in the
kitchen area. For years anyone who was on the ranch gathered at the
new house on Sunday morning for breakfast. There would be an empty
seat at the table from now on.
Parker stuffed that feeling deeper inside him
and concentrated on the food. Everyone else had already filled
their plates and were sitting at the large dining table. Parker
went straight to the coffee pot, poured himself a cup, and then
moved to the table to claim a seat.
“Mornin’ everyone.”
“Mornin’,” came the chorus of voices in
response.
Callie and Murphy sat to his left. Murphy had
worked and lived at McKenna Ranch since he was seventeen, but only
recently convinced Callie he was the one she needed in her life—and
he’d been right under her nose the entire time. It was great to
have his little sister back from New York permanently and even
better to know she and Murphy would soon marry and live on the
ranch.
At least he hoped that’s what would happen.
That all depended on the next week or so.
Brody and Stef were also present, along with
their daughter Livy. Stef had grown up on the ranch, too, and now
managed the dude ranch’s fly-fishing business. It was good to see
them happy and together. That relationship had been rocky from the
start, with the reconciliation a long time coming. For their sakes
and Livy’s, he was glad they were on their way to a happy life
together.
And then there was Mercer, his half sister.
He wondered how she was holding up. She’d been awfully close their
daddy, who had spoiled her rotten simply because she was the
youngest. Nevertheless, she’d grown into a fine young woman, ready
to head out into the world.
He just hoped not too far away. He’d prefer
to have all of his siblings close by, if possible. They needed each
other. Especially now.
The hot cup of coffee marking his spot,
Parker ambled toward the food. Detached. No spouse or girlfriend.
Mercer was still young, and no doubt she’d find a man to tame her
one of these days. And he was damned happy for Callie and
Brody.
That left him, the oldest of the crew and
single. How had that happened, and at thirty-five, how had he let
life slip by so quickly without finding a wife?
Work. Ranching. That was part of it.
Plus there had never been a woman who
captured his interest, or his heart, long enough to take hold.
Could Reba do that?
His plate filled, he headed back to the
table, where a lively conversation was happening about which
sibling was their father’s favorite. It was all in fun, of course,
because they all knew James McKenna really didn’t have a
favorite—although each sibling was making a mighty strong case for
themselves.
Liz laughed, listening to them banter, and
Parker watched her face. She was still young. He imagined a man
would come along one day and sweep her off her feet. And then where
would the ranch be?
Hell, had his father thought about that.
Suddenly, the fork of eggs he’d brought to
his mouth didn’t seem so appetizing. His stomach turned at the
thought of another man horning in on what was his and his sisters’.
But how could he stop that from happening?
Get a grip, McKenna. Just wait until
you know the facts before going off all half-cocked.
“How’s Reba?”
Callie’s question pulled him back into the
conversation. “I haven’t spoken with her this morning, but I assume
she’s fine.”
Mercer reached for a piece of toast on a
platter. “I heard it’s a broken elbow. Ouch.”
“Yes. She’s in a splint for a couple of days
until she can get to a bone doc.”
“Ugh. I bet that gets in the way.”
“I’m sure it does.” He pushed his plate away,
not hungry. “And an inconvenience. She was worried about a blog
post and some sort of editing… Not sure how she could do it.
Something about work. I have no clue what kind of work she
does.”
And he needed to find that out. He just
wanted to know more about her.
He glanced to Callie, who shrugged. “Maybe
I’ll see if she needs some
kitchen area. For years anyone who was on the ranch gathered at the
new house on Sunday morning for breakfast. There would be an empty
seat at the table from now on.
Parker stuffed that feeling deeper inside him
and concentrated on the food. Everyone else had already filled
their plates and were sitting at the large dining table. Parker
went straight to the coffee pot, poured himself a cup, and then
moved to the table to claim a seat.
“Mornin’ everyone.”
“Mornin’,” came the chorus of voices in
response.
Callie and Murphy sat to his left. Murphy had
worked and lived at McKenna Ranch since he was seventeen, but only
recently convinced Callie he was the one she needed in her life—and
he’d been right under her nose the entire time. It was great to
have his little sister back from New York permanently and even
better to know she and Murphy would soon marry and live on the
ranch.
At least he hoped that’s what would happen.
That all depended on the next week or so.
Brody and Stef were also present, along with
their daughter Livy. Stef had grown up on the ranch, too, and now
managed the dude ranch’s fly-fishing business. It was good to see
them happy and together. That relationship had been rocky from the
start, with the reconciliation a long time coming. For their sakes
and Livy’s, he was glad they were on their way to a happy life
together.
And then there was Mercer, his half sister.
He wondered how she was holding up. She’d been awfully close their
daddy, who had spoiled her rotten simply because she was the
youngest. Nevertheless, she’d grown into a fine young woman, ready
to head out into the world.
He just hoped not too far away. He’d prefer
to have all of his siblings close by, if possible. They needed each
other. Especially now.
The hot cup of coffee marking his spot,
Parker ambled toward the food. Detached. No spouse or girlfriend.
Mercer was still young, and no doubt she’d find a man to tame her
one of these days. And he was damned happy for Callie and
Brody.
That left him, the oldest of the crew and
single. How had that happened, and at thirty-five, how had he let
life slip by so quickly without finding a wife?
Work. Ranching. That was part of it.
Plus there had never been a woman who
captured his interest, or his heart, long enough to take hold.
Could Reba do that?
His plate filled, he headed back to the
table, where a lively conversation was happening about which
sibling was their father’s favorite. It was all in fun, of course,
because they all knew James McKenna really didn’t have a
favorite—although each sibling was making a mighty strong case for
themselves.
Liz laughed, listening to them banter, and
Parker watched her face. She was still young. He imagined a man
would come along one day and sweep her off her feet. And then where
would the ranch be?
Hell, had his father thought about that.
Suddenly, the fork of eggs he’d brought to
his mouth didn’t seem so appetizing. His stomach turned at the
thought of another man horning in on what was his and his sisters’.
But how could he stop that from happening?
Get a grip, McKenna. Just wait until
you know the facts before going off all half-cocked.
“How’s Reba?”
Callie’s question pulled him back into the
conversation. “I haven’t spoken with her this morning, but I assume
she’s fine.”
Mercer reached for a piece of toast on a
platter. “I heard it’s a broken elbow. Ouch.”
“Yes. She’s in a splint for a couple of days
until she can get to a bone doc.”
“Ugh. I bet that gets in the way.”
“I’m sure it does.” He pushed his plate away,
not hungry. “And an inconvenience. She was worried about a blog
post and some sort of editing… Not sure how she could do it.
Something about work. I have no clue what kind of work she
does.”
And he needed to find that out. He just
wanted to know more about her.
He glanced to Callie, who shrugged. “Maybe
I’ll see if she needs some
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