He nodded again. “You kinda do it a lot.”
He sure got right to the heart of it. “I’m sorry for that, and I’m sorry for how it’s affected you. I care about your dad very much.”
Jake faced her.
“I don’t want to ever hurt him again.”
“That would be good, if you didn’t.”
Liv marveled at the depth of caring Ben’s son possessed. He was so much like his father.
“Do you ride, Jake?”
“Horses? Yeah.”
“I was hoping you and I could ride wh
ile I’m here. And someday soon, I’d like it if your dad brought you and Luke to my place. I board horses at my ranch. Did you know that?”
“No.”
“Think you might like to take a ride with me.”
“Yeah, it’d be okay.”
“And come and visit?”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
“How about coming to see me race? Would you like to do that, too?”
Jake sat up straighter. A smile started to form.
“That’d be cool I guess.”
“Cool, you guess? Sugar, there ain’t nothin’ cooler than a barrel-racin’ cowgirl. The sooner you figure that out the better.”
He smiled. He had his dad’s smile. It lit up his whole face.
“Okay. It’s cool.”
“You got that right. And Jake?” She tilted her head again, hoping he would look her in the eye. “Thanks for talking to me.”
“Sure. Anytime.”
She said goodnight, and he went downstairs. Liv leaned her head back against the chair and closed her eyes.
Ben stood around the corner from Liv and Jake listening to their conversation. She might as well have been talking to him. All of Jake’s concerns were his, too. When would she decide she needed to leave again? And when she did, would he have any idea when he might see her next? And, how much a part of her life did she want him to be?
She’d answered all those questions while she talked to Jake. She made plans with his son. Plans for them to come and see her ranch, and plans for them to see her race. Those were significant plans. Coming to see her ranch meant she was willing to let his boys in, to get to know her better. He knew Liv well enough to know that she wouldn’t take his sons’ feelings lightly. She wouldn’t lie to them, and she wouldn’t let them think they mattered if they didn’t.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“Hi, Ben. Come sit with me.” Liv stood and moved to the couch, holding out her hand for him to join her.
“How’d it go?”
“It went well. He cares about you. He wants to make sure I do, too.”