Page 80 of One Wild Chance

Earl chews his lip. “I think your daddy would be proud,” he finally says. “And I think you’re more like him than you realize.”

Then he gets to work in an empty stall.

My dad liked open pastures and the smell of hay in the morning—the same country life I was only too happy to leave in my rearview mirror. But when I look at Lucky Chance Ranch now, all I feel is pride.

I know whose son I am now.

Maybe that’s what Earl meant when he said I’m like my father. My dad didn’t quit either.

Chapter 23

Jaxon

All week, I’ve worked twelve-hour days, just to prove Hank wrong. I’ve been all over this farm—nearly all five hundred acres—on Scout, trying to figure out a way to cut costs. I’ve walked the fence line every night like Dad did, hoping that somehow, I’ll find an answer that will save this farm. So far, all I’ve found are questions I don’t have answers for and a bad case of dread.

It doesn’t help that I haven’t really seen much of Summer since our argument. The other day, she left her denim jacket in the farm office, and I held it to my nose and breathed in her scent longer than any self-respecting man should.

I know I’m down bad for her. But it doesn’t change the fact that we’re business partners about to launch a wedding venue together. We can look like we’re together online, but real life is a different story, and knowing all of that doesn’t make me want her any less.

Ada Mae brings my dinner out to the farm office at six thirty while I’m staring at a list of best- and worst-case scenarios with the Keeneland yearling sale predictions. Even her homemade chili and warm cornbread aren’t enough tonight to cheer me up.

She sets it in front of me, then gives me a pointed look. “You’re overdoing it again.”

“I was coming inside,” I mutter. “As soon as I finished looking at these numbers.”

“That’s what you said last night too. What time did you come in?”

“Ten.” I pause. “Okay, eleven.”

She shakes her head. “You’re not doing yourself any favors by working late every night. I was trying to get you out of here a little earlier.” She smooths the front of her dress, and that’s when I notice she’s wearing an actual dress.

I haven’t seen Ada Mae dressed up since…well, ever.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“Don’t look so shocked. I go out sometimes,” she says, setting a fist on her hip. “I’m heading into town for the Friday-night concert.”

I look at the calendar on the wall. How could it possibly be Friday already?

I run a hand over my forehead. “I forgot.”

“Any of your brothers coming to visit this weekend?” she asks.

I shake my head while practically inhaling dinner. I know this is what I agreed to—that I would manage the farm and they’d come home when they could. But it doesn’t make it any easier. They get to live their lives while I’m stuck here with a bunch of horses.

“Maybe you should ask for help, Jaxon,” she says. “I know they have busy careers but…”

“I can’t ask them to come home now.” I pause mid-bite of cornbread. “September is one of the busiest sports months of the year. Rhett’s in preseason camp, Wyatt’s already in the thick of his season, and Grady’s in the final stretch.”

It sounds like freedom until you realize a farm ties you down more than any sport would. And you can’t leave, ever, unless you have adequate help.

“Jaxon.” She lays a hand on my shoulder. “You should take a night off. Maybe join us at the concert?” She wrinkles her nose slightly. “Just take a shower first.”

“Why?” I lift my arm and take a sniff. “Is it that bad?”

“Trust me, you’ll thank me later.” She pats my shoulder on her way out, then stops and turns back. “By the way, Summer will be there.”

I stare at the spreadsheet. “Why would that matter?”