The Rancher's Heir. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ happy to be home and I’ll never understand crying for happiness.”

      Smiling, she’d wiped her eyes and patted his cheek. “Someday you will. Someday you’ll have tears of joy and relief in your eyes.”

      “Don’t wish that on me,” he’d said, laughing. As he’d hugged her, he’d realized she felt a lot more frail than she had when he had hugged her goodbye before he’d left for Afghanistan.

      His dad’s handshake had been firm, his smile as warm as ever, but Cal Grant’s skin had looked pale.

      Tonight he returned to the family Tudor mansion in Dallas and walked in to see his siblings. Noah stepped to Hallie to hug her lightly. His sister-in-law was still a beautiful woman, tall, blonde and brown-eyed.

      “We’re glad you’re home,” she said, smiling at him.

      He turned to his middle brother and gazed into blue eyes slightly lighter than his own. The two looked alike, except Ben had wavy black hair, not thick black curls like Noah. Noah wrapped his arms around Ben, Hallie’s husband, and hugged him. “I’m glad to see you,” he said, meaning it.

      “I’m glad you’re here, bro. Eli was sorry he couldn’t get here tonight. He couldn’t get out of a dinner where he’s a speaker.”

      “I’ll see him soon.”

      “Come sit and let everyone talk to you,” his mother said as they all walked into the big familiar living room with comfortable sofas and chairs. “You can’t imagine how glad we all are that you’re home.”

      He sat and talked to his family and once again he was struck by how much his parents had aged in the years he’d been in the military. He heard the front door open, and then his sister, Stefanie, appeared, screeching when she saw Noah. She ran across the room, her black hair flying, to throw her arms around his neck. Laughing, he hugged her and she stepped back, smiling at him.

      “I’m so glad you’re home.”

      He looked into her deep blue eyes, so like his own, and smiled. “I’m glad to be home.”

      She turned to greet the rest of the family, crossing the room to kiss their dad’s cheek, going to brush her mother’s cheek with a kiss. “This is a celebration,” she said.

      Noah laughed. Some things never changed, and his little sister stirring up the whole family with her grand entrance was one of those things.

      And some things did change, he thought. Like his parents.

      As they all sat and talked, he realized how good it was to be home. Nothing was more important than family. This was what he’d wanted at some point in his life. The moment that thought came, so did memories of Camilla and, with them, an unwanted pang that shocked him. After all this time, how could he still miss her? They had broken up three years ago and he didn’t want to still miss her. He didn’t want to picture her when he thought of having his own family. But he did. She was his wife and the mother of his children in all such fantasies.

      But it had to stop. Now.

      Banishing those tormenting images, he turned to his father and tried to pay attention to what the man was saying. It wasn’t until ten that night, when his folks said good-night and retired for the evening, that he was alone with Ben and Hallie and Stefanie.

      “C’mon, Stefanie. Come with me. I’m going to find a book to take home,” Hallie said, dragging his sister to the library down the hall.

      Noah looked at Ben. “I know the folks usually tell us good-night and leave, but Hallie has left for a reason besides getting a book to read.”

      “Yeah. Let’s go into the study,” Ben said, and Noah realized it was something serious. He followed his brother.

      Ben switched on the lights and Noah glanced around the familiar room that served as his dad’s home office. Then his attention shifted to Ben.

      “What’s up? I have the feeling there’s something you’ve been waiting to tell me.”

      “There is. I told Mom I would tell you and you can talk to them about it tomorrow, but she can’t talk without crying.”

      “Oh, damn,” Noah said, sinking into a leather chair. Instantly he remembered his dad’s pallor and quiet manner. “It’s Dad, isn’t it?”

      “You noticed. I figured you would. He—he has heart problems. Since you’ve been gone, he’s had a heart attack and he’s had bypass surgery.”

      Noah felt as if he had been punched in the chest. He hurt and he looked down, remembering his dad in earlier years. “Dammit.”

      Ben took a seat beside him. “Dad isn’t strong any longer, but he walks on a treadmill several times nearly every day.”

      Noah looked away, remembering moments as a kid when he’d had fun with his dad, playing ball, swimming.

      “That’s a hell of a thing to come home to,” he told Ben. “How’s Stefanie handling it?”

      “She’s hovering over him, which seems to make them both happy. Mom, too. Between work and her social life, Stefanie keeps busy, so she’s okay. She’s running the north Dallas Grant Realty office and she’s very good at it.” He shook his head as if amazed at how well she handled the family’s real-estate business. “I thought she was too much a social butterfly to be a sharp businesswoman, but I was wrong. Last spring, she spent a month in our south Texas home and had it all done over. And I think she has plans for the Colorado home this fall. I don’t know where she gets the energy. Even with all that on her plate, she moves in social circles and supports several charities. I’ve got about three I devote time, effort and money to, while Eli has about five. You know how Dad taught us all we need to give back to the community, so here we are, doing what he expected.”

      “I’m sure he’s proud of you all.”

      Ben looked at him squarely. “We’re all proud of you serving in the Army in the Rangers.”

      Noah shrugged. “Our dad served. Our grandfather. Our great-grandfather. It’s a family tradition. But one from this generation is enough. Don’t you go sign up.”

      Ben held up his hands, palms out. “No danger of that. I have my hands full here.” He ran a hand through his hair. “When Dad had to step down, I took over the main real-estate office. You know, it might be a good thing if you come in about once or twice a month just so you know what’s going on and you’re able to take over if I’m away.”

      “Okay, but I’m sure you have some vice presidents who can step in.”

      “Oh, yes. I just want you to know about the business since Dad is out.”

      “And in turn you’ll come out to the ranch and spend a couple of days per month.”

      “Noah, ranching is your deal and maybe Eli’s occasionally. I would be lousy—”

      Noah laughed and waved his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m kidding. You barely know a horse’s head from its rear, so I don’t think you’d be of much help anyway.”

      Ben СКАЧАТЬ