Page 96 of Seeing Harper

“He’s only got a year left, though.”

“True, but he’s never really been happy in school. He’s got his eyes on something else as the prize and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so passionate about anything.”

“What’s he focused on?”

Richie looked at Riley, and Riley suddenly realized that Richie was trying to decide if he was going to tell him about Clay’s new endeavors or not.

“Is it a secret?” Riley asked.

Richie stood beside the table and looked down at Riley almost painfully. “Yeah?” he said, making it sound more like a question than a statement.

Riley sat up in his chair and leaned on the table he was having a late lunch on. “What is going on?”

Richie slid into the chair across from Riley and leaned toward him. “You can’t say anything. And the only reason I’m telling you is because you’re Alpha. I mean it, Riley. Nobody can know.”

“Agreed. I understand. What is he doing?”

Richie took a deep breath and leaned even closer to Riley. “He’s buying the Bigsbys Equine Center and has plans to turn it into a profitable business through riding lessons, equine therapy for special needs children, boarding, training, and anything else that seems it would fit.”

“Since when does he like horses enough to plan his whole future around them?”

“Since he spent some time out there with Harper.”

“That’s right, she volunteers there.”

“She does. The place is at the heart of her. She’s doing everything in her power to keep it afloat, but with the Bigsby’s getting older and being limited on what they can contribute to the upkeep around the place, its days are limited.”

“And he just decided after working out there with Harper for a day or two, this is where I want to be and I’m going take this dying business and turn it around.”

“Sort of.”

Riley lifted his chin ever so slightly and narrowed his eyes. “What am I missing?” he asked.

“He’s buying it for Harper.”

“What?!” Riley asked.

“Shh! Secret, Riley!”

Riley looked around to be sure that no one was listening to them in the crowded dining room of their restaurant. “Why?”

“She’s his mate. He said instead of an over the top engagement ring, he’s buying her the equine center and proposing. The horses and the place make her happy, she makes him happy, so that’s what he’s doing.”

“The hell you say,” Riley said, sitting back with a stunned look on his face. “They’re mates?! Who knew?”

“Apparently he did, for a long time. But he never told anybody. I don’t even think she knows.”

Riley’s surprised expression dropped suddenly as he glared at Richie. “She doesn’t know he’s her mate? Well, tell me this, has he bothered to speak to Travis?”

“No. He said Travis is always on her ass about wasting her time with the horses instead of on their farm. Harper told Clay that she has no interest in taking over the farm. She wants to run her own horse farm, but Travis won’t even hear of it.”

“That’s going to be a point of contention, with Clay in the middle of it if everything he’s hoping for comes to pass,” Riley said.

“Most likely. But they aren’t children anymore. All we can do is support them when they need it and hope that we taught them right from wrong and that they listened. They have every right to choose their own paths in life just like we did.”

“You’re right. But it might eliminate a lot of issues later on if he were to speak to everybody before he makes the final step of purchasing the Bigsby’s place.”

“I know. But he’s insistent that it’s a surprise engagement gift.”