the worst time of my life, up to that point.”
Tate’s gaze dropped. He knew Jack was thinking of his wife, Maureen, who’d died a few short years ago. She’d always dreamed of owning a ranch, but she hadn’t lived long enough to realize it.
Jack cleared his throat. “I promised your daddy something’ that day. I’m not sure if he heard me or not, but I said it. And I stuck by it. I swore to him that I’d watch out for you and your mother for as long as it took. I never told you that, because I’ve always believed actions speak louder than words.” He released a breath. “Now I’ll tell you this, too, because it’s something’ I think he’d say. First and foremost you have to be tree to yourselfi You may have to dig deep to figure out just what it is, get down to the bare essentials, but you’ll know it when you see it.”
Jack had given him numerous bits of advice over the years, probably more than Tale had been aware of, but nothing quite as frustrating as what he’d just said. Tate had already tried digging deep down inside himself and he’d gotten exactly nowhere.
Truth be told, he wanted Jack to give him more than simple direction. He wanted him to point to the answer and give him a hard push. But it wasn’t going to be that easy. Jack was refusing to either point or push.
Tate squared his shoulders and straightened his
spine. He’d come to Jack like a hopeful boy. Jack was sending him away a man, with the message that only he could make such an important choice.
“Guess I’d’better get goin’,” Tate said easily, then added with genuine feeling, “Thanks for your wisdom, Jack. I’ll let you know as soon as I decide.”
Jack got to his feet. “How’re those two boys that hit that truck yesterday? I heard one was hurt pretty bad.”
“His chest was crushed, but the docs were able to fix him up. Gonna be in the hospital awhile, though. The other one ended up with some nasty bumps and bruises and the holy hell scared out of him. Hopefully they both learned a lesson and won’t steal any more cars.”
Jack nodded. “I also heard something’ else…”
“Your antenna’s certainly plugged in,” Tare teased. “I like to keep up,” Jack said. “I heard,” he began again pointedly, “that Jodie Parker is back at the ranch and that you’ve been out to see her several times.”
A flash of memory burned through Tate—the warmth of her breasts pressed against his chest, the feel of her hips and thigh against his, her waifiike beauty. He clamped down on his body’s immediate response and answered, “I saw her because she was there. Nothing else. You know, Jack, one of the first signs of get-tin’ old is lettin’ your imagination run away with you.”
“Well, she always was a pretty thing. And I had the idea you’d noticed even though you wouldn’t admit it. Red hair, yellow-green eyes…” Jack paused, then, “You gonna ask her out?”
“No!”
“Why not?”
‘1
Tate moved uneasly. “Because… Since when would I have time?” he dmanded.
“I always found time for Maureen,” Jack said. “You two’d been married for ten years before you got to be sheriff. And she was always shooin’ you out the door because you kept trying to tell her how to do things, remember? It’s not the same thing as” — He stopped himself.
“Courtin’?” Jack supplied with a twinkle. “Seems like you been givin’ this a lot of thought.”
Tate shook his head in exasperation. “I haven’t!
I ‘
Jack laughed. “I always did like that word. Courtin’.
It sounds so much nicer than what kids call it today. ” ” Kids today sure don’t court,” Tate said wryly. ” How about grown men like you? ” Jack persisted. Tate stomped off the porch to the patrol car. ” I’d’ve never guessed you were a secret romantic, Jack. But then, I suppose that’s what possums have those pouches for—not just to carry around their little ones, but to keep their
Tate’s gaze dropped. He knew Jack was thinking of his wife, Maureen, who’d died a few short years ago. She’d always dreamed of owning a ranch, but she hadn’t lived long enough to realize it.
Jack cleared his throat. “I promised your daddy something’ that day. I’m not sure if he heard me or not, but I said it. And I stuck by it. I swore to him that I’d watch out for you and your mother for as long as it took. I never told you that, because I’ve always believed actions speak louder than words.” He released a breath. “Now I’ll tell you this, too, because it’s something’ I think he’d say. First and foremost you have to be tree to yourselfi You may have to dig deep to figure out just what it is, get down to the bare essentials, but you’ll know it when you see it.”
Jack had given him numerous bits of advice over the years, probably more than Tale had been aware of, but nothing quite as frustrating as what he’d just said. Tate had already tried digging deep down inside himself and he’d gotten exactly nowhere.
Truth be told, he wanted Jack to give him more than simple direction. He wanted him to point to the answer and give him a hard push. But it wasn’t going to be that easy. Jack was refusing to either point or push.
Tate squared his shoulders and straightened his
spine. He’d come to Jack like a hopeful boy. Jack was sending him away a man, with the message that only he could make such an important choice.
“Guess I’d’better get goin’,” Tate said easily, then added with genuine feeling, “Thanks for your wisdom, Jack. I’ll let you know as soon as I decide.”
Jack got to his feet. “How’re those two boys that hit that truck yesterday? I heard one was hurt pretty bad.”
“His chest was crushed, but the docs were able to fix him up. Gonna be in the hospital awhile, though. The other one ended up with some nasty bumps and bruises and the holy hell scared out of him. Hopefully they both learned a lesson and won’t steal any more cars.”
Jack nodded. “I also heard something’ else…”
“Your antenna’s certainly plugged in,” Tare teased. “I like to keep up,” Jack said. “I heard,” he began again pointedly, “that Jodie Parker is back at the ranch and that you’ve been out to see her several times.”
A flash of memory burned through Tate—the warmth of her breasts pressed against his chest, the feel of her hips and thigh against his, her waifiike beauty. He clamped down on his body’s immediate response and answered, “I saw her because she was there. Nothing else. You know, Jack, one of the first signs of get-tin’ old is lettin’ your imagination run away with you.”
“Well, she always was a pretty thing. And I had the idea you’d noticed even though you wouldn’t admit it. Red hair, yellow-green eyes…” Jack paused, then, “You gonna ask her out?”
“No!”
“Why not?”
‘1
Tate moved uneasly. “Because… Since when would I have time?” he dmanded.
“I always found time for Maureen,” Jack said. “You two’d been married for ten years before you got to be sheriff. And she was always shooin’ you out the door because you kept trying to tell her how to do things, remember? It’s not the same thing as” — He stopped himself.
“Courtin’?” Jack supplied with a twinkle. “Seems like you been givin’ this a lot of thought.”
Tate shook his head in exasperation. “I haven’t!
I ‘
Jack laughed. “I always did like that word. Courtin’.
It sounds so much nicer than what kids call it today. ” ” Kids today sure don’t court,” Tate said wryly. ” How about grown men like you? ” Jack persisted. Tate stomped off the porch to the patrol car. ” I’d’ve never guessed you were a secret romantic, Jack. But then, I suppose that’s what possums have those pouches for—not just to carry around their little ones, but to keep their
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