“True, but I don’t think any stripper would be comfortable living out here in the middle of nowhere in a small town, on a ranch.” He motioned to the pig. “Taking care of farm animals.”
She laughed. “You never know. I’d wager there are a few that would love to live on a ranch, have a handsome husband who can cook and can foods, not to mention make homemade jelly.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
His smile slipped slightly, and his eyes dipped to her lips again.
“Kara.”
Just hearing her name come from his lips had her heart racing again. She jumped for a second time when her cell phone rang loudly in her pocket.
Seeing her father’s number on the screen, she sighed before answering the call.
“Hey, Daddy, how’s the trip going?” She jumped down from the fence and walked away from the noise of the barn animals.
“Good, sweetie. We just heard about Nicholas,” her father said.
Kara glanced to where Nick was talking softly to Wilbur.
“Yeah, the services were yesterday.”
“I hope you had flowers delivered for us,” her father said.
“Yes, I did.”
“How’s Nick holding up?”
She glanced at Nick again. “He’s holding up. He’s here right now.”
“He is?” Her father said something to Luanna as he held his hand over the phone, but she still heard it perfectly. “Nick’s there with her right now.” Luanna answered, “Well, get off the phone and leave them alone. This is just what we planned.”
When her father came back, she asked, “What did you have planned? What does that mean?”
Her father was quiet for a moment, then he said, “Um, honey, I can’t… hear you…” and hung up.
She frowned down at her phone and was about to call them back when she realized Nick was watching her.
“How about a ride?” she asked him. “The sun is finally out, and I want to exercise Bella.”
ChapterTen
Everything was up in the air. His entire life was hanging by a thread. He should be more worried than he was, but in truth, in the back of his mind and in his heart, he knew that his father had ensured the safety of his future.
There was no doubt of his father’s love. There never had been. He’d been lucky enough to be raised by two people who loved one another and him. Unconditionally.
That love had been the foundation of his life, which had allowed him to grow into the man he was today.
Unlike his cousin, Nick had been raised to work for what he had. For as long as he could remember, he’d worked the ranch. Long hard days side by side with both of his parents.
When his mother had been alive, he’d split his time working with his dad or working with his mother. After his mother’s death, he’d taken over all the duties she’d done around the property. His father’s health had forced him to slide into both roles over the past few years.
Could his uncle Wilbert, his aunt Marge, and Willy ever fill those roles? Did they know just how much work went into running the hundred-acre place?
“You’re very quiet over there.” Kara’s voice broke into his thoughts.
He glanced over at her. They were walking the horses along a well-traveled path around her property line. The sun was shining on her face, turning her cheeks a shade of pink that flattered her very much. Her hair was tied in a long braid that lay over her shoulder.
She looked like a rancher. Strong. Healthy. Beautiful.
“Just thinking about the future,” he answered. “Have you ever wondered where you’ll be twenty years from now?”