The Deputy's Holiday Family. Mindy Obenhaus

and such to take care of, huh?”

      If Matt were anyone else, Dad would have offered him a cup of coffee. But he wasn’t anyone else. No matter what he did, he was a disappointment to his father. The son who was arrested for underage drinking, then let his parents down by joining the navy without ever consulting them.

      “Yes, sir.”

      The old man followed him to his Tahoe. “I’ve been hearing rumors that you’re directing your mama’s play.”

      Matt’s entire body tensed. “Yes.”

      Hands shoved in his pockets, the old man rocked back on the heels of his worn work boots. “I gotta say, I’m kinda curious as to why you decided to do that.”

      Turning, he looked at his father. “They were talking about canceling the play and I couldn’t let Mama’s legacy die.”

      “I can appreciate that.” Dad nodded, his lips drawn into a thin line. “But don’t you think it would have been better to leave it in the hands of someone who knew what they were doing?”

      Matt’s blood boiled. The old man would never cut him any slack. “Why? Because you think I’ll screw that up, too?”

      When his father didn’t respond, Matt turned on his own booted heel. “I’m out of here.” He threw himself into his vehicle, fired up the engine and exited the ranch at a much faster pace than he’d arrived.

      As far as Clint Stephens was concerned, his middle son had no redeeming qualities. Just wait until he found out about Kenzie. The fact that Matt had fathered a child out of wedlock would only amplify the old man’s belief that Matt was nothing but a failure, unworthy of his father’s love. And as much as it killed Matt to admit it, even to himself, that’s the one thing he desperately wanted.