Chapter Seven – Lynn

Talk of Adam’s father and grandfather reminded her of her own parents. She loved them. That was true and always would be, and as soon as she could, as soon as she felt confident they would see what she was trying to achieve, Lynn was going to ask them to come over and stay for a night or two. It was time they all acted like adults and learned that they all wanted different things out of life, but that did not mean they could not be happy, and be a family.

“Tell me where your brother fits into all of this? You said he didn’t want the farm. So that makes you the sole heir? Your brothers get cut out?” Lynn asked.

“Yes. He went away to join the army. Jon and Sam, my younger brothers and I, stayed here and worked hard. With no regrets. We love the place, and we were raised knowing it would go to Jordan.”

“And now things have changed? For you?” Lynn asked. Other people’s families, especially where siblings were involved, had always fascinated her.

Growing up, any visits to her friends’ houses were a great joy. Not because she didn’t like her home life; before they moved into a hotel, her parents had been great, if a little pushy. But other people’s houses opened a window into sibling rivalries and sibling relationships. It was like watching real-life TV. They talked, they gossiped, they fought, over everything from toys to food, to who got the TV remote. Lynn loved it.

“Yes. And it’s not sitting right with me.” He got up. “Shall we walk?”

“Sure.” He held his hand out to her and she took it, the sensation of belonging flooding her veins as his large hand folded around hers and he pulled her to her feet. It took her a moment to get her balance. There was something about the nearness of Adam that made her knees go weak, and her breathing quicken. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure.” He looked at the picnic blanket, trying to avoid her gaze. If Lynn didn’t know better, she would believe she was making his big ol’ cowboy go weak at the knees too. Coughing to clear his throat, he said, “Let’s walk off some of this food.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Then she did something daring, but which made Adam’s breath catch in his throat. Lynn reached out for his hand and, without a word, took it. “Lead the way.”

“I’m sure it hasn’t changed that much since you were here last,” Adam said.

“Yes and no. Everything is overgrown.” She leaned on his shoulder, wanting to feel him, solid, a thing of substance. “I wish I’d come back here when Uncle Freddy was alive. I could have helped him. Could have kept the place together.”

“You were busy with your own life,” Adam told her. “Don’t live with regrets. Your uncle was happy for the most part.”

“It was good of you to come and see him. Since there was the feud,” Lynn said. “Tell me the rest of your story. Of why it doesn’t sit well with you, that you get to inherit.”

“I know why the eldest inherits. But I don’t agree with it. I want my brothers to have an equal share.”

“I didn’t think Jordan wanted a share; you can’t force it back on him. From my experience, it’s better for people to have a choice, to be able to walk away with no repercussions, no feelings of letting anyone down,” Lynn said, surprised at the strength of her outburst. “Sorry. I’m putting my opinions and experiences on to you.”

“No. I agree with you. I want to propose we run the Homestead as a business, that we all have shares in it, and get paid a dividend. On top of that, if Jon, Sam, and I work the ranch, and Jordan chooses not to, then we get paid a salary. The more you put in, the more you get out.”

“That is a brilliant idea,” Lynn said, taking in the scents of the honeysuckle growing rampant over a wall that was in need of repair. “I should have brought my list.”

“Forget about lists and repairs for one evening. I’ll come over in the next few days and we’ll walk the property with a note pad. You can make all the lists you like, and I’ll give you my advice.”

“And in return, I’ll give you my advice about your brothers. Not that I’m any kind of expert, I’m an only child. But … I am an expert at doing what you want to do, and not what your parents want you to do, or in this case your father.” She stopped and took his other hand, so that he faced her. “Do what your heart says is right.”

“I’m always one for trusting my heart.” His words held a meaning she couldn’t quite fathom. If she had to guess, Lynn would say he meant her, that he wanted to trust his heart with her. But they didn’t know each other. If she were cynical, she would say the whole thing, from the takeout food to the discussion on his family was staged, set up for her to open herself up to him. Lynn could not believe a man like Adam was not sincere. He couldn’t make up all this about his family … could he?

“What are we doing, Adam?” Voicing the words in her head, without thought to the consequences.

“We are getting to know each other,” he replied.

“This isn’t some ploy to get under my skin and make me sell you the ranch?”

Adam dropped her right hand and placed it on her cheek, smoothing his thumb over her lips. “No. I wouldn’t do that. Not to you. Not to anyone. I want us to be friends, I want us to be more than friends.”

“We’ve only just met,” she gasped.

“Have you ever met someone for the first time and known it was the right thing?”

“No,” she said honestly. Was she being honest? This morning when he walked into her life, she’d acknowledged an attraction to Adam. That wasn’t the same as knowing he was right, knowing he was the person she wanted to spend her life with.

“Then I guess I’m lucky.” Adam bent his head and kissed her lightly on the lips.

Lynn jerked back, as if his lips had stung her. “I’m… I’m not sure…”

“Sorry,” Adam said quickly, but he didn’t let her go. “I know it sounds corny, but I’ve never met anyone like you. I know we have a connection.”

“Adam, I’m going to be honest. I’ve been living under my parents’ thumb all my life. All my adult life, at least. I’m free, I want to build my business, and do my own thing.”

“I understand.” He still held her hand, and she still liked him holding her hand. She could have pulled away from him, if she really wanted to, she could have slipped her hand out of his. Was her freedom that important to her, or was she scared, scared of being in a position of having someone else try to enforce their wants on her? Or was she on the brink of throwing away a relationship with Adam because of her parents? If so, it meant she still was not free of them. They were ruling her life, her judgment tainted by them.

“No. You don’t.” She took his other hand in hers, realizing she had led him on, had instigated a deepening of their relationship when she took his hands in hers. Now she was backtracking. And he’d let her, despite the deep need in his eyes. “You’re a good man, Adam.”

“But…” His voice was laced with bitter disappointment.

“I need a little time. I want to take things slowly, to enjoy the journey.”

“Then we take it slow.” He smiled, and her heart ached for him. As did her body.

“So you’ll give me a day or two?” she joked, dragging her hand through her hair. “My furniture arrives in two days. I need to get myself settled in, and then … let’s see what happens.”

“As long as it’s not a no, I can live with that,” he said, putting his hand over her shoulder, and turning her so that they continued their walk through the long meadow grass. “I come from a long line of men who might not be able to keep their brothers happy, but they sure do know when they find their woman.”

“You are all romantics who believe in love at first sight?” she asked, incredulous.

“Yes. You could put it that way.” He pointed into the trees that edged the meadow. “Did you see the owl?”

“Yes. Oh, wow.” She ducked down, trying to see where the beautiful big owl had flown to, but it had disappeared amongst the branches. “Do you ever think of leaving here?”

“Not a chance. This is where my heart is.”

“I’m glad,” she said. “Because I think mine belongs here too.”

Whether it belonged here with Adam’s, she would have to wait and see. She was also going to have to take a chance. Which might take more courage than telling her parents she didn’t want to be part of their business. Because giving her heart away was new and scary, but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to taste love, and build a future with someone. Someone who understood her.

Would that be Adam?