Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
I realize I missed another opportunity. I should have struck when I could. It’s what I want, she is what I want, but maybe it’s all for the best.
“Don’t have to make every weekend some wild party,” Red adds. “Sometimes it’s nice to go home and relax and enjoy the company of those closest to you.”
“Yeah,” I reply, skeptical, wondering just how close he and my little sister are.
“Cheddar just foaled,” Dolly tells Red and Anise. The three of them head back into the barn to take a look, but I keep my distance. I have to do something to get my mind off Dolly’s sweet temptation.
My answer is hitting the books. More specifically, the ranch’s financial books. And damn, they look dire. My mother kept everything moving so harmoniously, delivering our produce to buyers swiftly and keeping up good contacts. Dad alone is kinda bad at that. He’s never been much of a people person and doesn’t like treating all of this like a business. He likes being up at the crack of dawn feeding the cattle, tending to the horses, and making sure everything’s flowing beautifully.
Which is good. It’s just that the money doesn’t grow out of the ground. I grumble as I go over what is written down, how much of our produce is going to waste when he doesn’t line up a buyer in a timely manner. I took after my father in being kind of anti-social, but I’m not going to let that get in the way of turning the Rowdy Ranch around. This is what my mother wanted me to learn. It’s vital to getting by in today’s world and she knew that. I have to learn both sides of the business if I really want to make sure this ranch is here for my own children.
I look up at the window in my room. I never went to bed and the first light of the morning is starting to lighten the sky. It’s well past the time Dad gets up, and I spot him in the fields. I stayed up all night fretting over this. I can also hear people are up and about downstairs, so I sigh, realizing I’m not getting any sleep, then head on down. I’m greeted with the angelic sound of Dolly’s singing, belting out a bit of “9 to 5,” as sung by her namesake. The scent of eggs and sizzling bacon fills the air and lures me into the kitchen, where I’m greeted with the most beautiful sight I can imagine. Dolly shaking her cute ass in those denim cut-offs, leaving my eyes glued to them and filling my imagination with some lewd thoughts.
“Take a seat, Angus, breakfast is almost done,” she says when she sees me, fluttering her eyelashes and tempting me as she always does.
I laugh and do as she asks, soon joined by my father coming in, as well as Annie. “Going all out with the works, aren’t we? What’s the special occasion, Dolly?” I ask.
“This is how I contribute to the household,” she says. “Your father is out in the fields, and Annie is working at a diner out in Home. This is the least I can do.”
“The least? She’s one hell of a cook,” my dad adds. “I’d hire her to be my personal chef. If I could afford it, anyway.”
Yeah, we can’t afford personal chefs right now. We can barely afford anything.
“You’re working at a diner now, Annie?” I say, looking toward my sister.
“Uh huh. Little bit of extra money to help pay the bills, a little bit of money to live my life.”
“Guess that’s where you hit it off with Red then,” I mumble.
“Sure is. He’s a regular. Tips really well, so let’s just say I like it when he comes in, for a whole bunch of different reasons.” She flutters her eyelashes playfully.
“Out for his money, aren’t you, Annie?” Dolly says as she deals out plates of pancakes and bacon.
“Oh yeah, the sweet, sweet money of people who live in Home, Washington, of all places.”
“Money ain’t everything. Home is home, and always will be,” Dolly says.
I nod. I’ll have to work hard to make it so, but I’m planning on making this place my always. And hers too, if she wants it.
Breakfast is everything Dad hypes it up to be. It’s heavy and hearty, a good country breakfast if there ever was one. Dolly is one heck of a cook and I can’t get enough of it. It surprises me, because she was so damn perfect already.
Nearly in a food coma, I lean back in my chair. Annie is off to her job and my father is back to the fields. I like his idea, but Dolly has other plans for me. “Come on, I want to go check on that foal,” she says, taking me by the hand and pulling me up.