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His san getting his horse ready Neither one of us said anything as we saddled up the horses, got on them, and headed out

I couldn’t take the silence anymore "Daddy, why don’t you like Will?"

He snapped his head over and looked at me "What? I love Will like a son I just don’t like the idea of hihter"

"I would think you’d like it better than soht ood, like how you treat Mom"

Daddy smiled and nodded his head "I don’t doubt that, sweetheart" He let out a sigh "Alex, it’s just that the two of you only know each other and your close circle of friends You’ve always been a part of the ranch and Mason I want you both to have the chance to explore other things, other ideas I know you say you want to come back and live on the ranch with Will, but you haven’t even begun to experience life outside of Mason, Alex"

I looked down and frowned "Daddy, why is it so hard for you to believe that I want to have a life like you and Mom? I love the ranch just as much as you, Mom, Colt, Will, and Luke It just seems unfair"

He nodded his head and looked ahead "Alex, you’re going to college, and things will be so different I know you love the ranch, sweetheart I just want you to keep an open o to Austin and decide that you love Austin I want you to be happy, Alex I never want you to settle I want you to have every opportunity possible, and I don’t want this relationship with Will to cloud any of that"

I bit down onfor a bit more

"Daddy, I love Will I can’t seeyour love for him Just know that it is possible that you will e ill--"

I looked at him "Who hat?"

He stopped his horse, and I brought Banjo to a stop

"Who will s for Will"

Myand then back into my father’s eyes "That will never happen--ever"

He gave me a weak smile and nodded his head "Coainst Apache Let’s race down to the river"