Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Rose Marie and I designed it. You probably remember her, she’s one of my cousins.”
She blinked at me a few times. “The house? You both designed this house?”
I nodded.
Turning back to look at the house, she slowly shook her head. “It’s beautiful. Are those full trees?”
“Yes. I didn’t want it to be just a log home, so we incorporated the dry stack rocks. And this pond has always been one of my favorite spots on the ranch. My grandfather gave me the land as a college graduation gift. He said I could either put cattle on it or build a house. I did both.”
“Wow, it’s stunning. Do you have a lot of cattle on here?”
“My property isn’t fenced in, so my cattle roam with the ranch cattle.”
“Blayze, this is so beautiful.” She looked back out at the small pond. “Wait, is this where we used to ride to go fishing?”
I wasn’t sure why my heart skipped a beat that Georgie remembered that little detail. “It sure is. As a matter of fact, the small dock is still there. You can get to it from the house. It’s still stocked with fish as well. We can do some fishing while you’re here.”
“I’d love that.”
“Come on in, and I’ll show you around and to your room.”
Georgie started to walk, then stopped. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I’ll show you around the house.”
She shook her head. “No, the part about showing me my room? Here?” She let out what sounded like a disgusted laugh. “You think I’m going to stay here with you?”
I shrugged. “Beggars can’t be choosers, Georgie.”
She opened her mouth to say something, then it snapped shut. She turned in a complete circle before she started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You! Did you honestly think I’d be okay staying here with you?”
“No, I figured you’d react exactly this way. Freaked out. But I figured you’d gotten it out of your system when my dad told you the plan.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I’m not freaking out, Blayze. If this is some kind of joke, it’s not funny. Just take me up to your parents’ place. My father said I was going to be staying there.”
“Sorry, no can do. They have company.”
“They have a huge house! Why can’t I stay in one of the guest rooms?”
Sighing, I put her luggage down. “Every room is taken.”
“Then I’ll stay at your grandparents’ place.”
I shook my head. “Their place is being remodeled, and they’re staying at my dad’s.”
“Stella and Ty Senior are remodeling their whole house?”
“New kitchen counters and countertops. All the tile and carpets are being pulled up and new flooring is being put in. The bathrooms are getting redone too. So, the entire house is empty. My parents’ friends, the Hendersons, are also staying with Mom and Dad since they’re having issues with their new build. So, as you can see, it’s a full house. Now, you can go stay with one of my uncles if you want, or you can stay here with me where you’ll have the most privacy. My father was supposed to let you know there was a change of plans. So what will it be? One of the uncles or here, where I promise to leave you alone because I’m hardly ever here.”
She forced a tight smile. “Thank you for allowing me options. I’ll stay here. As long as I won’t be intruding on your privacy.”
“I’m gone most of the day working around the ranch or in town at the office.”
“Office?”
“My dad built a community center in town in my biological mother’s honor. The Kaci Shaw Community Center. I’m on the board of directors with him.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
I stood there and watched as questions ran through her head. Not many people asked me about my mother, Kaci. She’d died while giving birth to me. My father never talked about her at all until Lincoln came into his life. The only thing I knew about my biological mom was the stories my dad or Grams told me. The community center held mental health offices where a therapist was on staff twenty-four hours a day in case anyone had a mental health crisis. It took my father years before he told me my mother had suffered from depression and anxiety. There was a park next to the community center, the Beck Shaw Community Park, named after my Uncle Beck, who died in the Marines. It had a playground, skatepark, an indoor arena, classrooms for FFA, and an indoor pool.
“What do you do for the community center?” Georgie asked.
With a wink, I picked up her stuff again. “I’m sure you’ll find out while you’re snooping into my life. Just think, now you’ll have access to your unwilling subject twenty-four-seven.”
Georgie’s forced smile faltered as she nodded and started up the steps to my front porch. “Looks like I won the lottery then.”