“It was four.”
Alarm flashes in his eyes, and I snicker. Regardless of the rumors, Beth’s mom’s only crime was abandonment.
“She’s not like her mother, or her dad, but she handles his moods really well. She wanted me to know she’ll ensure he’s out of town on Thursday.”
He’s taken aback for a heartbeat. “For once, we’ll owe a Sterling.”
“I never understood the reason for the hatred between you all and them.” I don’t include myself in the conflict.
Instead of telling me Gil’s a bastard like Ransom would’ve done, Calder thinks for a moment. “Neighbors are supposed to help each other—with fences, branding, and sorting. Gil charged us for his time, and that was after we gave up a weekend to help him with branding. Then there was the time he drove past our cattle when they got out and never notified us. Two got hit by a semi, and the insurance company came after us. Their mom drove past Mama when she was stuck in the ditch during a blizzard.”
“But that’s between the same generation. Our generation doesn’t need to feud.”
“The guys are arrogant dicks.”
I smirk, and he scowls at me. That’s all the Cross-Sterling lore I get. He begins to run a sink full of water. As he squirts in soap, I place my fingers on his forearm. His muscles tense beneath my fingertips, and he stills.
So much strength…I snatch my hand back before my nipples get hard again. Why did I have to go and find out he feels as powerful as he looks?
“We have a dishwasher.” I shut the water off, and he glances around, frowning. I pull on the handle, and the drawer rolls out.
Astonishment flits across his face. “Another one.” He stands back to evaluate it.
“It’s been here as long as I’ve been working.”
“I’m sure once Dad had to do a lot of the cleaning himself, he got some amenities.”
I can’t tell if he’s irritated or amused. “It’s efficient.” Then it dawns on me. “He got a dishwasher for the house shortly after…”
“After I left?”
Holly had insisted. She despised doing the dishes. Calder and his brothers likely didn’t enjoy them either, but that didn’t matter to Ransom.
“I still had my fair share of chores.”
His dark brows draw together. “Like what?”
I laugh. “You think your dad let me sleep in every morning with barn cats to feed, dogs, chickens, horses, and a couple of hundred head of cattle?”
“Three fifty.”
“Three fifty what?”
“When I left home, we had 350 head of cattle. Dad grew the operation from 250, once my brothers and I were old enough and stayed close enough to work. We were going to grow to 500 when Landry got done with college.”
The Cross boys worked as employees, like ranch hands. When they left, Ransom hired some kids for the summer and fall roundups until Sawyer and I were older. Eventually, cattle numbers dwindled to a more manageable level.
“It’s down to 150 now, until Sawyer and Carlos begin taking loads to the sale barn in the fall.”
His lips form a grim line. “That’s not enough. Both Carlos and the vet are on the books.” He finishes as though he has to speak around cut glass.
“Who?”
“Carlos and the vet.”
I prop a hand on my hip. “I’m sorry, who?” It’s a struggle to contain my wicked smile.
He gives me a steady stare. “I didn’t forget Sawyer’s name.”
