“He refused to talk to me about it, so I figured I could ask you since you don’t pull punches.”

Maybe this would be the one time he would.

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t need to know so I can make a decision.”

“You and your dad still goin’ round and round about post-high school options?”

“We’re still going round and round about everything.”

Poor kid. Carson remembered what it was like to be at loggerheads with his dad and all the times he’s been a stubborn jackass of the first order with his sons. “Tell ya what. Get us both a soda and we’ll see where we end up.” Carson dug in his pocket and pulled out five crumpled one dollar bills. “Damn soda here is higher priced than whiskey.”

Kyler grinned. “Maybe we oughta be drinkin’ whiskey. I’ve got some in my truck.”

Carson gave him a level stare.

“Kidding. Dr. Pepper it is.”

He returned with two bottles of soda, two candy bars…and three bucks. Carson raised an eyebrow when Ky passed the money back. “The candy is my treat.”

“Thanks. You oughta be savin’ your money to take out all them pretty girls swarming around you. Gas ain’t cheap these days.”

“Dad pays for my gas, so it’s all good.” Kyler cracked open his soda. Then he wolfed the candy bar before Carson opened his wrapper.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s goin’ on.”

He sighed. “The team’s already started football practice. Every morning from six to eight and then there’s weight training and agility conditioning every afternoon from four to six. Coach thinks we can win state this year after we’ve finished second the last three years, which would be awesome since it’s my senior year. I come straight home after practice and get chores done. Dad is passing off my evening chores to Foster, which is about time because I was doin’ way more at his age than he is. Anyway, there’s already been a couple of college scouts showing up to watch practice.”

“The scouts are there for you?”

A tinge of red appeared on Kyler’s cheeks. “Yeah. Anyway, I like the scout for UWYO. They’re a division one school, but they’ll never get close to a national championship. The scout who showed up last week was from Oklahoma State. He talked a good game and they’ve got the winning records to back up their claims.”

“Did either of them offer you anything?”

“Both did. Full rides. Arizona State University offered the same thing with the option clause of expanding their offer, whatever that means.” He wiggled the metal tab on the can. “So to throw more crap in the mix, last week, Marla called.”

Since Cord had married AJ a dozen years ago, Ky had called AJ Mom, a fact his biological mother Marla wasn’t happy about. But since the boy visited Marla in Seattle maybe once every two years, and AJ was in Kyler’s life every day, Carson didn’t see the issue. “What’s goin’ on with her?”

“She wants me to apply to Washington State.”

“Huh. I didn’t realize that team was on your radar.”

“It’s not. But as soon as Marla found out about the other teams throwing out offers, she contacted the athletic director and sent in an audition tape.”

“Without asking you?”

Kyler nodded. “Kinda slimy, I know. She did it because she means well, but all Dad sees is manipulation.”

“Is WSU sending a scout?”

“I guess.”

“You interested in goin’ there?”

“I don’t know. I want to base my decision on which football team has the best shot at playing in a national championship the years I’m on the team. Dad says there’s more to the decision than that.” The soda can dented after Kyler squeezed it with obvious frustration.

“He tellin’ you where you should go?”

“He says it’s a no brainer; I should pick UWYO.”

“What’s his reasoning on that choice?”

Kyler looked him in the eye. “Sentimentality.”

Whoa. Such an astute kid for seventeen. “You wanna explain that?”

“Because he could come to the games and because I wouldn’t be far from home. But he also knows if I choose a bottom tier division one school then my chance of playing pro ball after college is practically none.” He tacked on, “Not that I think I’m good enough to go that route now. But if I don’t choose the best possible program, then I won’t grow as an athlete.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “And the other thing? I don’t want to get a degree in Ag management.”

“That’s what he’s suggesting you do?”

“Yeah. But sure enough if I earn that degree and come back here and try to ranch with him, he’ll get pissy and remind me he’s been a rancher for far longer than I have and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with the way he does things and most things about ranching can’t be learned in books anyway.”

Dammit, Cord, didn’t you learn anything from me? Pushing that boy in one direction—your direction—is gonna push him away from you.

“Sounds like him.” Carson sighed. “Hell. That sounds like me.” He shot Kyler a look. “That’s why you want to know what happened. So it doesn’t happen between you and your Dad.”

“I also wanna know if it’s some freakin’ pattern with McKays that I’m destined to repeat regardless of what I do.”