Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (The Ryan Family #1)(9)

“No, son, it’s not,” Sonny said, and nodded, “but sometimes it’s very necessary.”

The last time Jesse had been this emotional was when he came home in the back of a plane with two flag-draped caskets carrying a couple of his friends. That was a sad, heartbreaking day. Today was a happy one. He was home. His father had just told him how much Jesse meant to him. But the emotional roller coaster left him as drained as the time he had escorted his friends back home for their funerals. He had to man up just like he did all those years ago, compartmentalize, and think about something else.

“Hey, how on earth did you get Addy to give up her job and come to work for you on a ranch?” Jesse asked. “Mama said she is an RN. She must have been making really good money.”

He drove slowly around the last half of the fence line. When he had been younger, he and his brothers checked the fences on trail bikes. They had wanted horses, but Sonny thought bikes and four-wheelers were more efficient. Pearl had told Jesse that it had nothing to do with what worked better. But the truth was that when Sonny lost his beloved horse, he swore that he would never get attached to another one.

“It’s not all about the money,” Sonny chuckled. “Mia couldn’t raise sheep to show at the fairs while she lived in town, and your mama was so worried about me that she wanted a full-time nurse in the house. We offered Addy room and board and a good salary. Mia could have the whole ranch to grow up on, plus we said we would pay for her college expenses. We didn’t intend for Addy to do farm work when she moved in, but pretty soon she was out there on a tractor and doing what she could to help out. They’re both good ranch hands, and until the last few months, Addy made sure all my medical stuff was in order. She helps Grady do all that now. If they hadn’t gotten to be friends before she moved in with us, I doubt that he’d make the trip to the ranch every week. I’d hate to think I’d have to go to the clinic and sit for hours waiting to see my doctor. Grady reports back to him, and I only have to go in to see him every other month this way.”

“Is he Mia’s father?” Jesse’s brow wrinkled when he frowned.

“Have no idea, but I can’t imagine it,” Sonny answered. “She moved out to the Panhandle right after you left for the Air Force. I expect Mia belongs to someone she met out there. I always thought maybe you would ask her out, thick as y’all were back in high school.”

“We didn’t want to ruin a friendship.” Jesse wondered what life might have been like if they had dated, and maybe she had settled down in one of his home bases. They would probably have a family by now. Sonny and Pearl would have the grandchildren they’d always wanted.

“Friendship, huh? That’s crazy thinkin’ there, Jesse,” Sonny said. “Your mama and I were good friends before we married. That just made everything better afterwards. We already knew how to talk to each other…” he chuckled again, “and how to argue. You and Addy always reminded me of me and Pearl when we was young. Like I told you, your mama wanted a family and grandkids. You three boys are all starin’ forty in the eyeball right now, and ain’t a one of you brought us home grandbabies, so Mia stepped in to fill that place for us.”

“You really don’t know who her father is?” Jesse asked.

“I didn’t ask, and from what I hear, Addy has never told a soul,” Sonny answered. “Not even her parents. Did your mama tell you that they moved out to the Texas Panhandle about five years ago when Addy’s grandmother died? Little town called Cactus. Strange name for a town if you ask me, but nobody did. They put their acreage up for sale, and since it bordered Sunflower Ranch, I bought the place.”

“Are you renting the house that was on the property?” Jesse wouldn’t mind living over there. He would have space of his own and yet still be on Ryan property.

“I offered it to Addy and Mia since it was her old home place, but she said she feels more comfortable living in the house with me and Pearl. That way if we need a nurse, she’s right there,” Sonny answered.

“Do you think she’s embarrassed about who the father is?” Jesse asked as he drove the last leg back to the ranch house.

“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Sonny answered. “Mia is a great kid, and we love her no matter who she belongs to. I wish we had a dozen grandkids who loved the land as much as she does.”

Jesse parked as close to the yard gate as possible so that Sonny wouldn’t have to walk very far. “Need me to help you or should I go on out to the hay field?”

“I can still get up the stairs fairly well, so get on out there and help Mia with those rowdy boys.” Sonny grinned. “She’s still working on making them believe she’s boss. And thanks for listening to me, son. My door is open if and when you ever need to unload on someone.”

“I’ll remember that.” Jesse gave a brief nod and sat still until Sonny was on the porch before he put the truck in reverse and headed toward the hay field. He hummed an old tune by Travis Tritt, “Where Corn Don’t Grow,” and remembered the day that he’d told his dad he wanted to go to the Air Force and be a medic.

“I’ve taught you to mend fences, to run a ranch, how to bait a hook, and clean fish for supper,” Sonny had said. “I wanted you to be a rancher, but I won’t hold you back. If that’s your dream, then go chase it. But always remember where home is, and that there’s a ranch waiting on you if your dreams don’t work out the way you planned.”