“I really want to kick your ass right now,” Jack’s blue eyes glared at me after dinner. We stood on the back porch staring out as the sun slipped behind the horizon.

“I know you do and I can’t say I don’t deserve it but Jack, I didn’t mean for it to happen.” It was a cop out, I knew that but I hadn’t intended to seduce her, deflower her.

“I asked you to look out for her, not take her to bed!” He smacked his hand against the large round post to punctuate his point.

The screen door smacked open and Ma came out with beer, bless her. “Ya’ll quit that racket and talk this out like the grown men you are. Mason and Jack you both know Sage has always been sweet on him and last I checked she was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions.” She gave us both that disappointing Ma knows best glare and, without another word she slipped back into the house letting the screen door slam behind her.

“I know that,” Jack said, shaking his head as he took a long slow pull from the bottle. “But you know how she feels and you know how you feel about love and marriage. If you were me you’d want to kick your ass too.”

“Believe me Jack I do want to kick my own ass. I tried to stay away, I really did. But I couldn’t.” Sage was smart and beautiful, lively and great with Lily, never mind she was great with horses.

Jack laughed only this time it was more amused than disgusted. “Oh man, I don’t believe it.”

“What?” My voice was dark and menacing because I knew exactly what he thought he knew. “What, dammit!”

Jack outright laughed, doubling over and slapping his knee like a damn fool. “You love her. Shit, you and Sage huh?” The anger seemed to fade at this new realization and I couldn’t tell if I was angry or relieved about it.

I wanted to deny it. I opened my mouth to do just that only the damn words wouldn’t come. “How long are you back?”

His expression sobered. “I’m back for good. I was hoping you had a spare room until I figured out my next move.”

“Of course, take your pick. You plan on staying in Lucky Flats?”

He nodded but didn’t seem all that happy about it. “That’s the plan.”

I clapped him on the back. “Stay as long as you need, just expect to pitch in.”

“Of course. What are you going to do about my sister?”

I looked at my best friend, hoping he could see the conflict I felt, and shrugged. “No fucking idea.” I had a feeling it didn’t matter what I wanted anymore. The hurt in her eyes was unmistakable when I couldn’t say those three little words back to her and she’d taken off with Sierra as soon as Lily had been settled into bed. I didn’t know if she even planned to come back tonight. Or ever.

“Well she looked pretty damn pissed when she tore out of here, at both of us, so you should figure it out soon.”

I nodded. “She won’t leave me hanging with the TPBA.” I might not know much but I knew Sage was a woman of her word and she promised to help me with this. So I knew she would.

“Of course she won’t, but that doesn’t mean she’ll forget or forgive whatever you said or did to her after I left you two…dammit! I’m tempted to punch your ass just for making me see that shit.”

One side of my mouth curled into a smile. “You should learn how to knock before you enter a room.”

Jack gave me a one finger salute and we both laughed, clicking our glasses together and drinking in silence. “God I’ve missed home. The dessert just doesn’t compare.”

“And there’s a distinct lack of flying bullets.”

“Yeah,” he said in tortured amusement. “That’s for damn sure.”

“You want to tell me why you’re done and why so suddenly?”

“Not really,” he said as he stared into the horizon, the sky splashed with pink and orange. I could tell Jack was no longer here in Lucky Flats but a desert half way across the globe. “I had to do some shit I didn’t want to do but, orders and all that. When the mission was done I made it clear I had no plans to re-enlist so here I am.”

There was a story there but for now I would let him keep his secrets. “Good to have you home man.”

The next morning came far too early, which probably had a lot to do with the fact I’d stayed up until after midnight hoping Sage would come home. When she didn’t, a quick text to Sierra had confirmed that Sage was safe and pissed as hell, in her words. The few hours of sleep I did get were restless and fitful, and I was up before the sun to get the early morning chores out of the way. Like my daddy used to say, when all else fails, work, and that’s just what I did.

After a quick shower hours later, I got dressed and headed downstairs where Ma was already awake and putting the finishing touches on breakfast.

“Mornin’ Ma.”

She turned from her biscuits and gave me a quick onceover. “You look like hell boy.”

Leave it to Ma to tell it like it is. “Yeah, thanks Ma.”

She shook her head and went back to the biscuits. “You want to talk about it?”

Hell no I didn’t want to talk about it, but Ma was probably the only person who might have something helpful to add. “Sage said she loved me.” Instead of celebrating that fact, all I could see was the crushed look in her eyes when I didn’t say it back. She’d seemed resigned, like she’d known I wouldn’t say it back. But she’d hoped.

“I’m guessin’ you didn’t say it back?” When I shook my head, she smacked her lips and I had to look away. “Why not?”

“This wasn’t supposed to be about that, Ma!” I smacked my hand on the table, making the silverware jump. “Hell I knew I should have stayed away from her but I couldn’t.” Love wasn’t part of the deal. I didn’t want any part of that trap. Not again.

“Supposed to?” Ma laughed like I just told a damn joke, smacking her floured hand against her leg. “Son let me tell you, if things happened like they were supposed to, you and Tanner wouldn’t exist and I would have missed out on all the years I had with the love of my life. Rest his soul.”

I blinked as her words became clear. “Are you saying me and Tanner were accidents, Ma?”

She nodded. “Happy accidents, but it’s all the same. I was supposed to be a rodeo girl, a buckle-winning barrel racer. I was supposed to take the rodeo world by storm, Mason. Instead I got one belt before falling in love with a small-town rancher, and ended up getting knocked up before my next race.”

“Well sorry we ruined your life, Ma!” I knew I sounded like a petulant child dammit, but how could I take that any other way? “Ow, Ma! What the hell?”

She scowled at me. “I didn’t say you ruined my life, though right now I’m wondering if you were worth my sacrifices. What I’m telling you is that things don’t always go the way they’re supposed to Mason. You of all people should understand that.”

“Yeah,” I sighed because I knew exactly what she was talking about. Lily was supposed to have a loving mother, not one who died in the process of abandoning her. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Do you love her?”

That was the million-dollar question wasn’t it? Did I love Sage? Hell I didn’t know, maybe I didn’t even know what love was. “I thought I loved Tracy and look how that turned out.”

Ma kept shaking her head as she set out big plates of eggs, bacon, biscuits, sausage and home fries. “Just because Tracy had loose morals doesn’t mean your love wasn’t real. Now I’ll ask you again, do you love her?”

I liked Sage. A lot. She was funny and sweet, kind, caring and gorgeous as hell. She pitched in without being asked and she loved Lily like she was her own. But explosive chemistry wasn’t love. It was lust. Desire. Need. “I can’t love her Ma. Or anybody. I won’t.” I braced myself for her arguments that would encourage me to follow my heart and give love another shot. All that crap.

“Then you have your answer,” she said simply, though I did detect a hint of disappointment in her tone as she set the coffee and the orange juice on the table just as Lily, Tanner and Jack made their way to the kitchen. “Good morning everybody.”

“Mornin’ Gramma!”

“Good morning sweetheart,” Ma replied and took the empty seat beside Lily.

Breakfast was quiet, subdued even, as the adults were lost in their own thoughts. Even Lily seemed to pick up on the tension, focusing on her food instead of talking everyone’s ears off as she usually. My mind remained full of my conversation with Ma. It seemed unbelievable to me that she would give up so easily and accept my answer. Did I want her to convince me that I do love Sage? I was so confused I didn’t even know which way was up anymore.

“Daddy, did you hear me?”

Lily’s exasperated voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Sorry sweetheart, what did you say?” The intensity of her green stare moved me.

“I asked if Sage went away forever?”

Forever? Why would she ask such a thing? I blinked, completely stunned, and then thankful Jack was there to step in.

“Of course not princess. She’s having a grownup girls’ night with Sierra.”

“Without me?” she asked with an adorable pout.

She giggled at Jack’s wink. “I think you’re a bit too young to get into the Double Barrel, unless you started drinking beer while I was away?”

Her face twisted into a frown. “No way! I’m too young Uncle Jack.” Her smile dimmed as another question occurred to her. “Are you back forever now?”

“Why, did you miss me?”

“Uh-huh. Sage said you were a hero and you’d be back as soon as you could be. Now you are. I’m glad.” She slid from her seat and climbed on his lap to wrap her little arms around his neck.

“Me too, kiddo.” He squeezed her back and dropped a kiss on her head. “Oh I see, you just gave me love so you could steal my bacon.”

He tickled her and the sound of her laughter filled the kitchen, along with the adults and I was struck for the first time that the house finally felt like a home again.

“We’re all glad to have you back son, safe and sound.” Ma laid a hand on his arm and gifted him her best mama loves you smile. “Any idea what you’ll do now?”

“Not yet. I’m going to work the ranch while I figure it out.”

“I have some ideas if you don’t mind,” she said and then continued on before he could say whether or not he did mind. “You and Tanner should team up and add training horses to our portfolio.”

“What?” This was the first I heard of this and I ran the damn ranch. “Since when?”

Ma only shrugged like she hadn’t just rocked my world. “Since I thought of it. Last night. You got a problem with that?”

“No. I just want to know why you think we need horse training when we’re this close to our goals.”

“Your goals,” she amended. “You have the breeding side down, wouldn’t it be nice to bump up the asking price by selling them pre-trained? Or better yet, let people come from far and wide to let a champion rider like your brother, a multi-buckle winner, train their horses?” She smiled at Jack again. “Never mind the discipline our handsome Ranger brings to the operation.”

Damn I couldn’t argue with that. None of it. “Sounds good. Let me know what you need to make it happen.” I finished a second helping of breakfast and when I looked up three sets of eyes were on me. “What?”

“That’s it,” Tanner asked bewildered. “You’re okay with it? Just like that?”

“Yeah it’s a great idea if you guys’re interested.” Like Ma said they would do a damn good job, and it would bring more prestige to the M&M.

Jack nodded and Tanner did the same, both wearing wary grins.

“Then put a plan together so we can make it happen. Can I go now?” I stood with my plate in my hand and waited.

“Yes Daddy, you may,” Lily chirped in sweetly.

“Thanks sweetheart. Finish up guys. We have a lot to do since you bums missed morning chores.”

Jack coughed. “It still is morning.”

“I have to look at the cattle first,” Tanner said as he stood. “But I’ll let that slide since I know you have other things on your mind.”

I glared at Tanner but kept my mouth shut. “I’ll see you out there. Jackass,” I murmured as I grabbed my Stetson and thermos and headed through the door.

Damn meddling family.