The Rancher's Redemption

He met her gaze. “Yeah.”

She tried to smile, aware that she was actually closer to tears. “Thanks for understanding.”

His answering smile was wry. “Remember you’re talking to the king of regrets here. I let my wife down, walked out on my kids, and left my mother to run the ranch for me.”

“That’s certainly a long list,” Bella agreed. “But you’re forgetting that Annie made some bad choices as well. Ruth told me Annie tried to stab you with a kitchen knife.”

“She was ill.” Billy glanced down at his scarred hands. “She didn’t know what she was doing.”

Bella raised an eyebrow. “She knew enough to run off with another guy, and take your daughter with her without stopping to see if you were bleeding to death.”

“That’s true, but—”

“And she never came back. In fact she changed her name and went on with her life without you.” Bella held his gaze. “You weren’t the only one who walked out on their children, Billy.”

“Okay, I get that, but—”

“If she had stayed, what would you have done?” Bella asked.

“I would’ve got her the treatment she needed.”

“And you would have remained on the ranch looking after your kids, and none of the rest of it would have happened.” Bella nodded. “Annie chose to leave, and her actions caused a lot of yours.”

“I thought Annie was your friend.”

“She was.” Bella got two mugs down from the cupboard. “That doesn’t mean I didn’t see her faults. She wasn’t suited to ranch life. She hated it out here, and she wasn’t very happy.”

Billy took the mug of coffee she poured him. “Seems as if everyone in town knew that except me. I was too busy running the ranch and trying to help out with the boys to have much time to ask the right questions.”

“Just like me letting Ron drive when he was drunk because I was too busy doing other things.”

“Bella, I appreciate the support,” Billy interrupted her. “But stop trying to equate one stupid mistake with a whole catalogue of misdemeanors. I went to prison, for God’s sake.”

“I’m not.” She met his gaze head-on. “I’m just saying that we all do things we regret. How we deal with that regret and move forward is more important than wanting to do the impossible, and go back in time to fix it.”

“I think we can agree on that.” He sipped his coffee. “I’m definitely trying to make it up to my family.”

Bella added cream to her coffee and slowly stirred it in. She’d never imagined herself sitting in her kitchen exchanging heartfelt confidences with Billy Morgan of all people. But she’d noticed since his return that he was always making other people feel good about themselves, and had wanted to repay that instinct in kind.

“I forgot to tell you earlier that Chase and Ruth are happy for you to hold your wedding party up at the ranch,” Billy said.

Billy had obviously decided the serious conversation was over, and she hastened to reply.

“That’s wonderful.”

“Maybe you could come up to the ranch one day this week, take a look at the kitchens, and create a menu?” Billy pointed at his chest. “I’m cooking, so don’t make it too fancy.”

“I don’t think I want to do a sit-down dinner or anything,” Bella said. “Just a buffet where everyone can serve themselves, and then maybe free-for-all speeches?”

“If you think that’s a good idea.”

Bella grinned at him. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to get drunk and air my grievances at not being at the actual ceremony or anything.”

“You might not, but what about Erin’s parents? Weren’t they the whole reason the couple eloped in the first place?”

“You’re right.” Bella frowned and tapped her spoon on the countertop. “Maybe we should have preapproved speeches instead—although those sometimes go off the rails as well.”

“Feed them lots of carbs and limit the alcohol. They’ll be too full and too sleepy to cause any problems,” Billy advised. “That’s what Avery says, and she should know seeing as she’s organized hundreds of weddings and celebrations over the years.”