“Well, I went looking for ya in the barn, but Titan is gone. I was gonna ask you to help me with dinner. Ruby wants steak, and it’d be cruel to make a man who can’t eat one make them by himself,” he said. It sounded like he was still annoyed about the strict diet restrictions the doctor had him on.
“Oh. Well, that makes sense. I’m out in the side field checking for stragglers, but I was getting ready to head in. I can be there in about thirty minutes.”
I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but I could hear Ruby yelling at him for something in the background. “You sure youcan’t do twenty? These women are driving me crazy. It’s all ‘Doug, don’t do this,’ and ‘Dad, you can’t do that.’”
Lennox covered her mouth as I laughed. “Where’s Lincoln? Can’t he save you?”
Doug let out a long exhale. “I’d very much like to keep my thoughts away from what he’s doing right now if it's all the same to you.”
That sent Lennox rolling. She kicked her feet in the air, trying and failing to keep quiet. Lincoln had just gotten back from a clinic, which meant he and Josie were probably locked away in their little cabin right now, fucking like bunnies. “Uh, yeah. Got it. I’ll go as fast as Titan’ll let me.”
“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll try to hold on a little longer then.”
When the line went dead, I looked over at Lennox whose face was beet red from laughing so hard. “Duty calls,” I said, pushing to my feet and holding out my hand for her to take. The moment she was standing on two feet, I pulled her into me for a deep, long kiss. “Thank you for listening.” I bent down and pressed my forehead to hers. “It means a lot.”
Her hand came up, swiping beneath my eyes. “I’ll always be here to listen to you.”
I wasn’t sure how long always would last, but for right now, it was pretty damn perfect.
lennox
. . .
“Bout damn time,”Dad grumbled as the back door opened. “Was beginning to think you’d never surface for air.”
All eyes turned to my sister and her boyfriend standing in the shade. Josie’s cheeks flamed bright pink as Lincoln wrapped his arm around her middle. “Sorry. Lincoln had to… unpack.”
Dad snorted, leaning against the cedar pillar near the grill. “That what the kids are calling it these days?” He shook his head. “Back in my day, we just called it knockin’ boots.”
“God, Dad. Please stop,” she said, turning to bury her face in Lincoln’s chest. He wasn’t fazed in the slightest. If anything, he looked proud.
“I’m just saying!” Dad said, raising his hands. “I don’t like hearing it any more than you do, but if you’re grown enough to do it, then you’re grown enough to call it like it is.”
He walked over, pulling Josie from Lincoln's arms and kissing her forehead like he hadn’t seen her earlier. Then he and Lincoln shared the typical dude embrace, which wasn’t quite a hug or a handshake. Bishop followed, doing the same thing. “How was your trip? Tell me all about it!”
Callie lay at my feet, snoozing away while I watched Bishopfrom my seat on the patio, bringing a cold beer to my lips. He looked so happy here with everyone, laughing and joking while tending the grill. Every now and then, my dad would clap his shoulder, and I swore I saw him stand a little taller.
I’d known a little bit about Bishop’s history from overhearing Mom and Dad talk from time to time, but I’d never known just how tough he’d had it. I couldn’t stop thinking about his childhood while we packed up the picnic and rode back to the barn. He was right. It’d been a hard truth for me to listen to when my parents were truly special.
Growing up, they had a very open-door policy. We could come to them about anything bothering us, and they always agreed to help us sort it out. I’d never had to think about what the alternative looked like because it never applied to me. How privileged I was to never worry about money or hear sharp words wielded like weapons by the people who raised me.
Bishop deserved so much more than the hand he’d been dealt, but I wondered if somewhere along the way he’d gotten too mixed up in it to appreciate what he might draw next.
When he talked about wanting a family earlier, a place to call his own, I wanted to shake him and tell him to look around. I mean, he’d attended every Friday night dinner since I could remember. Dad wouldn’t have invited him if he wasn’t family. There wasn’t a person on this ranch who didn’t care for and respect him.
And I was no exception.
As if he could feel my stare, he looked up and winked before continuing his conversation. It was quick. So quick that I might’ve missed it if I hadn’t been paying attention, but I think I always had been.
Whenever Bishop walked into a room, I gravitated toward him, keenly aware of his every move. If he glanced my way in a crowd, I felt his gaze like static skittering along my skin. It wassomething I’d shrugged off as an annoyance. Of course, I knew where the most aggravating person I’d ever met was.
But it was more.
It'd always been more.
Josie and Cleo plopped beside me, talking about the branding. It was always a big weekend around here. All hands would be on deck to move through the calves as quickly as possible. Last I checked, we had about 175 to push through, which was more than we’d seen in previous seasons.
“Any of your old boyfriends coming to help?” Josie asked, kicking me under the table.
