Page 76 of Swift and Saddled

Chapter 27

Wes

I’ve always had a thing for adrenaline—for the things that make me feel indestructible. I felt like I didn’t have anything to lose. Because of that, I used to be fearless.

Until I met Ada Hart.

Now I had something that I was terrified to lose.

And with a little less than a week until Baby Blue was finished, we were getting closer and closer to a point in our relationship where losing her was a real possibility.

I wasn’t worried about distance or the job in Arizona, but I was worried about the way Ada thought about the distance—like she thought that’s all it would take for me to give up on her.

I didn’t know how to prove to her that this was for real.

After Ryder Day, we agreed to try, and things had been good. Great, even. I felt like this was our beginning—like we were on the edge of something big.

It was after seven, and Ada was still at Baby Blue. I had come back to the Big House after my workday to grab hersomething to eat and take it down to her. I hadn’t seen her yet today.

I was packing up a sandwich, Doritos, some Sour Patch Watermelons, and a Diet Coke when my dad came into the kitchen.

He still had his workwear on, including his signature black cowboy hat.

“Weston,” he said. “Do you have a minute?”

“I was going to take some dinner down to Ada…” I started, but my dad put his hand up.

“It won’t take long,” he said. “I promise.” So I nodded and waited for him to continue. He pulled out a chair across the counter from me and sat down.

“When I decided I was going to build this house”—my dad motioned with his hands, referring to our home—“all I wanted to do was knock the old Big House to the ground.” That surprised me. My dad put so much effort into maintaining many of the original structures on the ranch. It was important to him that we didn’t build new things just to do it or let something fall into disrepair because it might be easier than taking care of it. “But I couldn’t bring myself to do it, even though I don’t have the fondest memories of it.

“You saw something in that house that I never could,” my dad continued. “And I am so proud of you.” As he said it, he pulled an envelope out of his denim jacket and slid it across the counter.

I picked it up. “What is this?” I asked, opening the seal.

“A deed,” he said.

I froze. Did I hear him right? “A deed?” I asked slowly, unsure.

“In your name. For that house. And the fifteen acres around it.” My throat tightened, and I clutched the envelope in my hands. “Your own piece of Rebel Blue.” I felt water pricking at the backs of my eyes.

“Are you serious?” My voice was shaking.

“If my life had gone according to plan, Rebel Blue wouldn’t have been mine,” he said. “And a life without Rebel Blue…” My dad’s voice trailed off. “Isn’t much of a life.

“Someday, August is going to run the ranch, and he’s going to be excellent,” my dad continued. I nodded at that. Truer words had never been spoken. I’d never wanted to run Rebel Blue—that was Gus’s dream. But I wanted to be a part of it. “You deserve a piece of it too.”

Slowly, I opened the envelope and pulled out the papers and saw my name. It really was mine. I looked up at the ceiling, trying to blink the tears away.

I felt I’d proved to myself that I could do something that I and my family could be proud of.

“Thank you, Dad,” was all I managed to get out. “This is…this is just…Thank you.”

“I’m proud of you, Weston.” His voice was gravelly. “Your mom would be too.” Well, damn, wasn’t that just a shot to the heart. When my dad brought up my mom, I knew he was at his most earnest.

I stayed in this moment with my father for a little bit longer until he nodded at the food I’d gotten out for Ada. “Don’t keep her waiting,” he said.

I smiled. He didn’t have to tell me twice.

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