minor changes outside, including updating the ranch office to handle the new side of the business. Those are one-time expenses. The additional pay needs would be ongoing, but I think you’ll agree, the potential for inflow far exceeds the outgo I’ve projected.”
“Riding lessons,” he echoed, studying the paperwork.
She finally allowed herself a glance at Dean and Kyle. Both men appeared nervous and hopeful. “There would still be the snot-nosed children, I’m afraid. Some of the population who are able to afford lessons won’t be that easy to work with. But there’ll also be a large group of people who love horses and want to learn more about them. Friendly, wonderful folks who you’ll be glad you got to know. I took lessons for many years, and made some life-long friends from those days.”
“Which is why we want you to run the riding business,” Dean said to her.
Miranda’s jaw dropped.
He smiled. “Kyle and I discussed it. We can’t think of anyone we’d want more. Anyone we’d trust as much as you, to move in and join our ranch family.”
Her heart leaped as she read the meaning behind his words. “I, uh, I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about changing careers.”
Kyle smiled. “Before you came here, you probably hadn’t thought about a lot of things. This is a very good idea, Miranda.”
Mr Fortune studied each of them. “I’m sure she has the knowledge, but does she have the riding experience we’d need?”
“She was a member of the California Junior Rodeo Association for ten years.” Dean beamed proudly.
Kyle added, “She did barrel racing and pole bending. Best All-Around Champion for three years straight.”
Dean gazed at her affectionately. “And she was Rodeo Queen the whole damned time. What better qualifications could we ask for?”
Tears welled in her eyes and she quickly brushed them away.
“That certainly sounds adventurous.” Dean’s father nodded. “Of course, I had Miz McCabe checked out before I hired her for this job. She has a spotless employment record. I’d say she’d be a good woman for the position.”
Dean turned to his father. “Will you consider it, then? The riding academy, rather than a guest ranch?”
“I don’t see why not. I didn’t want to lose the family home, either. I was just trying to look at the big picture and save the ranch.”
Dean breathed a deep sigh of relief. He glanced at Kyle and Miranda, then back at his father. “There’s something else, Dad. I haven’t pressed this because it didn’t seem that important until now. I’m bisexual, and I’m in love with Kyle. If this is going to work, he’ll be moving into the main house as my domestic partner.”
His father studied him for a moment then smiled. “Finally ready to come out, eh? Okay, whatever you say.” To Kyle, he said, “Welcome to the family, son.”
Dean and Kyle gaped at each other. Dean’s disbelief was visible. “You knew?”
“Your mother and I talked about it years ago. She thought we should say something to you. I told her we needed to wait until you brought it up. I never dreamed it would take this long.”
“See?” Kyle elbowed Dean. “Your dad is cooler than you thought.”
“Yeah, cool.” Dean looked like he still didn’t quite believe it.
“It’s about time,” Mrs Carson muttered. “There’s really no sense in all this sneaking around.”
Miranda chuckled. “You knew too? What about Rebecca?”
“Oh, no.” Mrs Carson shook her head. “This is going to come as a shock to dear Rebecca. But, as the young people say, it is what it is. She can learn to live with it, or not. Her choice.”
Dean gazed at his father. “I still can’t believe you knew all this time.”
His dad shot back, “I can’t believe you never trusted me enough to share the truth. I hope we’re beyond that now, son. We’re what our family has left, right here in the room. We should be able to talk to each other about anything.”
Dean folded his
“Riding lessons,” he echoed, studying the paperwork.
She finally allowed herself a glance at Dean and Kyle. Both men appeared nervous and hopeful. “There would still be the snot-nosed children, I’m afraid. Some of the population who are able to afford lessons won’t be that easy to work with. But there’ll also be a large group of people who love horses and want to learn more about them. Friendly, wonderful folks who you’ll be glad you got to know. I took lessons for many years, and made some life-long friends from those days.”
“Which is why we want you to run the riding business,” Dean said to her.
Miranda’s jaw dropped.
He smiled. “Kyle and I discussed it. We can’t think of anyone we’d want more. Anyone we’d trust as much as you, to move in and join our ranch family.”
Her heart leaped as she read the meaning behind his words. “I, uh, I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about changing careers.”
Kyle smiled. “Before you came here, you probably hadn’t thought about a lot of things. This is a very good idea, Miranda.”
Mr Fortune studied each of them. “I’m sure she has the knowledge, but does she have the riding experience we’d need?”
“She was a member of the California Junior Rodeo Association for ten years.” Dean beamed proudly.
Kyle added, “She did barrel racing and pole bending. Best All-Around Champion for three years straight.”
Dean gazed at her affectionately. “And she was Rodeo Queen the whole damned time. What better qualifications could we ask for?”
Tears welled in her eyes and she quickly brushed them away.
“That certainly sounds adventurous.” Dean’s father nodded. “Of course, I had Miz McCabe checked out before I hired her for this job. She has a spotless employment record. I’d say she’d be a good woman for the position.”
Dean turned to his father. “Will you consider it, then? The riding academy, rather than a guest ranch?”
“I don’t see why not. I didn’t want to lose the family home, either. I was just trying to look at the big picture and save the ranch.”
Dean breathed a deep sigh of relief. He glanced at Kyle and Miranda, then back at his father. “There’s something else, Dad. I haven’t pressed this because it didn’t seem that important until now. I’m bisexual, and I’m in love with Kyle. If this is going to work, he’ll be moving into the main house as my domestic partner.”
His father studied him for a moment then smiled. “Finally ready to come out, eh? Okay, whatever you say.” To Kyle, he said, “Welcome to the family, son.”
Dean and Kyle gaped at each other. Dean’s disbelief was visible. “You knew?”
“Your mother and I talked about it years ago. She thought we should say something to you. I told her we needed to wait until you brought it up. I never dreamed it would take this long.”
“See?” Kyle elbowed Dean. “Your dad is cooler than you thought.”
“Yeah, cool.” Dean looked like he still didn’t quite believe it.
“It’s about time,” Mrs Carson muttered. “There’s really no sense in all this sneaking around.”
Miranda chuckled. “You knew too? What about Rebecca?”
“Oh, no.” Mrs Carson shook her head. “This is going to come as a shock to dear Rebecca. But, as the young people say, it is what it is. She can learn to live with it, or not. Her choice.”
Dean gazed at his father. “I still can’t believe you knew all this time.”
His dad shot back, “I can’t believe you never trusted me enough to share the truth. I hope we’re beyond that now, son. We’re what our family has left, right here in the room. We should be able to talk to each other about anything.”
Dean folded his
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