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“That’s a super broad term, because it could mean anything from a college degree, starting a small business, making a chunk of money, or even something simple like learning a new skill or trade. Then upon return, by invitation from their dad, he offers them the ranch,” Carly finished.
“Rumor has it that the oldest son, however, rejected the offer this generation, so the second son inherited it when he returned,” Elena said as the sweet, gray-haired server carried over three plates of burgers.
“Here you ladies go. Anythin’ else y'all need?” she asked, her voice sweet like honey.
“We’re good for now, thank you!” I replied as she set down the three plates of food on the gray tabletop and then twirled away. Her red diner outfit made a swoosh as she left.
“He’s supposedly scary though. At least that’s what everyone in town says. They say he’s pretty mean, can shoot deadlier than a Texas Ranger, and is super terrifying to look at,” Elena said between bites of her burger.
“Terrifying to look at?” I asked as some juice ran down my hand from the hamburger. A telltale sign of how delicious the food was here.
“Yeah. Someone said he’s all gashed up across his entire face and down his torso from some animal fight he got into as a teenager,” Elena continued, her eyes not moving an inch from her food.
“Apparently he won though, and they ate the animal that year,” Carly muttered through a full mouth and shrugged her shoulders. “Anyway, he made Cassidy foreman, since other than offering his younger brother the ranch, which he didn’t want to give up, that was the next best thing available. Besides, everyone knows that Cassidy isn’t exactly fit for being a boss despite how amazing he is.”
“Why does it seem like much of this is speculation? What happened to the oldest brother?” I asked, shoving some hamburger into my mouth.
“Because most of itdoescome from rumors that we’ve heard from those in town. Their parents homeschooled Cassidy and his three siblings, so we didn’t really get to know them growing up like we did others in town. They don’t invite a lot of people up to the ranch anymore either, not after the time that Cassidy nearly burned down the entire place with a bonfire he threw as a young teen. Though I’ve seen the ranch a few times making runs there with Doc,” Carly answered as I swirled a french fry in ketchup. So much was making sense, yet so much was also confusing.
“Wait.” I blinked, my hand frozen halfway to my mouth as ketchup plopped onto the plate. “You said he has three siblings?”
“Yeah. The eldest brother became an accountant when he met his wife while at college. They live at the ranch and have a couple kids. He works as the accountant for the family but rejected inheriting it because of his wife. Well, that is if the rumors are true. I think his name is like Remington or something. Then there’s the next sibling, the boy who inherited the ranch. He left and somehow made a massive amount of money and came back. What was his name? Wesley? Winston?” Carly’s voice trailed off as pieces fell together.
“Weston,” I muttered under my breath. But that was impossible. There was no way what they were saying was true. I would have to find some appropriate time to ask about the rumors and get an answer as to why everyone thought he was so rude. If people only gave him a chance, they’d come to learn he was helpful and sweet in his own way.
Shaking my head in shock, I shoved another fry in my mouth. Sweet? Not me calling someone sweet whom I’d only had a few interactions with. But I couldn’t deny I was drawn to him.
“What’d you say?” Elena asked, and I blinked, pulling myself back to the present.
“Nothing. Sorry. Go on.”
Elena took a swig of water and continued. “Then came the third child. A sister named Pearl. She left and came back with a husband, and she has zero desire to be anything but a housewife at the ranch. Her husband works for the Dukes, which is rumored to have been his dream job, and some say that was the only reason he married her. But who cares as long as they’re happy.” She chuckled as I placed the last fry into my mouth.
“Then there’s Cassidy,” I urged them to continue.
“Exactly. Thegorgeousbaby of the family and he was treated like that for much of their childhood. Rumor has it that he and Wesley, or whatever his name is, are quite close despite the age gap. Hence, another reason he was made foreman without hesitation,” Carly finished and slurped the last droplet of water from her cup.
“Age difference? How much of an age difference?” I asked, curious as to how old Weston actually was and wanting some sort of weapon to use in my defense if I were to embarrass myself in front of him once more.
“Uh, six or seven years, I think,” Carly answered, and my jaw nearly hit the floor. There was a potential for ten years of an age difference between Weston and me? Ten full years would put him around thirty-six years old, if Carly was right.
“You okay?” Carly asked, as I continued to sit in disbelief at the shock holding my entire frame frozen.
“Tenley?” Elena pressed.
“Hello?” Carly said once more, and I finally snapped out of my stupor.
“Yeah, sorry. That’s just a lot of information to digest,” I responded and glanced at my watch. “We need to get going, Doc needs his lunch, and we’ve got an appointment in fifteen.”
“Don’t know how much of it is true, though,” Carly added as I plopped some cash onto the table, and we slid from the booth, leaving empty plates.
“Probably more than you think,” I mumbled, following the two girls from the diner. We waved at our server upon exit and said quick greetings to a few of the townsfolk I’d met through work or my parents since being here.
Neither girl heard my comment, and I was grateful that the conversation had ended. Yet, I was still curious as to how much was factual. Especially if Weston really fought off an animal.
That had to be a cool story, but one I feared he would hardly speak about.
Chapter 8
