Most Eligible Cowboy (Peach Valley Romance Book 1) Read Free

ranch. He basically ran it now and had been for quite some time. Still, making everything legal meant his dad felt the end was getting close and Jackson didn’t want to think about what that would mean.
    His dad cleared his throat and gave Jackson a sheepish grin. “We need to discuss your love life, Jack. Or, more precisely, the lack thereof.”
    Jackson squirmed in his seat. It was no secret his dad wanted him married and settled. But how was that his dad’s concern? And if that was all he wanted to talk about, then he needed to get going. “I don’t have time for this,” Jackson said, with no desire to discuss his personal affairs. They’d had several arguments on the subject over the years. Jackson believed his dad shouldn’t question his choices. Last he’d checked, the two of them had been at a cordial impasse. But he knew his dad, in his own way, was looking out for him.
    Dad grumbled. “Make time. Because I’m dying, boy, and that trumps your opinions on the matter of your unattached status. Since I’m about to meet my maker, I’ve talked to your momma and we’ve decided the time has come to issue you an ultimatum.”
    Jackson tried to interrupt, but his dad held up his hand. “You are our oldest son. It’s your job, no, it’s more than that, it’s your right to take over the ranch after I’m gone.”
    “Dad.” Jackson’s heart went from racing like a herd of wild horses to stopping altogether. He sputtered, shock the foremost feeling, followed by an excruciating pain. He’d already lost someone too young. He didn’t want to think about losing his dad, too. “Dad, I can’t—”
    His father interrupted Jackson like he knew what was on his mind. “Do not misunderstand. Your momma and me know what you’ve been through. We know your life hasn’t been easy. But we also know you deserve happiness, you deserve to find love again.”
    Jackson nodded, unable to express what he was feeling with words. It wasn’t that he was a bachelor because he didn’t want to marry. He did. Very much. Truth be told, there was an ache sitting heavily on his heart. He wondered more than once if there was something wrong with him. But that was just it. He didn’t want any woman. He’d already found love once and married. It’d been a blissful time in his life. But she’d died suddenly. He believed she’d taken his heart with her. Loving and losing the way he had wasn’t something one could easily come back from. If he married again, he wanted it to be because he loved her if not more than at least as much as he’d loved Diana, and he just didn’t see that happening. “Dad, I want that too.” He uncrossed his arms, allowing his father to see just how serious he was.
    “She’s out there, son. You just need to look a little harder, set some goals for yourself, and go after it.” It surprised Jackson that his dad’s eyes seemed to fill with tears as he spoke. His dad was a tough man. He had to be to run a successful ranch. Before he could really verify it, his dad turned away, pulling on the tube sticking out of his hand. “Devin has it in writing,” he went on after a moment. “Your mom and I are giving you sixty days to find the woman you intend to marry. Another thirty days to tie the knot. We’ll pay for everything, if it’s too soon for your bride’s parents. Money isn’t an issue.” His dad cleared his throat, glancing at the water glass sitting on the bedside table.
    Jackson stood and brought the straw to his dad’s lips, helping him sit up. When his dad had his fill, he lay back, and Jackson returned the glass to the table. Dad closed his eyes, and Jackson’s heart lurched. He didn’t believe it was possible to accomplish what his mom and dad wanted within such a small time frame, but if it meant his dad would hang on long enough to see him married again, then Jackson felt he had to give it a shot.
    “Devin has the paperwork,” his dad said, his eyes finding Jackson’s and holding