pushed his chair back and carried his plate to the kitchen.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mia followed him.

“Think about it. All that BS you were just putting out wasn’t real sweetness, it was fake. Good try. I’ll give you that much.” Jesse settled his straw hat on his head.

Mia pushed her own chair back, jumped up and took her plate to the sink, then dashed off down the hall.

Jesse leaned around the corner of the utility room and winked at Addy. “See y’all later. Addy, would you please bring Dad out to the corral to see the alpacas when we get them all over here?”

“Just call either me or Sonny when you are ready,” Addy agreed.

Jesse whistled all the way to the barn, where he made a final inspection of the fencing and the stalls. Mia had done a good job in getting them cleaned out and fresh straw put down. He’d checked the books, and according to Dr. Stevie, two of the hembras would be ready to give birth within the next month.

“Things will be ready for them or for any other emergency with them,” he muttered. “I think they’re an unnecessary expense, but if Dad likes them, then the money doesn’t matter.”

“Who are you talking to?” Mia asked as she came up to the stall.

“Myself,” Jesse answered.

“I hope you’re getting good answers.” She picked up two ropes and a couple of halters. “You ever handled alpacas before?”

“Once or twice, and I work through some of my problems by talking to myself,” he said. “You should try it sometime.”

“No, thank you,” she said. “Which vehicle are we taking?”

“We’ll walk over there,” Jesse answered. “I see you’ve got rope and bridles. I figure we can each bring a hembra and baby the first trip, then we’ll have two more trips to get the rest of the ladies over here, and we can bring the macho last.”

“What’d you do? Read up on the alpaca lingo?” Mia headed out of the barn.

“Something like that.” He followed her outside.

Her stride was long, and she walked like she had somewhere to go. There was no lollygagging around with this girl. “Anyone can know what to call them. It takes experience to know how to handle them, and for your information, Tex could help us herd them over here all at once. He’s helped me muster up the sheep before.”

“I prefer to move them slower.” Jesse put a hand on the fence post and hopped over the barbed wire in one easy jump, only to find out that the ditch between him and the road was filled with water from the rain.

“Be careful,” he called out as she made the same jump.

She just gave him one of her famous looks and rolled her eyes. Jesse hopped over the ditch, crossed the road, and jumped over the other fence, then started out on the last quarter mile to the alpaca shed. If the old Hall Ranch had been separated from Sunflower with a dirt road, going from one place to another would have been a lot easier.

“This should have been my ranch,” Mia said. “I am the oldest grandchild, so it should have been passed down to me, not sold off.”

“Your grandparents probably needed the money to buy out your aunts and uncles’ interest in your Granny’s ranch out near Cactus,” he suggested. “Are you angry because of that?”

“Yes. No. Maybe a little,” she said.

“Would you have sold the place if Ricky asked you to?” Jesse asked.