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Yeah right.
25
Trevor
After a grueling ten hours in the field, I pop the top on a cold beer and walk out to my parents’ patio. Settling on a lounge chair, I look out across the ranch. It’s been in our family for years. There was a time I wanted nothing to do with it, had no desire to take over one day. But somewhere along the way, that’s all changed. The thought of taking over and raising a family in the house I grew up in has become a distant dream—although I’m afraid I’ll have to fight Rhett for it.
I love firefighting, but I have a feeling that one of these days—maybe when I have kids—I’ll want to come home at night rather than working the long-ass days I do now. The life of a rancher isn’t easy, but it’s not twenty-four- or forty-eight-hours shifts either.
My dad worked his ass off when we were growing up, but he was home every night for dinner, and he never missed a sporting event or school concert.
Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the cushion, imagining how different life would be if I came home every night to a warm meal and two spunky kids running around. Claire would greet me at the door with a kiss, we would spend the evening playing with our children, and then I’d lay her down and worship her body for hours—
“Sleepin’ on the job or what?” Rhett says, kicking the side of my chair.
I open my eyes. “Hardly. But it’s nice of you to finally show up after all the work is done.”
“I would’ve been here if I could’ve.” He sighs, dropping into the chair next to mine. “I’ll tell you what, bro…” He blows out a harsh breath. “I’ll never understand this.”
I kick my legs over the side of my chair and sit up. “Understand what?”
“How dreams can shift and change so rapidly.” Rhett runs a hand over his face. “I used to live for bull riding. The PBR was all I thought about. After a day like today, I would’ve hit the bar with my buddies and had a few beers and a hot meal before calling it a night. Instead, I skipped it all and drove my ass home—even though I’ve got to drive back in the morning—just so I could sleep in the same bed as Mo. She’s all I think about. What’s she doing? Does she have enough help at Animal Haven? Did she remember to pack a lunch?” He looks up. “Because she forgets it half the time and will go without eating if I’m not there to remind her.”
“This must be the insane part Dad was talking about.”
“Huh?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. Keep going.”
“I’m counting down the months until my season and endorsement contracts are up so I can walk away from it all.”
“Wow. That’s huge. When you and Mo got back together, you mentioned giving it all up, but I wasn’t sure you meant it.”
“I meant every word. I want to be here, helping you and Dad on the ranch and helping her run Animal Haven. I don’t want to rely on you for that shit—it’s my responsibility. I don’t want to be away from her anymore.”
“Then don’t be, brother. But if you’re dying to see Mo, why did you stop here first?”
“I’m going to ask her to marry me,” Rhett blurts.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” I reach out and give my brother a half hug, clapping him on the back. “Congratulations. Maybe you’re past the insane part after all. Maybe you’ve made it to the end.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because you aren’t making a bit of sense.”
“It’s nothing. Just something Dad and I were talking about earlier. This calls for a celebration. You want a beer?”
“I’d love one.”
I leave Rhett stewing over his impending proposal as I walk inside and grab him a beer. The poor sap probably needs it.
“When are you going to pop the question?” I ask, handing him a bottle.
Rhett cups his hand over the cap and twists it off. “No clue. Sometime soon. I’m just waiting for the right moment.”
“You’ve already got the ring?”
