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“When do you start rodeo stuff?I’ll need to hire another hand before you go.”
Brady shrugs.“In about a month or so.Shows start in May.I can still work here; I’ll just be in and out through the summer, as usual.”
“Yeah, but I want to make sure I have the coverage here so you don’t feel like you have to hurry home.I know what your first love is, and it’s not the ranch.”
“I do love that rodeo ring,” he says with a grin.“She can be a bitch of a mistress, but I can’t get enough of her.You never have issues finding hands.Especially with that new bunkhouse.It’s fuckingnice.”
“The old one was falling apart.I want our guys tolikeliving here.Besides, we’re making a shit ton of money now.The ranch should reflect that.”
Brady nods and then changes the subject.“Speaking of a shit ton of money, I spoke to Ryan this morning.”
I concentrate on pulling my gloves back on.“Yeah?I think he flies in tomorrow morning.”
“He does.Mom wants to do dinner on Friday night at your place, since it’s the biggest.That okay with you?”
“Sure.She cooks dinner almost every day at my house anyway.”
“Are you ever going to stop being pissed at Ryan?”
“I’m not pissed.”I grab my tools and walk down the fence, not at all interested in discussing our brother.“Let’s get back to work.”
“Right.You’re not pissed, and I’m a vampire.”
“Is that so?Maybe you’re the one killing my beef.”
“Ha.Ha.You’re a regular comedian.”
“Hey,Mom, is everything okay at the house?”
“Of course, it is.I’m just out in the garden, getting things ready for some flowers to brighten it up this summer.The kids are inside.They helped me for a while, but then they wanted to go in and play some video games, and I didn’t see the harm in it.”
“I’m glad it’s been uneventful.I’ll be home in about thirty.We’re just finishing up a few things.”
“Sounds good.I’ll see you when you get here, honey.”
I hang up and have a quick meeting with my guys, setting up a game plan through the weekend.The week has gone by fast.
Hell, every week goes by fast these days.
“My niece’s birthday is Sunday,” Bruiser says.He’s a big guy, about six-foot-seven and all muscle.And he’s all gooey when it comes to his niece.
“Then I guess you’d better take Sunday off,” I reply with a nod.
“Thanks, boss.”
“There’s something on this property killing my beef.Keep an eye out.We have wildlife cameras set up, but so far, we haven’t caught anything.”
“We saw bear tracks,” Lucky says, looking up from his notebook.
“I know, but this feels more like a mountain lion to me,” I reply and turn to Brady.“What do you think?”
“Could be a wolf, or a pair of wolves,” Brady says.“Hell, it could be any of the above.”
“We’ll keep an eye out,” Lucky says, making notes in his ratty old notebook.He’s had the same small spiral notebook tucked into the pocket of his work shirt since I was a kid.
At least, it’s alwayslookedlike the same notebook.
After a few more minutes of catching up, I break the meeting and head for the house.
