Page 59 of Red Hot Rancher

It wouldn’t do to have them throw every cent back to her. “Dad, that money’s not mine.” Otherwise, she’d never prove that she could care for herself. “You guys paid for that furniture and it’s not like I want to keep it after Oliver.”

“Your mother’s right. We have this figured out.” The look he gave her was one of the most vulnerable she’d witnessed in her tough rancher dad. “I’ll admit to being resistant to the idea of paying for as much school for you as we did for the boys. But I’d like to think I’ve updated with the times—and with your mom’s not inconsiderable efforts. Three healthy kids with quality education? Three kids with the tools to do what they want in life? It was worth every cent. We wanted to help build your future. It’s what parents do. We’re proud of you.” Dad cut his attention back to the mail. The conversation was over.

Dad didn’t regret helping her through school. He was proud of her even though she could never pay him back. He wouldn’t allow it.

If they weren’t going to take something as simple as reimbursement for items they bought, how would she get them to accept part of her paychecks? And if she couldn’t, then why the hell was she in Arizona in the first place?

Three kids with the tools to do what they want in life? She had the tools. All she needed was the courage.

The chatter in the bar melted into a constant drone behind Caleb. He slumped over the one beer he was nursing. The Brigit story spilled out of him as Jesse and Farah listened. It wasn’t easy sitting across from them. A couple that wasn’t supposed to be, yet they were tighter and happier than ever. Their wedding was scheduled for the one-year anniversary of the day the tornado had struck.

They’d asked him if he was okay with it, since that day was also the anniversary of his house being flung across the county. But he’d reassured them he’d rather have a happier time to remember on every anniversary anyway, and his new house should be underway by then.

Should be. He was settled into his new position and could handle a higher mortgage. A meeting with the banker and the home builder was tomorrow. He should be ecstatic. It was March. They could break ground in May and he could be in his new house in September. But they were nothing but items to check off like he would at the grocery store.

“I…” Farah chewed on her bottom lip and considered him.

“Go ahead and say whatever you don’t want to say.” It wasn’t like he could hurt any more than he did now.

“Okay. I’m really surprised you aren’t in Arizona right now.”

Jesse nodded.

Caleb looked at them both. “I don’t want to live in fucking Arizona.”

Farah leaned across the table. “But Brigit’s in Arizona. And she wants to be with you. Which, coincidentally, has been exactly what you’ve wanted ever since I’ve known you.”

That was a long time. No one knew better than him. “She doesn’t want me after what I said.”

Jesse snorted. “It’s called forgiveness. I’m living proof of how forgiving the Walkers can be. Seriously, though. Why did you stay here?”

“I just told you. I’m done being an afterthought for the women in my life.” He glanced at Farah. “Present company excluded.”

“I didn’t give birth to you and I’m not the one you’ve wanted for forever.” She shook her head. “Can you really move on and be happy on your ranch? Going to work every day? Finding someone else?” She cocked a light brow at him.

The idea of finding someone else soured his stomach. Waking up alone after experiencing a few months of being with Brigit was propelling him toward insanity. Every morning, he’d open his eyes and stare at the ceiling and wonder if his pride was really that important. Had he thrown away his future to patch over his ego?

He didn’t know. Had he hoped that telling Farah and Jesse what had happened would reinforce his decision? Because that was backfiring.

Farah broke into his thoughts. “I’m surprised that Brigit would pay them back. I guess I always thought of her as the pampered princess of that family. And yeah, she is. I get why it would be hard for her to walk away from the life track she had planned out, but to do it because she found out her parents drained their retirement for her school? I mean…a selfish person wouldn’t do that.”

Caleb took another swig of his lukewarm beer. “It feels more like a convenient excuse not to go through with shattering their expectations of her. In the Cities, she didn’t even want to do anything. She claimed she wanted to come home.”

“I get that,” Jesse said. “I don’t want to go back to living in a town bigger than Moore, either. St. Cloud, St. Paul, I don’t care. Those places aren’t my scene. Moore is my home.”

Caleb leveled him with a stare. “But you’d still vacation there.”

Jesse bobbed his head, the bar lights gleaming off his dark hair. “Hell, yeah. I’d get away with Farah anywhere. But Brigit was there for a job interview she didn’t want.”

“And wasn’t it storming across the state?” Farah asked. “Isn’t that why you went early in the first place?”

“It was still a mini vacation,” he grumbled. The other two stared at him, their expressions saying sure it was. “You two aren’t helping.”

“We’re not helping with the pity party?” Farah asked. “Or we’re not helping build an image of a selfish, vindictive girl who would end up treating you like your mom, which we all know is bullshit?”

“I didn’t say exactly like my mom.” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Perhaps Brigit’s call had been nothing more than bad timing. He’d been at an emotional low and she’d… asked him to wait for her.

Fuck, how long had he wanted her to want him? And he’d pushed her away.

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