“Are they growing as they should?” she asked.
“Yes, they’re doing very well, too.”
“As cold as it’s been, I’m surprised.”
“As long as the temps don’t go below thirty-eight, they’ll be fine. Our night temps have been above forty-five, so they’ve been germinating much faster.”
“Forty-five is still cold,” she said.
Cull chuckled. “Not if you’re from Montana.”
Ryan laughed. “I suppose not. I bet the winters are harsh, aren’t they?”
“Harsh could be an understatement. This place is not for everyone. Some people think they’d love living here until they get a taste of the first snowstorm. We get stranded indoors for days and can lose power.” Cull shrugged. “Montanans are used to it. We grew up living with it.”
“Seth isn’t going to be able to work with the horses, is he? Because of Sean,” Ryan said, shaking her head.
Cull sighed. “No, but he’ll try to get the horse to trust him. He has to do that first, anyway. Thing is, he has two that he had started on and now he has to stop.”
“Damn Sean for being mouthy.” She sighed. “I wish I’d never dated him. Pig.”
“So, why did you? We noticed he was full of it the day he arrived.”
“I have no idea. I’m glad he cheated on me because it made me get the hell away from him.”
“He was never abusive, was he?” Cull’s jaw clenched.
“No. Never, but he could be condescending at times.”
“I believe he tried that with Seth, but Seth’s no fool.”
“I know that. I’ll get some photos of the oats. I can’t believe how well they’re growing.”
Cull stood beside her, looking over the land. Once she finished, she looked at him.
“You’ve known him a long time, haven’t you?”
“Yes. We went to school together.”
“He seems like a good man.”
Cull looked at her with a smirk. “One of the best I’ve ever known.”
“You seem close.” She shook her head. “I don’t look forward to leaving but I know I can’t stay.”
Cull stared at her. “That’s your decision, Ryan. Let’s get to the fence.”
Ryan climbed into the UTV wishing she’d never come to Montana and met Seth Harrison.
When Cull reached the downed fence, he stopped the vehicle, walked to the back of it and got a toolbox out, then strode through the tall grass to the fence. Ryan took more photos since this was the first time she saw this area. She knew Montana would forever be in her heart, along with Seth.
****
Seth entered the barn, the scent of hay and horses filling the air as he carried a steaming cup of black coffee. Dark circles shadowed his eyes; he hadn’t slept much. His swollen knuckles throbbed with every heartbeat, keeping him tossing on sweat-dampened sheets until the digital clock had blinked three a.m. in angry red numbers.
“Morning, boss,” Micky said, his lanky frame silhouetted against the golden shafts of sunlight streaming through dusty windows.
“Micky, how’s it going this morning?” Seth’s voice was gravel-rough with fatigue.
