“I’m teaching your daughter how to play Texas Hold’em. Once every few months we all get together for a fun—and profiting—game of family poker. The women are on a winning streak the last few months, and I’d like to keep it that way. Game night is next week.”
I laughed and placed my cards on the table as I looked at Stella. “Full house.”
She pretended to wipe a tear away as she smiled and nodded. “Yes, indeed. You will make a fine addition to the women’s team, especially with Kaylee and her pregnancy eating. She might eat a can of Crisco and be out for the entire game.”
We all laughed as my father came and sat down at the small table that was in the main barn’s office.
“How was your ride?” I asked as my heart sped up a bit.
“It was great. This ranch is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, Stella.”
Pride showed on her face as she grinned. “I won’t argue with you on that. Well, look at the time. Do you know how to play, Frank?”
“It’s been a while, but yes.”
Stella handed me the cards and stood. “Enjoy, then. I’m off to start a late lunch.”
“Thank you, Stella, I had fun.”
She winked and replied, “So did I, sweetheart. Work up a good appetite, Frank, I’m making burgers with homemade fries.”
“Sounds good,” my father answered.
Stella turned and quickly left the small office, shutting the door quietly behind her.
“Want to play?” I asked as I held up the cards.
“Deal away, sweetheart.”
I did and we played the first few games while making small talk about the ranch, like the horse he had ridden that morning and Stella’s amazing cooking skills. I also found out what Kaylee had eaten that caused Blayze to throw up.
“Liver and onions?” I repeated.
My father shuddered. “Yeah. Brock was telling us about it on the ride. She asked Stella if she could make some when Ty refused to allow her to cook it in their house.”
I laughed. “That’s gross.”
“Women get some pretty weird cravings. Your mother ate watermelon with chocolate syrup on it.”
I stared at him. “Is that why I hate watermelon so much?”
“Probably.”
We both laughed. It was nice to hear my father talk about my mother. It was something he rarely did.
I went to deal again when he held out his hand. “I was wondering if we might simply talk, sweetheart.”
My heart dropped, and I set the cards down carefully. “Dad, if you’re going to demand that I return to Georgia, I’m not leaving Montana.”
He smiled and shook his head as he looked down, then back up at me. “No, I’m not ever going to demand anything from you, Timberlynn.”
“You’re okay with me living here?”
He slowly drew in a deep breath, then quickly let it out and sat back in his chair. “Timberlynn, you’re a grown woman with a pretty hefty bank account. You can do whatever it is you’d like. And I don’t want me, or anyone, to hold you back any longer from the dreams you have.”
I was positive my jaw was on the table. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“Which part?”
“The part about me following my own dreams. What about mom’s wish for me to be a nurse?”
He let out a grim laugh. “It’s pretty obvious, Timberlynn, that it’s not what you want to do. Although, it would have been nice for you to tell me, so you could have gone to school for a business degree instead of nursing.”
I stood and shook my head to clear all the thoughts racing through it. “Wait. I thought you were going to be angry. You were angry.”
He nodded and calmly folded his arms over his chest. “Yes, I was angry. I was angry you left and didn’t tell me. I was hurt as well.”
“Hurt?” I asked.
“Yes, but pretty angry. But not just at you, sweetheart. At myself for not knowing, or seeing, that nursing was not the career you wanted. If I had been paying better attention, that would have been clear to me.”
I was stunned into silence. Then, I frowned. “Did you drink on the ride this morning? How did you sleep? Have you had the water here? I think something might be in it.”
This time my father tossed his head back and let out a roar of laughter. “I’m not drunk, I slept the best I have in years, and I think the mountain air is clearing my head some. Maybe the water too,” he said with a wink. “Timberlynn, honey, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for months now, and I just never knew how to start a conversation or what to say. Less than twenty-four hours with the Shaw family, and I’m confessing things I’ve never shared with anyone, and telling your boyfriend my feelings about your mother’s death.”
Slowly, I sat down as I kept my gaze on him. “Yeah, I think it’s something in the water here. Or it’s their eyes. Have you seen how blue they are?”
He laughed, then reached for my hand. “The first thing I want to say to you is I’m sorry. I’m sorry I missed your birthday. It’s no excuse, but when I realized I had missed it the day after, I was so upset I couldn’t bring myself to call you. I was…embarrassed.”
“Dad—”
“No, let me get this out. I know I wasn’t always there for you, but I’ve always remembered the best day of my life. When you were born.”
Tears built in my eyes and I blinked rapidly to keep them back.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you were growing up. I was selfish and unsure of so many things, and in a strange way I thought I was doing the right thing for both of us.”
My brows pulled in as I tried to understand his words. “The right thing? What do you mean?”
He took my hand and gently rubbed
