“Oh, shit,” grumbled Jethro. “I didn’t leave a check.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll send an invoice.”
“Dad, we have to figure out how to pay your bills while you’re in rehab. Maybe you’ll want to add me to your bank account so I can write checks for you.”
Jethro scowled. “You don’t know nothing about running a ranch, Catherine. Maybe you could bring me the checkbook from my office.”
Rob didn’t want to get between these two family members. He used the moment to leave, telling them both, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
***
MJ heard Rob’s truck pull into the driveway and took the turkey tetrazzini out of the oven.
“Hi, honey, I’m home,” he said as he came through the kitchen door, leaning down to kiss her soundly. Maverick wedged himself between them, giving Rob’s hand a sniff and a lick.
“How’s Jethro?”
“Ornery. Catherine will have her hands full.”
“I can imagine.”
“Hard to decide who’s more stubborn. Jethro doesn’t want to go to cardiac rehab, but she’ll make it happen, I’ll bet.”
“I agree. I can’t imagine that he’ll be ready to go home. How long is she going to stay?”
“No idea. They were arguing about how they would handle the ranch’s finances when I left. Someday, I might want to buy the place from him, but I can’t imagine he’s ready to sell.”
“You’re thinking about it, huh?”
“It’s a great place, MJ. It’s the right size, and I like the location, being in the shadow of the mountains. Actually, if he has me run the place while he’s recuperating, I’ll learn more about the operation. I’d be able to study the genetics of the herd, look at feed selection, and the ratio of hay to grass.”
“Sounds like there’s a lot to learn.”
“There is if you want to be successful at ranching. We used to run spreadsheets and test every variable we could. That’s how you know if your agricultural strategy is working. You can’t account for everything, but the more you know, the more you can control what’s manageable. There’s science involved, as well as economics. The County Extension Office can help with that. I don’t know how much Jethro studies soil composition, or tracks the amount of fertilizer he uses, or the water used in each field. Not all ranchers approach everything scientifically.”
“It sounds like that’s what you want to do for your ranch, though.”
“Yep. Ranching is hard work, both physically and mentally. You make decisions practically every day. I figure I might as well make good decisions, rather than haphazard ones.” He shrugged.
She turned the oven off and carried the casserole to the table. “Better go wash up. This is ready.”
He came back and poured some wine for each of them. They continued to talk about ranching throughout dinner, and she felt like he was really letting her into his plans for the future.
“I didn’t realize there was so much to ranching. I thought you just took care of the animals and at some point sold them off.”
Rob laughed. “Well, yeah, that’s the overview, but there are a lot of details.”
She studied him carefully, unsure if she wanted to ask what was on her mind. She finally took a deep breath and jumped in. “Do you think I’ll be able to learn what’s necessary for ranching? If things work out for us, I want to be a good partner for you. I don’t know much now, but do you think I can learn?” She felt embarrassed asking. Usually, she didn’t feel as vulnerable about her abilities. She was used to researching the things she didn’t know. It seemed like there was an awful lot to know about ranching, and the knowledge base was important. She ducked her head and looked down at her plate.
“Oh, honey. You’ll be able to learn. In fact, we’ll learn together. I don’t expect you to know everything. Your willingness to learn makes me feel good.” He leaned over and pulled her close to him, practically tipping her chair over.
“Careful, Tarzan,” she laughed.
He pounded on his chest and warbled an off-key yell. Maverick scrambled to his feet, and approached Rob, his eyes worried.
“It’s okay, buddy,” she said. “Daddy’s just being silly.” Relief showed on the dog’s face, and he gave his doggy grin. “I don’t know which of you is more humorous.”
Rob growled. “It’s not a competition, and if it were, I’d win.” He nodded his head emphatically.
She leaned in to kiss him and then stood up to clear the table.
“Great turkey tetrazzini, sweetheart.”
“Thanks. It’s my grandma’s recipe.”
She washed, and he dried, and then they curled up together on the couch to watch a police drama.
“I love spending time with you,” she whispered, as she burrowed into him and laid her head on his chest.
“It’s the little things,” he said, nibbling on her lips and nose and giving her butterfly kisses with his lashes.
As he pressed his body against her, she shook her head, feeling his manhood against her hip. “I don’t think it’s that little,” she said.
He flipped off the TV and pulled her up, turning her toward the bedroom. Making love with Rob was the perfect ending to their evening. Definitely not little, she decided later. Not little at all.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Rob sighed as he rolled another round bale off the trailer to give to the cattle in the farthest pasture. The past three weeks had been exhausting, but he’d finally figured out a routine that allowed him to get things done around the ranch and still make it home to spend time with MJ every night. He’d even made it to her mom’s house to have dinner with her family almost every Thursday. He hadn’t missed a date night, although this week, they’d spend Sunday together during the day. She’d been a trooper, helping him at the ranch most weekends.
He enjoyed sharing things with her, and she was more involved in the mundane details of ranching than anyone he’d ever gone out with before. There was a rightness to it. If he had his way, they’d ranch together for the next fifty years.
Jethro had spent most of the last several weeks in the hospital’s cardiac rehab unit, and he was champing at the bit to come home. How much he’d be able to do around the ranch, Rob didn’t know. Probably only time would tell.
His cell rang, and he pulled it from his coat pocket. “Hey, Rob,” Jethro’s raspy voice greeted him.
“Hey, there. How’re you doing?”
“All right, I guess, given that I’m stuck in this hospital. Got a favor to ask.”
“Sure. What?”
“Can you come over this afternoon? I want to talk to you about something.”
Rob agreed, and ended the call, wondering what was up. Well, he’d find out soon enough. He turned back to his chores, doing a mental inventory of the tasks he wanted to accomplish before heading to the hospital.
When he walked into the cardiac rehab unit, he waved at Catherine, who sat in a chair watching her father work through his exercises. Rob took a moment to study Jethro’s progress. His boss had rebuilt some his strength, but it looked like he had a long way to go.
When Jethro and the young physical therapist finished, he gestured at them, and Rob and Catherine followed him to his room. “Thanks for coming,” he said to Rob before taking a deep breath. “I have something I need to discuss with you.”
Rob studied the older man’s face. He looked serious. “Okay…” Rob nodded, urging him to go ahead.
“I’ve been working real hard in rehab, but the doctors think there’s a limit to the progress I’ll make.” He licked his dry lips and looked at his lap. “They don’t think I will come back to ranching completely.”
“What does that mean?”
“I won’t be able to throw hay or do the heavy work. They say I damaged my heart, and there’s a limit to how much it can heal. I plan to get in good condition, but because of my age, I won’t ever get back where I was.” He scowled and took another deep breath.
&nb
sp; “Thing is, ranching is all I know. Catherine wants me to come to Atlanta, but I can’t have much of a life in the city. I’m a country boy, born and raised. I know eventually I’ll probably have to sell the ranch, but damn, I’m not ready for that.” He looked at his lap again and fell silent.
Rob stole a peek at Catherine, and she looked as discouraged as her father did. “How can I help?” he asked.
After a long pause, Jethro raised his head and looked him in the eye. “Eventually, I’ll sell the ranch, but in the meantime, I need somebody to run it for me. I know you want a place of your own, so staying on and working for me won’t suit you in the long run, but I hope I can talk you into staying awhile. I’m not sure I’ll be able to pay you the amount you’d deserve for becoming farm manager, but I can give you an extra hundred bucks a week. To make up for how hard I have to work you, I’ll give you a cut of the profits from the sale of the herd. Maybe we can try it for a year and revisit it at the end of next year. I figure by then, we both know if it’s working.”
“You know, Jethro, I might be interested in buying the ranch when you’re ready to sell. I don’t know that for sure yet, but working as your farm manager makes sense to find out if it suits me.” He paused. “I need to talk this over with MJ first. This affects her and our future, so I shouldn’t make this decision without her.”
Jethro looked relieved. “You’ll consider it, then?”
“Yes, I will.”
“I won’t be a total invalid, you know,” Jethro continued. “I’ll be able to do the light stuff—managing the business, getting supplies, gathering eggs, driving the Gator.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure that part out as we see what you’ll be up to doing.”
He caught Catherine wiping a tear from the corner of her eye and turned to her. “Are you all right with this, Catherine?”
Her face softened. “Definitely. I’m limited in how much time I can spend here, so I won’t be much help. This seems like a perfect solution. You have the know-how and the physical ability. If you’re considering buying the ranch, Dad can teach you everything you need to know about making this place pay. It’s been hard work, but Dad has made a thriving enterprise out of it. You’d be learning from one of the best cattle ranchers in Ridgeview County.”
Jethro ducked his head and blushed at his daughter’s words. “That was my paid political endorsement,” he joked.
“Okay. I’ll get out of your way. I’ll talk to MJ and get back to you in the next few days. You have a good night.” He nodded to both Catherine and Jethro and walked to the truck, his head spinning. What would MJ think?
***
MJ stood stirring a pot of chili on the stove, the smells making her stomach growl. Rob should be home soon. He’d gone to the hospital to see Jethro and called her on his way home. He had something they needed to discuss.
Was Jethro all right? Maverick stood and went to the kitchen door. She hadn’t heard the truck, but apparently, Rob had arrived.
“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Rob said as he came through the door, ruffling Maverick’s neck fur in greeting. He leaned down and kissed MJ, and she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
“How was your day, dear?” she asked.
He laughed. “I fed cows. I fed horses. I checked fences. Same old, same old.”
“How’s Jethro?” she asked later as they ate her homemade chili.
He sobered. “He’s making progress, but they’ve told him they don’t think he’ll be up to ranching. At least not at the level he was before.”
“Oh, no. He must be devastated.” She couldn’t imagine how he’d cope with such a huge life change.
“Yeah. He doesn’t want to move to Atlanta with Catherine, and I can’t say I blame him. I can’t imagine him dealing well with big city life. Too much traffic. Too much hustle and bustle. Not enough livestock.”
She nodded. “What’s he planning to do?”
He explained what Jethro had in mind.
“What do you think?”
“I told him I needed to talk with you about it.”
“Would you need to move to the ranch?” She calmed her thoughts, hoping to mask her feelings. This could be good for him, but what would happen to their relationship?
“No way.” He leaned over and pulled her into his arms. “There’d be more responsibility and probably more time when I’d need to be there, but I’m not letting anything impede our relationship. You’re too important to me, MJ.”
She let out a breath. “Okay. What are the pros and cons?” She pulled a notebook out of her book bag, and together they talked.
Rob’s time commitment would increase, but not by much. He’d be on call, but that had been the plan all along. He’d be able to learn about this ranch, and these herds. “I could take my time to decide if I want to buy it. In the meantime, I’d be investing my time and energy into the ranch’s success, and I’ll get a return on that investment. It’s probably the safest way to learn about ranching in East Tennessee. If it doesn’t work out, I can walk away.”
“Really? You’d walk out on Jethro?” She gulped. “What about me and Maverick?”
“I didn’t mean I’d walk away from you guys. If it looks like Mountain View Ranch isn’t the right place, I’ll let Jethro know I’m not planning to buy it and help him get it ready to sell when the time is right. I’ll keep looking for our place.”
“Our place?” Much as she’d fantasized about living on a ranch with him, they hadn’t directly talked of her being part of it.
“Sorry. That’s how I think about it. You may not be ready to hear this, but I want you to be part of my future. When the time is right, I will ask you to marry me, MJ.”
She felt her heart flutter and opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when he raised his hand in front of her face.
“I know. It’s too soon for both of us. I want you to know what I’m thinking, though.”
She nodded. They’d slipped into a comfortable relationship. In reality, neither of them knew what the future would bring, but somehow, they could figure it out together.
“Let’s sleep on it,” Rob said, and she looked into his eyes and smiled. He always seemed to know when she was in the mood for intimacy. What better way to move on from their serious discussion?
Later, they cuddled together on the couch, watching a romantic movie on one of the cable channels. He stroked her arm absently and every so often would lean in and kiss her.
“We’ll figure it out,” she told him. Could he accept more responsibility at the ranch without losing a grip on her and their relationship?
She began to drift off and startled when her phone rang. Caller ID said it was the Ridgeview Attorney General’s office. “Hello?”
Rob cocked an eyebrow at her, and she shrugged.
“Mary Jane? This is Assistant Attorney General Andrea Wilton. I hope I haven’t called too late.”
“No, we were just watching TV.”
“I wanted you to know that I spoke with the attorney for Kent Barnard late this afternoon. His name is Jason Mathews, and he’s handling the defense for both your case of breaking and entering and attempted assault, and an earlier case with Mr. Barnard that involved another victim.”
“Yes, I knew that.”
“Mr. Mathews called to tell me that his client wants to plead guilty in both cases. I’m not sure if he played a role in convincing Barnard to do that, but what that means is that we will settle your case in the next couple of months. You won’t need to testify, but I will let you know when sentencing will be in case you want to come. My Victim-Witness Specialist will contact you about writing a victim-impact statement. That helps the court understand the impact the crime has had on you, and that information is used to determine his sentence.”
“Wow. I can’t tell you what good news that is. I wasn’t looking forward to reliving it in court.”
“I know. Justice may sometimes seem cumbersome, but the important thing is
to make sure people who hurt others pay for their crimes. That’s my belief, anyway.”
“Thank you, Ms. Wilton. I appreciate you calling us right away.”
She disconnected the call and filled Rob in. He pulled her into his arms, and she saw her own relief mirrored in his eyes.
“What a day it’s been for momentous announcements,” he said.
“I wonder if Tyler’s brother convinced him not to fight it. After all, the police caught him inside our house with the security alarm blaring. It’s not like he could say he wasn’t here.”
She felt Rob’s head nod against her face. Her heart felt full. He was always here for her. She thought about Jethro’s difficulty. She’d be there for him, too. They’d figure things out together.
Amazing, she realized later as she lay in bed next to the man she loved. They had become a team. Whether they were taking care of Maverick, taking care of each other, or taking care of friends, they were better together. Romance and sex were great, but standing together and being there for each other? That’s what love was really all about.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“C’mon, Maverick,” MJ called to the Belgian Malinois as she headed toward the barn. She couldn’t believe all the changes in their lives since Rob became the manager of Mountain View Ranch. Jethro had finished rehab and had come home, but his cardiologist limited him to the things he could handle physically and for which he had the stamina.
Rob handled the heavy physical tasks, and Jethro met with him regularly to discuss the ranch business. She and Rob worked together most weekends, but still made time to date. She smiled at the thought of what she had planned for their date tomorrow. Now that warmer weather was around the corner, they could hike the trails in the national park.
Maverick spent days at the ranch with Rob, and MJ loved how acclimated the cattle and horses were to him. The chickens, not so much. The hens and roosters chased him every chance they got, and Maverick seemed genuinely afraid of them. Usually, he tried to give them a wide berth. This morning was no exception.
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