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“Shut the fuck up.”Jace laughed.“That old gal has always been a character.”He sobered and glanced at Decker.“Don’t tell me that you’re actually thinking Sweetie would be better off with a Remington.She doesn’t love a Remington.She loves you.”He glanced down at the notebook Decker still held.“If that song isn’t proof, I don’t know what is.So quit sitting here feeling sorry for yourself and let’s come up with a plan to get her back.”
“After what I did, I don’t know if that’s possible.”
Jace scratched Dixie Chick’s ears and grinned.“Anything is possible when the Carson boys put their heads together.The first thing we need to do is get the townsfolk to stop being idiots.They adore Sweetie.They’re just scared of getting hurt again when she leaves.I figure all they need is to hear ‘Small Town Regrets’ and they’ll be putty in her hands.That, and knowing she’s not leaving again.”He sent Decker a pointed look.“That’s where you come in, cuz.”A cocky smile tipped up the corners of his mouth.“Not that marrying a small-town sheriff is much of a dream.But I guess we all can’t be hot quarterbacks.”
ChapterTwenty-One
Sweetie woke up to the sun blazing in through the window.She wasn’t surprised she had slept late.After the Carson Cousin Brawl, her sisters had kept her up wanting all the details.Hallie had applauded her for hosing them down until they looked like drowned rats.Liberty had been impressed she had two hot cowboys fighting over her.Noelle had wanted to know which one had won—not only the fight, but also Sweetie’s heart.Belle was more concerned about the two men being hurt.And Cloe had wanted to know how Sweetie felt.
Last night, she had just felt angry.This morning, she felt hurt and disappointed.She thought Decker was the kind of man who valued her opinions—the kind of man who would always listen to and trust what she had to say.But he hadn’t listened to her or trusted her last night.He’d just assumed the worst.
It had broken her heart.
She had planned to stay at the ranch, but now all she wanted to do was run back to Nashville and try to forget Decker Carson.
Of course, she couldn’t leave.Not when she had already told her family she was staying.She would just have to avoid Decker.She had already turned off her phone.She glanced at it sitting on her nightstand.As she did, she noticed Cloe wasn’t sleeping in the other bed.In fact, the bed was military made with the pillow propped perfectly.
Worried that her sisters had left without saying goodbye, she quickly got up and hurried down the stairs.She was relieved to hear their voices coming from the kitchen.They seemed to be having an intense conversation.
A conversation about her.
“Well, I don’t know about Sweetie, but I’d choose Deck,” Hallie said.“Jace has always been an arrogant jock who thinks his poop don’t stink.”
“Watch your mouth at the table, young lady,” Mimi scolded.“But I’m rooting for Decker too.If your sister truly cared about Jace, she never would have broken up with him.And I like the way Decker doesn’t put up with any of Sweetie’s shenanigans.You should have seen the way he flipped her over his shoulder and carried her off.”
“I’m shocked, Mimi,” Liberty said.“I thought you’d want her to pick Jace because he makes more money and can pay off the loan.”
“He doesn’t make that much more.I looked up Canadian football salaries on my phone last night.Truly disappointing.”Mimi paused.“So it’s up to one of you girls to save this ranch.”
Sweetie waited for her sisters to argue and was more than a little surprised when Daddy did.
“Give it a rest, Mama.My girls aren’t going to marry someone they don’t love just to save this ranch.Heritage isn’t about land.It’s about family.I figure, even if we sell this ranch, this family will be around for a long time to come.”
It was the most heartfelt, levelheaded, sweet thing her father had ever said.Sweetie couldn’t believe it had come out of his mouth.
“I think your daddy is finally realizing that family is much more important than this ranch.”
The softly spoken words had Sweetie turning to see her mama standing on the stairs behind her with a bundle of sheets in her arms.She’d obviously started stripping off the sheets of her sisters’ beds.
“Good mornin’, Sweetheart Mae.How did you sleep?”
Sweetie sighed.“As well as could be expected after witnessing two men act like kindergarteners.”She nodded her head toward the kitchen.“And if my family thinks I’m going to pick a Carson cousin after that childish display, they’ve got another think coming.”
Mama’s eyebrows lifted.“So you’re not in love with Decker?”
Tears came from nowhere and filled her eyes.Her mama quickly dropped the sheets and took her arm, leading her back up the stairs and into her room.When the door was closed, Mama pulled her into her arms and hugged her tightly.
Just like that, Sweetie fell apart and the tears started really flowing.Mama let her cry it out before she led her over to the bed.Once they were seated, she turned to Sweetie with tears in her own eyes.
“Jealousy is just part of love, Sweetie.It can turn the most levelheaded people into illogical fools.Your daddy and Sam Remington are perfect examples.The feud between them started because of jealousy over me.”
Sweetie’s eyes widened.“You dated Sam Remington?”
Her mama nodded.“I dated him before I dated your father.”
Sweetie couldn’t believe her ears.“But why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it’s a sore subject that’s better left in the past.I’d appreciated it if you didn’t say anything to your sisters about it.”
