Thompson grimaced. “Oh please. All she is to him is a pretty girl with a rich daddy. Give me a break.”
“That’s how little respect you have for your daughter?” Neal Dalton asked, staring Edward Thompson down. “That she’d choose a man like that?”
“A man? The kid is eighteen,” Thompson bellowed. He shook his head. “I guess I’ll just have to take away the money I set aside for college. We’ll see how fast she runs off with that boy when that part of her plan falls through. Love. What the hell does either of them think they know about love?” He shook his head again.
“So you’d rather lose your daughter than try to see things through her eyes?” Holt asked. “To understand how she feels?”
“I’m coming down hard on her for her own good!” Thompson said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“No, Thompson,” Neal said. “And it’s too bad you can’t love her for who she is instead of who you want her to be. I almost made that mistake myself with my grandson. And my son. But considering you don’t give your daughter any credit...”
Huh. Would wonders never cease. His father was surprising him left and right this morning.
“Don’t you tell me how I feel about my daughter!” the man boomed. “I love that girl with all my heart.”
“If you did, you’d care how she’d felt,” Neal said.
“I care how she feels,” Thompson countered. “But she’s throwing her life away!”
“Is she?” Neal asked. “Because she fell in love with a terrific young man who’s making his own way? I heard you did too, that you started from nothing.”
Edward Thompson lifted his chin. “I didn’t work so hard to own a very successful corporation so that my daughter could take up with a ranch hand.”
“Interesting point of view,” Neal said. “Because I heard a little bit about your family. Your wife, Marianne, eloped with you when you barely had a hundred dollars to your name. And you’re happily married to this day.”
Thompson seemed to think about that for a moment, but then he frowned. “Marianne was denied a lot for years. And worked hard right beside me. I don’t want that for Piper.”
“Well, Piper is her own person,” Neal countered. “Give yourself some credit for how you raised her. And give her some credit too.”
Holt could see the man was relenting. Slowly, but he was.
“Holt here was a ranch hand with nothing to his name at eighteen,” Neal continued. “Now, I couldn’t be prouder of the man he is.” His father turned to him. “You tried to tell me and I wouldn’t listen. I called you stubborn? No one is more stubborn than I am. Except for maybe Thompson here. I’m sorry, Holt. For everything. I hope you can forgive me.”
Once again, Holt almost gasped. He certainly hadn’t expected his father to say anything like that. And he could tell Neal Dalton had meant every word.
“You got it, Dad. We’ll talk later?”
Neal nodded, then turned to their guest. “Look, Thompson, why don’t you come up to the house for some coffee,” Neal offered. “We’ve got a lot in common, more than either of us thought, most likely. Let’s talk this through.”
Thompson’s shoulders slumped. “Guess I could use some caffeine.”
And just like that, the two men nodded at Holt and then headed up the path toward the main house. Holt had a feeling his father and Thompson were going to be solid friends. And that Brody and Piper would end up with Edward Thompson’s blessing. Maybe not today but very soon.
Holt went back into the barn and smiled at Robby. “How’s Goldie doing?”
“She loves this book,” Robby said. “I read the whole thing to her. And I only messed up a few times. I wish I could tell Amanda about that but she hasn’t been around. How come, Daddy?”
Holt’s stomach twisted and he sat back down beside his son, his knees drawn up to his chest. “Well, I decided I wanted to do your reading with you. That way I get to spend even more time with you before school starts. I can’t believe the summer is coming to an end so soon.”
“I miss Amanda, though, Daddy. She’s so nice.”
Holt’s heart squeezed and he reached a hand over to brush back Robby’s ever-present mop of bangs from his eyes. “Yeah, she is.”
“Do you miss her too?”
“I do,” Holt answered honestly.
“Then you should ask her to come over for lunch, Daddy. You make the best grilled cheese. And then the three of us can take Bentley for a walk in the woods.”
“Not today,” Holt said. “But I promise you that grilled cheese for lunch. And the walk in the woods.”
Robby brightened. “I wish Oliver could come too. And Amanda.”
Me, too, Holt thought.
“Daddy, if you and Amanda got into a fight, you just have to become friends again. Did I tell you that I saw Ethan at the burger place when my uncles took me, and Ethan came over and said he was sorry about being mean at the fun run and he asked if I wanted to help him build his new Lego set?”
Holt smiled. “Yup, you told me. And I’m really glad about it.”
“Ethan said he didn’t know he was being mean when he said those things about my mom.”
Holt tilted his head. “What do you think about that?”
“I believe him. I think most kids have moms so they don’t understand when someone’s mom isn’t around.”
Holt nodded, again wishing he could protect Robby from this—from the truth. And that was crazy. He couldn’t. Helping him deal with the truth, particularly when it reared its ugly head—that was what Holt could do for his son. “Yeah.”
“But my mom isn’t here and even though sometimes I get sad about it, I like to be happy.”
Holt felt the backs of his eyes sting. “I’m so glad you do, Robby. That’s a great attitude.” It really was.
“You know what? I think people can choose to be grumpyheads like Gramps used to be. Or nice, like Gramps is now. Don’t you think, Daddy?”
Holt smiled. “I suppose so. Though I guess sometimes people can’t help how they feel.”
“I don’t know about that. Uncle Morgan said you can’t make other people do what you want, but you can make yourself do what you want. I’m saying it wrong, but I think I knew what he meant.”
So did Holt. That you couldn’t control others, but you could control your reactions to them.
How did a seven-year-old get to be so wise? Robby had this wonderful ability to take in the best parts, the positive parts, of chaos around him.
“Like Ethan,” Robby continued. “He couldn’t make me want to be friends with him after he was mean to me so he said sorry. And now we’re friends.”
On the very edges of Holt’s consciousness, he knew there was a lesson in there for him, but the new wall he’d erected around himself was impenetrable. He’d made it that way.
“I’m gonna read Goldilocks another book about Rocco,” Robby said. “You can listen too, Daddy.”
“I will,” he said, wanting to grab his son and hold him tight and never let him go. But also on the edges of that consciousness he knew he had to do just that. He had to have faith in his smart, caring, wonderful son to fight his own battles, work out his issues. Even at seven years old.
And Holt, at thirty-two, had to do the same. Damned if he knew how right now, though. Because when he thought about it, Holt had knocked himself out.
Chapter Sixteen
“Hi, Daring Drake!” a familiar little voice said as footsteps bounded. “I’m back to see you! How are you? How’s life?”
Amanda’s heart quickened as she rounded the “Adoptable Animals” barn at Happy Hearts Animal Sanctuary, expecting to see Robby Dalton any second since that was definitely his voice she’d heard. And yup, there he was, in an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts, standing pressed against the wooden fence where the dear old cows were grazing
in their pasture.
Amanda braced herself to come face-to-face with Holt, but she looked around and didn’t see him anywhere. An entire week had gone by since she had seen him, the night he’d broken her heart all over again. Harder this time.
“Robby, wait up,” a tall man with dark blond hair and a Stetson called. When he turned, Amanda saw it was Morgan Dalton, Holt’s older brother—and the eldest of the five Daltons. Morgan noticed her coming his way and smiled. “Oh hey, Amanda. Nice to see you again.”
At the sound of her name, Robby turned around, his mouth wide open. “Amanda!” He charged for her, wrapping his arms around her. The force of him almost knocked her over, but boy, it felt good to see him. She hugged him right back.
Amanda laughed. “Hi, Robby. And hello, Morgan. Nice to see you again too.”
“Yay, Amanda’s here!” Robby said.
“Robby, did you know that Daphne, who owns Happy Hearts Animal Sanctuary, officially named your very favorite cow in the pasture Daring Drake? It was as an extra thank you for adopting Bentley and Oliver and taking such great care of them.”
“Really?” Robby said, beaming. “That’s so awesome! If I ever meet the real Daring Drake, I’ll tell him.”
Daphne came out of the barn, and Morgan turned to Amanda. “Would you mind hanging with Robby for a couple minutes while I talk some business with Daphne?”
“Sure,” Amanda said. It’ll break my heart to spend any time with Robby, but I sure am glad to. Wasn’t that the way? She and Daphne had had their meeting about a new outreach campaign Amanda had in mind for Happy Hearts, and Amanda had been about to leave. If the meeting had ended just a few minutes earlier, she might have missed seeing Robby at all. Fate and circumstances.
Robby walked back over to the fence and stared at Daring Drake. His whole expression had changed. From very happy to very sad. “I’ve been trying real hard to be better, but I guess I did something else wrong. I don’t know what, though.” He wiped under his eyes, and Amanda could see more tears welling.
“What do you mean, Robby?” Amanda asked, her heart going out to the boy.
“I musta done something to make you go away, Amanda,” Robby said, looking up at her. “My mom left and now you left.” Tears slipped down his cheeks. “Daddy said it wasn’t my fault that my mom left and never visits. I believe that. But I know I musta done something to make you mad at me. I don’t really even remember my mom but I remember you.”
Oh, Robby, she thought, kneeling in front of him, her heart pinching in her chest. “Honey, you didn’t do anything to make me mad at you. I promise, Robby. The reason I haven’t been coming by is because your daddy and I had a dumb argument about me and him.”
Robby brightened. “Really? Most fights are dumb. That’s what my gram says.”
“Your gram is right.” Amanda gave a firm nod.
“So you don’t like my dad anymore?” Robby asked. “If you two just talked and said sorry, you could be friends again like me and Ethan are.”
Robby was so sweet and adorable and earnest that despite the ache in her heart, she smiled. “I do like your daddy. Very much.”
“Then just tell him, Amanda. Just say sorry and he’ll say sorry. And then you can come over for grilled cheese. Daddy makes the best grilled cheese.” He pushed his brown bangs off his face and looked at her so expectantly.
“It’s true, he does,” Morgan said with a gentle smile. Amanda glanced up; she hadn’t realized Holt’s brother had returned. He held Amanda’s gaze for a second, and by the compassion she saw in his eyes, she knew Morgan was letting her know he’d heard most of that conversation.
“And you know what, guys?” Morgan continued, “I agree that Amanda should come over and talk to your dad. Holt Dalton can be very stubborn.”
Morgan was definitely trying to tell her something. But she’d said her piece to Holt. And he’d let her walk out of his house and life. All these days, not a word.
He was stubborn, sure. But she had her pride. Clearly Holt hadn’t changed his mind or he would have come to see her.
“Oh yeah,” Robby said, laughing. “Daddy sure is!”
Morgan grinned and ruffled his nephew’s mop of hair. “Well, we’d better get going,” he said, tipping his hat at Amanda.
“Bye, Amanda,” Robby said, wrapping his arms around her again. “I love you.”
Omigosh. He’d never said that before. Her heart was pure mush now. “I love you too, sweetheart.” Oh boy, do I, she thought, watching them leave until the last bit of Robby’s orange T-shirt was gone from view.
She sighed and turned to Daring Drake. “Should I go talk to Holt?” she asked the cow. “Even though the ball was left in his court?”
Daring Drake gave a little snort.
She smiled. “Was that a yes?”
I love you, Amanda... She heard Robby say it over and over in her mind. It was both very easy and very difficult to earn a child’s love. It wasn’t something she took lightly or for granted. She’d become special to Robby, and that meant something to him and to her.
And she loved him back. And his stubborn dad too.
Therefore, it had to be worth one more shot.
Maybe not today, though, she thought, unsure about this. She wanted Holt to come to her. He should come to her. That he hadn’t meant he wasn’t just being stubborn—he was sticking to his guns.
What to do, Daring Drake? What to do?
* * *
The day after Edward Thompson had walked off with Neal Dalton to have coffee at the main house at Dalton’s Grange, ranch hand Brody Colter came grinning his way toward Holt in the big barn.
“You will never believe this,” Brody said. “But Piper’s dad gave us his blessing!”
Holt smiled. He wasn’t the least bit surprised—now. “I’m very glad to hear that, Brody.”
“He invited me over for dinner yesterday, and the four of us—me, Piper, and her parents—sat and talked. Even though we’re both so young, her parents are okay that we got engaged. And like we talked about, I’m going to join the army and Piper will go to college, and once she graduates, we’ll get married. Piper’s mom said she was very excited to plan the wedding.” Brody shook his head, a big smile on his face. “Can you believe this? I’ll tell ya, man, just when you think people can’t change, wham—they go ahead and change. And everyone’s lives affected by them are better for it.”
Holt stared at Brody, those words echoing in his head. Just when you think people can’t change... How true was that? He thought of his father. But then he thought of himself. Holt the Unchanging.
“Mr. Thompson said he had some sense talked into him,” Brody added. “If that was you, thank you. I owe you—big time.”
Neal Dalton’s face and trademark Stetson flashed into his mind, his father’s words of wisdom turning Edward Thompson around. “Actually, you owe my dad. He did the heavy lifting.”
“I’ll thank him.” Brody grinned. “Now I know just what people mean when say they can’t wait to begin the rest of their lives. That’s how I feel.”
A delivery truck pulled up, and Brody put on his work gloves. Holt had to go check on Goldie, so he shook Brody’s hand, wished him and Piper well and told him to call if he ever needed anything. Holt wouldn’t be surprised to hear from Brody over the next bunch of years; life had a way of interfering even with the most well-thought-out plans and the fiercest of love, but he also had a very strong feeling that Brody Colter and Piper Thompson would be together forever.
As Holt entered the small barn and peered into Goldie’s pen, the sweet black-and-white goat was standing up and munching on fresh hay. She was definitely out of the woods. He gave her a once-over, making a mental note to ask the vet to stop by for a final check, his thoughts drifting back to all Robby had said when the two of them had sat outside Goldilocks’s pen two days straight, nursing the go
at back to health.
I like to be happy.
Uncle Morgan said you can’t make other people do what you want, but you can make yourself do what you want...
And then Amanda and her beautiful face came to mind.
I’d lost my ability to believe in love but my feelings for you and for Robby renewed it. I’m glad I believe—even if it means hurting this bad. Because at least I feel. At least I try.
That was what he needed to teach his son.
Or learn from his son. Robby was a lot wiser than Holt in a lot of ways and seemed to know all about trying already. You had to try. Last night, during dinner, Robby had told Holt about him and his uncle Morgan running into Amanda at Happy Hearts.
Where it had all begun again.
He smiled as he recalled Robby’s words as they’d eaten their grilled steaks and baked potatoes. You say sorry and Amanda will say sorry and you’ll be friends again.
All around Holt, people were trying and believing, struggling and flailing, but putting themselves out there. From Amanda to Robby to Brody and Edward Thompson to Neal Dalton.
You couldn’t stop trying. You couldn’t give up on the most fundamental, most important thing in life: love.
Holt wasn’t going to just instill that in Robby; he was going to model it.
He jogged the half mile back to his cabin, going to his bedroom and pulling something out from the bottom drawer of his dresser—something he’d kept hidden away for ten years.
He only hoped he wasn’t too late.
* * *
When Holt arrived at Amanda’s building in downtown Bronco Heights, a couple was leaving so he’d gone straight in without buzzing to let her know he was here. He didn’t even know if she’d be home.
He was about to knock on her door when it opened and she took a step out, then froze, surprise lighting her beautiful face. She was dressed in exactly the outfit she’d been wearing when he ran into her at Happy Hearts. The yellow dress and short white blazer. Her dark hair was in a low ponytail.
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