Weston Ranch, Fisher's Story (12 page)

“
No
, this is perfect. There is a creek, plenty of trees, open spaces and has
access to electricity.
Just needs some
clearing,” Claire said excitingly.

“You’re kidding
right
? This place is a dump,” he said,
dampening
her spirits.

“I don’t have a lot of choices. The price is right
. I
t is
big
enough
,
and
I can easily come home on the weekends. I think this is it,” she said, determination rang in her voice.

“Do whatever you want then.
Let’s ge
t back to the bed and breakfast. We can
shower and then go out for a
late lunch
,” he said
,
ending the conversation about her camp.

Much to Fisher’s disgust, they showered separately and ate lunch there in the small dining room with their elderly host, who chatted nonstop about the town and area, effectively answering all Claire’s questions.
Fisher remained silent the whole meal, not wanting to encourage Claire on this whole thing.
Yes, he was being a selfish bastard. He did
n’t want her to leave Bailey, Texas
again.
Even if it was only five hours away this time.

Short of allowing her
to buy
his land, he was out of options. Even his realtor friend agreed that her options
were limited
.
They were heading home tomorrow
,
and
he would speak to her sisters. Maybe they could talk some sense into her.
They finished lunch and left their host to finish her chores for the day.

“You want to go dancing?” Claire asked.

“Is there dancing in this town?” He asked. He didn’t see much of the town as he drove through it early

“Yep, there is a little country bar on Main Street.” She looked at him curiously.
He wasn’t about to admit that he didn’t pay attention to anything her and the host were talking about.

“Sure, but we have a few hours yet, so let’s explore the town. You wanted to do that too,” he said and watched her face light up. Yes, that was the right answer.

Two hours later, Fisher was sorely regretting his indulgence.
Claire had to stop and speak to
everyone
. She entered every shop and store, which wasn’t much. The small town was much like their
own, h
aving some small shops along
Main Street
, a general store, gas station, small video rental shop and
a
restaurant.
Fisher could tell that Claire liked what she saw. He could easily see her fitting in here.

They finally made it over to the country bar
.
Buckin’
Brancos
was the name. Ho
w original, he thought
sa
rc
astically
.
The place
was crowded
. It seems the whole town was here.
They found a small booth in the back of the room.
Fisher went to the bar and ordered some drinks, leaned back and watched Claire from across the room.
She
look
ed
right at him, her gaze simmering with sexual promise.
He gripped the drinks the bartender handed him and made his way back to her. Hopefully, they would leave shortly.

Chapter
Nine

It was a long drive home, Fisher barely talking. It seemed something was bothering him, but she couldn’t figure out what it would be. No amount of asking got her anywhere, so she just ga
ve up.
She didn’t know what his problem was. He was
fine
last night
,
and
the sex was, as always, phenomenal.
She drove most the way home, while he slept. The long drive gave her time to think. Did she
really
want to move five hours away when she literally just moved home? Was this her only option? Was she rushing into it?

She logically went through each concern and mentally weighed the pros and cons of the situation.
She spent six years in college, all for a common goal, to work with
special
needs students, to build a place for them to go without fear of prejudice, to have normalcy that everyone else has. This was
important
to her.

She had a dear friend all through elementary, middle
school
and some of high school. Her name was Josie. Josie was different
,
and
everyone else ridiculed her, bullied her and treated her like dirt. She didn’t have any place to go after school or during the summer. Josie
’s family took her and fled the
small town that denied them acceptance. Claire knew then what she wanted to do with her life. She wanted to help people like Josie. She will too.

Her camp was about acceptance
. W
orking with
special
needs children and adults
with disabilities
, teaching
that acceptance doesn’t have to be earned, it just is.
She would have liked to keep the camp in
her home
town,
to open
her fellow citizen’s eyes to th
e gifts that these people offer.

It was
to
be
open from April through
October as a camp, but year around
, it would be used as a disability clinic.
Therapists and doctors could have offices with clients
.
M
aybe even private schooling, if she could get the funding and approval.
The clinic and camp areas would be separated. She already had doctors, private therapists and retired teachers interested. Now, she just had to be patient.

Was she rushing into it? No, not really. She needed a job, needed to do something and what better way to start than opening up her camp. There was still a lot to plan
,
people to hire, zoning to get approved
,
and
council to get involved. All this would take a long time. Gaining the necessary land was the first hurdle,
and then
she would present her case to the council for approval.
It would take at least a year
to
break
ground
with
con
s
truction
.

Claire pulled into Fisher’s
driveway a little after six in the
evening
,
and
shook him awake.
She kissed an unhappy Fisher goodbye and
made her way home. She
was excited
to be home. She tossed her overnight bag on her bed and went to find her sisters
to tell
them
that
she
was home
. First thing in the morning, she was calling the bank
,
and
ma
ybe she could make
an offer for the land. The place was a
good
start. The town and people were
polit
e
and
trul
y
welcoming. She spoke to Maddie
earlier on the way home
,
and
she seemed thrilled.
Lexie was M.I.A.
The only person that didn’t seem happy was Fisher.

Her adrenaline was cursing though her body
. S
he couldn’t settle down just yet. So, s
he focus
ed
her attention on writing out a business plan for the bank.
She worked for two hours before
yawning. She stood up and stretched. 
It was time to eat
a
quick dinner, take a long bath and head for bed. Tomorrow looked to be a long day.

Fisher’s body ached. The long car ride, sleeping in a cramped position wrecked his body physically.
He was
up bright and early to work the fields
.
F
irst he
check
ed
on Bree and the rest of the animals
before meeting up with Asher a few hours later
.

The weekend was a total bust. He had a distinct feeling
Claire loved what she saw and was going for it
, regardless of what anyone else thought
.
She wasn’t dissuaded by what she saw like he was.
He needed talk to her as soon as he
was done
for the day.

“Where the hell are you at?” Asher cursed at him after he almost ran over a baby
calf. He wasn’t with it today, h
is mind on Claire and her situation.

“I’m taking off, you okay to take over,” he asked, steering his horse towards the
barn
.

“Work out whatever the fuck is bothering you before you hurt someone by not paying attention,” Asher snapped
, leading the calf away from him
.

Fisher didn’
t bother to reply, just went
home, his mind going over possibilities.
Damn it, he loved Claire.
There
,
he admitted it.
They grew up
together;
he went through two years of hell when she dated Asher. He would be damned if he lost again, for a second time.
This was their second chance.
It was time he got his shit together. Six years too late, but he was ready now.

He stalked into his home office and
called his parents to come in
.
He wouldn’t be able to get anything done knowing Claire was leaving, so he would make her stay. He would give what she wanted if she stayed. That decision
being made
,
he needed to sort some things out legally and rearrange things, starting with his parents.

“You called us over, what’s going on son?” His mother asked.

“Me and
pa
talked
,
and
I decided to take his advice,” Fisher informed her.
He watched his mother give his father a
searching
look.

“I made plans to deed you guys the lot beyond the creek, on the east side. The construction starts
here in a few weeks for
the house I was going to build for you. It was to be your retirement,” he
answered his mother’s unspoken question.

“Fisher, you didn’t have to do that,” his mom
sighed
, while his dad chuckled.

“He didn’t, let the boy finish speaking, I bet you will like what he has in mind better,” he told her, taking ahold of her hand.

Fisher felt the silly grin taking over his face at what he was about to bestow on his mom, his father probably already guessed what he was about to do and approved, which made his decision easier.

“
I deeded you guys this house back
instead
. M
ind you, I will still oversee the ranch and management, but the house and
surrounding
five acres
are yours
.
I am going to sell Claire the land up by the creek
, live up there with her
and work on making you grand babies at the same time,” he watched his mother’s face light up with joy.

“What about New York and your software company?” His father asked, concerned.

Fisher already thought of that. He could easily handle his business from home. The art of delegation was priceless. His team already proved that they could handle things. He could oversee and occasionally fly to New York once a month.

“I’ll work from home. I have an
impressiv
e
team
,
and
if it gets too much, I’ll sell,” he answered his father.

“Finally, I was beginning to lose faith in you two. Grand babies! Oh
my, Oh my,” his mother
sputtered on, making
him and his dad chuckled.
Fisher watched his parents exit his office to go make plans for the future first grandchild. He didn’t have the heart to tell his mom that it would be at least a co
uple years before he was ready
to take
that step
.
First, he had to convince Claire to give him a chance.