Chapter 19
Sam's PoV
I felt dizzy. I felt a pair of arms scoop me up and set me gently in a chair.
"What do you mean that you have to sell the ranch?" I gasped. This couldn't be happening. They had always been so careful so as to not ever have to even think about what he had just said.
"Sam, the last couple years the crops have gotten bad and the cattle have been thin so they haven't been bringing in much. We just don't have the money sweetie." Gram said sitting next to me.
Then it hit me. They may not have the money but I did. I had over nine hundred grand in the bank back in California. I had been thinking about moving back to Nevada after college. I had been missing my home. I looked up at Johnny wondering if he would come back with me. "You are not going to sell the ranch." I said looking up and straight into my dad's eyes.
"Sam, you don't under stand. We don't have a choice." He said begging me to understand.
"How much do you need?" I asked Bryanna knowing my father would never tell me.
"About a half of a million." She said sadly.
"Then lets go into town and get it." I said looking up at them.
"Sam we've tried that, honey. The bank won't give us a loan." Bryanna said as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.
"I wasn't talking about a loan. I was talking about my savings account. I use the same chain a banks as the one in Darton and I have more than enough to cover the ranch."
"Sam we can't except that." Gram said laying a hand on her shoulder.
"Why not? This isn't money that I need for college or any thing else, so why can't I give it to you guys for the ranch?" I demanded.
"Sam are you sure you don't need the money? I mean a half a million is a lot of money. Especial for a college student. Remember Sam I went to college to and I remember how tight things were for me." Bryanna said.
"You guys I have extra money. Things aren't tight for me even with college. I want you guys to have the money because I want somewhere to come back to in three years when I graduate from college. I want to come home. I'm sick of running from a problem I knew I would have to face soon or a latter. I'm sick of the city. I'm sick of having to call to talk to my family over the phone. I miss riding. Heck I miss the work around the ranch. I need to come back. No matter how much I tried to fit in where I am this is where I need to be, this is where I was meant to be." I said begging that they would let me come back.
"Oh, Sam." Was all my Gram said before throwing her arms around me.
"Sam are you sure this is what you want?" my dad asked me.
"Yes daddy it is. I can't imagine not coming back. If it's okay with you guys?" I asked.
"Of course it's ok with us sweetie." Bryanna said as she too wrapped me up into a hug.
"Well then I guess we can go into Darton tomorrow and do all of that, tonight however we need to figure where you would like to stay." Gram said standing and looking at Johnny and me.
"Do you guys still have the Bunkhouse from Harp?" I asked looking at them. I wasn't sad that we wouldn't be staying up at the main house. I had told them to give it to Tanya seeing as how I had never thought about coming back.
"Sure we do, but are you sure you want to stay in there?" Gram asked.
"Gram it's no problem really I know what happened to my room seeing as how I told you guys that you should." I said not saying the other reason is so that me and Johnny could have some privacy.
"Well if you're sure." She asked looking at Johnny.
"Really ma'am really ma'am its no problem at all." He said sending her one of his famous smiles.
"Well then we should probably let you guys get settled in before dinner." Gram said giving me another hug, "it's good to have you home Sam." She murmured into my shoulder.
"Thanks Gram, dad I was wondering if I could use two horses, one to try to regain some of my skill and one for JB to ride?" I asked standing up.
"Sure, I'll come get them for you." He said following us to the door.
"Thanks dad we should be out in about twenty minutes." I said walking to the Jeep.
Johnny waited till they got to the truck before talking to her. "so when did you decide that you wanted to come back?" he asked softly.
"I don't know. I guess I just missed it so much and finalized when we were in the kitchen." I said looking at him. I wondered if he was mad that I hadn't talked to him first. I was surprised to see that calculating look in his eyes.
"Sam, what would you say if I told you I want to come back with you?" he asked.
"I … but you … what about the Marines?" I stammered.
"I only have a year left. I don't want to have to worry about where I'm going and when the next time is that I'll be able to see you. I plan on leaving after my four years are up and I want to spend the rest of the time with you." He answered begging me with his eyes to believe him.
"Are you serious? You would give up every thing you worked so hard for and give up your family just for me?" I asked biting back a sob.
"Of course! Sam, you don't know how much I've missed you while I'm away and I don't want to be away any more."
I couldn't help it I threw my arms around his neck and laughed when he spun me around lifting my feet off the ground.