Page 5 of A Rainfall Promise

“Why call someone, Dad, when I can do it myself?”

“Ay, that’s going to get you into trouble, mijo. Don’t be doing things alone just because you’re too stubborn to ask for help.”

“I’m not stubborn, Dad,” I said, groaning as I twisted it again, making sure it was tightened enough before sitting up. “I just didn’t see the need to call anyone.”

I watched as my dad crouched down next to me, his hand patting my cheek.

“You doing life alone is bad for you; don’t you know that? You have no friends, you talk to no one, and you’re not dating. You need people around you. Is that really how you want to live, Jose?”

I grunted at that, making him laugh.

“I have my family,” I muttered, which was true. I had my parents, wasn’t that enough?

“We’re not going to be around forever.” His words stabbed my heart, even if I did know them to be true. He gave me another smile before looking over the mess I had made, but it was fixed. “If you’re done here, go show me the little ones that should be running around soon. I’ll take those as my grandbabies for now.”

I stood up, wiping the sweat off my brow and staring at him.

Since when did he want grandkids? He never mentioned a thing before. I mean, I knew my mom wanted them, sure. I honestly heard about it all the time from her. But my dad? This was news to me.

“What?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Can I not want my son to be alone? Who are you going to leave all this too when you die if you have no one?”

I opened my mouth but shut it, because that was the second time I heard that in just two days. It was becoming old. But it was also the truth.

Not that I wanted to settle down. I didn’t have time for a wife. And certainly, no time for kids. The ranch was my wife, keeping me busy all hours of the day.

“I’ll find someone soon enough, Dad.”

“But who will want an old fart like you?” He laughed at my expense, and I couldn’t understand why the image of a raven-haired, brown-eyed young lady sitting on a horse came to mind. But it did. Even if I knew she was off limits.

“There is a pretty thing in town you could try asking out. She might do well for a grump like you.”

This time I glowered at him, making him laugh. He grabbed my cowboy hat, handing it to me and I shoved it on, taking him back to the barn.

Chapter 4

Vicky

“As you can see,” I said to the crowd of people who were on horseback with me, “Sierra Rose Ridge has a lot of history. And we’re gearing up for our Monsoon times.”

“Vicky,” someone called from the back, “is this the time for the lighting shows?”

“Great question. It’s a little early for a lot of lighting shows, but some do come in.” I held my hat on my head as I looked up at the clear, blue sky, the dusting of fluffy white clouds in various spots, the only sign I needed. “Looks like we might have one this afternoon.”

The nine other people with me looked around, their brows slammed together in confusion.

“There’s nothing here,” someone muttered and I grinned.

Inhaling deeply, I could smell the rain on the horizon. Which might sound odd, or make me sound like a pirate, but it’s a distinct smell that anyone who’s lived in these parts would know about it. One of the biggest beauties in the Southwest, besides the killer sunsets or sunrises, was the beautiful lighting shows.

There was always a lot of history and lore behind those events, which is what Sierra Rose Ridge was built upon, legends and lore. Because beyond all the events we have around here, it’s still a town built in the southwest with cowboys and mayhem.

“I know you can’t see it,” I told them, turning my horse around and walking down the trail, “but it’s there, a scent I love and one I can always pick up on.”

I rode in silence for a few minutes, letting the people take pictures of nature around them. The sky, the red rocks, the trails, hell, even the cactus. Because that’s what people wanted when they booked these nature walks; to take pictures and experience all of this.

“A little further up, we can stop and you can have some more pictures. It’s only about fifteen minutes away. It’s also a great spot to have lunch at. And it has an overview of Red Rock Ridgewhere a lot of Monsoon shows happen. So, if you stay, you’ll see where we go.”

I walked down the trail, coming up to the open spot a little later. I secured my horse, giving him an apple before helping everyone else as well.