Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Maybe the reason all of this had happened was to get Dev away from home and onto the ranch for a much-needed mental health break. Maybe this detour to Majestic, Wyoming, wasn’t about me at all. Maybe I was only here for a short time to introduce the Fletchers to Devon McKay. And maybe Dev could help lighten Way’s load here at the ranch. Maybe Way wouldn’t mind taking Dev’s help.
After ending the call, I tried refocusing on work for a little while longer. But images of Dev happily riding Trigger across the gorgeous rolling hills of Waylon’s ranch kept interrupting me.
Because in every single one of them, Way was happily riding Helios right next to him.
And something about that image didn’t sit right with me.
I gave up my attempt at working and headed out to buy some riding boots.
SEVENTEEN
WAYLON
After the third interruption by a well-meaning Majestican stopping by to either congratulate me on my marriage, inquire about my foolish decision to marry an outsider, or thank me for my “sweet husband’s generosity” for various and sundry help around town, I was ready to tear out my hair.
For the sake of my scalp, I decided to leave the office and head home.
“Bernice, I’ll be back in the morning. If you happen to see Taza Daggett, please ask him to give me a call. I could use his help with roundup this weekend.”
She looked up from her computer. “Sure thing. Maybe swing by Lake Sports on your way home. Jackson has those papers ready for your signature.”
I nodded and headed out, pulling into the lot in front of the sports store before walking past the colorful row of kayaks to head inside. As usual this time of year, the place was hopping. Snowmelt made for big water, which brought kayakers and white water rafters out earlier than the hikers and climbers. Thanks to snow sports, river runs in the spring, and the summer tourist season with Yellowstone visitors, Lake and Jackson managed to do good business most of the year.
Past a rack of new Majestic and Yellowstone T-shirts, Lake McNair was unboxing sporty water bottles with a familiar cycling company logo on them. When he saw me, his face lit up. “You didn’t need to come down. Jackson was going to bring the papers by in a little bit.”
“I’m on my way home and figured I’d stop by. Is he in the office?”
“Yeah. This way.” He directed me toward the back and walked with me. “Saw your handsome husband a little while ago. He was in here buying us out of footwear.”
My heart did its usual little blip at the use of the word husband in relation to me. In relation to Silas. “Oh?”
He nodded. “Got a nice pair of Zamberlans for hiking. For riding…” He glanced sideways at me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I talked him into a proper cowboy boot. He wanted something short, but…”
I winced. “No. Too many snakes and brambles and shit.”
“Right. That’s what I said. Told him you’d tear me a new one if I sent him home with shitty boots.”
I wondered if it really mattered. If Silas would stick around long enough to get any good use from a pair of good boots. Even though his interference in town had been bugging the hell out of me, the thought of him going back East made me feel slightly nauseous.
When we entered Jackson’s office, he was frowning at his computer. Lake gestured me to the chair opposite the desk. “Babe, Waylon’s here to sign the papers for AdventureSmash.”
Jackson’s entire face transformed when he shifted his attention from work to his husband. I’d always been a little envious of their relationship, assuming I wished for the same passionate devotion someday. But now I wondered. Was there something about the fact both of them were men that made me envious? Had my subconscious somehow known I had an attraction to men that went deeper than mere curiosity? Was I envious of their relationship, or could I be attracted to one or both of them?
I shifted nervously while doubts and confusion tumbled helplessly through my brain. Thankfully, the paperwork for their shop extension during the AdventureSmash exhibition was simple enough not to require multiple read-throughs. I signed it quickly and stood up.
“You’re all set,” I said stupidly.
Jackson frowned. “You okay?”
“Yeah, ’course.”
He and Lake exchanged a look, but I didn’t stick around long enough to interpret it. “Sorry, I’m due at the ranch,” I mumbled on my way out.
For once, the drive home was too short. I wondered for the hundredth time whether asking Silas to stick around had been the best idea ever or the worst. The addition of my mental stress with him here seemed to have multiplied my responsibilities. Maybe it was time to face facts and admit that Foster was right: my divorce was going to cause drama regardless of when it happened. Why not go ahead and bite the bullet so I could get past this confusion and frustration that much quicker?