Chapter Fifteen
The Zoom window flickered once, then settled.
Hanson sat in the late Mr. Sweet’s office with his forearms resting on the desk.
The video feed lagged for a fraction of a second before Dr. Wallace leaned back in her chair on the other side of the screen.
“You’re looking well, Hanson. Truly. The Texas life seems to be agreeing with you. ”
Hanson glanced toward the window. Beyond the glass, late afternoon sunlight stretched over the yard. Somewhere outside, a truck door slammed, followed by a burst of familiar voices. “It is.”
“That was not the answer I expected when we started this.”
“No.” Hanson smiled faintly. “Me either.”
The therapist’s expression warmed, but her voice stayed practical. “Your memory strategies are holding?”
“Most days.”
“And on the days they don’t?”
“I use the cards. Or I ask. Or I slow down long enough to remember that being mad about it doesn’t help.”
“It doesn’t.” A pause. “The military environment—the noise, the unpredictability, the operational tempo—it’s not going to get easier for you.
The gains you’ve made here are real, but they’re fragile under that kind of sustained stress.
” She said it the way she said everything—directly, without apology, because she’d learned early that he preferred it that way. “You know that.”
“Yes.” He did know that. Had known it for a while.
“All right then.” She closed whatever she’d been looking at. “We’ll talk next week.”
“Next week,” Hanson agreed, clicking the mouse to end the call. The screen went dark, leaving him in the quiet sanctuary of the office. He closed the laptop.
A soft knock at the door frame. Alice Sweet leaned against it with the expression of a woman who already knew what she was interrupting and had timed her arrival accordingly. “Decision time, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled. “And you’ve already made up your mind.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The family matriarch looked at him for a long moment with those eyes that saw everything no matter how much you wish she didn’t, and slowly bobbed her head. “That decision looks good on you.”
“Thank you.”
She tapped the door frame once, the way she punctuated things that didn’t need more words, and backed out into the hallway. “The gang’s going to be descending on us any minute, and I’m guessing right about now Clint is out back cussing the charcoal for not lighting.”
He smiled, pushed away from the heavy oak desk, and followed Alice down the hall. “It’s good that he’s feeling like his own self again.”
Alice didn’t say a word, merely smiled at him over her shoulder.
Just as he reached the end of the hall, he spotted Kat closing the front door behind her.
She had on that soft, floral sundress that hugged her curves perfectly without looking too tight.
Her blonde hair fell loosely around her shoulders.
When she looked up and caught him watching her, the bright, instant joy that lit her face hit him square in the chest. In three long strides, he crossed the space between them.
Kat stepped seamlessly into his arms, rising onto her toes to meet him.
It was a tender, grounding embrace, followed by a small, perfect peck on the lips.
“Have I told you how seeing you always makes my day?” His hands settled naturally on her waist.
Kat beamed up at him, her hands resting flat against his chest. “Back at you.”
Taking a half-step back, he let his gaze sweep over her. “I love that dress on you.”
A pleased blush warmed her cheeks. “I’ll have to remember to wear it more often.”
“That,” his voice dropped a register, “is one of the reasons I love you.”
Her face broke into a teasing, radiant smile. “Only one?”
“There are more.” He brushed a thumb against her cheek, loving the way her face leaned into his touch. “But I don’t want you to get a big head.”
She laughed, the sound bright and musical. “And that is one of the reasons I love you too.”
“Only one?” He raised an eyebrow, matching her cadence.
They were both laughing when Alice’s voice carried down the hallway. “Are you two going to stand by the front door all day or are you going to join the rest of the family?”
Hanson looked down at Kat. Her eyes were full of amusement and a deep, unshakable affection.
He extended his elbow toward her. With a happy sigh, she looped her arm through his, and they turned together toward the noise, the laughter, and the warmth of the kitchen.
Smiling to himself, he gave a mental nod. Definitely the right decision.
The barbecue was everything a Sweet family gathering promised and then some.
Clint had won his battle with the charcoal, though from what Kat had heard the charcoal had put up a fight, and the result was the kind of meal that made conversation optional because everyone was too busy eating to bother with words.
Beside Kat, Hanson shifted. He had been quietly content through dinner, a steady, warm presence at her side, his arm resting casually along the back of her chair. He leaned in, dipping his head so his voice wouldn’t have to compete with the others. “Come for a ride with me?”
She looked at him. His expression, easy and warm, carried something underneath it that she couldn’t quite figure out—yet. “Of course.” She set her napkin on the table and pushed back her chair. Around them the family continued without missing a beat.
Outside, the evening sun still hung high in the sky, at least for a little while longer.
Hand in hand they walked to one of the ranch trucks.
As usual, he held the door while she climbed in and settled.
Once he’d trotted around and climbed into the driver seat, she latched her seat belt and looked in his direction. “Where are we going?”
He threw the truck into gear, a faint, mysterious smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “It’s a surprise.”
Hands folded on her lap, curiosity killing her, she stayed quiet and hoped they weren’t going too far.
The drive was short—shorter than she expected.
As soon as he pulled over, she recognized the fence line of the pasture that just a short while ago had been the county fairgrounds.
Hanson cut the engine. He didn’t say a word as he stepped out, walking around the front of the truck to open her door.
He offered his hand, and she took it, letting him help her down to the dirt.
His fingers interlaced with hers, wide and solid, he led her away from the truck.
They walked together along the perimeter of the field, the silence a stark contrast to the screaming chaos of the last time they had been here.
He didn’t stop until they reached one of the heavy wooden gates they’d built for the fair’s entrance.
She couldn’t imagine what he wanted to show her here of all places, nothing but wide open fields.
“When I first arrived in Texas, I had no idea how big ranching operations could be.”
“I guess it’s a little different for a California city boy.”
“Definitely.” He leaned back against the fence. “Did you know the Sweets are making changes to the operations? Updating, expanding some things, cutting back on others?”
She shook her head. Even though she’d been friendly with the Sweets most of her life, she had no idea of anything other than what might have been discussed at the dinner table or after church.
“They’re planning on repurposing this land.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He stopped and looked over her shoulder a minute. “It’s not much, but Alice agreed to sell me ten acres.”
“Excuse me, what?” Surely she misheard him.
His chuckle was light and tinged with a hint of nerves.
“My therapist is pleased with how well my adaptive techniques are working for me. So am I, actually. She even thinks there’s a chance that some parts of my brain might learn new tricks to offset the damage to other parts, but not enough to return to the military. That part of my life is over.”
Her heart did a little stutter. “I’m sorry. That has to be hard to deal with.”
“Not as hard as I would have thought.”
Now she was totally confused.
“I’m going to build a house right dead smack in the middle of the ten acres. This way if the Sweets lose their mind and sell to developers some day, there will be plenty of land around me to buffer the noise.”
“Build?” Her mind scrambled to make some sense of what was going on.
“The Sweets can always use more hands. The ride to work would be an easy commute, and Alice says I can stay at the ranch until construction is done.”
“You’re serious.” Her mind was spinning now.
“As a heart attack.”
“Oh, after what happened to Clint, don’t even tease about that.” Besides, she’d come as close to a heart attack as she ever wanted to when she watched Hanson climbing around the edges of the Ferris wheel like a spider on a web.
He clasped both her hands in his. “You probably deserve something more romantic, but…” he dropped to one knee. “Would you be my wife and help me build our dream home?”
She wanted to scream yes, throw a fist pump, kiss him all over, but her tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth.
His face was beginning to crumble, the hope in his eyes fading, and her mouth still wouldn’t form words.
Instead, she did the only thing she could—she threw her arms squarely around his neck and pressed her lips against his in a kiss like no other.
It took a few moments for them to come up for air. His arms now wrapped tightly around her, he leaned back and smiled. “Is that a yes?”
Her mouth finally loosening, she grinned back at him. “That’s a hell yes.”