Read Online When Dreams Collide by Brenda Sinclair - Free Book Online Page B

have asked for a better mom.”
    “I’m glad you hold happy memories of your mother in your heart.” Susan reached out and briefly touched his arm.
    “The day after I graduated from high school, I punched my dad’s lights out and left. I’ve never looked back. Years later when Dad passed, Ma realized I was never coming back to stay. She sold the ranch, hired a fellow to handle her finances, and moved into a seniors’ lodge in her hometown south of Dallas.”
    Susan shifted in her seat. “Go on,” she encouraged, sounding totally non-judgmental.
    “Ma’s attorney informed me her health was failing. I usually visited her at least once a year, usually around Thanksgiving. Last Christmas, I visited her one last time.”
    “I bet she cherished your visits.” Susan smiled.
    “Yeah, I’d take her out to dinner at a fancy restaurant and surprise her with a gift: sparkly diamond earrings or something. Next day, she’d brag about her kind-hearted, generous son to the other old gals in her circle of friends until it got downright embarrassing.” Dusty caught himself smiling at the pleasant memory.
    “I was an only child and both my parents are deceased, too,” admitted Susan. “Just me against the world now. Mom and I had a standing date every Saturday—brunch and shopping. Gosh, I miss her. Saturday just isn’t the same anymore.”
    “Ma died a few months ago, and the legal stuff finally got itself sorted out”
    “And you’re committed to buying a ranch?”
    “A horse ranch. I’ll board horses for city dwellers, and offer riding lessons for a fee, of course.  I hope to get kids away from the computers and gaming systems and stick them on a horse, take them riding, get them interested in the great outdoors and nature. I’ve spent a few summers helping out with the kids staying at the Lazy B Guest Ranch facilities. Man, I loved that.” Dusty caught himself grinning.
    “I can tell by that broad smile, you really like kids.”
    “I love kids. Plan to have a few of my own some day. Once my ranch is up and running and making a profit, I might start up a charitable organization that works with horses and disadvantaged or disabled kids.” Dusty could see Susan’s interest peak as he explained his idea.
    “You could start a foundation and collect corporate sponsorships.” Susan beamed. “If you find a ranch not too far away, I would enjoy helping you get the foundation started. Organize fundraisers and dinners.”
    “Whoa. Don’t be hiring a chef yet. Charitable fundraising dinners are way off in the future. But I’ll assist horse rescue operations requiring temporary boarding quarters for horses that can be rehabilitated.”
    “All of this sounds exceptionally ambitious for a guy who’s only worked as a ranch foreman.” Susan spoke honestly, and he understood her concern.
    “I’ve learned from the best teacher in the world, Arthur Branigan. Stood right alongside his sons during every lesson and absorbed all that knowledge like a dry creek bed soaks up rain after a dry spell. I know what I’m doing as far as the horses go. And I intend to hire good workers to help me with any areas of expertise that I don’t possess myself.”
    “That’s wise.” Susan nodded in agreement. “I’ll admit your enthusiasm is contagious. Taking a leap forward and pursuing your dream is admirable.”
    “Although it’s a little scary, thinking about all the responsibility, doing it on my own, it’s time I pursue my dream. Now or never. Until I won the lottery, I thought the world didn’t give a damn about me and I’d have to struggle for everything I got. Winning that money changed my thinking big time. I decided if Fate blessed me with these funds, then it was up to me to make the most of the situation and pay forward my good luck. I’d overcome the childhood abuse I’d endured from my father. So, surely I could wrestle up the strength and bravery to tackle my dream. I also knew that once I set out to achieve