Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Rem’s and Brady’s kids, along with Birdie, are running about, helping more than getting into trouble.
Hell, even Jake is in that pen, giving vaccinations.
“I had no idea that some ranches operate like this,” I say to Vance, who snickers next to me. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because it wouldn’t have done any good,” he says, shaking his head. “Your dad was stuck in his ways, and even though he didn’t have much to do with this part of the ranch anymore, there’s no way he would have stood for this kind of operation. Even if it did make his life easier and make the day go by faster. He wasn’t exactly worried about being part of the community, Holden.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and then look over to where my sisters are watching. They’re standing side by side, their eyes wide as they take it all in, and I can’t get what Millie said the other day out of my head.
They grew up on a ranch and never got to enjoy it.
I cross over to them and grin. “Are you ready to bolt yet?”
“No,” Dani says, shaking her head. “This is actually really cool. Millie explained a lot to us when we got here.”
“I’m on my way to help out with lunch,” Alex adds. “I don’t love hearing the babies cry.”
“It only hurts for a minute,” I assure her before I pat her shoulder.
Dad always tortured Alex the most with the animals because she was the softest at heart.
The prick.
“I can’t stay all day,” Charlie adds with a sigh. “I have too much work, but I wouldn’t have missed coming out for the world. Thanks for having us.”
“It’s your ranch, too.” I wink at her and then notice that Dani walks over to where Bridger’s tying Birdie’s shoe.
“Hey,” she says, getting Bridger’s attention.
He looks up, and his jaw tightens, but his eyes brighten when he sees it’s her. “Hey, Dani.”
“I just rented out the house across the street from yours. So, we’re neighbors now.”
“Oh, Dani,” Alex mutters next to me.
“Your brother told me you left Bozeman,” Bridger says with a nod as he rises to his full height. Dani shoves her hands into her pockets and looks down at the ground, then smiles up at my friend.
“I did. Since Dad died, and I had to come back here anyway, I decided to stay. I’ll be a teacher at the elementary school this fall.”
“Congratulations. I’m happy for you.” He smiles softly and reaches out to pat her shoulder, and Dani just shrugs, as if it’s no big deal, when I know for a fact that it’s a big fucking deal.
“Thanks. Well, I’m sure I’ll see you around. And I’ll see Birdie at school.” Dani grins at the little girl. “Are you having fun today?”
“Yes!” Birdie does a little hop, making Dani laugh.
“I’d better get back to work,” Bridger says, but winks at my sister before walking away, and Dani returns to us.
“And you think that’s not flirting?” Alex asks her twin sister.
“We’re just friends.” Dani lifts her chin, gives me the side-eye, and then turns to leave. “I’m going to see if they need me at the food tent.”
When she and Alex leave, I turn to Darby. “Do I have to kill Bridger?”
“Nope. It’s your sister that’s the problem.”
I scowl at my sister. “Why is she a problem?”
“Because Dani has put Bridger in the friend zone, and I’m pretty sure he’d like to be out of the friend zone.”
“Darby.”
“What? It’s the truth. Dani’s just too blind to see it, even though she’s crushed on him for years. Bridger lights her fire, if you know what I mean.”
She winks at me, waggles her eyebrows, and then stalks away, and I want to find something to stab in my eye.
“Come on, baby, let’s go,” Millie says, talking to her horse and catching my attention once more. Jesus Christ, she’s sexy on that animal.
The day goes so much smoother than normal. Within a couple of hours, we have all the calves branded and vaccinated, and then we’re herding them back out to the pasture. I ride up next to Millie and pass her a bottle of water.
“How do you always have water on hand?” She twists off the top and takes a sip. “It’s like magic or something.”
“Or something. I have to make sure you’re hydrated, baby girl.”
“Hey, Millie!”
We turn our heads when Levi rides up next to her, his eyes all shiny with appreciation, and I stare my man down.
“That’s Mrs. Lexington to you, Levi.”
He blinks fast at my hard tone, swallows hard, and then lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry, boss. I just wanted to show your wife that the tiny calf she was worried about earlier is fine. See, she’s with her mama, safe and sound.”
“Oh, good. She’s so small,” Millie says quietly, watching the calf. “I was hesitant to vaccinate her. But she seems okay.”