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“Please reconsider.”

“Or?”

Or what, indeed? “Or I guess I’ll need to find a different job. My life is here.”

“You’re not much of a cowboy, from what Weston says.”

“That’s correct, sir, but I’m sure there are other jobs in the area that don’t require long days in the saddle.”

Grandfather laughed. “You’d quit Sullivan rather than move back to the Windy City?”

Man, Tate wished he could have talked all this over with Stephanie before this conversation, but he hadn’t seen it coming. Not this way. “Yes, sir.”

“Then Sweet River Ranch is yours.”

“Pardon me?” Tate rounded the curve and saw the lodge sitting beside the little lake. Just a little further until Hummingbird Lane. Stephanie already had her turn signal on.

“Oh, don’t get excited. I’m not leaving yet. There’s more to sort out than what you bring to the table. Say, is that you now? Stop in at the lodge.”

“No, sir. My wife is waiting for me. I’ll be in the office at nine on Monday.”

“Eight-thirty.”

“Nine. If the ranch is my responsibility, office hours have just been adjusted.”

Grandfather cackled. “I like you, boy. You’ll do fine. See you Monday.” The airwaves went dead.

A group of vacationers sat on the lodge deck chatting as he drove by.

His ranch. Really? He had so many ideas. He’d need Graham to keep his vision under control. Bryce and Max to keep up with building and landscaping projects. Weston to manage the stables. It seemed quiet Jude was lost on maintenance. Did he have other training and aspirations? Once this was official, he needed to make the time to get to know his youngest cousin.

Once this was official.

Grandfather wouldn’t have dangled that in front of Tate only to pull it back, would he? That wasn’t like the shrewd businessman who’d taken a century-old dynasty and guided it through the past few decades of turmoil.

Tate parked the Lexus beside his wife’s car in front of the duplex. She opened the backdoor and leaned in for a sleepy toddler. Jamie tucked his thumb in his mouth and nestled into her shoulder as she carried him inside. Tate grinned and grabbed his luggage. There’d be time later to get Stephanie’s.

If he wasn’t mistaken, that little boy was out for the night, and that meant his parents were free to reassure each other of how much they’d missed each other over the past tumultuous week.

Tate was totally up for that.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Six weeks had gone by, and Stephanie sat in the fireside room in Creekside Fellowship watching Harper’s mother fuss over her daughter. “Oh, sugar, aren’t you as pretty as a peach?”

“Thanks, Momma.” Harper caught Stephanie’s gaze in the large mirror and winked. “Stephanie looks great, too, doesn’t she?”

“Bless you, honey-pie.” Loretta Satterfield turned to Stephanie. “I still can’t believe you girls have stayed such good friends.”

“Harper was my maid of honor in June.” Probably Loretta already knew that, but just in case. Stephanie held up her left hand, where her diamond rings glistened.

“I’m so happy for you. And happy enough to cry crocodile tears for my daughter. Oh, Harper. I can’t believe you’re about to be married to the best young man in Jewel Lake.”

“Second best.” Stephanie couldn’t have bit back the words if she’d tried. “I snagged the best one, after all that. My husband is absolutely amazing and perfect for me. Eli’s not so terrible, either.”

Harper’s eyes crinkled with amusement.

Loretta looked between them, clearly unsure. “I understand you married… in haste.”