True Love Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan

Jon may not have slept well last night, but he’d eaten a damn good spinach, bacon, and cheese breakfast quiche this morning from Almost Homemade. He’d found it in his father’s fridge along with at least two dozen other prepared meals. He’d never tasted anything so good. No wonder his father ordered delivery from them.

After he ate, he made the long drive into town. He stepped off the hospital elevator, hoping to find his father awake, alert, and doing much better today.

The nurse at the desk stood. “Mr. Crawford?”

He stopped outside his father’s door. “Yes.”

“Your father should be back any minute. They took him for another chest X-ray to see if he’s improving.”

“How did he do last night?”

“He mostly slept comfortably, though he did have a few bouts of coughing. His fever is down. Oxygen levels are good.”

He sighed out his relief. “Thank you. I’ll just wait in his room if that’s okay?”

The nurse nodded, then sat back in her seat to work on the paperwork in front of her.

Jon took the seat next to his father’s empty bed. He wanted to call Trinity, but it was only seven in the morning and he didn’t want to wake her after the long day and night she’d put in yesterday.

He’d sent Steph a text last night, telling her about his dad. Luckily, he’d sent it late enough that she hadn’t responded until this morning. She and Emmy had already left for the airport. They’d arrive in a few hours.

Steph said she sympathized with the situation, but wasn’t happy he wouldn’t be picking them up. Instead, he’d rented her a car, so she would have something to drive until she bought a new car—her old car wouldn’t have made the trip to Montana. She didn’t like having to take Emmy alone through two airports and to pick up the rental car, then drive in an unfamiliar area to meet him at the apartment he’d rented for them. She had the directions, and it wasn’t that complicated a trip. Given the circumstances, she could have been more understanding.

His dad needed him more this morning. And while he regretted not seeing Emmy right away and hearing all about her first plane ride, he needed to know his father was going to be okay. Jon had been away too long. He hadn’t called home or visited enough over the past many years he built his business and sucked at his personal life.

He planned to change things and spend more time with his dad and Emmy, living a simpler life afforded to him by all that hard work. His businesses were making him money. He had good people he trusted running them. Aside from overseeing things, he could focus on rebuilding his family’s ranch and raising his little girl.

And maybe he’d finally find a woman he wanted to hold on to and make a life with.

He thought of Trinity with her shy smile and generous heart.

Nothing like Steph, who liked to use Emmy as an excuse to get him to do what she wanted in hopes they’d get back together. He’d played that game for months when Emmy came along. But he stopped playing a long time ago.

He wasn’t that gullible.

He hoped this would be a fresh start for all of them.

When he floated the idea of bringing Emmy to Montana for the summer and that he’d love to move back home and live on the ranch full-time, he never expected Steph to say, “Let’s do it. Let’s leave California and build a different kind of life.” She had a job, family, a life in California.

But Steph had a tendency to wear out her welcome. Her coworkers didn’t like that she got away with doing half as much as them. Even her family was tired of her being selfish and manipulative to get what she wanted.

She painted a pretty imaginary picture of them starting over, living and raising Emmy together. He loved her unexpected enthusiasm, and maybe he got caught up in getting back to the life he’d had as a kid on the ranch. He dreamed of horses and cows in the pastures, and Emmy chasing chickens in the yard and picking vegetables in the garden. He hoped for the best.

Steph said she wanted a new job, new people, and a chance to re-create herself. But as their plans moved forward, it became clear she really wanted them to rekindle their love affair—one that had been doomed to failure because they weren’t compatible for a lot of reasons.

As much as he wanted to make the move, he’d repeatedly asked Steph if she was sure she wanted to leave her life behind and start over in a new place without her family. Because she relied on her family, and especially her dad, when life got too hard to deal with, which was often because Steph was spoiled and liked it when others did everything for her.

Despite all that, Steph pushed for them to move. Together.

He blew up that train of thought right off the tracks and made it clear they were not getting back together. She’d given him a look that said she knew better than him. He’d made it very clear he intended to stay at the ranch and she’d be in town where she’d have something to do—away from him—and work while Emmy attended school. He’d even found her a job.

He expected the next few weeks as she settled in to be fraught with a lot of anxiety. New state, new apartment, new job . . . He got it. He vowed to be patient while Steph settled in, even though he knew the best thing he could do was limit their interactions. He didn’t want to give Steph false hope that they’d be doing anything more than co-parenting Emmy.

But Steph had a way of seeing things that weren’t there and making something out of next to nothing.

He didn’t expect the transition to be smooth, but he’d put up with Steph’s drama—to a point—for Emmy’s sake.

Maybe if his father was up for company today, he’d bring Emmy for a visit. She’d love it. And it might do his father good to see her.

“Jon. Son. You’re here.” A nurse pushed his dad, who was seated in a wheelchair, into the room.

Jon stood and helped his old man into the bed. “I got in last night. Just in time to see your friend Trinity dragging you out to her car.”

He looked up at Jon, confused. “Trinity was at the house?”

“You called her, said you needed her to bring some food. She said you promised she could take you to the doctor.”

His father’s eyes clouded with confusion.

“You don’t remember?”

His dad shook his head. “No. Not really. It seems fuzzy.”

The nurse touched his dad’s shoulder to get him to lie down. She helped him settle his head on the pillow, raised the top of the bed for him, pulled the covers over his lap and the oxygen tube up across his nose, then connected the oxygen sensor to his finger and walked out.

Jon wondered just how little oxygen his father had been getting and if it had left his brain altered. “Don’t worry about it, Dad. The doctors and nurses will help you get better. Your color looks good.” The gray pallor he’d seen in his father’s face last night still haunted him. “How do you feel?”

“Better. The last few days . . . They were rough.”

“You should have called me. I would have come sooner had I known you were sick.” He’d have hopped on the earliest flight.

His father stared at his lap. “I knew you were busy.”

Jon stuffed his hands deep into his jeans pockets, feeling the extra helping of guilt pile onto the rest he carried with him for not paying attention to his dad and making him feel unimportant. “I’m not too busy for you.”

“You were packing, getting ready to move. You couldn’t have gotten here any sooner.”

He pulled one hand free and raked it over his head. “Damnit, Dad, I would have flown in immediately.”

His dad settled into the bed and covered his mouth as a string of coughs, less intense than they had been last night, rattled his chest.

Jon realized his anger was really fear. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. But I am now.”

“Where’s Emmy?” For the first time, he saw some joy in his father’s eyes. Jon wished he’d been that happy to see him.

He checked his watch. “They should be landing any minute. I’m meeting them at the apartment in just a little while.”

The happiness dimmed to disappointment. “Do you think Steph will like the new place?”

“Sure.” He really didn’t know. Steph thought she deserved the world and he should give it to her simply because he had the means. Her parents, and especially her father, had spoiled her and she expected others to do the same.

His dad gave him a look. “I thought she was excited about the move.”

“She is. I think she needed a fresh start as much as I did.”

His dad eyed him. “Where will you be sleeping tonight?”

“At home.”

His father raised an eyebrow.

“At the ranch.” He’d been honest with his dad about his troubles with Steph, but his dad still wondered if Jon would get back together with her despite all that. Not going to happen. He didn’t want the illusion of a happy family, he wanted a real, honest relationship with a woman who actually made him happy.

Dad nodded. “Does Steph still hope you’ll all move in together?”

Jon sank into the chair. “I made it clear from the beginning that this was the start of a new life for us, but that didn’t mean we were getting back together. I got her the job, a place to live, and we’ll still raise Emmy together.”

“But she’s still hoping for more.”

“It seems that way sometimes, but then she talks about how she can be anyone she wants to be here. Like even she’s tired of the life she had back in California and wants to do and be something different here. Emmy’s four. After all this time, I can’t believe Steph’s still holding out hope for more. I just want to move on.”

“Sounds like you’re ready for more than just a new place and a new job.”

“I didn’t sell off everything. I still own a couple of the businesses that were already managed well and thriving without much help from me anymore.”

“It’s good to keep a steady income. Especially when you have to take care of Emmy and her mother.”

He didn’t owe Steph anything. What he did for her, he did because she was the mother of his child.

They had equal custody, so he didn’t pay child support. Still, he wanted a decent roof over Emmy’s head, so he paid for Steph’s new apartment. He wanted to make things easier on Steph now that she wanted to be more responsible and go it alone without Daddy always bailing her out. Living rent free meant her income from managing the grocery store would make her financially comfortable. Unless she overspent, which she tended to do. A lot. Still, he could only set her up for success. She had to be responsible.

“I listened to what you had to say about the hours I worked, the long trips away from Emmy, and how I needed to step up and be the dad she deserves.” That’s why he’d initially wanted the summer in Montana.

“I know you always try to put her first, but I’m happy to see that you understand she has to be the priority all the time, not just when it’s convenient for you.”

“Work got in the way. Steph got overwhelmed because I wasn’t around enough.” He raked his hand over his head again, remembering seeing Emmy disheveled and living in a mess at Steph’s place. He’d read the notes home from the teacher about her acting out. That wasn’t Emmy.

“Let’s hope things are better for all of you here.”

The doctor walked in. “Dennis, I have your results.” He glanced at Jon.

“This is my son. You can talk in front of him.”

Jon stood. He didn’t know why. He just needed to be on his feet to hear what the doctor had to say.

“The X-ray shows your lungs are better than when you arrived last night. Do you feel like it’s easier to breathe today?”

His dad nodded. “Yes. The coughing isn’t as bad either.” He rubbed his hand over his ribs. “I don’t know how much longer I could have endured those fits.”

“The ache in your ribs will subside in a few days once those muscles get a rest. While your oxygen levels have improved, I’d like to see them remain steady before we send you home.”

“And when do you think that will be?” Jon liked to plan. He wanted to make sure he got the house cleaned up and had everything his dad needed for a speedy recovery.

“Tomorrow if things progress as I hope. If not, we’ll keep him an extra day or so after that.” The doc pinned his dad in his gaze. “You’re lucky you got to the hospital when you did. Another day and you might not have made it. When you go home, make sure you continue your meds for the full fourteen days.”

“I will.”

The doctor nodded. “Any questions for me?”

“I’m good. Thanks, Doc.”

Jon waited for the doctor to leave. “I hope you heard what he said and take that to heart. You need to take care of yourself and let me help when you’re not feeling well.” Jon had a lot of making up to do with his dad. And Emmy. He planned to spend a lot of time with both of them.

“About that.”

Jon eyed his dad. “Do you want to tell me about the papers I found on the dining-room table this morning?” He hoped they were from before Jon decided to come home.

“Are you really home? Is this really where you want to be?”

Though his move back to Montana had gotten a rocky start so far, excluding meeting Trinity last night, he still felt like he’d made the right decision. Emmy needed stability. A place where she could just be a kid and grow up in the fresh air. She deserved his time and attention. He could give her all of that here. “Yes. I’m happy to be back at the ranch and looking forward to fixing it up. Why?”

“Because although it’s always been my home, I’m not happy there anymore.”

“What?” He felt blindsided. “You’ve lived there for like forty years.”

“The last five of them alone.”

It hit Jon right in the chest with a thud that stopped his heart. “You’re lonely.” No wonder his father asked him to call all the time and couldn’t get enough pictures or video chats with him and Emmy.

“I can’t take care of that place all by myself anymore. It’s too much. Everywhere I look, I see memories of your mother and you.”

“I’m here now. I can take care of the place.”

“Great. The ranch is yours.”

Jon narrowed his gaze. “What are you talking about?” He couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact his father practically begged him to come home and now he didn’t want to stay at the ranch anymore.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

“Come on, Jon. Do you really want to move back in with your aging father?”

He held his hands out wide. “I don’t mind.”

His dad gave him a side-eye look that said he didn’t believe him. “The place I picked out is for seniors, but not people who are sick and need around-the-clock care. Oh, they have a nurse and doctor on staff, but it’s more for living at a place where there are things to do and people to do them with.”

“Dad, you’ve got a lot of years ahead of you.”

“And I don’t want to spend them alone out at the ranch looking at the land and wasting away my remaining days.”

Jon planted his hands on his hips and sighed. “You’ve already made up your mind.”

“I have. But . . .”

Jon had already looked over the paperwork and knew why his father hadn’t pulled the trigger and moved already. “It’s pricey.”

“I can pay for most of it on my social security and savings.”

“But you’d eat up that savings in no time.” Unless he sold the ranch and lived off the proceeds at the new place. Jon didn’t even have to think. “If this is what you really want, I’ll make it happen.” And he’d keep the ranch, because that’s what he wanted for him and Emmy.

“The last thing I want to do is burden you with taking care of another person.”

“Why? You took care of me. It’s my turn to do it for you. Why make all that money and not do this for you after all the support you’ve given me over the years?”

“Well, that’s different. That’s not . . .”

“Money. You can say it, Dad. You need the money to make this move. If it will make you happy, if you’ll be with friends, if it will make your life better, I’m happy to do it. I just wish you’d talked to me sooner.”

“It wasn’t all that bad when I could drive, but now I don’t like to be out at night, driving along that twisty road. My eyes . . . They’re not that good anymore.”

“Then we’ll get you glasses before you move into that place so you can see all the pretty women.” Jon got it. His dad missed his wife. He deserved to find some comfort and companionship with someone. He shouldn’t be alone if he didn’t want to be anymore.

“Well, I don’t know about . . . It’s been a long time since . . .”

“Mom died,” he finished for his dad. “She’d want you to be happy, too. She wouldn’t expect you to sit around alone pining for her.”

“I’d like some . . . company. I get bored out at the ranch. In town, I’d have more options. I could go places. Do things.”

“You don’t have to sell me. I said I’d get you into that place and I will.”

“I checked last week. They have a one-bedroom apartment open. I put down a deposit to hold it.” His dad’s eyes pleaded with him.

“How long is the hold?”

“Until tomorrow.” Worry filled his eyes that he’d lose the deposit and his chance to be around others his age and have some fun and interactions instead of being alone at their remote property.

Jon shook his head. “Well, no time like the present to make a change.” That didn’t leave him much time to finalize everything.

“I’m sure . . . because I’m in the hospital . . . they’ll hold it a day or two more.” Uncertainty made his voice quaver.

“I’ll go down there today and make all the arrangements.” He checked his watch. “In fact, I’ll head over there now. Their office should be open. By the time I finish that, I can meet Steph and Emmy at the apartment. The movers should arrive at Steph’s place soon after. I told her I’d help her get settled. After that, maybe I can bring Emmy here to see you, if you’re up for it.”

“I can’t wait to see my sweet girl.”

“We’ll see how you’re feeling and how the day goes.” If he got his father the apartment, maybe he could convince the moving guys to come out to the ranch and pick up and deliver the essentials his father would need at the new place. Everything else could wait for later when his father was up to sorting through years of accumulated stuff at the house.

An ambitious plan for one day, but Jon could probably swing it if he timed things right.

“I can see you’ve already got your mind working on the solutions for getting things done.”

He laid his hand on his dad’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “Can I bring you anything?”

“Emmy.” His dad smiled up at him. “And a double-chocolate brownie wouldn’t hurt.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Maybe he’d swing by Almost Homemade, see Trinity, pick up some treats for his dad and Emmy, then go over to secure his dad’s new residence.

He headed for the door.

“What did you think of Trinity?” his dad called from the bed.

He turned before leaving and smiled. “I haven’t stopped thinking about her.” He left his father chuckling, and wheezing a bit, and headed out to find the temptress who was still calling to him this morning.