Clearly, Brody was conflicted. Did he have someone to talk to, to weigh the pros and cons of such a monumental job? Did he have someone special? Or was he lonely, like her?
Her phone alarm jingled, reminding her to pick up milk on the way home and jarring her from thoughts of Brody and his life choices. Brody Wallace was part of her past, not her future. If he was serious about running for mayor, her father would consider that an act of war. Being Brody’s friend—an act of treason.
Chapter Three
Brody rode around the near-dry water tank. The ground wasn’t baked dry enough to crack yet, but it was coming. Texas weather was erratic, arctic cold to blazing heat—in the span of a day. But occasionally they had a nice in-between. Like today. A cooling breeze, bright blue sky and fluffy clouds towering up and casting long, slow-moving shadows on the ground beneath his feet.
“We could use a good rain.” He spoke to his horse, Bear.
The massive buckskin snorted in reply.
He chuckled, tipping his hat forward to shield his gaze from the glare of the sun. He scanned the horizon carefully.
A pack of wild pigs had come through the back property, tearing through the fences and digging ruts to keep cool. Besides being mean-tempered, the animals could cause a hell of a lot of damage to property. The game warden had called and asked him to keep an eye out, but Brody had yet to see them.
A distant whip-poor-will sang out, making Bear’s ears perk up and Brody search the blooming cactus, mesquite and grasses for some sign of the bird. No luck; the bird was camouflaged well.
Out here, things were clear-cut and simple. He could whittle through what he wanted and what he needed and envision what his future could be. A future that included things like happy daughters, healthy parents and a loving woman at his side.
He knew who he wanted that woman to be. But, even out here, he had no idea how to make that work.
She was beautiful. But the world knew that. Head cheerleader, prom queen and Miss Fort Kyle Cattle Queen four years in a row. The girls liked her. And the boys lined up to date her. He’d grown up seeing her for who she was—an awkward lonely girl who’d just wanted to be one of the crowd. Not looked up to or fawned over, but accepted.
His mission was to be that person for her. It hadn’t happened overnight. Hell, it probably wouldn’t have happened at all if her father hadn’t made him off-limits. Nothing spurs a teenage girl into action like her father’s disapproval. Surprisingly, their friendship had become important to both of them. But what had started out as friendship turned into something more for him, something he’d never been able to shake, something India never knew about.
When she’d headed to Texas Women’s University in Dallas, he’d headed for University of Texas in Austin. The distance had changed things.
College, law school, Barbara, his career and the girls. Life had kept him too busy to think much beyond what was right in front of him. When he’d decided to bring the girls here, he’d made the choice to make time for the things that mattered. Like his girls. His parents.
And now, maybe, India.
He and Bear headed back to the ranch and straight for the barn. He stored his saddle and bridle, brushed Bear’s coat and made sure to clean out his hooves before turning the horse into the large pasture behind the barn.
“How’s it look?” His father joined him at the fence. “They’re saying we might get a shower or two end of the week. That’d help.”
Brody nodded, inspecting the sky. “Depends. We need a good soaking, not a flash flood.”
“I’ll take what I get, son.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “Water’s water.”
Which was true, but a hard, fast rain eroded just as much as drought. “The well looks good. If the tank dries out, we’ll fill the troughs. We’ll be fine. Like always.”
His father nodded. “Chance of heading into town? Your mother got a package needs to be picked up. Maybe stop in, check on Willie, see how he’s running the store.” His father leaned against the fence, doing his best to act casual.
“Can do,” he agreed. On top of the ranch, the Wallaces owned the local grocery store and feed store. Both were successful, thriving businesses his father oversaw personally. But now, with his health, it was too much. His father had a hard time asking for help—that was one of the reasons he’d come home. If his father wanted something done, and he often had a roundabout way of asking, Brody would do it.
“Give Mom a hand with the girls?”
The older man nodded. “Can do. Maybe check in at the bakery, see if they’ve got some of that peach cobbler for dessert. Don’t tell your mother, though.”
Brody chuckled. “Can do.” His mother wasn’t much of a baker, but neither of them would ever say as much.
He walked his father back to the house, kissed the girls on the head and headed into town with a grocery list from his mother—and Amberleigh. By the time they’d reached Wallace Family Grocery, Amberleigh had tugged off her boots and her socks. But she was happy, her little feet bouncing along with the George Strait songs coming through his radio.
“Shopping for Nana?” Amberleigh asked when they’d parked in front of the grocery store.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, carrying her inside. “Wanna ride?”
She nodded, sliding her legs through the grocery cart opening. “Go fast, Daddy.”