Page 79 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

She met his gaze, legs spread in a firm stance as if bracing for a battle. “I know you’re my uncle, but right now you’re my foreman, okay?”

“Am I in trouble?” he asked.

A glimmer of amusement broke through her serious expression. “As foreman, no. As my uncle, yes.”

He raised a brow.

“Your kids are too damn cute. Demi decided she and David needed to have matching Halloween costumes. Auntie Ginny and I spent the morning making Demi a princess dress and him a frog costume.”

Ha. He could picture it. “You’re a good cousin to them.”

She smiled wryly. “And it’s good to start this conversation with a happy thought like that. But you’re back to being my foreman now, okay?”

“Is it going to be a bad conversation?” Tucker asked.

“Maybe not.” She took a deep breath. “I can see myself working at Crooked Creek, but not the way things are right now. And part of me is holding back because I don’t want to talk to Great-uncle Frank the way I need to in order to make a final decision.”

So something was up. “Sounds as if you’re in limbo.”

Sasha dipped her chin slowly. “I need to solve this problem myself, because it’s only the first rung of future disputes. But I also don’t want to be the one who breaks things between our ranches in the process.”

“I don’t think you could,” Tucker assured her. “When Frank brought up this entire issue, his number one concern was keeping the peace between the ranches.”

“But he thought Dustin was going to be the one he’d hand the reins to,” Sasha offered quietly.

Ah. “Valid point.” Tucker eyed her. “What do you need from me?”

Sasha’s stance firmed again, and her chin went up. “Can you come to Crooked Creek with me for a day?” He must have looked confused because she hurried on. “Not to solve my problem or back me up. I want you to be my foreman. If I’m out of line, you can call me on it instead of Uncle Frank.”

Tucker nodded slowly, considering. “That’s a really mature and smart solution. Well done.”

Her eyes brightened. “It’s still going to suck, but it’ll be easier with you there.”

“I’ll make sure I’m available. I’ve got a few things I can discuss with Adam while I’m there. He’s been asking me to come visit.”

She made a face. “Poor Adam.”

Tucker frowned.

“I’m about to throw a fox into the henhouse. I think it’s what Adam wants from the hints he’s been dropping, but I’m not one hundred percent sure.” Sasha’s lips quirked slightly. “Either way, tomorrow is going to be one hell of a ride.”

They drove down in their own vehicles. Sasha now owned one of the newer old ranch trucks, and she kept a steady pace on the highway. Unlike the rest of the Stone family who seemed to take offense at the drive between the ranches and tried to get it over with as quickly as possible.

Tucker had given Adam and Uncle Frank a heads-up that he was coming. Adam met him and Sasha, then directed them to the machine shed to find Frank.

Sasha squared her shoulders then led the way in.

Frank was rummaging through items on the shelves, cursing softly when they entered. His expression moved through a frown to surprise then confusion as he put the old filter in his hands back on the shelf and paced forward to extend his hand. “Tucker. Good to see you. Don’t get you down here very often.”

“Nice to get away to see the other side of the valley now and then,” Tucker offered.

Frank nodded before turning to Sasha. “Welcome back. You have a good Thanksgiving?”

“We did,” she told him. “You have a couple of minutes to chat?”

His frown returned as he glanced at the disorderly shelf. “Right now?”

“If now doesn’t work, maybe at lunch?” Sasha suggested.