Page 89 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

“I guess.” Sasha took a deep breath. “We talked about part of this before. I know I’m young, and I know there’s a ton I need to learn.” She glanced at her father. “But I want to. I want to do what’s necessary to become what Crooked Creek needs in the future.”

Uncle Frank’s face lit up in a decidedly un-Uncle Frank way. And when he clapped his hands together, Sasha held her breath, waiting for…anything.

“Good for you,” he said, his head all but bobbing. “Good for us, too, so that’s also a thing.” He stood and pulled her to her feet, hugging her and patting her back. “I’m glad. Really, I am.”

Her dad rounded the table and offered his own hug. This one tight and close, nearly triggering tears again. “You’re going to do great,” he said softly.

“I’m going to try,” Sasha assured him. She stepped back and sat down again, motioning to the others to sit. “I wanted to toss out some ideas and see what you think.”

Uncle Frank dipped his chin a little slower this time. “Go for it.”

“For the past three months I’ve been spending one week north, one south, and in some ways, that’s been really helpful.” Sasha glanced between them. “If the goal is to have all the Stone ranches running at top capacity, then sharing resources and knowledge is going to become more and more valuable.”

Caleb made a face. “Not a good way to live, though. Jumping back and forth that much.”

“No, I agree.” Sasha smiled at her dad. “It was good at the start, but now I think I need to go for longer times to Crooked Creek, but I also think I might need to come back to Silver Stone for longer periods of time. Like when we have new horses to train—that could be a two week start time, or even a month, and then when I go back to Crooked Creek, any trainees that come south with me will have a better chance of success.”

“That’s a good idea.” Uncle Frank paused, eyes drifting skyward for a moment. “Adam put a bug in my ear the other day that goes with this conversation.” He paused then made a face. “He wants to come to Silver Stone sometimes to work things through with Tucker and Ashton. They’ve both got a wealth of information to share that we could use as we polish up Crooked Creek more.”

“I like that idea just fine,” Caleb said.

Uncle Frank cleared his throat. “If you can admit you have things to learn, I need to as well.” Frank glanced at Sasha. “If the world hadn’t changed one bit, maybe I could get away with the same old, same old, but it’s not. Technology and breeding advances and the rest. How can I say I know best when I don’t understand half of what they’re talking about?”

Sasha blinked, trying to take that in. “You want to take lessons?”

“Maybe.” Uncle Frank waved at Caleb. “Maybe I can come here for a couple of weeks and get my own form of bootcamp. Let Tucker train me and you, Caleb. Even get Charity to teach me how to use some of the new technology so it becomes less nonsense and more help.”

“You’d be welcome,” Caleb said.

“That I know, and I’m glad.” Uncle Frank offered Sasha a bit of a cheeky grin. “Also, if I’m not around when you and Adam shake things up, I won’t get my feathers as ruffled.”

“You’ve been great lately,” Sasha said quietly. “I’ve enjoyed working with you.”

“Same goes,” he said back. “Now, I promised I’d nab Tyler for the party, so I’ll see you both in a few minutes.”

He shook Sasha’s hand, gave Caleb a pat on the back, then exited the office.

Her dad was back by her chair again, hauling her to her feet. “Proud of you,” he rumbled as he wrapped her up tight in his arms.

“Proud of me, too,” Sasha said, “but mostly grateful.”

He pulled back and looked her in the eyes.

She shrugged. “Not only for the opportunity to go to Crooked Creek and learn and grow, but for all you’ve done up until now. You’re a great father, and a great rancher. You’ve been here for all of your family forever. I see it. I hear it. You’ve made a difference in so many people’s lives, including mine. That’s the part I’m most grateful for.”

Caleb swallowed hard. “Good to know.”

She leaned against him again and let her father support her. The way he had in the past. The way he would in the future. Even as their circumstances changed and the distances widened, he’d be there for her.

All her family would be, and that’s why she could take this step.

19

“Our family will be at the hall at four,” Tamara assured Lisa on the Saturday morning of the Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas Party. “Plenty of time to do one final check before the party. Oh, and Sasha and Emma promised to watch the kids until supper time, so we’ll have a chance to catch up.”

“I’m going to sneak down a little earlier,” Lisa confessed. “Message me when you get there, and I’ll come to the playroom to meet you.”

Tamara hung up and Lisa got back into her busy morning routine of wrangling children, nursing and cuddling the baby, and generally enjoying life.