10. Avery
Chapter 10
Avery
Bowen and I rented a motel room in town. After a shower and a decent meal, Bowen finally talked me into returning to the ranch to pack up the rest of my things. I wasn’t looking forward to it. It would be uncomfortable and awkward around Dad. And it would kill me to say goodbye to Birdie, especially when we were becoming so close.
Deep down, I worried that if I set foot on the ranch again, it would hurt to leave all over again. I didn’t regret my choice to pursue a life of my own with Bowen, but I hated that it came at the cost of the place I used to call home.
The sun had barely slipped below the mountain range when Bowen and I arrived at High Plains. He interlaced our fingers together and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. Even though Dad had given him a direct order to get off his land, Bowen insisted he would help me pack. Now that we were officially together—and Bowen was officially no longer working for my father—he didn’t have to adhere to his role as a hired hand.
I’ll be there as your boyfriend, Bowen pointed out. Helping you pack and move out. It’s perfectly normal.
I took a breath to steady myself, then pushed the door open.
“Avery?” Birdie called from somewhere in the house. “Is that you?”
The echo of footsteps approached. A moment later, she came into view in a swirl of color—a breezy sunflower-yellow blouse, and a cornflower-blue skirt with little white daisies embroidered along the hem. It struck me how different she was to Dad’s grumpy demeanor, posturing and blustering like a thundercloud.
Birdie screeched to a halt at the sight of Bowen standing beside me.
“We came to get my things,” I said.
She hesitated with a pained look.
“Why don’t you stay for dinner? It will be ready in an hour. We can eat, talk…”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Birdie,” I said softly. “I should just grab what I need and go.”
She rushed forward and swept me up in a hug, punctuated by her honeysuckle perfume I had come to love ever since she stole my father’s heart. She released me and moved to Bowen, kissing his cheek when she embraced him.
“I hate to think of you two leaving,” she said. “You belong here.”
“Dad doesn’t feel the same way.”
Birdie set her mouth in a firm line of determination.
“We’ll see about that.”
In a flash of color, she was gone. There was no doubt in my mind that Birdie was on her way to talk to my father. I didn’t need a third argument with him today. Bowen tugged on my hand, nodding at the hall.
“Lead the way,” he said. “The sooner we get this over with, the better.”
I took Bowen to my room. He started unloading clothes from my closet while I went through my dresser drawers. A few minutes later, I heard Dad’s voice ring out with a firm command.
“Avery, Bowen. Come out here. I’d like to speak with you.” A pause lingered in the air before he added begrudgingly, “Please.”
Definitely Birdie’s handiwork. She was prodding him into some semblance of decency.
I glanced at Bowen. He took my hand, brushing his knuckles against my cheek.
“Let’s go see what this is about,” he said. “And if it starts turning into an argument, I’ll pull you out. All right?”
I smiled up at him.
“Have you told you lately how much I love you?”
“Believe me, I will never get tired of hearing it.”
Bowen and I found Dad in the living room, standing by the massive fireplace. Birdie perched on the chair next to him. She tugged on his sleeve when we appeared. Dad turned around and his gaze immediately fell to our joined hands. He cleared his throat.
“So, I guess this means your decision is final.”
“Yes, it does,” I replied.
Dad faltered, scrubbing the back of his neck.
“Go on,” Birdie prompted.
He sighed, but I could see the fondness in his eyes when he looked at her. She might have worn him down, but he still adored her for it.
“Avery, Bowen, you both know me very well. I’m an old dog, set in my ways. It’s damn difficult to teach me new tricks. But…” He inhaled a breath and blew it out. “It’s not impossible. I thought I would never marry again after my divorce, and then Birdie came along and proved me wrong.”
She smiled sweetly at him. He cupped her chin for a moment, sweeping his thumb over her lower lip.
“It seems I’m learning another lesson now,” Dad continued. “There’s no reason why you should move out.”
“If you tell me I can’t be with Bowen—”
Dad held up his hand.
“No, I’m not saying that. I…will admit that I need time to get used to it. But I won’t forbid you from being together.”
Relief washed over me. I swayed where I stood, closing my eyes as I rested my cheek against Bowen’s shoulder.
“Avery, you were always supposed to take over the ranch someday,” Dad went on. “It makes sense that you have someone by your side who knows how to run the place just as well as you do. And Bowen, you don't have to worry about the cops asking questions about that stunt you pulled in town. I called in a favor. No one will say a peep about it."
“Why the change of heart?” I asked. “Earlier today, you said that Bowen was too old for me.”
He made a noise of dismay.
“I’m still not exactly thrilled at the age difference between you two. And I certainly don’t appreciate how all this came about. Bowen, I would have preferred it if you were more honest with me about your feelings toward my daughter.”
“Yes, sir,” Bowen replied.
“And Avery, I would have preferred to welcome Bowen into the family properly—maybe invite him to dinner—instead of finding the two of you—”
He broke off with an uncomfortable wave of his hand.
“In bed together?” I offered.
The breath punched out of him.
“Yes. That.”
I shrugged.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve walked in on me with a boyfriend. Maybe you should learn how to knock.”
Dad shot me a look of exasperation. I stifled a grin. Oh, this felt good. I loved getting a rise out of him, watching his composure crack because I managed to annoy him so well. It almost seemed like everything was normal again.
Bowen stepped forward and extended his hand to Dad.
“I’d like to ask for your blessing now, sir,” he said. “I realize it’s a little late, but it would mean the world to Avery to have your approval.”
Dad’s gaze shifted from Bowen to me.
“If you think my daughter gives a damn about whether or not she has my approval, you have a lot to learn.” He accepted Bowen’s hand with a firm grip. “But you’re a good man, Bowen. You have my blessing."
I bounced on my toes, so giddy with happiness that I felt like I could float. I wrapped my arms around Bowen’s neck. He hugged me back, crushing me against his chest.
“One more thing,” Dad said.
Bowen and I broke apart to look at him. He retrieved an envelope from the mantel above the fireplace and held it up.
“This house is too big for just me and Birdie. It’s much better suited to a couple who are looking to start a family. Plenty of rooms to fill with grandchildren.”
Dad handed the envelope to me. I opened it. Inside was the deed to the house, now belonging to Bowen Lynch and Avery McCall.
“I warned Grady that it’s a little early to be thinking about wedding plans,” Birdie put in. “But he wanted to apologize, and as you already know, it’s all or nothing with him.”
“It’s not an apology ,” Dad protested.
“Looks like one to me,” I replied.
“I’m still stuck on the part where Grady McCall said he wanted grandkids,” Bowen said with the twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “You old softie.”
“Believe me, I’m not ready to be called grandpa yet. So, there’s no need to rush into anything.”
A comfortable silence settled over the room as I glanced down at the deed in my hand. I had my family back together again, and a future full of promises to look forward to. Bowen looped an arm around my waist, smoothing his thumb over my hip.
“Does this mean you might reconsider staying for dinner?” Birdie piped up.
“That depends,” I said. “Would Bowen be getting his old job back?”
Dad huffed a laugh.
“You drive a hard bargain.”
“You taught me everything I know.”
He considered for a moment, then shook his head.
“No, I can’t give Bowen his old job back.”
My smile dropped.
“Why not?”
“If he’s going to be part of the family, I won’t have Bowen sleeping in the foreman’s cabin. It’s about time I made Bowen a partner in my business anyway.”
Bowen looked stunned.
“Wait,” I said. “Are you serious?”
Dad nodded.
“Why not? He’s put in just as much work building this place as I have. And I get the feeling I’ll be calling him my son-in-law one day very soon. Might as well cut to the chase. He earned his fair share of the business by now.”
Bowen faltered.
“Now hold on. I don’t know anything about the financial side of running a ranch.”
Dad gestured in my direction.
“Avery has a good head for numbers. Between the two of you, everything is nicely covered.”
I stared at him, bewildered that he’d changed so completely since this morning.
“Dad,” I said. “Why are you doing this?”
He glanced at Birdie. She reached up and held his hand.
“Because you’re not my little girl anymore,” Dad said. “And I forgot that. I thought I could protect you the way I protected you years ago. Someday, you’re going to have a family of your own, and your husband will be the one to protect you, instead of me. When your daughter falls in love, you’ll realize how hard it is to let her go. I’m used to digging my heels in and fighting with everything I have.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. Dad opened his arms. I flew to him, burying my face in his chest.