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“No matter what happens, we’ve got to stick together,” he told his friend, the man he considered a brother now.
“Agreed.” Colby ran his finger through his dark brown hair. Preston thought he needed a trim around the ears, though. With his neat mustache and beard, he looked like a man from the 70s. He wasn’t sure if their new owner would go for that.
When he studied Colby, he noted the rough lines in his forehead and the biceps that looked like he was training to be a wrestler. The large hands, the dark eyes, and the sharpness of his tongue let you know he didn’t mess around.
There was an edge to him that Preston never wanted to cross and a wariness about him that didn’t let him get close to people.
But today was the first time he’d been interested in a woman and now she was here. What the hell did they do with that?
Nathan, the Parker’s lawyer had been quiet about the details of the will. Especially considering the ranch. Their futures were up in the air.
The memory of Jim White hit him and he groaned.
“Once Jim finds out she’s here, he’ll be like a magnet sticking to her. We won’t be able to get rid of him,” Preston said.
“Oh, hell no,” Colby said. “Maybe we should tell her about him.”
“No,” Preston said. “We cannot try to persuade her in any direction about this ranch. We’re too close to it. All we can do is show her how beautiful it is and maybe even tell her about the history of the property. After all, this is her heritage.”
“True,” Colby said. “She acted like her father had never mentioned the land or his parents.”
That was definitely odd.
“Who in town knew the Parkers when their son lived here? Is anyone still alive?” Colby asked.
“Yeah,” Preston said. “Granny Jones. We’ll have to tell Kalie about her. She might be interested in going and talking to her. She might learn why her father and her grandparents never spoke to each other.”
With a sigh, Colby glanced at his watch. “As much as I’d like to be over there sharing that big bed with her, I guess it’s time for us to bunk down. Ranch work starts early.”
Indeed it did. It was long hours but satisfying work.
Colby stood. “I know what I’m going to be dreaming of tonight. The feel of those sweet cheeks snug against my cock in the entryway to the store. Damn, if we’d been alone, it could have gotten pretty wild, very quick.”
Preston laughed. “I think you would do better thinking of a nice long, warm shower, where you’re jerking off. That’s the only relief you’re going to get tonight.”
“Or tomorrow night, or the one after that,” Colby said. “I don’t think Miss Priss is into cowboys. Especially ones with a rap sheet.”
Colby didn’t like to talk much about how or why he’d been convicted. It was a painful subject for him, so Preston didn’t bring it up. But the man had turned his life around and Preston considered him as a brother.
“All right, time to go to bed. Lock the doors, so we’re protected from Kalie breaking in and taking advantage of us,” Preston said.
Laughter came from Colby as he headed toward his room. “Now you’re dreaming.”
CHAPTER6
The next morning Preston had gathered the eggs and fed the chickens while Colby took care of the horses. Today, their plan was to check on the cattle and make certain they still had enough grass before moving them to the next pasture.
As he walked toward the barn, he saw Kalie sitting outside drinking coffee, gazing out at the land.
This morning she wore jeans and a no-sleeve T-shirt that clung to her figure. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she looked like she was sixteen, not in her twenties. Her laptop sat on the table in front of her.
He walked toward her and saw Colby come out of the barn. The two of them arrived at the table at the same time.
“Good morning,” he said. “I gathered the eggs this morning. Here you go.”
Staring at them, she glanced up at him. “Is that poop on them?”
He laughed. “Yes, ma’am. I like to rinse them off before I put them in the refrigerator.”
