Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Maybe in the little cabin on the hill, Ladd working the ranch and building his own business, and me employed as a teacher. I could help Nellie with every Christmas Day event, possibly even help organize fundraising efforts throughout the rest of the year.
For the first time in a very long time, I was filled with hope and excitement about where life was taking me.
With a smile on my face, I headed downstairs to find Mike and Ladd talking to their father. Gus tossed him keys to what I guessed was his truck.
“Not a scratch on her, you hear me, Ladd Wilde?”
Ladd grinned. “Got it. Not a scratch.”
Ten minutes later, the three of us piled into the truck and started for town.
Ladd
The drive into town was filled with Mike telling me and Vivianne about how the high school football team started with no hope of a good year, and now they were heading to the state championship game.
“What position do you play, Mike?” Vivianne asked.
I could picture my brother’s chest puff out as he said, “I’m the starting running back.”
Vivianne looked back at him. “That’s exciting. Have you always played that position?”
“Sure have!”
“And Jason?” she asked.
“He’s a receiver. He’s good. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can outmaneuver and outrun almost everyone.”
“Everyone, huh?” Vivianne asked with a slight bit of amusement in her voice.
Mike nodded. “Everyone, Viv. He’s an outstanding player.”
“It’s nice that the two of you get to play with each other.”
“Jason and Mike used to say when they were younger that they’d both be playing for the Denver Broncos.”
Mike chuckled. “I don’t see myself doing that anymore. College is in my future, only because Dad’s making me go, but my dream is to work the ranch with Dad.”
“Does Jason still have that dream, to play for the Broncos?” Vivianne asked.
I shrugged as Mike replied, “Oh yeah. His goal is to play in the NFL, and he’d love to play for the home team.”
She was clearly surprised by that response. “And you really don’t?”
He shook his head. “Nah. I love football, don’t get me wrong. If I can play for Colorado State and have my degree paid for, that would be amazing. But the endgame isn’t the NFL. I love the ranch too much.”
“Jason loves the ranch as well,” I offered. “He’s just never really expressed his desire to work on it.”
We sat in silence for a few moments. “Do you think he’ll work the ranch?”
“Honestly, no,” Mike said. “David is like me. He lives for this ranch.”
“I was scared to death to tell our father that I wanted to open a sporting goods store, but when I did, he was immediately supportive. Likely because his own dad didn’t really give him a choice. Still…he’s probably thanking his lucky stars that he had four boys.”
“I’d say two and a half out of the four is a pretty good number,” Vivianne said with a smile.
“I take it I’m the half?” I asked.
Vivianne chuckled. “Well, since you’ll be working part time on the ranch.”
“Yeah, he’ll be the one in charge of the money, which could be good or bad!” Mike laughed.
I reached for Vivianne’s hand and laced my fingers through hers. “Do you mind, since we’re going to be in town, if I take a quick meeting with someone?”
“I don’t mind at all,” Vivianne answered. “I can do some shopping while you have your meeting.”
I kissed the back of her hand. “Thanks. I’m meeting with Jessie Knight. She’s a real estate agent who’s been keeping an eye on potential places to open up my store.”
“Ladd’s told you he’s an adrenaline junkie, right?” Mike suddenly asked. “Whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain climbing.”
Vivianne gave me a surprised look. “Mountain climbing?”
I chuckled. “Yeah. David and I have done some climbing.”
“Like, up the side of a mountain, or hiking up a mountain?”
“Oh no,” Mike muttered. “Someone hasn’t been upfront about his hobbies.”
I shot him a scowl in the rearview mirror. “Shut up, Mike.”
“Ladd?” Vivianne asked.
Letting out a breath, I gave her a quick look, then focused back on the road. “Up the side of a mountain with ropes.”
“Ladd! You didn’t tell me you did that! It’s dangerous.”
“Oops,” Mike mumbled from the back seat.
“Viv,” I started, but she cut me off.
“Don’t ‘Viv’ me! Listen, I can get on board with the whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, four-wheeling, and snowmobiling.”
“Snowshoeing?” Mike and I both said at the same time.
“I have to put my foot down on climbing up the side of a mountain!”
Mike leaned forward. “Wait—did you just say you’re putting your foot down? I don’t see a ring on his finger.”
“Shut up, Mike!” I yelled.
“Well then, I’ll put a ring on his finger!”
“When did you go snowshoeing?” Mike asked.
“Mike!” I growled, trying to reach back and smack him upside his head.
I pulled into a parking spot on Main and put the truck in park before turning and looking at Viv. Had I heard her right?