Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Anytime. I’ll chat with you later. I gotta get back to work,” Fletch says.
“Sounds good.” We end the call. There’s a lot to unload from the last little bit of conversation, and knowing Fletch, he got me a shit ton of details. Details I’ll guard with my life, so Birdie doesn’t see them. My woman feels deeply. She’ll be full of regret and sorrow if Fletch sends me what I think he will. And there’s no damn way I’ll let that happen. Birdie has been through enough as it is already. There’s no way I’m going to let her keep feeling any sort of pain. Not now and not fucking ever.
“Fletcher get you what you need?” Lawson asks, coming up beside me. The fucker is the tallest of the bunch, has more weight and muscle mass, yet he’s still light as a damn feather on his feet.
“Waiting for the email now, but yeah, he did. You wanna take a ride down to Colorado with me?” I already know his answer before he gives it.
“Fuck yeah. You know when you wanna go?”
“Probably the next few days or so. I don’t want Birdie to know why I’m heading south. I’m pretty sure there’s an auction along the way. Think we can stop on the way back? Birdie doesn’t have a horse, and I know she’ll be chomping at the bit to get in the saddle soon enough.” Two birds, one stone, plus an alibi, all wrapped in one package, neatly tied with a bow.
“Fuck yeah. I’ll look at the schedule and make sure it lines up with the auction. The others can handle being on their own for a few days. You clear it with Dad, and all will be well.” I pull my hand away from Flash, ignoring his annoyance with me and offering my brother a hand to shake.
“Thanks, man.” Law takes my hand. He also pulls me in for a one-armed hug.
“We’re family. No need to thank me. Glad you got your girl back, bud.” That’s that. There’s nothing else that needs to be said. Family is love, and love is family, as Grandpa Johnson would say.
20
BIRDIE
“I’ve become the needy girlfriend who misses her man after he’s been gone for less than twelve hours, Tully,” I tell her. It’s been nearly a week of being back home and living with Lane. We’ve been inseparable since the moment he walked into my mom’s house, and now I’m a freaking mess because tonight, I won’t have him home to sleep next to. Rocky will snuggle, but he’s no substitute for Lane. There’s something about falling asleep wrapped in his arms and waking up in them.
“No, you’re not. Lane Johnson is sex on a stick. I’d miss him, too,” Tully says as she takes a sip of her wine. We’re having what we like to call a girls’ dinner with a side of wine. When we lived together, it consisted of whatever we could find that required minimal cooking and we’d chow down. Leftovers were among our favorites. Out here in Arrowleaf, there’s not a whole lot to choose from where you can get delivery. That’s why we’re opting for cheese, crackers, sliced meats, fruits, and vegetables.
“That makes me feel marginally better.” I’m taking a sip as well, a healthy glug at that. Tonight is going to be a restless night. I can feel it. I’ll hear every noise, every creak, and worry tirelessly since he and Lawson are driving without taking any breaks besides food, gas, and the bathroom. On the way down to the auction, the trailer will be empty. It’s on the way back that it’ll be full. They took a six-horse trailer, which I found odd. The Johnsons’ specialty is beef cattle, and the brothers dabble in rodeoing on the side, but for one auction, it seemed excessive.
“Did I tell you I’ve decided to take the interview at Herbert’s Veterinary? I’m going to see what they have to offer. Depending on how it goes, good or bad, I’ll go from there.” I clap my hands in happiness for my best friend. All week, she’s been twiddling her thumbs trying to figure out her next step, and while I don’t like the idea of her working for Herbert’s, simply because I think she can do a million times better on her own, I am happy for her.
“Hold your horses, lady. Don’t go getting excited. I could walk into the office and absolutely hate it.” I’m crossing my fingers that she does. It’d be great to get her feet wet, and from what I hear, Herbert’s works in big and small animals. I just worry she’ll get sucked into a never-ending vortex and come out burned out. Whereas if she’d start up her own, she could do a mobile sort of deal. She’d be able to drive to the ranches around here, which would be a plus. There are a lot of older citizens in the community who love their animals. Getting them to town to see a vet is hard for things like X-rays and whatnot. Plus, she could pick and choose her patients.