Hello,

I'm almost positive this one would have been in with a group of other short stories. A man living on his families property has nieces and nephews coming to visit for the weekend and he resents it. He works hard to keep the ranch/farm going and resents when they all come and lay around for the weekend. A friend accompanies one of his relatives and he falls for her instantly. He somehow knows she recently had heart surgery and is fragile, even though his relatives do not. She apparently was a sickly child and the only girl in a large family of boys and was always cossetted. This is her first real trip away from family. There is a struggle as he wants her to stay with him but knows she has never really been given a chance to live her own life. 

I'm positive this was a shorter story.  I just can't remember much else about it.

Thanks for your help!

Melissa