Page 76 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“You’re not going to do something long-distance?” Brant asked.

“It wasn’t real. Not like that.” He waited for his brother to argue, holding his breath, hoping. “Easy come, easy go.”

The words felt like a lie, heavy in his chest.

“It was real, and it scares you.” They were heading up a short embankment and Brant’s horse leaped ahead, taking the slope in bounds. At the top, Brant turned and waited. Cole’s horse had aged in the years he’d been away, and was now slower, more careful.

“You love her?” Brant said, making it a question. “And you’re letting her go, why?”

Cole rubbed his face and scratched his ear. “Let’s not do this, okay?” He guided his horse along the top of the embankment and toward the gate that would lead them to the farmyard.

“You and April sure did a number on each other,” Brant said. The horses ambled side by side, tired from chasing the herd all morning. Cole longed to break into a gallop and leave his brother behind. “But she’s found happiness, and she’s healing. I thought you were, too.”

“Brant,” Cole warned. He really didn’t need his brother prying into his emotions right now. Or ever.

“I thought you and Jackie had found love.”

“She needs to be in the city with her dad.”

They rode silently for a moment longer, the hooves of their horses quiet on the damp earth. Around them the countryside had come to life, green, fresh and bright, promising a new season of hope for the ranch and its prosperity.

“You were asked for space, and you gave everyone way too much,” Brant finally said, speaking of the past.

Cole sighed and gritted his teeth, tamping down emotion. “If I recall, you thought I shouldn’t.”

“You’re right, and I’m sorry about that,” he said cheerfully. “I thought you should stay with April, and I’m thankful every day that you didn’t listen to me.” He grinned, and Cole couldn’t help but release some of his own tension as a result. His brother was happy. Good coming from the bad. Life was working out for two people he loved. That should be enough.

Even if the powers that be didn’t seem to think it was his time to find the same.

“But with Jackie…” Brant grew quiet.

“What about her?” Cole asked at long last, knowing he was taking the bait by asking his brother for more of his thoughts on the matter of his ill-fated romance.

“I don’t think she needs or wants space. The opposite, maybe.”

“I have responsibilities here.”

“Family is important,” Brant agreed quietly, his blue eyes searching Cole’s for answers.

Cole’s time away from April had allowed her to become her true self. A woman who was stable and strong. He wondered what Jackie would become now that she had some time away from him. Would she change, too?

“She belongs in Sweetheart Creek,” Brant stated.

“I know.” Cole glowered at him.

“So bring her home. Or at the very least don’t lose out on everything because you think we can’t get along here without you.”

“You want me to leave?” Cole asked, watching his brother for a tell.

Brant looked as though he was dealing with an imbecile. “You don’t get it, do you?” he said at long last.

“I can’t take over her life.” April had always ridden him about doing that in their relationship. It had caused most of their fights.

“Now you decide to change?” Brant let out a frustrated growl and shook his head.

“April used to yell at me over this stuff.”

They had stopped at the gate, but instead of dismounting, Brant leaned forward, hands stacked on the saddle horn. “This is the one time you’re supposed to take charge and be that bossy so-and-so we all love to hate.”

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