Shane (Remington Ranch Book 2) by SJ McCoy Page A

out with her friends.”
    Shane nodded. As much as his mom loved the ranch, she liked to get away when she could, whether it was to catch up with the women in town or to head off to the warm sunshine whenever it was possible. “Is she doing okay?”
    His Dad nodded. “She is, but she’s getting itchy feet. I’m thinking this winter will be the one. I’m going to take her down to Arizona.”
    “You know you can. We’ve got everything covered here between us.”
    “I know. Mason’s got the horses covered, you’ve got the dude ranch, Chance has got the cattle.” He shrugged. “It’s not that I doubt you boys. I just don’t know what the hell I’m going to with myself. I owe it to your mom. She’s endured this life for me all these years, but…” he shrugged again. “This is all I know. All I’ve ever wanted to know.”
    Shane patted his shoulder. “You’ll find fun stuff to do. Maybe Mom will teach you to dance salsa?”
    His dad laughed at that. “Yeah, and maybe pigs will fly! They’d no doubt be more graceful. We’ll work it out. Like I say, I owe it to your mom to get her out of the cold for the winter and take her somewhere she can enjoy herself.”
    “You owe it to yourself, too, Dad. So make sure you find somewhere that’s going to be good for you as well.”
    “Thanks, Shane.”
    As his dad briefly squeezed his arm, it hit Shane for the first time how old he looked. He had to swallow hard and squeeze his eyes shut for a moment at the realization that he wouldn’t always be around.
    “Thank you , Dad. You’ve done so much for all of us. Worked your ass off your whole life. I just want to make sure that you have some fun.” He swallowed even harder at his dad’s reply.
    “It’s all been fun, son. Every backbreaking hour of it has been fun, because I was doing it all for you boys. I’ve been building on what my daddy left me, so that I can pass on something even better to all of you.”
    “Thanks, Dad.” He didn’t trust himself to say anything else.
    His dad nodded, indicating that part of the conversation was closed. “So what did you want to check in with me about?
    “I wanted to run an idea by you. I’d like to build some more cabins. We’re fully booked with guests now through the end of the summer. We could take more—a lot more—if we had the accommodations. We have the horses, we can get the staff. We have all the extra capacity we need—except for a place for them to sleep.”
    “It’s your business, Shane. Your decision.”
    “I know that, but I wouldn’t do it without asking you first. It’s still your land.”
    “I don’t have a problem with it. You expand as much as you need to. And besides it’s not going to be my land for too much longer. At some point soon I want to sit down with the five of you and figure out how best we divide it up.”
    Shane nodded. He knew that day was coming, but he really wasn’t looking forward to it. He didn’t want to see it happen. He’d rather nothing changed. He knew his parents would take even more of a backseat, and that was fine, but he wanted the ranch to stay whole.
    “It’ll be okay, son.” His dad seemed to understand. “It has to be done that way. You don’t see it yet, but someday you’ll all have families of your own, and you’ll need land that’s just yours. No matter how well you all get along, you’re all individuals. As the years go by, you’ll all have different wants and needs.”
    “I know, Dad. I know it’s necessary; it just makes me sad.”
    His dad held his gaze for a moment. “It does me, too. But there’s no point clinging to the past when the future is calling. All we can do with the past is cherish it. We have to prepare for the future, adjust to the changes, and live life well.” He smiled. “How are you planning on living well tonight? Where are you headed?”
    Shane grinned. “I’m going to see Cassidy Lane.”
    His dad frowned. “The artist? The Moonstone Gallery