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“I love you too, Mom. And of course, I will always be here for you and for Dad. And also the ranch and every single worker.” My voice cracked as I stared at her. “How dangerous is the surgery? Is Dad going to die?”
“It’s a pretty commonplace procedure,” she said quietly, “but there are always risks. Your dad’s left ventricle—” She sobbed again. “I’m sorry. It’s hard for me to talk about this, but his heart isn’t in the best shape, and they’re going to do everything they can to help.”
“Does he need a heart transplant?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But he does have to watch what he eats now, and he needs to ensure he exercises. There’s also a possibility that he has diabetes. Oh, Beau, I’m just so frightened. He’s my life.”
“I know, Mom.” I rubbed the back of her hair. “But he’ll be okay. He’s Dad. He’s Ranger Hamilton.”
She sniffed a little. “I can still remember the first time I met him, you know. I fell in love with him at first sight.”
“And he’s still here. He’s not going anywhere.”
She squeezed my hands. “You’re a good boy, and I didn’t want to worry you, but it’s a serious procedure, and in case something doesn’t go right, I needed you to know. Please don’t tell your brothers. They’ll only worry and that will upset your father.”
“I won’t tell anyone, Mom. I promise.”
“Thank you, son. Now, we better get back to the kitchen. I’m sure Arya’s finished your omelet, and it’ll be getting cold.”
“I don’t care about my omelet.”
“But you still have to eat your breakfast. Remember, no one can know.”
“I know.” I sighed, and we stood up and walked toward the door.
“Olivia’s a nice woman,” Mom murmured. “Did you have fun riding this morning? Did she enjoy the horses?”
“She was a natural.” I smiled, glad to change the subject. “It was like she’d been riding for years.”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“She’s nice.” I shrugged. “I’m not really sure what you mean.”
“It’s okay.” She patted my shoulder. “Your father was that way in the beginning, and so was Austin.”
“What are you talking about? This isn’t the same as you and Dad or even Austin and Lucy. This is a very different situation, believe me.”
“Of course it is, Beau.” She laughed. “Well, let’s get back to the kitchen, and then you and Olivia are going onto the property, right?”
“Yeah. She’s going to give me some ideas for the cabins we’re planning on building.”
“That will be nice,” she said. “And you’re doing a good thing, you know, helping her like that.”
“How am I helping her?”
“With her career goals,” she said with a soft smile. “She wants to be an interior decorator, right?”
“Yeah, but she’s talented. That’s why I’m having her help. She obviously knows how to design and decorate. She presents herself well. She dresses nicely. She—”
“Son”—she smiled—“you don’t have to explain to me. I trust you, and I trust Olivia. She’s a very astute and kind woman.” She nodded to herself. “She’s a good girl. I like her a lot.”
“Well, thanks, Mom. That’s good to know. I’ll be sure to pass on the word to Olivia.”
“If she’s Lucy’s best friend,” Mom added, “she has to be a good one, right?”
“I guess so.” As we entered the kitchen again, Olivia looked up at me and then over at my mother. There was a curious expression on her face, but I just nodded at her before heading toward Arya at the stove.
“Your omelet.” She gave me a warm smile. “It might be a little lukewarm, but I covered it so that it didn’t get cold.”
