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“It should be.Like I said, it’s warming up.We haven’t had any rain to speak of for a little while now.Might be a hot summer.”
“What, are you a weatherman now?”
“I’m just making conversation.So, talk to me.What’s been going on to lighten you up?”
Just a couple of days ago, Erin asked me if I have someone in my life that I can really talk to, someone who gets me.Brady is that person for me, so I let out a sigh and tell him everything he needs to know about Erin.
“I like her,” he says when I’ve finished.“And you can tell that the kids just love her.I think it’s great.”
“She’s more than a decade younger than me.”
“But she’s not a kid,” he reminds me.“Is that the only thing that worries you?”
“It’s the biggest thing.If it was Holly, I’d kick my ass.”
“If it was Holly, we’d all kick your ass,” he says.“But it’s not Holly.She likes it out here, on the ranch.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”I scowl over at him, but Brady just smiles back at me.
“Not everyone can deal with ranch life, man.You and I both know that.It’s hard.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that I’ve been sleeping with her for about six minutes, not preparing to take her as a bride.”
Brady snorts and then laughs outright.“Yeah, well, it’s good to know that she could hack it.Because you’ll never live anywhere else.”
No.I’ll never live anywhere else.The ranch is my home, and it’s my responsibility.One I knew that I’d take on from the time I was Johnny’s age.It’s an honor to me.
So, while I won’t admit out loud that Brady’s right, I wouldn’t have anything to do with a woman who couldn’t handle living at the ranch, I’m also not willing to admit that I’ve thought of anything long-term with Erin.
Even if Ihavethought of it.Because it’s too soon.
“I like her,” he says again.
“I do, too.”
“I like that she seems to lift your whole vibe.That’s saying something.”
I glance his way, and Brady just grins.He’s the most laid-back guy I know.
“Whoa,” Brady says, looking at something on the ground.“I thought you said that no one’s been out this way since late last fall.”
“They haven’t.”
“Then why are there fresh footprints in that mud?Man footprints.”
I tell my horse to stop, and I dismount, walk over to the prints, and squat.Brady joins me.
“The mud is half dry,” I say grimly.“But yeah, the prints are fresh.I haven’t sent any of our guys up here since last year.It was too wet to get here safely with the horses.”
“We’re not anywhere near the Lexingtons’,” he says, looking around.“Hiker?”
“Maybe, but we have no trespassing signs posted, and they had to jump a fence.”
“It’s happened before.”
I stand back up and prop my hands on my hips.“I don’t like it.Let’s set up some game cameras out here to keep an eye out.It might have been a hiker, but it doesn’t sit well.”
“Agreed.I’ll make sure we get the cameras set up by tomorrow.”
