Typically, Quinn preferred to take his time with decisions. A lot more time if the issue was major, and this one was. But the urgency of the matter dictated a speedy resolution. His loved ones were involved and dilly-dallying wasn’t fair to them.

It had been a busy week. A foal had been born on Wednesday and another of his mares could go into labor at any time. She hadn’t yet, though, and Quinn needed to talk privately with Pete while they had a break in the action. On Friday, he suggested a late afternoon ride to evaluate forage in the pastures.

He saddled Banjo, a buckskin who’d earned his name because he was supposedly high-strung. He’d bought him for next-to-nothing ten years ago and had settled him down. Best saddle horse in his barn.

Pete tacked up Clifford, the big red roan Quinn had bought him for his sixteenth birthday. Pete and Clifford had been buddies ever since. Their personalities were similar, loyal to the core. They had some physical similarities, too, both big-boned and gentle.

To say Quinn was nervous about this conversation would be an understatement. So much depended on Pete’s reaction. Quinn wouldn’t allow Pete to dictate the course of events, but he wanted his eldest son to be happy.

They started at the far pasture and worked their way in. Pete typed notes on his phone regarding patches of healthy grass and areas of mud that needed to be tended. The more grass, the less supplemental feeding necessary. Quinn spent his time just looking. He loved the Lazy S. It was an important part of his past.

It was also the only home Pete had ever known. He had close friends here. He’d almost married a girl from Spokane, but that hadn’t worked out. If it had, this discussion would have taken a much different direction.

Quinn asked Pete to hold up when they topped a little rise that gave them a view of the ranch buildings and the horses grazing in the spring-green pastures.

He leaned on his saddle horn. “I have something to discuss and I’m worried it’ll rattle you.” Gazing at his eldest son, he saw himself twenty years ago. The other three kids had taken after their mother, but Pete had the Sawyer genes.

He smiled as if enjoying a private joke. “Wes and I wondered when you’d bring up the subject of Kendra. We have a wager on it.”

“Is that so?” Once upon a time he’d fancied himself a step or two ahead of his offspring. Now he was several steps behind. “Are you going to win?”

“I am. Wes was convinced you’d talk to one or both of us by Wednesday.”

“We had the foaling on Wednesday.”

“True, but I was betting that you wouldn’t be ready by then, anyway. I said it would be today. And here we are out inspecting the pastures, which is a dead giveaway. Whenever you have something on your mind, you get me out here to evaluate the forage.”

“Good God, am I that transparent?”

“Maybe not to everybody, but I’ve been around you more.”

“Since you already know so much about this discussion we’re about to have, why don’t you tell me what I’m going to say?”

Pete laughed. “Before you start thinking I’m psychic, you should know something. While you were making your epic midnight ride, Roxanne, Wes and I were on a video chat comparing notes.”

Quinn groaned. “I have no secrets.”

“Sure you do. We don’t know exactly what went on at Wild Creek Ranch, but—”

“Thank God for small favors.”

“Roxanne’s convinced that you’re in love with Kendra.”

“She’s right.”

“Have you been in love with any woman since Mom died?”

“No. Kendra’s the first.”

“That’s what we all decided. Roxanne says Kendra’s in love with you, too.”

“Yes, I believe she is.” Quinn had no control of the conversation whatsoever, but maybe that was okay.

“Roxanne also said Kendra’s living on a ranch that she inherited from her folks, the ranch where she was born. Her roots run deep.”

Quinn glanced at him. “I don’t know where you’re getting your intel, but it’s excellent.”

“All from Roxanne. She’s our boots on the ground.”

“My daughter the foot soldier.” Quinn chuckled. “You still haven’t told me what I’m going to say to you.”

“It’s not hard to figure out, Dad. Kendra’s not leaving that ranch. If you want to be with her, you have to leave this one.”

Quinn stared at him in amazement. “You said that so calmly, as if it wouldn’t jackhammer the hell out of your life.”

“It’ll change my life, no question. I just need to decide how much. First off, I’d appreciate knowing your plans. Would you move in with her?”

“You flabbergast me, son. I only know one person who’s more practical and straightforward than you, and that’s me.”

He smiled. “Where do you think I learned it?”

“Point taken. And the answer is no, I won’t move in with her. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want a husband or a live-in boyfriend. I’ve investigated the possibilities and there’s a little ranch across the main road that’s for sale.”

“Close, but not too close.”

“Exactly.”

“But not big enough for a horse breeding operation.”

“No. It’s a gentleman’s ranch. I could take Banjo and maybe have another two or three, but that’s it. Instead of horse breeding, I’d concentrate on my art.”

“What about the Lazy S?”

“That’s the sticking point. I’ll need to sell it. I could sell it to you with a sweetheart deal, but—“

“That would leave you cash poor, Dad. I know the bottom line as well as you do. If you sell to me with a small amount down, which is all I can afford, you can’t buy that gentleman’s ranch.”

“I still might be able to swing it. Or I could rent a house in town.”

“A house in town? What about Banjo?”

“They have stables in Eagles Nest. Kendra owns one, in fact.”

“You’d be miserable living in town.”

“I’ll be miserable if I can’t be with Kendra.”

“Nobody wants you to be miserable at all, Dad. We’re going to sell this ranch. Let somebody else slave over it.”

“What will you do?”

“Roxanne and I talked about it and she’s excited having us move to Eagles Nest.”

“Us?”

“Yep. Unless you hate the idea, I’ll move to Eagles Nest with you. Me and Clifford, plus maybe another horse or two if there’s room. We might need spare horses.”

“You know I won’t hate the idea. That would be great, but you’ll be leaving your friends.”

“I’ll visit. They’ll visit. Most of them are busy with wives and kids, anyway. We don’t get together like we used to.”

“I guess that’s true, now that you mention it.”

“It’s partly because I’m so involved with the ranch. The Lazy S? I laugh every time I look at the sign out by the road. I haven’t had a lazy minute in the past ten years. Have you?”

“Can’t say I have.” At least not while he was here. A pretend Tahiti getaway with Kendra was all he’d managed. “But I know you. There won’t be enough to keep you busy on the place I’m considering.”

“No problem. I’ll get a job in Eagles Nest or one of the surrounding towns. Wrangle horses for someone else. Be an employee for a change.”

“But this is your childhood home. And Wes’s childhood home, and Roxanne’s—”

“We’re not kids anymore. And you’re not getting any younger.”

“Ouch.”

“Sorry, but we’ve all talked about this and if you’re in love for the first time since Mom died, that’s a big deal. It takes precedence. You should go for it and we’ll all support your quest.”

“It’s a quest, now, is it?”

“Roxanne likes that word. Anyway, I’ve never met Kendra but Wes has and Roxanne says she’s terrific. They both think you’d be a fool if you didn’t figure out some way to make it work with her.”

“Wow. I guess I’ve been given my marching orders.”

“Isn’t that what you want to do?”

“Yes, damn it. That’s exactly what I want to do, but I was worried that it would be a catastrophe for you kids.”

“The only catastrophe would be you passing up a chance at happiness. Don’t do it, Dad.”

“Okay, Pete.” He straightened in the saddle. “I won’t.”