Page 61 of Home to the Cowboy

“There isn’t really much to tell. Turns out the fight was about Arlene. Both brothers were in love with her. My mom found out about it only after she married my dad. Carson and I have spoken about it since we’ve heard. I think the reason she behaved as she did was because she’d felt that she was his second choice. We’ll probably never know whether that was true.”

“Oh, how very sad. I wish I was with you now.”

“Let me talk to Hayden, I should be able to visit over the weekend.”

“That would be perfect. I can’t wait to see you.”

They were still making plans when Carson returned.

“Okay, I have to go,” Dylan said, “but I’ll text you about the weekend, okay? I love you!”

“I love you too!”

She was still smiling as they ended the call. Jumping up, she did a happy dance. Abby. Oh, she can’t wait to tell her friend.

Abby answered on the first ring.

“I love Dylan!” June laughed.

“Of course you do. You light up every time you talk about him. Tell me?”

Abby listened until June ran out of breath.

“So, what now?” Abby asked.

“I don’t know, we’ll figure it out. His work is on a ranch outside Marietta, and my work is here.”

“You know that isn’t true. What you do, you can do from anywhere.”

“Barry has been so good to me, I don’t—”

“You’re not quitting your job, just moving to another town. This is the twenty-first century. People work from anywhere in the world.”

“I don’t know, Abs. It’s not as if we’re getting married. I could probably rent a place for a while and see how it goes …”

“June, stop!” Abby groaned. “You’re keeping a back door open, if I’m not mistaken. Like you, I don’t really have an idea what love really means, but I do know that it’s one of those all-or-nothing situations. You can’t half-ass love someone! If you love him, talk to Barry, return to Marietta, and get your man.”

When they ended the call a few minutes later, June sat down again and stared at her computer. Could she do that? Take the risk, return to Marietta and get her man as Abby put it?

*

Dylan was still smiling when he stepped into the kitchen on Tuesday morning. He’d just been on the phone with June. She was on her way to work so there wasn’t time for a long chat, but he was walking on air after hearing her voice, after listening to her telling him she loves him. He couldn’t image ever getting tired of hearing that.

Everyone around the table was grinning as he entered. Of course, Carson would’ve told them—this was what happened in this family. The one he was fortunate enough to be a part of.

He slapped Carson on the back as he pulled out his chair. “You told them?”

Before he could sit down, all the women were around him. “Of course he did!” Laura cried out, hugging him.

Rose was next. “I’m so happy for you.”

Ellie’s eyes were bright with tears. “Wonderful news.”

Willow gave him a long look before she hugged him too. “You haven’t asked her yet, have you?”

Dylan frowned. “Ask her what?”

“To marry you!” everyone else cried out.