Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
He shakes his head. “Dixon, you know how I feel about you. You’re like a son to me, and maybe I could live with this, but you don’t know. The ranch that I love, her mother hated it and resented me for it.”
I jut my chin at him. “Is that why you don’t want Faith there?”
He finally looks at me instead of over my shoulder. “Is that what you think? You think I don’t want her there? Hell, I love it when she’s there, but I don’t want her to resent me for it.”
CHAPTER 14
FAITH
“Is that what you think? You think I’ll resent you if I stay at the ranch?”
My dad holds his hands up. “Now, honey…”
I walk up to stand next to Dixon. “No, don’t ‘now honey’ me. Is that what you think, Dad? Is that why you’re always pushing me away? You think I’ll resent you for loving the ranch as much as you do? Dad, I’m not Mom. She left you—hell, she left both of us fifteen years ago. She didn’t want you, but she didn’t want me either. It wasn’t the ranch. She may have made you think that, but there was more to it, and you know it. She was selfish and self-centered. She knew when she married you what she was getting into—”
Dad runs his hands through his beard. “No, when we got married, we were traveling the circuit. New cities, bright lights, big parties. Once I had to start settling down and find another way to make money, it wasn’t the life she wanted anymore—”
I shake my head. “Dad, I’m not going to stand here and listen to you make excuses for her. She left. She could have found another way, but she just left. Maybe she didn’t want this life, but if I stay in Whiskey Run, it’s because I want to.” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t get a degree in accounting, Dad.”
His mouth drops. “What are you talking about? Honey, you were at school. I visited you every semester. I saw your room, your—”
I interrupt. “I graduated with a degree in agribusiness. I wanted to get something that would help me when I came back to help you run the ranch.” I suck in a breath. “You’ve spent years pushing me away from our ranch when all I wanted to do was be there.”
My dad’s mouth falls open, and it’s obvious he’s shaken. I put my hand in Dixon’s, and he threads his fingers with mine. “Now, Dad, I love Dixon, and yes we should have told you about us, but we weren’t sure what this was—”
Dixon pulls me against him. “I knew. I knew the first second you walked back into town how I felt about you. I knew my life would never be the same.”
I lean against him. “Dad, I want to build a family with Dixon on our ranch.”
My dad looks between Dixon and me. He glares at Dixon. “You hurt her…”
“I won’t,” he promises.
He nods. “Fine.” He opens his arms, and I look up at Dixon. He smiles at me, and I release his hand so I can go hug my dad. He squeezes me tighter than he ever has before. “I love you, Faith. I’m sorry that I’ve pushed you away.” He loosens his grip and then looks down at me. “I wanna be called Pop Pop.”
I roll my eyes. “Dad, I’m not pregnant.”
He looks over my head at Dixon. “Yeah, well, I’m hoping you’ll be married before you make me a Pop Pop.”
I’m about to argue with him when Dixon assures him, “She will be.”
My mouth drops, and I turn to look at Dixon, but he just shrugs. “Honey, you had to know that we’re getting married.”
I put a hand on my hip. “Well, I hope when you ask, you do a better job than that.”
My dad laughs and then points at Dixon. “I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t beat your ass. You have a competition coming up.”
I pull Faith into my arms. “If I win or lose, I’m going home happy. I love you, Faith Allen, soon to be Faith Chase.”
I laugh up at him. “I love you too. Now let’s go shower and then win you a trophy.”
My dad groans. “Ugh, are you two going to be all lovey-dovey and stuff?”
I’m happier than I’ve ever been. “Yes. Get used to it, ol’ man.”
We talk a little longer. I tell my dad bye, and Dixon waves as we walk hand in hand into the hotel. It feels good that we don’t have to hide this.
Dixon leans down and whispers to me as we’re walking through the hotel, “So hear me out. We can probably save time if we shower together.”
I laugh. “You know what, that probably would save a bit of time.”