“Cole said peas, peas for people?” she asked as they climbed back atop their horses.
He shook his head. “No. Yellow peas for livestock feed. They’re full of protein. Ash grows all types.”
“So, Cole’s land is next to yours. How many acres does he have?”
“We each have two hundred.”
“That’s a lot, isn’t it?”
Seth waved a hand, the morning light catching the bronze of his watch. “Not by Montana standards. We’re tiny dots compared to the Coleman ranch, which has one hundred thousand acres.”
“A hundred thousand?” She shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t even picture that.”
“They’re a massive operation,” he said, urging Zephyr forward through the field. “Raising beef.”
She shook her head. “I just can’t comprehend that.”
He chuckled. “And their ranch isn’t even as big as some in Montana.”
She shook her head in wonder. “When I first got here, Cull told me you train cutting horses. Since I don’t know a lot about horses, I had to look it up. How do you stay on when they make those sudden moves?”
Seth grinned. “Pure determination.” His phone buzzed in his pocket. He wrapped the reins around the saddle horn, pulled the phone out. “Harrison,” he answered. “Yes, that works. I’m heading back now. Yes, sir. I’ll see you at the barn.” He tucked the phone away and looked at her, eyes dancing. “Mr. Hayes is at the barn.”
“Shit. Shit. Shit,” she muttered, making him laugh.
“Just ignore him.”
“I thought he was supposed to get here Monday to interview you.”
“No clue about that.” Seth shrugged.
“Jackass. He thinks he can work on three or four different articles at a time. Doris wanted to fire him once, he had three articles going, screwed up two.”
“Doris?”
“The boss. Wonderful woman. I love her.”
“That’s good. We’d better head back. I hope he’s not in city slicker clothes.”
Ryan laughed. “I wish he’d step in a fresh cow patty from Elsie.”
Seth’s grin was wicked. “Me too. I could have Cull get her out.”
“Oh, please do.”
They guided their horses down the dusty track to the red barn, the smell of hay and leather growing stronger. Outside, Sean stood talking to Cull, dressed in a red T-shirt tucked into jeans, cowboy boots, and, surprisingly, a crisp cowboy hat. He stuck out like a sore thumb standing next to Cull. Ryan reined in her horse and nearly toppled over laughing at the sight.
****
Seth glanced over, shook his head, nudged Zephyr, then shook his head in amused resignation. With a gentle nudge of his heels, he herded him through the barn’s wide-open doors. Sunlight slanted across the dusty floorboards as he rode in, the scent of hay and warmed leather drifting around him. He dismounted, the soft thud of his boots echoing in the rafters, and turned just as Hayes approached, each step seeming to cost him something. Seth had to bite back a grin; he could see every wince in the man’s gait from here.
“Mr. Harrison? I’m sorry I didn’t make it Monday. I had to go over the other interviews. I hope this—” Hayes began, voice strained.
“Perfect timing,” Seth said, in polite calm. “But you’ll have to follow me.”
Hayes’ eyebrows shot up. “Follow you?”
Seth leaned against a stack of golden hay bales, flecks of straw drifting in the beams of light. “Yes, sir. I’ve got chores to do. Feel free to ask me questions as I work.”
