“That’s sad,” Slade observed. “Granted, I’m new to being a dad, but if Brody ends up owing me a few bucks here and there, I’ll never hold it over his head. I’ll just feel blessed to help him in any way I can.”

Erin knew her relationship with her parents was a mess. “I’m glad they take fabulous vacations every year. It was due to one of those trips that they left me on your doorstep, and when I look back on my childhood, that month with you is my favorite memory. I’m so glad I had that time with you.” She angled a look at Vickie. “And you needn’t worry that anything Uncle Slade says about my parents is going to offend me. They’re unusual, to say the least. When I was little, I wished that Uncle Slade was my dad. I still do, even now.”

Vickie nodded. “Way back when, I knew your mother pretty well. When I called to invite them to our wedding, she said she couldn’t possibly attend because of her allergies.”

Erin rocked back on her chair and laughed. “Allergies? To what?”

“Animals, grass, pine trees.” Vickie chuckled, too. “Dirt of any kind, I imagine. She always hated being on a ranch and couldn’t wait to turn eighteen so she could escape to the city.”

Just thinking about her mom gave Erin a slight headache. But she hadn’t come here to bash her parents, as much as they might deserve it. “I really appreciate your support. It’s crazy to think about throwing away the life I’ve built and starting over, but I’m truly unhappy as things stand, so I think I’ll do it, insane though it may be. Thank you so much for the offer of lodging. It’s a relief to know that option will be available to me.”

“Follow your heart,” Slade said.

They chatted for several more minutes, which Erin greatly enjoyed. But she cut the visit short, even so. No matter how much they insisted that they wanted her to stay for dinner, they were still newlyweds, and she didn’t want to be a pest. She even protested when her uncle tried to walk her to the car, so, to humor her, he hugged her goodbye at the door.

As she started to get in the truck, she heard someone call her name and turned to see who it was. Kennedy strode from a cluster of small pines next to the south paddocks and angled across the gravel parking area near the house. Tall, sturdy, and blond, he looked so much like his older brother, Wyatt, that her heart squeezed. Shoving aside her bruised feelings over Wyatt’s cold manner toward her yesterday, she smiled and waited for the younger man to reach her.

“Hey, Erin. If you’re in a hurry, I understand, but if you have a few minutes, I was wondering if we could talk.”

Kennedy had started college winter term, and Erin had heard at the wedding reception that his spring finals were coming up soon. She hoped he wasn’t having problems at school. “Sure. What’s up? If you’ve got a class that’s kicking your butt, you’re not the first person and won’t be the last. My first year, I thought for sure I was going to flunk out.”