Free Texas Hope: Sweetgrass Springs Stories (Texas Heroes Book 16) by Jean Brashear Page A

“You’re not nearly the rube you pretend to be, cowboy.”
    “You ask me, the geek-to-rube ratio is getting out of hand around here.”
    “Sounds like it’s time for a trip to Sweetgrass.”
    “Not for a surprise shower. ’Cause the next thing you’re gonna tell me is it’s a couples’ shower.”
    “How did you know?” she teased.
    “Lacey…I’m begging you. Call off your sister.”
    “Scarlett needs a baby shower.”
    Ian sighed. “And she’d probably love a surprise. Me, I’ve had enough for a while.”
    “We’ll make it girls only, and you guys can eat your hearts out. Spike’s already planning some kickass cupcakes.”
    “I don’t wanna know.” But he chuckled. “Just tell me when so we can plan something manly to counteract all the estrogen that will be fogging the air.”
    “You’re such a guy, Ian.”
    He smiled. “But Scarlett seems to like that about me.”
    “She’s crazy about you.” Then she sobered. “Dev will get in touch as soon as he can, and I’ll pass along your message. And Ian…just remember, my surprise made my life incredibly rich. I don’t know if it’s possible to have too much family.”
    “I already have a half-million Gallaghers.”
    “That you do. And we love you and your dad, too. He’ll be okay, Ian. We will all be there for both of you, you know that.”
    “I do. Thanks, Lacey.”
    “Love to Scarlett.”
    “I’ll tell her. Hope to see you soon—just not at a couples’ shower.”
    “Duly noted.”

    Ian approached the ranch house he’d lived in all his life, dread filling his chest, dragging at his heart. His father had done everything for him, had raised him alone, had taken him up before him in the saddle when he was too young to help and could only have been in the way, had cooked for him, read to him at night, put him to bed. Later, when Ian had proven to be a gifted athlete, Gordon had never missed a game, in town or out of town. He’d been there for every school program, every milestone of a young man’s life.
    Ian had no idea how his father had managed everything through so many lean years. He knew he was a fortunate son, one who’d never once had reason to doubt that he was important to his dad.
    Which was why he’d come back from college instead of traveling the world as he’d craved to do. He’d majored in agribusiness so that he could help preserve this land that his ancestors had fought and died for. Many a night, reading about places he’d never visit, of course he’d felt an itch to roam, but he never would.
    Because he owed his dad more than he could ever begin to give back. His dad had stuck by him when Sophia McLaren had cut and run. Now his dad was the one who needed care, after his stroke. He was getting stronger, but the doctors said he’d never lose the limp completely and wasn’t likely to overcome the weakness in one arm. Ian didn’t mind. He’d be his dad’s arms and legs and anything else he needed.
    Thank God he’d stayed. If he’d been off globetrotting, he wouldn’t have been here when Scarlett showed up in town. Responsibility might have kept him here, but in return, he’d garnered the big prize, all five foot three of her, long black hair and Gallagher blue eyes. He grinned. Okay, maybe not so tiny now as her body ripened with his baby.
    His baby. His woman. His land. Some days his heart was so full he couldn’t contain all he felt. He had all the riches of this world he would ever need.
    His father hadn’t had the same luck. One of the reasons Ian had resisted Scarlett so long was that she’d been a city girl, just like his mom. He’d been sure she wouldn’t stay. Yet here she was, knee-deep in Sweetgrass, thriving and happy and oh, God, so loved and so loving Ian knew himself to be the luckiest man on the planet.
    How could he tell his dad that the city girl who’d broken his dad’s heart was still alive and, worse, had borne a child she cared about enough to stay? He wasn’t bitter about