we were gone?”
The line remained quiet for several moments. Finally, her mother said, “Your dad and I have talked about it. Both your husband and his family are dead, and all you have are those precious children. We think you should consider selling the ranch and moving to the city. Without the burden of that place, you could have time for your children. Find a job you like or go back to school and get a degree. You can’t do all that ranch work by yourself.”
Her mother’s words felt like a knife in her heart. Sure, there were problems, but she wasn’t going to sell her children’s inheritance no matter what. Vernon had bragged how big the ranch had been in the early 1900s, when the Landerses had a big family and relatives who lived close by. But slowly, the family members had died or moved away. Vernon and Grace had only had one son instead of the seven that Vernon’s parents had had. The Circle L Ranch might not be the size it once was, but she wasn’t going to sell or desert it. It was part of her heart.
April knew her father wanted her to sell the ranch, but she’d thought she had her mother’s support. Apparently not. “Thanks for the input, Mom. I’ll think about it.”
“I know you love that place, but face reality. It’s a mighty big job and there’s only you.”
“I have help to plant this year.” The words were out before she thought.
“Oh?”
It was the truth even if Joel was only here for the week. “I know the kids will miss seeing you. You and Dad might want to call them before Dad leaves and explain your exciting news.”
“We’ll try.”
In other words, it won’t happen. “I pray things will go smoothly with the move, Mom.”
“We can talk with the kids over the computer and they can see our new house once we’re settled.”
April’s heart broke. “They’ll love it.”
“I know you’re disappointed, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
The familiar refrain rang hollow. “I know.”
When she hung up, April’s mind raced over all the birthdays, holidays and graduations her father had missed. She didn’t want that for her children. She wanted her kids to have a connection with their home and good memories of growing up—memories like going to the rodeo every year and having a tall cowboy show them how to lasso a horse or a cow.
Determination filled her heart. She wouldn’t fail her babies. “Thank you, Lord, for sending help to plant my field, but I’m going to need a long-range plan and a way to make this happen.”
And did that long-range plan own cowboy boots?
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