In the back of her mind, Grace ran through all the conversations since she’d been here discussing Connor’s stable, the plans for equine therapy, and the most recent topic of conversation, Dale. “Ya’ll want this in place to help Dale?”
Catherine bobbed her head. “From what I understand everyone in this family has met Dale at least once.”
“At least.” Aunt Eileen looked to Catherine. “He tagged along with DJ a couple of times and stayed with us. Very nice young man.”
“And DJ wouldn’t say what the heck happened, but the undertones of the conversation I heard between him and Connor screamed PTSD.”
“Which is what Hannah said equine therapy could work wonders with.”
Catherine tapped the edge of her nose. “Give the girl a prize.”
“Can I help?” Grace hadn’t actually given it any thought, the words just spilled out. She was, after all, technically, a lawyer and all of her classes on non-profits weren’t nearly as long ago as Catherine’s. Maybe she could stay on an extra week…or two and help set thing up.
“Seriously?” Catherine lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree. “That would be fantastic! The only thing more horrific than setting up this kind of non-profit is running the damn thing. I just can’t—“
“Hold on.” Grace held up her hand. “I meant some help with the paper pushing until I go back to Dallas.”
“Oh.” Catherine’s face fell almost as fast as Aunt Eileen’s. “Yes, sorry. Any help is appreciated. I think DJ wants to go to Dallas to visit Dale after the honeymoon. I don’t know what his health will be by then, but from what I’ve come to learn about my brother-in-law, I’d expect him to bring Dale here to convalesce whether the man likes it or not.”
A knock rapped at the back door seconds before Sam, the only cowhand who worked for the ranch, appeared in the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt.”
"Sam,” Aunt Eileen turned to the door. “I thought you were visiting your girl today?”
“Nope, was on my way to Butler Springs when Officer Reed called my cell. Y’all were still in church. He found one of our cows grazing on the side of the road.”
“One of ours?” Grace and Aunt Eileen echoed.
“Yep. Turns out there’s a nice chunk of fence down in the east pasture.”
She’d almost expected him to say the same pasture where she and Chase had picnicked the other day. “How bad?”
“Not very, but it needs to be fixed and I was hoping to wrangle some help.”
Without hesitating, Grace nodded. “Give me five minutes to get into a pair of jeans and we’ll go take care of the mess.”
“Will do. Thanks, Miss Grace. Want me to saddle Princess for you?”
“That would be great,” Grace nodded. A few minutes later and Grace was in the saddle and riding alongside Sam on her way to fix a fence. Talk about a fall from favor. Private jets one night and jeans and cow manure the next morning. They’d nearly made it to the end of the pasture when the downed section of fence came into view.
“Well shit. Excuse me,” Sam winced. “I thought I gave it a decent temporary fix. Wonder how many more cows we’ve lost. I’ll meet you at the fence.” Without waiting for a response, Sam leaned forward and he and his horse took off like a two-year-old at the Kentucky Derby.
“Here we go again. Come on, Princess.” Grace nudged the horse’s side. “What is it with all these men thinking they can beat me?”
***
Chase followed DJ into the Farraday house. After church, Aunt Eileen would have no excuses from him for not joining them for supper. So he’d wound up in the little construction pow wow with the good father and the Farradays, and now he was just happy to have another excuse to see Grace so soon after last night.
“House seems awfully quiet,” DJ called from the living room, Chase and his brothers on his heel.
“Catherine and Stacey are in the barn,” Aunt Eileen wiped her hands, “Grace and Sam went to fix a downed fence.”
“Downed?” Finn came around the corner. “Where?”
“East pasture. At least one of the cows is out.”
Finn nodded. “I’ll change.”
“Me too,” Connor started when the back door slammed open.
“Oops.” Grace came in, slapped her hat at her side and quietly closed the door. “Sam’s checking on how many cows got out. I came for reinforcements. Y’all need to turn your ringers back on.”
All at once, like an orchestrated chorus line or water ballet, every person standing pulled out their phones, tapped and slid it back in place.
“Sorry,” her father was the first to say.
“Connor and I are going to saddle up.” Halfway to the stairs, Finn didn’t wait for a response.
“What about you?” Grace looked to Chase. “Want to round up a few missing cows?”
He glanced down at his slacks and loafers. “I’m not exactly dressed for it.”
“City boy,” she smiled.
“Oh shoot.” Aunt Eileen snapped her fingers. “This arrived yesterday after you left. Meant to give it to you before church, but it slipped my mind. Probably official looking junk.”
Frowning, Grace accepted the envelope from her aunt, her eyes widening at the sight of the return address.
The instinct that always told Chase when to cut the deal and when to cut his losses or when the whole shebang was at risk tightened in his gut.
Moving with unnecessary finesse, every small movement Grace made to open the letter felt like slow motion to Chase and every passing second twisted the knot forming in his gut. For the only time since first pulling into this sleepy Rockwellesque town, Chase realized where he lived didn’t matter nearly as much as who he lived with. For him, the only someone was standing nervously in front of him. He didn’t know how, or understand why exactly, but in just over a week he’d fallen rock solid in love with Grace Farraday.
Unfolding the section of papers, Grace rapidly scanned the first page. By the time she reached the last line a grin wide enough to span the Hudson had taken over. “I’m in!” she squealed, throwing her arms around her aunt Eileen, the closest person to her.
“That’s nice, dear. In what?”
Grace spun around, and threw and her arms around Adam, who had come up behind her to look over her shoulder. “The best international tax firm on the Eastern seaboard.”
“What?” Her father reached for the envelope now resting on the table.
“I’m in!” Again she spun around, and this time, threw her arms around Chase.
It took a second for him to swallow the lump lodged in his throat. Slowly his hands lifted to wrap around her waist, then splayed flat against her back, he returned the exuberant hug, sealing the feel of her in his mind. “Congratulations,” he mumbled by her ear.
Still in the fold of his arms, she stiffened, gingerly pulled back and, pausing a moment to level her gaze with his, pulled the rest of the way out of his arms and stepped back. “Thank you.”
“Would someone please explain?” DJ asked.
Standing stone-faced and rooted to the floor, Sean Farraday handed his son the envelope.
DJ glanced and looked up. “New York?”
“They’re the best. I thought since I hadn’t gotten any response before graduation that I wasn’t in the running.”
Adam tugged the pages from Grace’s hand, breaking her eye contact with Chase. He wasn’t sure what to say, or if he knew how to find the words.
“I thought you didn’t want to practice law?” Adam scanned the pages.
Grace’s gaze darted to Chase and back. “International would be the exception.”
Stunned seemed to be the word of the hour. At least Chase didn’t feel left out, not even her family knew what she’d done.
Now Aunt Eileen sidled up beside her nephew and eased the envelope from his fingers. “I don’t understand it,” she muttered, mumbling something else under her breath about a dog.
Finn’s phone sounded. Turning his back to
the kitchen, he answered. “Yeah, we got it. On our way.” He slid the cell back into his pocket. “Anyone besides Connor and me coming?”
“I’ll go.” Grace turned to her brother.
“No.” Finn shook his head. “We’ve got it covered.”
“But—“
“You should stay,” he said softly before rushing off for a quick change of clothes.
Keeping his lips pressed tightly together, Chase desperately wanted to do the same. Ask Grace to stay.
***
How the hell did something so wonderful fall so horribly flat? For weeks after sending in her resume and application, including the recommendation from her international law professor, Grace had been on cloud nine with the possibilities. Her professor and the senior partner at the law firm were old buddies. She’d hoped that would give her an edge. But even after all this time and not hearing back, she hadn’t completely given up hope they’d reconsider. Her mind knew it was a lost cause but her heart couldn’t deal with that disappointment. So why in the name of all that was holy was she standing in the middle of her kitchen with what should be the best news of her soon-to-be career and feeling like she’d gotten a stocking full of coal for Christmas?
Finn came pounding down the stairs and hurried past everyone. “Don’t hold supper.”
“Your father’s outside already getting the dogs.”
The hall bath door opened and closed and DJ came out in jeans. Grace hadn’t even noticed him leave. As a matter of fact, Adam wasn’t in the kitchen anymore either. The back door slammed open and shut and more pounding feet came down the stairs. Adam too had changed into old work clothes. There certainly were enough closets filled with jeans and shirts in this house to dress an army.
“Better not hold supper,” Adam repeated what Finn had already said and hurried out the back door. There was no telling how many cows needed to be rounded up before nightfall.
“I’m going.” She yanked her gloves out of her pockets and turned to Chase. “If you want to tag along, I’m sure there’s a pair of jeans somewhere that will fit you.”
She wasn’t at all surprised when Chase nodded. The guy was a good sport. Not a bad horseman either, but definitely a good sport.
“Follow me.” Aunt Eileen started for the stairs. “I’ll find you something.”
“I’m going to saddle up a horse for you," Grace called after them.
Chase nodded and Grace took a step toward the door, stopping to retrieve the employment contract that one of her brothers had set down on the table. The perfect job. Living in the city that never sleeps. Traveling to exciting places around the world. Yes, she’d be working but not even the busiest of lawyers worked twenty-four seven. Close, but not quite. And certainly not if in Paris, Rome or London.
The combination of Finn shouting instructions and hooves beating in synchronization against the hard Texas clay dragged Grace’s attention from the all-important letter. Her brothers were off to do what this family did best, take care of each other. Cattle too, but each other. And how the hell was she supposed to do that if she lived half a continent or an ocean away?
“He’ll be right down.” Aunt Eileen came into the kitchen and pulled Grace into a rib crushing hug. “I miss you already.”
“I love you too,” Grace muttered through a heavy heart. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“All ready.” Chase flashed a smile that didn’t feel very sincere, but at least he was trying.
“The guys are already on their way. Let’s go.”
“I don’t know how much help I’ll be. There isn’t very much cattle to round up in Manhattan.”
“We don’t do very much. The dogs do most of the work, but we’re probably going to have to scatter in different directions so the more of us the better.”
“I see.”
“Hopefully, it will go fast.”
“Is the whole herd gone?”
Grace shook her head. “But enough to notice.” They’d made it halfway to the barn when a fat mouse ran across the path. “I hate it when they…” Her words and steps slowed as a calico barn cat flew in front of her, so close she missed a step.
“Whoa.” Chase reached out to steady her. “Guess cats aren’t the answer to a rodent problem after all.”
He was still hanging onto her arms when another shadow flashed in her peripheral vision, only this one was way bigger than a mouse or a cat. Sure enough, a short distance away a coyote galloped across the land, no doubt after the cat. The circle of life.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m—“ All of a sudden Grace was flying backward. Chase’s hands circled her waist and she felt herself shift and tumble as he rolled her away from the fall and she came to a stop, he on his back, and her flat on top of him. “Fine.”
“Good,” he muttered. “What the hell happened?”
To one side, a loud, deep bark answered. She and Chase turned to see Gray standing over them. She had no idea if the animal was smiling or sneering, but when she shifted to get off of Chase, the dog had the nerve to growl at her.
“You’d better not move.”
“I’m heavy.”
A slight smile lifted one side of Chase’s mouth. “Not that heavy.”
“That heavy?”
“Okay,” his smile widened, “not heavy at all.”
“That’s better.”
Gray took a step back and she’d have sworn he nodded.
“Looks like the hound of the Baskervilles is leaving.” Grace pushed up on her elbows.
The shaggy mutt came forward again and with a low rumble, showed his teeth.
“Or not,” Chase said, still smiling for some reason.
“Well shit. What are we supposed to do now? Think I can at least roll off of you?”
“You can try.” He made an effort at a shrug, but when Grace shifted her weight to one side, the stray inched forward and showed his teeth again. “I don’t think so.”
“So I just have to stay here on top of you until someone comes out and scares him off?”
Still grinning, Chase seemed to relax a bit. “I could think of worse places for you to be.”
“Like?”
His smile slipped. “New York.”
“You don’t think I’ll like it?”
“I think you’ll love it, at least for a while. It’s me who won’t like it if you’re there.” He swallowed hard, but kept his eyes steady on hers. “Especially if I’m not with you.”
“With me?” Her heart did a triple step and all the adrenaline and energy and joy she should have had at the news of moving to New York suddenly began to simmer inside her for a whole different reason. “You want to be with me?”
Chase nodded, his gaze still locked on hers. “Very much.”
“Even in New York?”
He sucked in a deep breath and nodded again. “I’d rather have you with me here, but yeah, even in New York.”
She couldn’t decide what to do or say. But all that excitement that had started to simmer a moment ago seemed to fade away again. “Say that again.”
“Even in New York?”
She waited to feel something. Anything. But nothing. “Before that. Repeat what you said before that.”
His brows dipped with confusion. “That I want to be with you?”
The rapid beat of excitement and pending adventure tapped against her rib cage. “Yeah, that part. Tell me more.”
“About…”
“Don’t be obtuse. Us.”
Two dark brows shot up high on his forehead, replaced a second later with a smile. Gently nudging her toward him, he eased her head onto his shoulder so she could hear the rapid tattoo of his heart. “I see you soaking in an antique claw foot tub then joining me on the front porch swing to watch the sunset. I see long weekends in cities you’ve never been and lots of Sundays with the family you love. I see Stacey growing up to be an outstanding horsewoman with the help of her aunt.” He squeezed her shoulder gently. “I see a beauti
ful woman by day, successful at whatever she wants to do, and mine by night.”
At the prolonged silence, she lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “You really see all that?”
“And a whole lot more.”
Grace’s heart had slid from a wild gallop to a comfortable and contented gait. How about that. Her mind raced with stupid closing arguments. Happiness is who you’re with, not where you are. Home is where the heart is. And damned if he wasn’t right about one more thing. “There’s no place like home.”
His mouth had barely melded to hers when a tiny voice in the background shattered the moment. “Look Mommy. Just like you and Daddy.”
“What the hell are you two doing?”
Grace pulled back and followed Catherine’s leather shoe tips up to her face. “I would think that was obvious. We’re kissing.”
“Yes. I can see that. But why are you kissing on the ground in the middle of the day?”
Though the temptation to shoot back as opposed to the middle of night hovered sharp on her tongue, instead Grace lifted an arm to point to Gray. “Because of him.”
“Him who?”
Grace looked around, shimmied up and off of Chase and cast a wider net in search of the dog.
Chase pushed upright beside her, and looked around. Not seeing any sign of the dog either, he shifted to face Grace and rested his hands on her hips. “Does this mean you’re staying?”
She nodded.
“With me?”
Her head bobbed again.
“For the record, you do know I love you?”
“For the record, I love you too.”
She wasn’t sure who pulled who first, but she fell into his arms again, her mouth seeking his, or was he seeking her? And none of it mattered.
“Come on sweetie, we need to hurry inside.” Catherine’s departing steps faded into the background.
“Why are we going so fast? Mommy?”
“Because I want to be the first one to tell your Aunt Eileen the dog won.”
Chapter Twenty-One — Epilogue
“I’d never noticed before how adorable the old place was.” Grace stepped out of the front seat of Chase’s new SUV. “Not that I came around that often, but still, it can be seen from the road.”
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