Page 11 of All Grown Up at Mountain Creek Ranch
I look down and notice the discoloration for the first time. “So?”
"Well, he was looking over this paperwork in the diner when I went to talk to him. He spilled some mustard on the sheet."
I stare at the mark on the sheet and then back up at Landon. “What’s your point?”
“My point is he already had this offer drafted up before I talked to him. So, it doesn’t matter that I got in between. He was going to ask you to stay before I even tried to convince him to keep you on.”
For the second time in less than an hour, I once again feel the highs and lows and then highs again of this situation. If what Landon is saying is true, my father wants to offer me a place here, working with him.
“I’m sorry for interfering, but I’m not sorry for why I did it." He runs his hand over his face. "These last few days with you have been the best in my life. I only just found you, and you were going to leave. I would have followed you if my family didn't depend on me to be here."
“You wanted to go with me?” I ask, shocked.
“I would have followed you anywhere.”
All my anger disappears, and it's replaced with a happiness I wouldn't allow myself to hope for until this moment. The idea of asking Landon to go with me seemed like such a crazy idea, and I didn't think he'd actually do it.
“I want to ask you to go with me, but I didn’t think you’d say yes.”
He cups my face in his hands and kisses me. “Wild horses couldn’t have kept me from coming after you.”
“Are we crazy to feel this way after so little time?”
“When you know, you know. Love is unexplainable. It doesn’t always have to make sense.”
“Love?” I ask, my voice is barely audible.
He kisses me long and deep again before pulling back slightly. “Yes, love. I’m completely in love with you, Del.”
I'm shaking with excitement. I thought that this day and my life were heading in a completely different direction, but all at once, fate changed its course. I get to stay in Centennial Springs doing what I love and being with the man I love.
“Landon, I’m hopelessly in love with you.”
He wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me off the ground, and spins me around. I hang on, knowing that I never want to let go of him.
Epilogue
DELANEY
Despite his offer to hand over more of the practice's responsibility, it still took my father almost a year to completely let go. Each solo visit was a step for both of us—I gained the experience and confidence in my skills as a vet, and my father saw that not only did I know what I was doing, I could apply that knowledge to each new case as it came along.
I'm driving back to the office from a visit to Eagleton when my phone rings. I grab my phone off the passenger seat and answer it.
“This is Mountain Medical Answering Service. We have an urgent message for Dr. Morgan.”
“I’m Dr. Morgan.”
“We received a call from a Landon Holloway at Mountain Creek Ranch. They have a cow experiencing a breech birth and need assistance. Are you available?”
What the heck?Landon and I have been dating for almost a year now. I'm familiar with all his cows' pregnancy cycles, and he shouldn't have any about to go into labor.
“Yes, I’ll be right there.” I hang up the phone.
I take the exit towards Centennial Springs and drive over to Mountain Creek Ranch. I get there quicker than I probably should with my lead foot, but I want to know what is going on.
When I pull up the drive, I see my father's truck parked in my usual spot.
"You have got to be kidding me right now," I groan, seeing him there.
