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

“How’s Dad?” Cody asked. “Is he home yet?”

“Just now got here. He’s out on the back porch.” Jesse took a step back and held his brother at arm’s length. “You look like hell.”

Cody was as tall as Jesse, but maybe thirty pounds lighter, which gave him a gaunt look. His thick blond hair lay on his shirt collar, and his blue eyes looked weary and tired.

“I feel like hell, but I want to see Dad. Hello, Addy. Didn’t mean to slight you.” Cody managed a weak smile in her direction.

“No problem. We can catch up and compare notes when you’ve had some food and a good night’s rest. Can I get you a sandwich and maybe a bottle of beer or some sweet tea?” she asked.

“A sandwich and a beer would be wonderful,” Cody said as he made his way across the kitchen and threw open the door to the back porch. “I hear there’s a party out here.”

Addy gave Jesse a gentle push. “Go on out there with all of them. I’ll bring out a platter of sandwiches and some chips in a few minutes.”

“Sweet Jesus!” Pearl squealed.

“No, Mama, just one tired old prodigal son coming home.” Cody opened his arms and Pearl rushed into them.

“Go!” Addy told Jesse.

“Let them have a little time,” Jesse said. “I’ll help you with the sandwiches. Besides, I need a kiss to hold me until tonight.”

“You sure about that? Cody will probably go to the bunkhouse, too, since all the rooms in the house are filled.” Addy brought ham and cheese out of the refrigerator.

“Does that mean you’re ashamed to spend the night with me if Cody is in the bunkhouse?” Jesse asked.

“Ha! I’m not one bit ashamed,” Addy said. “But I don’t want to make it tough on you.”

Jesse put his hands on her waist and took a step forward. “Honey, I’d be happy if you gave him your room after tonight and moved into the bunkhouse with me.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Addy rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

“Hey, what’s going on in here?” Mia asked from right inside the door. “You two should be out there welcoming Cody, not making out in the kitchen.”

“Bossy, isn’t she?” Jesse chuckled and headed for the pantry. “I’ll get a bag of chips.”

“We’re making sandwiches. You can get down a platter,” Addy answered. “And I expect Jesse and I are old enough to make out wherever we want.”

Mia did one of her famous head wiggles. “Whatever! But you’re also old enough to get a room and not embarrass your daughter.” She reached into the cabinet and brought out a plate. “You put on the mayo, and I’ll slap them together and cut them diagonally. I could probably eat half a dozen. Nana and I haven’t had anything but a couple of cookies from the vending machine since noon.”

“We could have stopped and gotten pizza or chicken to bring home.” Jesse brought two bags of chips from the pantry.

“Poppa was in a hurry to get here, and we didn’t want to take the time,” Mia explained as she deftly made sandwiches. “That’s plenty for now, Mama. We can make more if we eat all these. I bet Poppa will have some, too. He didn’t eat worth a damn in the hospital. He said the food didn’t taste like what Nana makes.” She turned around to find Jesse grinning at her. “And for your information, I am bossy. I get that from Mama and Nana both, so if you don’t like it, you don’t have to claim me as a daughter.”

“He already did,” Addy said.

“What does that mean?” Mia picked up the plate of sandwiches but didn’t take a single step.

“It means that we deliberately let it slip when we saw Lylah eavesdropping the other night when we went to Walmart to get a gift for Gloria Sue’s shower,” Jesse answered. “I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow while we get the bales of hay into the barn. And Pearl announced it to the whole bunch of ladies at the baby shower last night.”

“I’m just now hearing about this?” Mia raised both dark eyebrows. “I’ll be in your room later this evening, Mama.”

“You won’t find anyone there. She’s sleeping over in the bunkhouse with me,” Jesse said.

Mia whipped her head around so quickly that Addy figured she would have a crick in her neck the next morning.

Addy shrugged. “You told us to get a room.”

* * *



“How long are you going to be able to stay?” Jesse twisted the top off a bottle of beer and handed it to Cody.

“Thanks.” Cody took the beer from him. “Honestly, I have no plans to go back,” Cody answered quietly.

“Really?” Jesse tried to keep his voice down, too.

“I’m too tired to talk about it tonight, but I’ve got an idea to run by you and the folks in the morning,” Cody said.

“Fair enough,” Jesse replied. “But I’ll say this, I’m glad to hear it. I can use some help on this place when Henry leaves. When school starts back in late August, we’ll lose our summer hired hands, too.”

“If what I’ve got in mind pans out, I’ll have time for a little ranching. Tell the truth, I’ve missed it, but now that I see Dad is going to be all right, I’d sure like to find a shower and a bed. Want to help me take my things to the bunkhouse?” Cody asked.