Ava felt immense relief that the ordeal was almost behind them, a sentiment shared by her father, since Deacon had his cattle returned. When the cattle were safely delivered by a pair of agents from the Autumn Falls office, her father had been overjoyed, singing praises of Deacon’s efforts and integrity.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. With a deep breath to steady herself, she walked over and opened it to find her father and Jessica standing on the porch, their eyes warm with affection.
“Hi, Dad. Hi, Jessica. Come in,” she greeted, stepping aside to let them enter.
“Thanks, honey.” Her father gently guided Jessica with a supportive hand on her back as theystepped into the house. “We just wanted to stop by and see if you need any help.”
“I’ve packed as much as I can for today,” Ava replied, smiling. “I’ll tackle the rest of Ellie’s things tomorrow, but I really appreciate the offer.”
Jessica enveloped her in a warm hug. “I hate to see you go, but I know it’s the right decision. Your father and I would love to visit, if you’re okay with that.”
“I would love it,” Ava said, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Please do.”
“I’ve heard so much about Clifton,” Jessica added. “It would be wonderful to explore it together.”
“That sounds great, Jessica,” Ava replied, her spirits lifted. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Ava understood that her father would miss her presence, but with Jessica now in his life, she felt assured he’d be just fine. Her father seemed to have a deep affection for Jessica, and Ava could see the same mirrored in Jessica’s eyes when she looked at him.
As another knock echoed through her room, Ava frowned slightly, but opened the door to reveal her brother standing there, a familiar grin lighting up his face.
“Hey, come in,” Ava said warmly, holding the door wider to welcome him.
Tyler removed his hat, wiped his feet on the mat, and stepped over the threshold, his smile broadening as he spotted their father and Jessica inside.
“Hey, you two,” Tyler greeted them before turning to Ava. “I probably won’t see you before you leave, so I wanted to drop by and let you know,if he ever hurts you, I’ll be making a trip to Clifton.”
Ava chuckled, a soft, affectionate sound. “I’ll make sure he knows you said that.”
“See that you do. He might be bigger than me, but dealing with an angry brother is no small feat.”
“I’m sure he’s aware. He does have two brothers, after all.”
Jessica chimed in; her voice filled with eager curiosity. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“We’ll come over before you leave, honey,” Ava’s father promised, his voice gentle but reassuring.
“Okay. Deacon will be here around eight Saturday morning. We plan to get packed up and head out then.”
“We’ll help you load up the vehicles,” her father offered with a warm grin.
“I’d help too, but we’re branding this weekend,” Tyler explained, a hint of regret in his voice.
“It’s fine, Tyler. Four of us should be able to do it fairly quickly. And it’s not like I won’t be back. I’ll make sure to visit, I promise.” Ava’s voice was steady, though an undercurrent of emotion threaded through her words.
“You’d better. Jeanie’s upset that you’re leaving, but I assured her she’d see you from time to time. We could plan a weekend trip to Clifton if Dad watches the kids.” Tyler’s voice was a soothing balm.
“You know that’s no problem, Tyler,” Rudy replied.
Ava blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears threatening to spill over. “I don’t want to cry,” she admitted, her voice a whisper on the breeze.
“Oh, honey, you’ll be just fine. We’re all here for you,” Jessica said soothingly, her hand tracinggentle circles on Ava’s back.
Ava wiped away a stray tear and embraced Jessica tightly, the warmth of their hug a comforting cocoon. “Thank you. I won’t worry about Dad now.”
Jessica laughed lightly, her laughter a melody of comfort. “I’ll take care of him.”
“I know, and that’s why I’m okay with leaving. It’s just that I’ll miss everyone so much.” Ava’s voice was a soft murmur, like the tender rustle of leaves in the wind.
