Dallas, Texas

Breathing in the strong scent of the freshly stained wood, Jock looked around, admiring the architectural design and clean, unused equipment.

"Southworth Stables."

His youngest son was something; Bobby had been floating around town doing very little until he'd set his mind on something he truly wanted, then suddenly when he had an idea he'd managed to make it happen in a matter of months. The complete equestrian centre was impressive and he was proud to call it a family property. It was Bobby's brainchild, Southworth was Ellie's maiden name, and his decades of making connections locally meant that the process for getting consents approved was smooth.

"Mhm, Southworth Stables, sister property to Southfork Ranch."

Boyishly excited, Bobby's pride in his work was exactly what he'd always hoped his son would find for himself. JR felt the same way about Ewing Oil and if he was honest Ray appeared to have a connection to Southfork that he'd only ever seen a Ewing or Southworth have before. Things were working themselves out and he was thrilled. His own connections were beginning to weaken but the knowledge that his sons had found the satisfaction he'd once had was buoying.

"It's coming along nicely."

"Our first clients are moving in on the first of the month."

With his name and the help of Ray's experience in finding staff, Bobby had already managed to attract enough clients to fill half of his livery stable, which would bring in income from opening day, something he needed if he wanted to transition his new facility from a hobby into a profitable business.

"You're really making something of this, aren't you?"

"I hope so; I've worked so hard to get here."

Nodding, Bobby looked and sounded optimistic and he understood why. Both of his sons worked hard, but Bobby truly seemed to believe that hard work would automatically lead to success. It wasn't that simple, he knew that, but his youngest son needed to experience life himself before he'd truly understand that sometimes things didn't go as expected. That said, sometimes it went exactly as expected. JR was a businessman who took risks, hoping for the best when the worst was the more likely outcome, often somehow managing to turn the worst into the best, and Bobby was doing the same, he'd done as much thinking and planning as he could and now just had to wait and see what happened.

"Yes you have."

"I'm sure you understand; I want something of my own, something to pass on to my children."

He did understand, he'd build Ewing Oil and Southfork not just for his own benefit but for his family. Family meant everything, something Bobby surely knew well now if he hadn't before.

"Children? Is Jenna…?"

Although married only a couple of months, he wouldn't be surprised to hear Jenna was with child. It had been only a matter of weeks before Bobby had announced to the family his union with Pamela had developed into more, indicating there were no problems with his son, and Jenna had a history of healthy childbearing, so anything was possible.

"No. We just have Charlie for now, but eventually I hope so."

Answering his question, Bobby reminded him of the complicated history he and Jenna shared, one that couldn't be judged too harshly by him, not with his and Ellie's personal history in mind. Jenna's daughter was a polite, bright little thing that in a way was Bobby's, but in another way wasn't, not that that stopped him from caring for her as if she were his own.

"Lucy will be well provided for, but I want you to know Southfork will be yours, you do understand that, don't you?"

Going back to Bobby's earlier point, he reminded him that if he wanted something to pass on to his children, Southfork was it. JR was to get Ewing Oil very soon and Bobby would receive Southfork in the future; he would provide for Gary, Jack and his grandchildren with stock and cash funds protected by trusts, and Ray would receive something special too. There was nothing to worry about; he'd made sure of it.

"I guess I misspoke. Southfork is my home and I love it, but the business is no challenge, there's nothing there for me to do that isn't already being done."

Explaining himself, he made sense. Ray was a good man, one who'd done wonders with the ranch, and while he accepted help without any fuss, Bobby was right, he didn't need the help.

"You're looking for somewhere to put down roots, somewhere to call your own."

"Yes."

"Then this is it."

Looking around, he had to agree that Bobby had created something all of his own, something to challenge him and hopefully something he could eventually attribute the success of to his own efforts.

"Southfork was your mama's land and I made it ours; Jenna had her own land, JR made it his and Sue Ellen's; this will be your family's future."

"That's the plan."

"Your mama would be so proud; you know how she loved the land. I trust that you'll take care of Southfork the same way."

He loved his eldest son but he couldn't in good conscience leave Southfork to him, he didn't have the same connection to the land Ellie had. Gary understood it the best, but he couldn't be trusted not to financially ruin the family, which left Bobby, a man who understood the economic and environmental value of the land and wouldn't buckle under pressure.

"Of course I will. I wouldn't do anything mama wouldn't want."

"You're a better man than me then."

There was oil under Southfork, oil Ellie and Aaron had never wanted to see the light of day and he'd had to try hard to refrain from drilling, eventually making the decision not to out of love and reverence, a decision he couldn't count on JR to continue to respect when he was gone, he'd trained him too well.

"I wouldn't go that far."

Seemingly uncomfortable with his statement, Bobby shied away from accepting the praise.

"You know right from wrong, that's important."

Patting his son on his shoulder, he left it at that. He had a feeling that Bobby would find out soon enough what sort of man he was.

To be continued…