Page 10 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

Daniel smiles gently. “I know it’s a lot to ask. But I believe in you, Clara. You’re stronger than you think.”

Am I?

I don’t know if I am.

It’s been forever.

4

BEAU

For the past year or so, my father’s health has been on a slow decline. He isn’t the robust man I remember from my childhood, the one who could handle a full day’s work on the ranch and still have the energy to regale me with stories at night. The sight of him now, frail and often bedridden, cuts me deeper than I’ll ever admit.

It’salwayshard to see the family physician, but I also need to know what’s going on.

“Mr. Smith,” I greet the doctor, trying to smile even if I don’t really want to. “How’s he doing today?”

The doctor shakes my hand and gives me a small, comforting smile. “Beau, good to see you. Your father’s stable. His vital signs are holding steady, but he needs to keep taking his medications and continue to get plenty of rest.”

I nod, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. “Thanks, Doc. I appreciate you coming out here regularly.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” he replies cautiously. “But Beau, I can tell your father is still under a lot of stress. It’s not helping his condition. I’ve mentioned before that he needs to ease up, let you take on more of the responsibilities.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I know. I’ve been trying to take on more, but he won’t let me and he still insists on handling a lot of the tasks himself. He’s stubborn, always has been.”

Dr. Smith chuckles softly. “It’s hard for men like your father to let go. This ranch is his life’s work. But for his sake, and yours, you need to find a way to make him see reason. Stress is a killer, Beau.”

“I understand,” I say, though I’m not sure I do. How do you convince a man like my father to let go of the reins? “I’ll keep trying.”

The doctor pats my shoulder. “That’s all you can do. Keep trying, and don’t be afraid to be firm and put your foot down when you need to. Sometimes, tough love is the best medicine.”

I walk him to the door, and thank him again for his visit. As he drives away, I take a deep breath and head upstairs to my father’s room. The door is slightly ajar, and I can see him lying in bed, propped up by pillows, staring out the window.

“Hey, Dad,” I say softly as I enter the room.

He turns to look at me, his eyes tired but still sharp. “Beau,” he acknowledges, his voice weak but steady. “What did the doctor say?”

“Same as always,” I reply lightly, pulling up a chair beside his bed. “Keep taking your meds, get plenty of rest, and stop stressing yourself out.”

He grunts, a sound that’s both an agreement and dismissal. “Easier said than done.”

“I know,” I say, leaning forward. “But you need to let me help more. The ranch is in good hands with me, Dad. You’ve taught me well. You know you have. You’ve been teaching me since I was a kid.”

He shakes his head, his jaw set in a stubborn line. “It’s not that simple, Beau. There are things you don’t understand,responsibilities you’re not ready for. You haven’t yet proven yourself to be responsible enough for anything important.”

It’s damn near impossible not to let my frustration out, but I do my best. Arguing with this man is a bad idea, a mistake that I’ve made way too many times.

“Then teach me,” I plead instead. “Show me what I need to know. I can handle it, Dad. I need to handle it, for your sake.”

He looks at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he sighs and changes the subject up, ignoring my words.

“Now,” he says, his voice carrying a hint of the authority he always had, “tell me about that business you went to take care of in Billington. Did everything go well?”

I shift in my chair, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. “Yeah, Dad. I met with the suppliers, and secured a good deal on feed for the next year. Prices are lower than what we’ve been paying, and the quality is top notch. It should save us a considerable amount.”

He nods approvingly. “Good. And the new hires?”

“They’re settling in well,” I reply. “They did fine while me and Wyatt were away. I made sure they know the protocols and paired them with some of our more experienced hands. They’re eager to learn and seem like solid additions to the team.”

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