not him. He’d wanted to, but he’d been hearing Valentine’s warnings over and over in his mind: about alienating his sister, about maybe losing her forever. He didn’t want to do that.
“I don’t like the idea of the Thompson Ranch going out of the family,” he finally admitted. The idea made him feel like he was betraying his ancestors.
“You need to get over that idea.” She huffed, dismissing the notion without any thought at all. “Did you finally tell Shelby why you really wanted to quit managing the ranch? About the veterinary issue?”
Suddenly he was the one who wanted distance from her. He was more than tired of butting heads over the subject of his ranch. These constant arguments over it made him wonder if the only thing between them was lust, because they clearly didn’t share the same values.
“Tossing aside family history might be easy for you, but it’s damn hard for me.” He sucked in a settling breath, but it didn’t help much. His gut ached with the disappointment he felt. Even though they hadn’t known each other all that long, he’d begun to think they might have something special. Something that he hadn’t had with another woman.
When she just sat there, looking irritated at his comment, he said briskly, “Yes, I told Shelby about the opportunity being offered me, and about my interest in being a veterinary. The whole thing surprised her. I guess she’d never known how much I like working with animals.”
“Knowing Shelby and how sweet she is, she probably felt guilty then. She probably turned to Dale and tried to get him to reconsider taking over the ranch.”
She’d sounded disgusted, like he was purposely trying to ruin his sister’s life. Her assuming the worst of him pissed him off. He decided it was a good thing he was leaving tomorrow. They were done. Yet the finality of that thought made his gut clench.
“Actually Dale spoke up first. He was the one who said he and Shelby would do some more thinking about it. I did not press them in any way, no matter what you believe.”
Her doubting him was clear in her expression. It hurt, even though he’d already been telling himself they were finished. That the future together he’d toyed with in his thoughts now and then had only been based on their compatibility in bed. “It’s time to head back. I need to get some rest before the dinner and rehearsal tonight.”
She blinked in surprise, paled, and then gave a curt nod. “Fine. I’m not feeling all that wonderful at the moment anyway.”
They didn’t say another word as they packed up the picnic and mounted their horses. Valentine hated the way their special day had fallen apart, all because of that stupid ranch. She understood his longing to go after his dream. She understood the ranch stood in his way. But she seriously doubted that Shelby and Dale wanted to give up their own new life to move to Kansas and run the Thompson Ranch. She was worried that the two young people would sacrifice themselves for his sake. Why couldn’t he give up on the idea that the ranch needed to stay in the family? Why couldn’t he consider Jake’s offer to buy the ranch? Lots of ranches left family’s hands these days, for any number of reasons. But she wouldn’t talk to him anymore about the matter.
She’d just nudged her horse into movement when Sam rode on ahead, leading the way, barely waiting for her to catch up. Her heart pinched; the air seemed to rush out of her.
Tomorrow . His casual announcement about leaving earlier than planned had caught her off-guard. Tomorrow was too soon. She’d wanted more time with him, even if they disagreed on the ranch matter. Now after she’d evidently overstepped her boundaries again, he was anxious to leave the island. He was ready to get away from her. She hadn’t meant to attack him about the Shelby and ranch issue, but the depression that had swept over her about his early departure had—for some insane reason—sent her on
“I don’t like the idea of the Thompson Ranch going out of the family,” he finally admitted. The idea made him feel like he was betraying his ancestors.
“You need to get over that idea.” She huffed, dismissing the notion without any thought at all. “Did you finally tell Shelby why you really wanted to quit managing the ranch? About the veterinary issue?”
Suddenly he was the one who wanted distance from her. He was more than tired of butting heads over the subject of his ranch. These constant arguments over it made him wonder if the only thing between them was lust, because they clearly didn’t share the same values.
“Tossing aside family history might be easy for you, but it’s damn hard for me.” He sucked in a settling breath, but it didn’t help much. His gut ached with the disappointment he felt. Even though they hadn’t known each other all that long, he’d begun to think they might have something special. Something that he hadn’t had with another woman.
When she just sat there, looking irritated at his comment, he said briskly, “Yes, I told Shelby about the opportunity being offered me, and about my interest in being a veterinary. The whole thing surprised her. I guess she’d never known how much I like working with animals.”
“Knowing Shelby and how sweet she is, she probably felt guilty then. She probably turned to Dale and tried to get him to reconsider taking over the ranch.”
She’d sounded disgusted, like he was purposely trying to ruin his sister’s life. Her assuming the worst of him pissed him off. He decided it was a good thing he was leaving tomorrow. They were done. Yet the finality of that thought made his gut clench.
“Actually Dale spoke up first. He was the one who said he and Shelby would do some more thinking about it. I did not press them in any way, no matter what you believe.”
Her doubting him was clear in her expression. It hurt, even though he’d already been telling himself they were finished. That the future together he’d toyed with in his thoughts now and then had only been based on their compatibility in bed. “It’s time to head back. I need to get some rest before the dinner and rehearsal tonight.”
She blinked in surprise, paled, and then gave a curt nod. “Fine. I’m not feeling all that wonderful at the moment anyway.”
They didn’t say another word as they packed up the picnic and mounted their horses. Valentine hated the way their special day had fallen apart, all because of that stupid ranch. She understood his longing to go after his dream. She understood the ranch stood in his way. But she seriously doubted that Shelby and Dale wanted to give up their own new life to move to Kansas and run the Thompson Ranch. She was worried that the two young people would sacrifice themselves for his sake. Why couldn’t he give up on the idea that the ranch needed to stay in the family? Why couldn’t he consider Jake’s offer to buy the ranch? Lots of ranches left family’s hands these days, for any number of reasons. But she wouldn’t talk to him anymore about the matter.
She’d just nudged her horse into movement when Sam rode on ahead, leading the way, barely waiting for her to catch up. Her heart pinched; the air seemed to rush out of her.
Tomorrow . His casual announcement about leaving earlier than planned had caught her off-guard. Tomorrow was too soon. She’d wanted more time with him, even if they disagreed on the ranch matter. Now after she’d evidently overstepped her boundaries again, he was anxious to leave the island. He was ready to get away from her. She hadn’t meant to attack him about the Shelby and ranch issue, but the depression that had swept over her about his early departure had—for some insane reason—sent her on
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