The Rancher's Redemption

“Sure.” Ben set his plate in the sink and wiped half-heartedly at his bearded chin. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

With Ben helping, Adam easily stacked the wood under the shelter of the barn roof.

“What’s this for?” Ben asked as he laid the final piece down.

“New fencing for the paddock, and if I’ve got any left, a new chicken house.” Adam wiped sweat from his brow. “Kaiden’s doing the carpentry. I’m just the labor.” He looked around. “Where is everyone? It’s really quiet.”

“Leanne took Dad out to lunch in town. They’re meeting Danny and Evan there. I think she was hoping to get Daisy to come along, too.”

“Great.” Adam started back toward the house. “How long is she staying again?”

“I think she mentioned something about extending her visit,” Ben commented, which made Adam stop and turn around.

“What?”

Ben shrugged. “She and Dad are getting on really well. I guess they want to keep talking to each other.”

Adam started walking again and went into the mudroom to take off his boots and wash his hands.

“Why are you so against her?” Ben asked as he dried his own hands. “I’ve talked to her quite a lot, and most of what she says about Dad makes total sense.”

“I know it does.” Adam went into the kitchen. “I just don’t know what her end game is here.”

“Why does she have to have one?” Ben raised his eyebrows. “Maybe she just wants to be at peace with her past with the man, who if you ask me, made some pretty stupid decisions.”

Adam helped himself to coffee. It was a valid question. Why was he so reluctant to embrace his mother’s side of the story?

“Don’t you feel like you’re betraying Dad by believing her?” Adam asked.

“No, why should I?” Ben leaned up against the countertop opposite. He was about an inch shorter than Adam but just as wide. “I’m old enough to realize there can be two different sides to anything. Mom made some mistakes, but Dad didn’t have to react the way he did.”

“It feels disloyal,” Adam repeated.

“Then that’s on you.” Ben got some lemonade from the refrigerator. “Maybe you just don’t want to accept that even people you love can make bad decisions.”

“I know all about that,” Adam replied, his mind immediately recalling several arguments he’d had with Louisa about her treatment options. “You can’t make people do what you want even if it is the right thing.”

“Exactly.” Ben stared at him meaningfully. “Maybe you should let go of your stubborn streak and see that neither Dad or Mom is perfect.” He sipped his drink. “Leanne’s not a bad person, Adam.”

“I never said she was.” Adam defended himself. “And I have talked to her.”

Ben looked over at the door. “Looks like Dad’s back. I wonder if he brought Leanne with him?”

“She might as well move back in at this rate,” Adam muttered as he finished his coffee.

His dad came in alone and stopped at the kitchen door to stare at his two oldest sons, his brows snapping together.

“Why aren’t you two out working?”

“We were just unloading some timber,” Adam replied. “Did you have a good lunch?”

“We went to that new pizza place. It was excellent. Leanne made me have a smaller pizza and a big salad. It wasn’t too bad at all.”

Adam exchanged a startled look with Ben. None of them had managed to make their dad alter his eating habits since Dr. Tio had recommended some changes.

“Good for you,” Ben said. “Did Daisy come?”

“Yes, she did. She didn’t say much to her mother, though.”

“Leanne left when she was five. What do you expect?” Adam said evenly.

“I expect my children to make an effort to move on,” his dad said. “If I can do it, then so can you guys!”

“You were an adult when you chose to separate from Leanne,” Adam pointed out. “Daisy was a child who wasn’t consulted in the matter. She woke up one morning to find her mother gone, and her father making a bonfire in the yard while he hurled his wife’s possessions into the flames.”