“And that’s fine. But it needs to be their choice.” Gabe shook his head. “I mean, who knows how much they know.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” His brothers cleared out quickly, but McKenna lingered.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“What kind of question is that?”

“You’re changing everything. I mean, your whole life. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. Deciding to leave the rodeo, establishing this place for the boys. And now contacting half siblings. I just... I guess I want to know why. Is it because you’re thinking about settling down with...with Jamie?”

His head snapped up. “No. Jamie’s not looking to settle down with anyone, least of all me.

“But if she were?”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Look at this tangled mass of shit that Mom and Dad have created. Why would I want any part of that?”

“Then why are you...? Why are you doing all of this?”

“Because I need something to do that isn’t just being like him. Because I need something to do that isn’t just something I did to... Hell, McKenna. Part of today was finding out that Mom pushed me into the rodeo to hurt Dad. She told me that thing about the half brothers to push me into doing that. Children Dad didn’t know about. So now I’m going to build a life. One that I’m choosing for myself.”

“Do you hear yourself? You want to build a life for yourself, but you don’t want to get involved too deeply with Jamie because of Hank and Tammy, and the way they’ve acted. Is that actually living for yourself?”

“Some of it is about knowing what you are, and what you’re capable of. What you’re made of.”

“Well, in that case, I’m made of a terrified woman who abandoned her daughter, and a man who can’t keep it in his pants. So what does that make me?”

“I’m not here for a heart-to-heart, McKenna. Your relationship is yours. And it’s unique. And I’m happy for you. But it’s got nothing to do with me. Anyway, Grant is a relationship guy. Jamie is not...”

“Well, it’s good you know her in her heart and all,” McKenna said, her words hard, her expression scrutinizing.

“I’ll see you later,” he said.

“Oh, I’m being shown the door,” McKenna said.

“You know I love you,” Gabe said. “I’m sorry if the way I handled this whole thing with the half brothers makes you feel differently.”

McKenna shrugged. “It doesn’t. Look, people really do change. They do. I’ve changed a hell of a lot in the past year. I’m not going to hold something against you that you didn’t pursue when you were seventeen because you were trying to protect your mom.”

“Yeah, I tried.”

“It’s just a shame they didn’t protect you better,” she said.

He thought of the conversation he’d had with Jamie not so long ago. When he’d said that his mother hadn’t needed to be told to take care of him. When he really stepped in it in terms of sensitivity.