Page 67 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

“We were so young. I didn’t realize I loved him, until he almost left town. So, yeah, sometimes, things work out how they are supposed to.”

“You and Seth have been such assets to our farm. I don’t know what we’d have done without your loyalty. You’ve stuck it out with us during the bad times.”

“We think of you as family. And we love Messina Farms. Besides, I do have my baking side job that keeps me busy. Seth has his hobbies, too. We love our home.” She shrugged. “I guess we’re just simple people.”

“Who are still madly in love.”

Alicia smiled and sipped her coffee. “I feel very lucky.”

“Mmm, me, too.”

“You? You feel lucky? I’m glad, but why?”

“Things are starting to work out very nicely for the Messinas.” She rose and walked over to the little desk alcove and pulled out the partnership agreement Sam had given her last night. “Partly because of this. I looked it over late last night and then again, this morning. What Sam is proposing is very fair. He wants us to keep the house. We’ll be splitting the profits, if any, for the farm and he’ll have half ownership. Oh Alicia, I know he’ll work extra hard to make Messina Farms prosper again. And Papa is over the moon about this.”

Alicia gazed into her eyes. “He’s not the only one over the moon. And this time, I’m not referring to the partnership. Well, not the business kind.”

“I know. I can’t help it, Alicia. Last night was… magical.”

“Weddings have a way of bringing out everyone’s sentimental side.”

“Oh, I think it was more than that this time.”

“You have a dreamy look on your face, Autumn Mae Messina. I think Sam better watch out.”

She giggled. “I know. I can’t wait to see him again.”

“Well, then. What are you waiting for? I saw him enter the barn before I came in. He said he was going to try to figure out a way to make a little office in there.”

“Alicia! Why didn’t you tell me he was here! How do I look?” She straightened out her shirt, smoothed her jeans, and then pulled the scrunchy from her braid, letting her hair fall freely down her back.

“You look beautiful as always.”

“Thanks.” She picked up a plate. “I’ll bring him some scones.”

“He’ll like that. Now go. See your Sam.”

“I’m going, I’m going.”

To seemySam.

Chapter Nine

Sam paced thebarn floor, straw crunching under his boots, the cell phone to his ear, having a heated conversation with Joe. They’d been trying to connect for a few days now, and finally they were able to get this call through.

“Joe, listen. I know I don’t have to do this. I want to.”

“You didn’t go home to become a farmer, Sam.”

Now his friend sounded like his sister, Nicole. “There’s nothing wrong with farming. I enjoyed it when I was a kid and I… I like it now. I thought you’d be happy about this, Joe.”

“I’m just trying to get a grasp on this, Sam. The entire time we served together, you never mentioned having an interest in farming.”

“Yeah, well, things change. Circumstances change. Six months ago, I was going to be married. I had a job all lined up. But that went down the drain so fast, my head started spinning.”

“Maybe it’s still spinning, Sam. Farming isn’t exactly in your wheelhouse. It’s not like you woke up one morning and said to yourself, I want to work my fingers to the bone and grow crops.”

“We all know it’s not in your wheelhouse, Joe. You didn’t love farming. You did it for your father, but you always knew you weren’t going to stay on the farm. You wanted the farm to thrive, for your family’s sake.”

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