The beauty of the sun setting behind the Rocky Mountains never ceased to amaze Dusty. Vibrant hues of fuchsia and amethyst and then softer shades of lavender, rose, and tangerine. The Rockies themselves seemed translucent as the solar rays slowly faded and disappeared for another day. The redwood rocking bench on the front porch had been a gift from Zach when their son was born, and Dusty spent each evening there, enjoying the Colorado sunset.
Sean Jason McCray nursed urgently at his mother’s breast. At three months old, he had more than doubled his birth weight, and he was thriving. Though born with a thick shock of dark hair, the peach fuzz growing in now was red-gold, like his mama’s, and his eyes had turned light blue, the exact color of his daddy’s left one.
“You’re going to be a heartbreaker someday,” Dusty cooed to him.
“That’s a beautiful sight,” Zach said as he came out the front door, his unique eyes reflecting the love that, to Dusty, seemed to grow stronger every day.
“You say that every evening.” She smiled.
“It’s a beautiful sight every evening, darlin’.” He sat down beside her and stroked his son’s soft head. He leaned down and kissed Dusty softly on the cheek. “Hey.”
“Hey what?”
“Hey, I love you.”
“I love you too, Zach.”
“I have something to tell you. Two things, actually.”
“What?”
“I’ve been doing some research.”
“On what?”
“Oh, on colleges for my sweet, smart wife.”
“Zach?”
“I want you to start taking classes this fall. The University of Central Colorado is only about an hour’s drive from here. You can get your records transferred and get your degree in math and zoology. Then we’ll see about vet school.”
Dusty’s heart leaped. Her wonderful husband would do anything to make her happy, but she had different dreams now. Different desires. Different goals.
“You’re a sweetheart.” She turned to kiss his soft lips. “But I don’t want to leave Sean with a stranger. I want to be the one to raise my child, to put bandages on his scrapes and kiss them to make it better.”
“But, darlin’—”
“Besides, the closest vet school is in Fort Collins, and I’d never leave here, so what’s the point?”
“The point is that I don’t want your brain to atrophy. You have an incredible intelligence, Dusty. You should use it.”
“I will. Raising a child is the most important job in the world, and I plan to use my brain. Besides, you need my brain here. You know I can tend to the animals almost as well as any vet.”
“True enough,” Zach said, stroking her thigh. “Only if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure, and if I change my mind in the future, school will still be there. Now what’s the other thing you wanted to tell me?”
“I just got a phone call from Dallas.”
“And?”
“He and Chelsea have separated, and he’s filing for divorce.”
“Oh, Zach, I’m so sorry.”
“Hell, I’m not. The woman’s a bitch.” Zach cleared his throat. “Dallas and I have never been close. He was always such an overbearing know-it-all, but…”
“He’s still your brother.”