Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
MATTHEW
A s I drive, Tandy tells Dallas all about the ranch and what she has planned. Her passion makes my heart smile if that’s a thing. It feels like a thing. There is something deeply satisfying about hearing someone share their passion.
She may even end up convincing Dallas that true love is worth the risk. Not sure about that though. He seems pretty dead set against opening his heart.
After we tour the property and show him the house under construction, he sets off to give the place one more look before going back to work.
Beau won’t be happy about losing a ranch hand. He’s had a good run these last few years. Good people are hard to hang onto. I know that from experience. My spread isn’t large, but it’s more than I want to handle on my own these days. Especially now that I’m working with Tandy and spending all my extra time with her. Mario is the one who handles everything at my place, and he just gave me notice. His wife’s parents are in poor health, and they are moving to be closer.
I haven’t said a word to anyone about his coming departure, and I’m honestly not sure how I’ll manage everything on my own. But I’ll figure out something. I have to.
Tandy is quiet but smiling as I drive her home. When I park, she grabs the handle. “Are you coming in?”
“I have some things at the ranch I need to finish up, and then I need to get home. But I might stop in later tonight.”
She leans in and gives me a peck. “I’d like that.”
Her hips sway as she marches up the walkway in her yellow jogging suit, and I chuckle. I can’t believe how things have worked out. I’ve put a whole lot of miles on this truck because of this adorably feisty woman. Every one of them worth it.
When I get back to the ranch, Colt waves as I drive past the stables, so I slow to a stop and roll down the window. “Hey, I’m going to check on the building progress.”
“If you need anything, holler. I’ve tackled my stuff for today. Tomorrow, I’m going to look at some horses. Do you want to come?”
I have too much to do as it is. After sitting beside Tandy for so long, there are many tasks waiting on me. “As much as I’d love to, I shouldn’t. You’ll do a great job choosing good ones.”
He throws a ball, and Bandit takes off after it. “Hope so. But like I said, just let me know if you need me to do something.”
“Will do.” I drive to the foreman’s house, and after sliding out of the truck, I snap a few pictures. My camera roll is full of pictures documenting the progress.
Maybe I’ll ask Haley to help me put together one of those books full of pictures for Tandy. If we get this place open before Christmas—or even if we don’t—that would be a cool gift.
The woman has everything she needs, so gift-giving will take some creativity. That’s why I’m starting to think about Christmas during the summer. The holidays have a way of sneaking up.
It’s late in the day when I get back to my place. And my grandson Eli is waiting.
“Eli, what brings you around today?” I stop beside his truck.
He opens the back door and gets Trixie out of her car seat. “Delaney is having dinner with a friend, so Trixie and I decided to surprise you. I hope we aren’t crashing any of your plans.”
“Not at all. Come on in.” I hang my hat near the door and turn on lights as I walk to the kitchen. “Let me wash these grubby hands. Then I want to hold that little cutie.”
Eli hands her over, then hops up onto the counter. Memories of a much younger Eli sitting there as Catherine bakes cookies flash in my mind.
Trixie stares at me, trying to decide if she likes me. She’s very much a daddy’s girl, and when she is with anyone other than Eli and Delaney, she wants to have them in her line of sight.
She whips her head around, spots Eli on the counter, then smiles at me. That makes my night. She’s a doll.
“Have you eaten? I can whip something up.”
“We already ate. If I’d known you hadn’t, I would’ve brought something for you. I’m sorry.”
“I’m good. I want to hold her while she’s happy to see me. I’ll eat later.” I dig the measuring spoons out of the drawer, then perch on a barstool near the island. When I hand the spoons to Trixie, her smile widens, and the drumming begins.
Laughing, Eli shakes his head. “I’m not sure why I even buy toys.” He slides off the counter and grabs a drink from the fridge. “Is Tandy better?”
“She’s better. Thanks for taking stuff over there the other day. I appreciate it.” I slap a hand on the counter to the rhythm of Trixie’s drumming, and that draws a laugh from her. So I do it again. “Did you get sent over here to see what I’m up to?”
“Nah. Just felt like coming over. I mean, I was surprised when you first started hanging out with Tandy because y’all avoided each other. But now you’re not avoiding each other. It happens. And when she isn’t asking guys to take off their shirt, she’s pretty nice.”
A laugh bursts out of me, and Trixie shivers with surprise. Her bottom lip pokes out, and she scans for her daddy.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to startle you. But your daddy is a funny guy.” I tap a measuring spoon on the counter.
Her gaze darts from her daddy to the spoon, then the banging resumes.
“Tandy is nice. And funny. I enjoy the time I spend with her.”
“Granddad, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I’m happy for you. When Zach and I met up for lunch the other day, he commented on it too. We like seeing you smiling. Happy. I think Tandy is a big part of that.”
“She is. I loved your grandmother with all my heart, and I don’t want y’all to think I’m trying to erase or replace her memory.”
“It was obvious that you loved her. No one thinks you are trying to erase or replace her. You can live your life without any guilt, Granddad.”
In my heart, I knew my grandsons would react this way, but hearing it out loud helps. I’m less sure that my children will feel the same way.
Trixie throws the spoons onto the ground, then looks at me and points at the floor.
“Uh-oh. I don’t think I’m going to like this game.” I pick them up and hand the spoons back to her.
Grinning, she tosses them down again.
Eli chuckles as he picks them up. “Don’t do that to your grampy. He doesn’t want to be bending down to get the spoons. What about your drum solo?” He sets his Coke can far away from her. “I’m going to run out to the truck and grab her bag and little seat. I’ll give her a snack while you eat.”
“Just hurry because as soon as you are out of sight, she’s going to wail.”
“I’ll be right back, baby girl.” Eli heads to the door.
Trixie’s eyes widen in horror as he gets farther away. There are tears brimming in her eyes when she meets my gaze.
“He’ll only be gone a minute. And I’ll keep you safe, sweetheart. Grampy loves you.”
She leans forward and rests her head on my shoulder, which makes me wish I were a master of taking selfies. This is a moment I’d love to have proof of.
When Eli rounds the corner, his jaw drops. “That’s a first.”
“Right?”
But she’s holding her arms out to her daddy within seconds.
“What can I give her? I have some berries. Frozen peas. Cookies.” I keep a stash of treats for the littles, but I always ask.
“I brought stuff for her.”
Eli is a great daddy. While he gets her settled at the table, I toss a frozen dinner into the microwave.
I’ve been thinking about what will happen to this ranch after I’m gone. And with Mario leaving, I’m thinking about it more in the present.
This land once belonged to my parents, and I hope to keep it in the family. When everyone is in town next month, I should bring that up.
But not today. “How are you and Delaney doing? Everything good?”
Besides his daughter, there is only one topic that puts a big smile on his face, and that’s Delaney. I knew the first time he brought her out here, that he’d found his person. Watching him talk about Delaney is like watching Tandy talk about her ranch.
A week later, I’m up before the sun to tackle chores on my ranch before meeting Tandy on hers. Mario is out of town this week, and I’m getting a taste of what life will be like when he’s gone.
Not wanting to cut into my time with Tandy, I’ve been shorting my sleep. And I’m feeling it.