“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Chloe
RIP DROVE DOWN the country road while I stared out the window in silence. I was glad for the quiet, and happy he wasn’t trying to fill it in with stories about Patches. My own mind was flooded with memories of that goat. From the first time I held him, to the last time I visited him this morning.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about?” he asked.
“Patches. I just loved him so much, Rip.”
He took my hand and gently squeezed it. “I know you did.”
I let out a little laugh. “Do you remember when you were helping Trevor paint the north barn and Patches charged you and nearly took out your knee?”
Rip laughed. “He was pissed because I had stolen your attention from him.”
“He was so jealous of you. How many times did he try to take you down?”
“Too many to count. I feel like he sorta liked me, though. At times.”
“He loved you. I know he did.”
Rip turned down County Road 165. We weren’t very far from my family’s ranch.
“So, are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“The Durham Place.”
It didn’t take me long to figure out what was going on. “Rip! You’re buying it?”
“I am.”
A memory of me standing in Mr. Durham’s kitchen flashed across my mind. I had been there with my father; Rip was there as well. We couldn’t have been more than fourteen. I was entranced by the house.
When we had walked out, heading back to my father’s truck, I looked at the white house with the large porch once more.
“I would love to live here someday.”
Rip stopped next to me, his hands in his pockets as he gazed at the house. “I’ll buy it for you, Chloe Cat.”
I felt my heart drumming faster in my chest. Rip looked at me before focusing back on the road.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Swallowing hard, I went back to gazing out the window. “Nothing. I’m just surprised you bought it. Did you have to use your granddaddy’s inheritance?”
“Yeah, and I pretty much saved every penny from the time I was fourteen or so.”
I turned to look back at him. Did he even remember that short conversation all those years ago? Is that why he started saving back then?
He turned down the dirt driveway. It didn’t take long for the old Victorian farmhouse to come into view. It was exactly like I remembered it. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Needs some fixin’ up, but I think she’ll be a real beauty once it’s done,” Rip said, coming to a stop, and turning his truck off.
Opening the door to the truck, I followed Rip up the steps.
“How did you know it was for sale?” I asked.
“Been watching it and had my ear to the ground. I knew once Mr. Durham died, it wouldn’t be long before his daughter would want to sell.”
“Did you already buy it?”
“Nah, I close on it this week. Laura Durham gave me a key ahead of time so I could start measuring for Mike to make new cabinets.”
“Oh,” I said, walking into the house first. My eyes scanned the living room, and I gasped. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was. Wainscoting covered the first half of the walls, topped by a chair rail. Wood trim outlined the beautiful old wooden doors and walk through. The staircase was in front of me, its impressive banister screaming for attention. Large plank wood floors spread throughout the room and into the next. My hand ran along the decorated baluster on the banister.
“My goodness, look at how beautiful it is.”
“The floors are still in really good shape. I think I can sand them down and refinish them.”
I nodded as I continued to follow Rip through the house.
“Here is the formal living room. The fireplace mantel is beautiful. I think it just needs a light sanding and stain.”
Walking up to the large windows, I looked out. “Look how beautiful that view is. It’s nothing but rolling hills.”
Rip stood next to me. “Yeah, it’s a beautiful piece of property.” He headed out of the room. “The pocket doors are sticking, but I can fix that easy. Look at the ceiling here in the dining room. Look at the beams.”
I looked where he was pointing. “It’s beautiful.”
“The trim in this house is beautiful. I’m so glad they never painted it white.”
Hearing the excitement in his voice made me smile.
When we walked into the large kitchen, I scrunched up my nose. “Oh wow, this is…old.”
Rip laughed. “It’s a total gut job in here. Start from scratch. I can see a large island in the middle, though. There’s plenty of space.”
“I’m sure you’ll make it beautiful.”
He tilted his head for a quick moment before he started walking again. “There is a room here that I thought would make a nice office, maybe?”
Looking around the large room, I noticed another window that looked out over the hill country.