Good Riddance

Jim had just knelt to look at a horse's leg when his eyes catch sight of Chad entering the barn. Immediately bristling, he tries to stay calm, but only for the horse's sake. Its leg was bleeding enough the way it was.

Opting to just ignore the other man, he starts to clean the wound, his ears listening to Chad whether he liked it or not. He was leaving, huh? Good. Jim didn't care about the reason as long as he was gone. Words about Rosalyn didn't surprise him - she was his daughter after all, and he already knew what a fine young woman she was.

Gently wiping iodine over the deep cut in the horse's leg, his quiet demeanor was a contrast to what was going on inside of him. Chad needed to get out of here.

Purity was up for debate, and love? Seriously? It wasn't love and Jim knew it. All Chad wanted was to satisfy something else entirely. As far as taking anything out on Rosalyn, Jim figured she could use a good talking to with some reminders about family rules, and Chad would not interfere with that. How their family ran was none of Chad's concern and Jim would have none of anyone telling him how to handle things.

Prepping a bandage, Jim's eyes remain on his task, his mouth shut. Chad could be as sorry as he wanted to, but Jim had no intention of getting to know him. There was no point. This little romance would not last.

Jim pauses his work to finally turn his gaze and see Chad walk away. Good riddance. It had been a pitiful battle, but at least the guy was finally leaving.

It would be quite a while before Rosalyn would wander away from the main building. Busying herself with supper preparations, cleaning and laundry, she kept her mind occupied and off of subjects that she didn't want to think about. Eventually though, she knew she needed to go clean and put fresh linens in the bunkhouse Chad had used. He'd been her guest after all, so she should be the one to tidy up. Not that it would be hard - for as little time spent with him, she could tell that, for a guy, he was pretty clean and organized.

Making her way quickly to the bunk, she avoids contact with anybody else. She knew he father was the only one who had a real problem with Chad, but she was quite embarrassed with how everything had turned out, and she'd just as soon not talk about it.

Upon entering, her eyes immediately see Chad had left something on the bed. Assuming it had been by mistake, she's ready to simply take it and keep it until she sees him again, but seeing the note and bracelet along with the shirt, she stops. Reading the note, new tears spring into her eyes. Didn't he know this wasn't going to work? Couldn't he tell that it would be too hard? It wasn't fair to him. He shouldn't have to put up with this. For his sake, he should have just left for good and forgotten the whole thing - including her. She had her phone in her pocket in case he did text her to say where he was staying, but part of her wondered if he actually would.

Easing down to sit on the bed, Rosalyn fingers the bracelet. It was simple but pretty, and even prettier to her, knowing who it had come from. Slipping it on her wrist, she just looks at it for a few minutes. Then slowly, she lies down on the bed, curling onto her side and pulling Chad's shirt close. Her head sinks into the pillow and she breathes deeply his scent that still lingered. 

Opening her eyes, Cindy gives a start. How long she'd been asleep on the couch, she wasn't sure. But after so many tears, talking, more tears, more talking and even more tears, she had been utterly exhausted. The dim light coming through the window suggested that evening was upon them, and she knew that reality must be faced. She couldn't stay here forever.

Sighing deeply, she nuzzles her head into Wes' chest. Lying half on top of him, she didn't want to leave his warmth and comfort. It all still felt like a dream, and she was still scared of waking up and finding him gone again.

Finding his hand, she curls her fingers around his. "We need to go to the ranch," she mumbles softly. "I'm just not so sure about sharing you yet."

"Yeah...okay." Scott wasn't all that sure about going out for lunch today, but he would. Lunchtime would be here shortly anyway since he'd gotten in to work so late. 

Hearing Dalton had finally popped the question, then being asked to be his best man, Scott looks over to him quickly. A smile spreads on his lips and he nods. "I'd be most honored." Work - and his problems - are forgotten, at least for a few minutes. "Do you guys have a date set yet?"

Glancing down and seeing Grace's foot gently rubbing against his own, Jared moves his eyes back to hers, a faint grin just barely emerging. After taking a sip of water, he concentrates for a moment before wriggling his toes against her foot. 

"Careful," he teases, "I might be tempted to give you another kiss." 

Sticking a forkful of salad in his mouth, he tosses her a flirtatious look before his smile finally pushes through.