True Love
(Book 2) – Chapter 54

-I don’t do it for bad my girl, but some men need a push now and then.

-It’s true Megan, that’s how tough some men are. By the way, Mrs. Grisell, is that cowboy single? That Rodrigo guy.

-Melisa, don’t start! Her friend laughed at her.

-Oh! You seem to have taken a liking to Rodrigo, huh? I’ll tell you he’s a real Don Juan, he’s earned that reputation because he’s had girlfriends everywhere but here at the ranch. So if you’ve got your eye on him, my dear girl, be very careful!

-Melisa, that man can break your heart.

-It’s true, if he likes you, he’ll come after you for sure. And even more if he knows that you won’t stay. Grisell told her.

-You must be careful, Mel, please! You know we won’t stay long.

-Why not? Grisell asked angrily.

-Grandma, you know I have responsibilities in Atlanta, I can’t stay here for months and leave everything lying around. I would like you to come back with me, grandma.

-Back? Back to that house.

-If you don’t like it we can sell it and buy another one that you like, Grandma. You’d do whatever you want.

-My child, I like it here. -And what I want is to stay in this land!

She had already imagined something like that, but even so, her grandmother’s answer hit Megan like a vase of cold water. She had hoped her grandmother would say yes, if only for a while, but she was in love with the ranch. How could she persuade her?

-I live in Atlanta and I’m alone, I want you to come back with me, Grandma, please don’t make this difficult.

-My beautiful girl, I’m not going back to Atlanta. This is where my life is now and I like this ranch, I’ve been here for ten years.

-But grandma I… The tears were almost starting to flow. – How are we going to be together?

-Well, maybe you can think about the option of living in the surrounding area, there are many ranches for sale and you can afford to buy a very good one.

-Grandma, that’s crazy, I don’t know how to run a ranch. I barely know how to run a ranch, and I run the bank, how do you think I’m going to run a ranch?

-There are plenty of competent people here, I’m sure Jack wouldn’t mind helping you.

It was more than clear that the city girl would not abandon her home and her luxuries to move to Texas just because her grandmother was infatuated with living on that ranch where the dust and the heat were suffocating. It was to be expected that she wouldn’t fit in, but in spite of that he felt a strange sensation that it bothered him, but what did he care if she liked or disliked his ranch, he doubted she would choose to live in the country, unlike his grandmother who had fit in like a glove even if she took on attributions without consulting him, not that he couldn’t help her in case she decided to buy a property in the surrounding area, but the mere fact of having her as a neighbour made his skin crawl. He knew it was impolite to listen to other people’s conversations, so his idea of drinking water from the fridge would have to be replaced by tap water from the barracks.

-Grandma, how can you think I’m going to bother Jack for that sort of thing. Stop talking nonsense I’m not going to buy a ranch or anything like that. I’ve got my business in Atlanta, full stop.

-You can delegate all that to a competent person while you enjoy your life, you are too young to be enslaved in that world my child.

-Grandma, please, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

-You should listen to your grandmother Megan, maybe life in the country isn’t so bad after all, I replace it fascinating, I’d stay with you if you asked me to!

-You’re just saying that because you liked that cowboy. I claim to him.

-Yes, I don’t deny it, I was impressed by that man, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like this place! Besides, maybe this is where you’ll meet the man you’re looking for.

-I doubt it!

-Maybe you’ve already met him! He said in a tone that was alert to Megan’s ears.

-Wait a minute, are you trying to set me up with someone here, Grandma?

-And why not? There are plenty of bachelors in these parts, single and handsome.

-Do you have someone specific already? I ask accusingly and narrowing my eyes.

-Well, maybe I do.

-I suspected as much, you think Jack is going to notice me, for God’s sake, Grandma!

-Of course he will, I’m sure you shocked him. You’re so beautiful!

-Grandma I ask you in the best possible way to dismiss your idea of setting me up with him, I’ve got enough grief staying here and inconveniencing him without you coming in with your matchmaking actions.

-Well, I was just saying, he’s a very good match, he’s loving and kind and above all he’s very attentive.

-Don’t be like my father trying to replace me a husband grandma because I’m telling you it won’t work. He tried to marry me off but it didn’t work out for him!

Megan was having trouble dating, since she had broken up with her ex love Michell she hadn’t been the same, the poor boy, his parents had been so hard on him. Thinking about him hurt her deeply.

-I figured your father would do the same thing his father did to him. But Jack is different, he works hard, and he’s no show-off.

-Don’t try anything, that’s all I’m asking, Grandma.

-Well I’d only give you one very good candidate.

-Megan, you’ve been on your own for a long time, how long do you plan to go on like this?

-Hmm… Why are you alone my girl? -I swore you’d arrive with a boyfriend or something.

She would have to tell her love story with Michell to her grandmother but suddenly they were interrupted by Jack’s arrival.

-Good evening ladies.

-Oh boy you’re early.

-I’m actually on time, I think you’ve spent hours chatting.

-Oh no! -Since we didn’t notice, I’ll fix a quick dinner. You must all be hungry.

-Mrs. Grisell, don’t worry, I’ll give you a hand with dinner.

-No way, I’ll cook in this house. Until Jack gets married and it’s up to his wife to decide if she wants to do it herself, I’ll do the cooking in the meantime. Besides, it’s been years since they’ve had any of my food.

Jack drank apple juice and almost knew now with Grisell’s comment, she was hell bent on marrying him off.

-Well then, tell me, which room should I arrange for myself?

-It’s true, I had forgotten in the excitement of having them here. Go upstairs and turn to the right, and there you will replace two rooms, and you can take the one you like.

He could have put his granddaughter in one of those rooms and not exactly next to his own.

-Very good!

-The sheets and pillows are by that door, pointing to the door.

-I’ll give you a hand Mel, excuse me Grandma, Hmm Jack. She got up and left with her friend, she felt nervous about the man’s presence.

-So your granddaughter is no snob?

-No, she’s not. She’s a simple woman who can adapt to any situation.

-Yes, yes! Rodrigo told me he wanted to come to dinner, I said no. I don’t want him flirting with your granddaughter’s friend.

-Why did you do something like that? You shouldn’t be so rude.

-I told him not to get his hopes up about that city girl, in the end he won’t stay here long enough. He said annoyed.

He was in a bad mood, why the hell was he in a bad mood?

-What are you up to? -Why are you in a bad mood this time?

-I’m hungry. He said bluntly.

-Hmm… I’m beginning to suspect that the arrival of my granddaughter hasn’t pleased you at all.

-Of course that’s not it. He said indifferently.

-It seems to me that it is.

-This conversation is ridiculous, I’m going to my office.

-Stop there, go now to the barracks and bring Rodrigo with you, if he wants to dine here with us, he will. And if he wants to court Melisa, let him do it, that’s none of your business.

-But…

-No buts, go get him right now.

Unbelievable he had to let his workers be distracted by the visitors, to top it off he had spent the whole afternoon listening to how they talked about Grisell’s granddaughter and her friend. He got up and made his way to the barracks where Rodrigo was lying on the hay stack eating a bun.