Page 10 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
“Bigger now that the Baylors have bought back the acreage they had to sell a few years back.”
Miles remembered what Jeremy had said about that.He studied his friend for a moment.“You have something to do with them being able to do that?”
Jackson shrugged.“More Riley’s doing than me.She’s the one who was willing to sell it back.”
Miles’s brow furrowed.“She’s the one who bought it?”
Jackson nodded.“Mostly to help the Baylors out.They were in a tough spot, and the land adjoined hers, so she made an offer.She even had written into the agreement that they would always have first call to buy it back.”
“Wow.That’s pretty…”
“Nice?Decent?Generous?Kind?”Jackson suggested with a grin.“Yeah, people here are like that.No matter how rough or tight ranch life gets—and believe me it does these days—Last Standers stand together.Get used to it, buddy.”
“Don’t know if I could,” Miles said dryly.“That’s pretty different.”
“Yeah, I know.”Jackson was still grinning as he got to his feet.“I’m going to head down there, make sure it’s all prettied up for the big-money guys.”
“Those new photographs you had done should help.”
Jackson nodded.“Kaitlyn Rafferty is really good.”
Miles nodded; the addition of the large prints on the wall of the office ofThorpe’s Therapy Horseshad been a great idea.The close-ups of the children, both when they had arrived, sad and broken, next to the one when they were mounted up, wearing big smiles, was stunning.
“I’d say she’s worth her weight in gold when it comes to capturing the essence of things.”
“Spoken like a true man of vision,” Jackson said, in his most imperious voice.
Miles’s mouth quirked.“Anybody who isn’t moved by those is already dead inside.”
His gaze flicked to Jeremy, who had emerged from a long, dark tunnel of grief into a life where he allowed himself to be happy again, with the help of his father, Nic, and a little pony named Pie.
He looked back at Jackson, who was looking at him.“Yeah,” his friend said, as if he’d heard Miles’s thoughts.
“Good job, my friend.”He meant every word.
They stepped out onto the front porch, lingering over a final cup of coffee as Jeremy worked.Miles looked out over the hills that rolled out before them to the horizon.It felt like another country, compared to the concrete and steel he’d left behind.It might as well be another planet.
“It brings me peace,” Jackson said quietly.
“I can see why,” Miles said, meaning it with an intensity that surprised him.
They had just gone back in for Jackson to rinse out his mug before leaving when they heard Jeremy exclaim, “I’m done!”as he slapped down the blue pencil he’d been using.They walked over to the table.
“Looks great,” Jackson said, while Miles just stared at the indeed well-done drawing of the two ponies, one black and white, one brown and white, nosing at each other in the big corral.There were a couple of crooked things, but the two that were the centerpiece were surprisingly well drawn.
“Wow.I didn’t know you werethatgood,” he said to Jeremy, whose smile widened.
“He is, isn’t he?”Jackson said.He reached out to ruffle his son’s hair, then nodded over his shoulder.“Ranch truck keys are on the rack there by the door.Just make a right out of this driveway, and a right into the next entrance, which is about three miles down.It’s a long driveway, but you’ll see the main house once you’re past the big curve.”
Miles nodded, and Jackson was gone before he had the chance to do the mental math.The driveway was three miles down the road, but the ranches bordered each other?
He thought of the pilot and his comment about how more than half their flight would be over Texas.And realized that despite his previous trips here, he didn’t really have any concept of the size of the place.He guessed there was big, and then there was Texas big.
It wasn’t until they were in the truck, Jeremy handling the drawing, that he thought to wonder if this was going to be a drop-off thing, or if they were going to end up face-to-face with Riley Garrett.
He wasn’t at all sure which to hope for.
Chapter Six
