Page 137 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

When he was sure that it was going to be a worthwhile trip, he called Wade. He didn't know if all his brothers would be able to get away – and he didn't want to put this off, but he needed to at least get Wade to go with him – maybe Brody, if he called him on the way up to town and asked if he could get away for just a while.

"Hey, Ford. Everything all right?" Wade answered.

"Yeah. I... I'm headed up to town, wondered if you wanted to go with me."

Wade chuckled. "Would I be right if I guessed that you want to visit the jewelry store?"

Ford held his phone away from his ear and gave it a puzzled look before saying, "You would, but how the hell do you know that?"

Wade laughed again. "Our big brother called around last night – told all the brothers that we need to be prepared to drop everything at a moment's notice over the next couple of days because you might be asking us to go up there with you."

Ford had to laugh. "He has to get his fingers in everything."

"You're not mad, are you?"

"Nah, I wouldn't be laughing if I was."

"He told us all that we just had to wait and see, and if you decided to go by yourself then none of us was to say a word about it – that it's your choice if you don't want to follow the tradition of all going to pick a ring together. He wasn't trying to take over – just trying to cover the bases for you – and I'd say it's a good thing he did. Ty decided this was a good week to start delegating his trips to the wholesalers, and Kolby told Callie that her mom needs to be on standby to watch the baby if he needs to run out on short notice."

Ford ran his hand through his hair. He didn't know what to say.

"I know the two of you have had your differences, but..."

"Yeah, he's come through for me in a big way lately."

"He loves you – he always has."

"I love him, too." Ford didn't mind admitting it.

"Then you should tell him."

He chuckled. "I already have. And since it looks like he's done most of the work for me, do you want to let everyone know that I want to go this afternoon – and you can figure out a time between you? I'm going to call Brody and..."

Wade laughed. "There's no need – Cash included him on the group text he set up – you say what time you want to go, and I can make sure we'll all be there. Want to ride with me?"

"Yeah. I'd like that. Thanks."

After he ended the call, he went back to the kitchen. Amelia hadn't come down yet, neither had Nat, but Hunter was in there.

Ford leaned over the counter, lowering his voice. “Hey, little man, I need your help with something important.”

Hunter’s eyes lit up. “Is it a surprise for Auntie Amelia?”

Ford grinned. “It is. I need you to write something for me. On paper – not on your phone. And don’t tell her.”

Hunter grabbed a pad from the drawer and a pencil, then glanced up. “What do you want it to say?”

“Something like… okay, so… I want to get her something engraved on the ring.” Ford hesitated, then cleared his throat. “Something that says she’s not just… you know… some helper that drops in and then disappears again. She’s not a subroutine. I want it to say that she’s the one running the show now. And that I’m good with that.” He gave the kid a sheepish smile. “But I don’t speak computer. Can you maybe help me say that in your kind of language?”

Hunter's face broke into a grin. “She’s the main program.”

“Yeah,” Ford said softly. “That’s the one.”

Just as Hunter finished scribbling, Nat walked into the room and narrowed her eyes at them. “Okay, what’s going on? You two are terrible at secrets. You both look guilty as hell.”

“So, get in here and help us out. Hunter’s helping me figure out what to engrave inside the ring – I’m going up to town to get it this afternoon.”

Her face lit up as she reached for the paper where Hunter had written: