Over the next week, the plans for Falls Creek Ranch were sketched out, and Jacob, Alex, and Cole met regularly to discuss the details, each man carving out a role for himself. Cole had been training horses with Thomas, Triple Range's horse man and local animal doctor, so he would be in charge of breaking in horses and making sure they were up to military standards.

Alex had been a star student and knew his way around the business world. He'd nearly gone to Stanford University before coming to Triple Range and was designated as the ranch's accountant and general business man.

That left Jacob. At first, he wasn't sure what his role would be, but it became abundantly clear that they needed a person to oversee the day-to-day tasks, manage the men they would eventually hire, meet with people, and make sure the entire operation was running smoothly. They needed a big picture man, and he would be it.

The three of them fit together naturally and became even closer friends than before. Cole and Alex even promised to help Jacob build a house.

“In the meantime, you can stay with me,” Alex told him on the first day of their meeting. They got together at Carl's house because it was quietest place during the day. They had space and room to work and talk, and Amanda kept their coffee cups filled. “I think that's better than bunking in with the soon-to-be newlyweds.”

Grinning at Cole, Jacob nodded. “Definitely.”

But they all agreed that the first priority was building a fence that would encompass enough land for five horses to be turned out for exercise.

“After that's done, we'll build a paddock for training. It's not possible to break a horse in a large space,” Cole informed.

Both Triple Range and Crawford Ranch knew about the venture and had offered the loan of a few men to help.

“With ten of us working for a couple weeks, we should be able to fence off enough land for about five horses,” Alex surmised as he worked the figures out on a sheet of paper. “Thomas said you need about two acres for the first horse and then one additional acre for each horse thereafter.”

The task seemed enormous, but the suggested purchase seemed small to Jacob.

“Just five horses?” he asked in dismay. “But I thought we would start with than double that. Plus, Carl offered to loan me more, as did the bank.”

Alex shook his head. “We need to start like this and see how it goes. If we make any mistakes, underestimate our ability, we want our losses to be small.”

It was logical, but still underwhelming.

“If you say so,” he grumbled.

“Cheer up,” Cole declared, giving him a hearty slap on the back. “Everyone starts off small and works their way up. Let's not bite off more than we can chew, right?”

Jacob was a little annoyed that the younger men came across as wiser, but he knew better than to start arguing. After all, he wasn't in this alone.

“Alright, if you say so. I guess because I'm older, I'm in more of a hurry to make a profit.”

“Try to be patient, Grandpa,” Alex teased. “We'll be in the black before you need your rocking chair. I promise.”

“Ha-ha,” Jake returned, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I'll hold you to that promise, young 'un.”

The three enjoyed a laugh and looked over their plans once more.

“Well, I guess that's it for today,” Jacob declared. “We'll set out gathering wood for the fence tomorrow. Get a good night's sleep, children.”

Alex and Cole chuckled a bit more, but made no move to leave.

“One more thing. Let's pray over this before we go,” Cole said. “No plan is worth doing without God's blessing.”

Jacob shifted in his seat, wanting to protest, but what could he say?

“Don't you think God already knows what's happening? He'll either bless us or he won't.” He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but from the looks on the faces of the other two, he knew he didn't succeed.

“Uh, well, that's one way to look at,” Alex agreed slowly. “But God wants us to pray about stuff before we do it.”

“Why?” Jacob hated to show his doubt to these younger men, but the question slipped out before he could think to stop it.

Blinking a few times, Cole appeared to give the question some thought before answering. “Because then we'll thank Him for our success and not give all the credit to ourselves.”

“And if we fail?” Jacob couldn't resist this last question. How did these men, nearly ten years younger than himself, have such strong faith? They'd both been through trials of their own. He knew their stories and couldn't understand how they'd come to have such deep trust in God.

“Then God wants something else for us. But, Jacob, I've prayed about this every night and believe that God is guiding us to do this. I can't say why, but I have faith that this is the right thing.”

“Alright,” he conceded begrudgingly. “Let's pray.”

As Cole led them in prayer, Jacob listened, but his heart remained hard.

“Thank you, God, for everything You've done. Thank you for bringing the three of us together to make this ranch happen. You know the end from the beginning, and You knew this was going to happen. We pray You bless our partnership and guide us to make wise decisions. Help us to be godly men in business, honest to a fault. We pray that our business brings You honor and glory. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”

Alex echoed the last word, but Jacob was silent, and he couldn't stop himself from asking a question.

“You know, I've never really understood why people say that at the end of a prayer. And why do other people repeat it?”

Alex tilted his head. “Amen? It's to show that we're in agreement. The Bible says that if two or three people on Earth agree on something, God will do it.”

This was news to Jacob. He pulled back a little in disbelief. “You can't be serious. So, just by asking God to do something, He'll do it because two of you ask? I don't think that can be right. My parents used to pray that my father would get his job back, and he never did.”

He saw that the two of them were at a bit of a loss as what to say.

Alex recovered first. “Uh, well, I can't speak about your parents' situation, or anyone's really, and to be honest, there have been times where God didn't answer a prayer that I prayed with a friend, but...”

“But what? I don't understand the point.” He wished he didn’t sound so hostile, but these questions had been piling up in his mind for years.

Cole sighed. “We don't know God's mind or what His plans are. Sometimes we ask for stuff that's not what He wants, and His will comes first.”

Although he wanted to argue further, there didn't seem to be much point, so Jacob decided to stop asking them about matters of religion. He recognized that he was coming across somewhat antagonistic.

“Okay, well, hopefully this will be one of those times that our plans line up with His.” He stood, signifying that he wanted the conversation to come to an end. “See you both bright and early tomorrow at Cole's house?”

Awkwardly, the two younger men got to their feet and agreed. Even though they were equal partners, it was clear that Jacob, being that much older and having much more experience ranching, was going to take the lead. If they wanted to question his decision, he'd listen, but ultimately, he believed he knew better, not only in ranching but in life. However, he wouldn't question their beliefs again. It was one thing for him to lose his faith, but to cause another person to do so was something else entirely.

From now on, he'd keep his thoughts on God to himself.

Even though Elise had been steadily improving, Rosa would hardly let her lift a finger around the house. She cooked, cleaned the house, did laundry, and was about to take over the gardening before her sister put an end to her domineering.

“It's my favorite chore, Rosa,” Elise argued. “Besides that, being out in the fresh air and sunshine is good for me. I'm sure of it. Now, if you'd like to help me, please feel free, but I will work in my own garden.”

“Fine!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms and glaring. “And if you faint dead away, I'll leave you there this time.”

Elise said nothing, but just raised her eyebrows and stalked out of the house, Rosa practically on her heels. When Elise took up the gardening hoe to turn over the dirt, Rosa snatched it out of her hands.

“You can't do such a demanding task!” she declared. “I didn't realize you hadn't even turned the soil yet. What are you thinking?”

Sighing deeply, Elise put her hands on her hips and gave her sister a look that was part tenderness and part exasperation. “I'm not trying to haul timber, dear sister. I'm just going to dig in the dirt a little.”

Rosa’s nose crinkled. Apparently, she wasn’t going to win this fight. “Do you have another hoe? I'll do the digging and you can do the turning.”

This seemed to be a reasonable compromise, and over the next two hours, they managed to finish the task between the two of them.

“The weather is warming up nicely,” Elise commented. “I think we're safe to put the seeds in.”

Rosa shook her head. “Better wait. Two days ago, there was frost in the morning.”

“Oh, and now you're an expert on Montana spring, I see.” It could have turned into another argument, but the comment was made teasingly.

However, Rosa still was in a mood. “I'm just going based on what I see,” she replied abruptly. “But if you want to kill your plants, that's up to you.”

Putting down her gardening tools, Elise walked over to where her sister was standing. “What is it, dear? Why are you so sensitive today?”

It was hard for Rosa to put into words without sounding childish. Releasing a sigh, she explained. “Part of me is worried that you are pushing yourself too hard, too fast. And the other part of me...”

“Yes?”

“Oh, I don't know. I guess I think that if you don't need me anymore, I'll have to leave, and I don't know where I'll go!”

As difficult as the confession was, releasing her secret worry eased the burden from her mind.

“Rosa,” Elise started, taking her sister's hand. “You have somewhere to go, and that somewhere is here. Even if I make a full recovery, I will be tremendously happy to share my home with you for as long as you will stay. I know John feels the same way.”

“He does?” she mumbled, ducking her head as tears started to prick the backs of her eyes.

“Yes, cara. He does indeed. In fact, he was worried that you were thinking about leaving and told me he hopes you stay for as long as possible. When I asked him what he would do if you stayed for the rest of your life, do you know what he said?”

Rosa shook her head, worried what the reply would be.

“He said, and I quote, 'Praise the Lord!' Now, tell me, does that sound like a man who's trying to make you move out of his house?”

The sob that had threatened turned into a half-strangled laugh. “Really? He really said that?” she asked. Affection for the man who loved her sister so much welled up in her heart. “Are you sure he isn't Italian?”

The two of them laughed together as they went in the house for some refreshment.