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He’d put up with it for two years, until the night things went sideways. The night Hugo kissed him and everything Brand thought he believed about himself changed in irreversible ways.
Brand coughed. “I didn’t realize Hugo was back in town.”
“He’s technically not back yet. As fate would have it, he’s been working with Colt out at Clean Slate these last few years. Heard through Colt we’d been having trouble finding qualified help, so he applied. When I saw the application, I called Colt for a reference, and it sounds like Hugo will be a good fit for our staff. Plus, he’s familiar with the area and practically family.”
“That’s...wow.” What were the odds Hugo would end up working the same dude ranch as Brand’s big brother? Astronomical. What were the odds he’d end up working here alongside Brand, who’d spent years trying to hide the guy side of his bisexuality? Even more astronomical. And how on earth had Hugo hidden himself when their family was in California for Colt’s wedding? Hugo hadn’t said a word to any of them.
“So, um, when’s he coming?” Brand asked.
“I don’t have a specific date, but if his momma raised him right, he’ll give at least two weeks to his current boss. I also gave him Elmer Pearce’s number about that trailer he’s always looking to rent. Should be a good fit.”
Brand bit his tongue. Elmer Pearce was, well, eccentric, to say the least. The man owned several acres of property next to their ranch, and he’d filled the land with... Elmer called it art, but Brand called it mostly junk. He’d accumulated piles of metal, usually from properties that had been torn down in their county and neighboring ones, and while Elmer did make folk art out of some of it, a lot of it just sat in rusty piles. Pickers constantly tried to buy from Elmer, but the man rarely sold anything.
But the property did have a single-wide trailer not too far from Elmer’s house, and more than one Woods Ranch employee had rented from Elmer over the last thirty years or so. Elmer always said the extra income gave him money to keep buying more stuff. Brand wasn’t keen on continuing to feed the man’s semi-hoarder habits, but their ranch needed hands, and Hugo would need a place to live.
“Sounds like it’s all worked out, then,” Brand said, a little annoyed that he’d been left out of the decision. Despite being named foreman about five years ago, sometimes he still felt like Dad was looking over his shoulder. Not quite trusting Brand to run the ranch as they’d agreed. “Wouldn’t have minded a little heads-up about the new hire.”
Dad waved a hand in the air. “You’ve got so much going on right now that I don’t want to bother you with every little detail. I may have stepped back a bit but I can handle new hires no problem. You focus on keeping us afloat.”
“I’m doing that, sir.”
“Good man. Sage and her family are coming over for supper at six. Your mother’s making pork chops.”
“I’ll have this finished up and be at the table on time.”
“All right. See you in a few hours, then.”
After Dad left the office, Brand leaned back in his chair and let out a long, frustrated breath. He loved his family, this ranch, and his job, but some days he wasn’t sure his father completely trusted him to run the business. As if he was always looking over Brand’s shoulder, because Brand had been the second son. Not the first choice.
His big brother, Colt, had run away from home when Brand was sixteen, and the job of taking over from their father had defaulted to Brand. At first, Brand had been furious, because he’d wanted to be a teacher, not a cattle rancher. He’d grown up expecting that task to fall to Colt. But Brand had enjoyed getting his business degree, and so far, it had helped keep their small-to-medium-sized cattle operation going in a time when small ranches were going out of business all over the Southwest.
Still, he couldn’t help wonder if Dad would have been as hands-on if Colt was the foreman now, instead of Brand. Would Brand always be second best?
Only time would tell.
Brand tried to push those self-doubts out of his head and got back to work.
