“Gramps, why are we even talking about this? I don’t want to talk about how you’re going to die someday. I know that.”

“Because I want you to know something. I want you to know that I couldn’t be more proud of you, son. You’ve done an amazing job, taking over the whole ranch with the help of Jeff and your father. To look out my window and see you and your father walking together with smiles on your faces…it makes my heart swell like you wouldn’t believe. If I had died—”

“But you didn’t!”

Gramps gave me a look. “Don’t interrupt your elder, boy. It’s rude.”

I tried to hold in the smile, but I couldn’t. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”

He nodded. “If I had died, I would have died as the happiest man on Earth. I have a woman who has loved me beyond my wildest dreams, two sons whom I’ve never been more proud of, and my grandchildren and great grandchildren…well, hell, they’re the best blessing of all. I just want you to know…I’ve lived a very good life.” He slowly smiled. “A very good life indeed.”

I smiled, knowing he was thinking of Grams. “Gramps, I bet your story with Grams is probably the best love story ever.”

He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “It is. Someday, I’ll tell you how I had to fight like hell to win that woman’s heart.”

I laughed. “Really? I figured Grams just took one look into those baby blues, and that was it.”

“Shit, I wish. That woman made me work my ass off to win her love, but it’s been a forever love.”

I started laughing as I noticed my father quickly riding up.

“Hey, y’all,” he said as he stopped his horse on a damn dime.

I had yet to ever win a race with this man.

“Ells? Alex?” I asked, trying not to sound panicked.

“They’re fine, but I got a call from Jeff. He’s with Scott at the Wild Coyote Bar. Scott is pretty drunk, and Jeff said—and I quote—‘Tell Gunner to get here before I punch the living shit out of Scott.’ ”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Damn it.” I turned to Gramps and tried to give him a small smile.

“Go, Drew. Your friend needs you. Just be patient, and try to understand what it would be like if Ellie had left you and you had no idea where she was while she thought the worst of you.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. I’d rather die.

“Thanks, Gramps. Let’s do this again, okay?” I turned to my dad and smiled. “Thanks, Dad. You should finish out the ride with Gramps. He’s being all emotional and shit.” I turned to look at Gramps.

His face fell. “You little shit.”

I laughed as I gave Firelight a good kick, and she took off.

I walked into the Wild Coyote Bar as Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” was playing, and the first thing I noticed was Scott dancing. I had no clue who he was dancing with, but I could immediately tell that he was drunk off his ass. I looked around and saw Jeff sitting at the bar.

I walked up and slapped him on the back. “I heard there was a problem,” I said with a wink.

Jeff rolled his eyes. “That motherfucker is gonna kill me!”

I sat down and ordered a beer as I looked back out at Scott. He was all over the girl.

“What’s going on?” I took a sip of my beer.

“For the last hour, I’ve been fighting with that little ho-bag out there on the dance floor.” Jeff looked out at the girl dancing with Scott.

I couldn’t help but start laughing. “What’s she doing?”

“Trying to get Scott to leave with her. I won’t let him do it, Gunner. I don’t care how upset he is. He’s drunk, and he’s hurting, so I won’t let him be unfaithful to Jessie…even if she thinks he already has been. But the fucker is starting to piss me off. He just wants to leave with this girl.”

The song ended, and they both came walking up to the bar. I smiled when I got a better look at the girl.

“Lucy…I don’t think your husband would like knowing his wife is out trying to pick up men.”

Lucy was married to a friend of mine who was in the Army and just happened to be deployed. My heart instantly broke for him, and I made a mental note to let him know that his wife was at the bar today.

Scott spun around and looked at Lucy as she shot me a dirty look.

“Fuck off, Gunner,” Lucy said.

Scott instantly removed his arm from her shoulder. “You’re married?” He shook his head. “Fucking women—you’re nothing but a bunch of deceiving, lying bitches.”

Lucy gave Scott a good push, causing him to fall toward Jeff and me. We both reached out and grabbed Scott before he fell to the floor.

She threw her hands on her hips and gave Scott a dirty look. “Asshole. You just keep crying over the girl who walked out and left your ass. You probably deserved it.”

I grabbed Scott and made him sit down. “What in the hell are you doing, Scott? You can’t drink or fuck her out of your mind…or heart.”

“Ain’t that the truth? Been there and done that.” Jeff took a drink of his beer.

Scotty McCreery’s “The Trouble with Girls” started playing, and Scott put his head in his hands.

“Perfect-ass song. I can’t take it. I’m going crazy. I have to know where she is! What is she doing? Who is she with? What if she meets someone and falls in love with him? She obviously doesn’t give a fuck about me or anyone else back home.”

Jeff shook his head and put his hand on Scott’s shoulder. “Scott, she’s not going to fall in love with someone else in a little over a month. She told Amanda three weeks, so she’ll probably be here any day.”

Scott started shaking his head. “No, I feel her slipping further and further away. I can’t explain it. I just feel it in my heart. I sure hate my brother and Chelsea right now.”

“You don’t mean that, Scott,” Jeff said as he glanced over toward me.

“I do mean it. It’s because of them that I lost the only girl I’ve ever loved…the only girl I’ll ever love. I hate them both.”

I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. Ellie had sent me a text, asking how Scott was. She also wanted me to stop and pick up Alex’s birthday cake.

“Scott, let’s get you to my house, so you can sleep this off. Stay with Ellie and me for a few days. You can help me get the house ready for Alex’s first birthday party. How does that sound?”

Scott looked up at me, and the tears in his eyes about gutted me.

I don’t ever want to know how he is feeling right now. My heart was physically hurting for him.

He slowly smiled and nodded. “I can’t believe Little Bear is going to be one. You’re so blessed, Gunner.” Scott snapped his head and looked at Jeff. “Both of you. You’re so damn blessed. Jeff, how is Grace?”

Jeff smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen. He’d been on cloud nine since Grace was born.

“She’s growing fast. I do believe she’s already got me wrapped around her little finger—just like her mama.”

Scott let out a small chuckle. “Yeah, I bet. Listen, I’m sorry y’all had to come down here and deal with me. I’m not sure how I’m gonna drive home or get my truck back to my house.”

Jeff started laughing. “Dude, I drove. We came here together, you stupid fuckwad.”

“Oh…well, okay. I’m not feeling so well. Maybe I should head home. Bryce is there though, and I don’t really want to see him.”

I stood up and threw some money onto the bar. “Come on, Scott, let’s get you out of here.”

After getting Scott into the truck, I turned to Jeff and shook my head.

“Jesus H. Christ. Gunner, I’m really worried about him. I’ve pretty much been running his breeding business the last few weeks. He also just bought a Thoroughbred, sight unseen, for a small fortune. I’m praying to God that the damn horse is fast and can get him his money back. If Jessie would just fucking check in with someone…I mean, this is destroying him. I’ve never in my life seen anyone just give up like this.”

I looked around the parking lot and then back at Jeff. A part of me was so pissed-off at Jessie for doing this. It was hard to be mad at her because of what she thought she’d seen, but the fact that she’d just up and left with no word to anyone in the last few weeks just wasn’t like her.