Bree was brilliant. She was beautiful, and funny, and could do whatever she wanted with her life. She’d told him about some of the things she and Zack talked about. They’d planned to travel when he was able to take leave again. Most of what she told him didn’t sound that appealing. He didn’t admit it to her, but it made him question whether they considered the same kinds of things “fun.”
When she finished processing through her grief, and was ready to move forward with her life, would she realize how different he was from her late husband and, consequently, leave him in the dust, like Irene and Blythe had?
His world was pretty damn small compared to hers, and he wasn’t going to be in the position to change it. If anything, it would get smaller. The larger their operation got, the less he’d be able to be away from it. He’d travel to rodeos and stock shows, but that would be all he’d have time for.
If his daddy had asked his mama to settle down on a ranch when they were younger, he doubted if she would’ve agreed. The life of a rancher and a rough stock contractor wasn’t an easy one. Animals required care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week—like kids did. He’d be tied to the land in Montana for years, maybe forever. He couldn’t envision her being happy with that kind of life.
“I’m what you’d call a ‘transition guy.’ Is that what you’re tryin’ to tell me, Blythe?”
&
nbsp; “Maybe. Maybe not. Bree is so much like my mom, and I’ve never been able to predict what my mom will do. I often wonder if she thought she was settling when she married my dad.”
“Settling?” That was harsher than he expected.
“Yeah. Then again, I might be full of shit, Jace.”
He was afraid she wasn’t.
“How did you manage to find me? Did you put a tracking device on my rental car?” Bree asked Red when she saw him walk out of the woods.
“I’m psychic,” he deadpanned.
“Right. So, you’re back.”
“I am. And you’re still here.”
“It sounds as though you were hoping I wouldn’t be.”
“Not at all. Before I left, I told you that I hoped you’d still be here when I got back.” He sat down on a rock and studied her.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Tryin’ to get a read on you, that’s all.”
“What kind of read?”
“How you’re doin’.”
She was better, or at least, she felt better today. She had no idea what tomorrow might bring.
“How long has your wife been gone?”
“Goin’ on two years. But it wasn’t sudden with her. I had time to prepare myself, say goodbye, that sort of thing.”
“Do you think it makes it easier?”
“I don’t know. Both my wife and daughter were very sick. Other than my brother, I haven’t lost anybody suddenly, the way you did. When he was killed, I was still a youngin.”
“Not saying goodbye—that’s the hardest thing for me. I still don’t feel as though I have.”
“It’ll come. You’ll know when you’re ready.”
Red looked off in the distance. Bree sensed there was more he wanted to say.
“What is it, Red?” she finally asked. “I’ve spent enough time with you to know when you’re leaving something unsaid.”
“The young man, Jace. What’s the story there?”