Author's note: I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Please be patient in waiting for more (maybe set a story alert). I have some very busy times ahead and also a bit of writer's block on how I want to shape this story. Despite those issues, there is a lot more to come! Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Chapter 3
The following morning, Connor sat in Mike Steadman's study. He stretched his legs out and settled into the overstuffed leather chair that was positioned across from his grandfather's desk. It always made Connor feel ten years old again when he sat in the huge chair, yet the room was one of his favorites.
He felt secure, surrounded by the built-in shelves that overflowed with books of all kinds. They lined the walls from floor to ceiling giving the place a musty, well-loved smell. His grandfather's heavy desk faced the door, it's large work surface adorned with family photographs. The desk also supported an old landline telephone and a business card holder. The holder contained contact information for the many influential men and women that Mike called friends. The last piece of equipment on the desk was a new addition, a laptop computer. The computer contained all the new ranch software created by Connor.
As a young boy, Connor spent many happy hours listening to his grandfather talk about the cattle and the land, while sitting cross-legged in the very same chair he now occupied. His first lesson on how to run the ranch had taken place here. His grandfather's words had stayed with him and shaped his management style, but today it was Connor's turn to talk. He used the laptop to go through every detail of the work currently in progress on the ranch.
Mike watched and listened carefully, well pleased that Connor had everything under control and running smoothly. "Sounds like you have the ranch's schedule set for the next two months," he commented gleefully.
"Yes, everything should be fine, but you can call me if I've missed anything," Connor replied.
Mike nodded his head in agreement, "O.K." Then he brought up a subject he had been thinking about for a long time. "You know… once you and Abby get back, I think I'll retire."
Connor sat up straight, completely unprepared for his grandfather's words, "What? You can't. You are the Double Bar S."
"Nope, not any more. Connor, you are the heart of the ranch now. It's yours son," Mike said softly.
Connor felt sad and elated at the same time. He knew the day had to come, but he couldn't bear to think of his proud, strong grandfather growing old. "I don't know what to say, other than I still need you."
Mike smiled wisely, "I'll be around. I just think its time I concentrate on something other than the ranch. For instance, fishing and courting a certain feisty widow in town come to mind," he said with a wink.
Connor laughed just as Mike had hoped, but then he turned serious. "Grand dad, was everything all right with mom last night? She seemed upset."
"Your mother is always upset when you go to London. She's afraid your father will keep you," Mike replied trying to make it sound like a joke.
Connor nodded, "I get it. Now that I'm with Abby, she thinks I'll decide to move away."
Mike waited a moment before he tried to reassure his grandson, "She'll be O.K."
Connor gave his grandfather a measured look, as he debated whether to speak or keep silent. Unable to hold back, he grinned and said, "I'm going to ask Abby to marry me."
Mike watched as Connor pulled a small box out of his jacket and opened the lid. Nestled into the dark blue velvet was a beautiful engagement ring made of white gold. The large emerald-cut center diamond was flanked by two sapphire baguettes. On the far side of each of the sapphires, smaller diamond baguettes finished the design. The gemstones sparkled and flashed as Connor held the small box out toward his grandfather.
Mike studied the flawless, fiery diamonds and the deep blue sapphires before saying, "That's a beauty. I'm sure Abby will love it."
"I hope so. We negotiated being together, but only to a point. I'm still not sure if Abby is willing to make the ranch her permanent home. I hope to find out how she feels on this trip to London," Connor said.
Mike braced himself and asked the hard question, "What if she won't stay here?"
For long seconds Connor stared into the eyes of the man who raised him, then he gave the most honest answer he could, "I don't know."
"Well," Mike said as he looked down and toyed with a pen on his desk, "Your mother and I will always be here for you. No matter what."
Connor gave his grandfather a bare ghost of a smile, while his chest tightened in anxiety and love, "I've always known that." He tucked the ring box away and stood. "I better get out of here. I need to make the rounds and talk to all the men. I'll give you another update tomorrow."
He strode out of the room; his mind was on the woman who had captured his heart. He was positive that Abby loved him and understood his connection to the ranch. The ranch was his future, but so was she. He wondered if they should have talked more before setting up the trip.
As far as he was concerned, the main purpose of going to London was for Abby to settle her affairs. Then they could come home, get married and start to think about children. Yet Abby had a connection to London, a connection that would be reinforced by visiting her friends and her home. He began to think her reason for going might be totally different from his. Suddenly the trip to London didn't seem like such a good idea.
Across the meadow, Abby sat on the bed in Connor's house. For some reason she always thought of it as his bed and his home. In the time she had been with him, she had done nothing to make it their place. She still lived out of her suitcase. She realized that even in the bathroom, she never left her personal clutter out. It was almost as if she kept herself ready to leave at a moment's notice, which was silly because she knew Connor loved her. Yet despite their love, after the first big discussion on being together, neither one had brought up the future. She wasn't sure why, but the idea of total commitment still made her fearful. Worried by her revelation, she wondered if Connor had noticed.
Pushing her worry aside, she finished her email message: 'Coming home. I want you to meet someone. Stop by my flat this Saturday.'
A few minutes later her brother Jack answered, 'I have plans for this Saturday, but I can come by at 7 p.m. See you then.'
Abby pursed her lips in disappointment. She hadn't seen Jack in almost a year. Even when she was in London he never took time to visit her. She pushed her annoyance aside. It didn't matter. The important thing was that Connor would meet her baby brother.
She rolled off the bed and straightened the comforter and pillow as she mentally listed all the things she still needed to do. She had to contact Stephen and let him know they were coming. Maybe she could talk him into shopping and filling her pantry and refrigerator at the flat for them. She needed to call her mates, Gwen and Liz to arrange for them to meet Connor. She also wanted to do all the touristy things yet still leave some time to plan for her future.
In order to stay in Texas, her flat would have to be rented. She would need to follow up with Dr. James about a job and find out how long a non-U.S. citizen could stay. It seemed logical to hold onto her flat rather than sell it. It was a symbol of her independence. Or maybe, she thought in a flash of insight, it was a symbol of her lingering fear.
Despite her self-protective ways, she loved how her relationship with Connor continued to feel absolutely right. She never felt as if he was pretending to be someone else, never got the internal warning bells that she had felt with her ex-boyfriend, Kevin.
At eighteen, Abby had thought Kevin very handsome and charming. He was twenty-five when they first started to date. In the beginning, he treated her like a princess but as time went on, she began to feel more like a puppet under his control. Something about Kevin was truly creepy and she was very glad she followed her instincts and got out of the unwholesome relationship sooner rather than later.
Abby felt a cold shiver run up her spine. She knew better than to dwell on those bad times. She reminded herself that Kevin didn't deserve a single second of her thoughts. Pushing the unhappy memories to the farthest corner of her mind, she went about her trip preparations.
