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A silent and huh came from his throat in the form of a loud breath “I’m half Calder and half O’Rourke, and I don’t knohich of you isDoesn’t that make me twice as determined to carry outin his stand “You didn’t talkto talk me out of it”

When Ty entered the den, his father was standing in front of the massive stone fireplace One hand rested on the mantel while he stared into the cold and blackened hearth There was a slumped curve to his shoulders that told Ty just how hard his father was taking his decision He was glad, at this minute, that he couldn’t see his face

“Dad—” Ty began and watched the wide shoulders and muscled neck stiffen “I know you’re disappointed in me”

“Disappointed!” Thehand fro half around to stand tall and erect, his body angled toward Ty A struggle was going on inside him, a battle between his eain, his voice was contained, yet taut “I promised your ree with so”

“I know that” Ty nodded stiffly

“There’s soly conceded “But they won’t stand up” Hisentirely into a coer “Dahteen? I was like you! I thought I knew more than aveHell, I didn’t know the half of it And you don’t comprehend any of it!”

The sweeping conde hiive me credit for”

“Do you?” his father challenged harshly “Look at the er at the hand-drawn e desk Years had yellowed the canvas on which the boundaries of the Triple C Ranch were crudely outlined “It’s old, Ty It’s old, but it’s still accurate Do you have any idea howranches there were then? Today, there’s less than a handful that can still boast they exist—and most of those are owned by some absentee corporate investors Those other ranches had their glory days But the Calders lasted because they made a commitment to the land and all that lived on it, livestock and people”

“I understand that,” Ty insisted with a gathering frown of irritation and resentment He didn’t need a ser than anything else “I a for myself”

“Then you’d better start thinking,” his father advised “A place this size is vulnerable to outside forces, and it will collapse like a house of cards if theAnd you’d better da is weak, it can’t support what surrounds it”

“I’ht,” he declared through his clenched teeth “Da”

“I’ll give you that,” his father conceded without taking back anything he’d said “But I know this land will make you into the kind of man this ranch needs And you’ll never convinceto do that I won’t stand in your way, Ty,” he breathed heavily, “but I’oing to learn about life in a classrooer jabbed in the direction of the

“In tiht” Ty was hurt by his father’s lack of support, but he didn’t let it show

“By God, you’ll have to”

Ty’s chin dipped a fraction of an inch lower as he turned to leave the room The firmness of his conviction was shaken, but he was still deterh with his decision His stubborn pride insisted that he prove he was right