Adjusting my ball cap, I lean out. “Hey, boss.”
“Have a sec? I wanted to chat with you for a minute or two.”
My heart sinks. I’ve been trying to get everything done, but he’s probably noticed my slacking. “Sure. And listen, I’m sorry that things haven’t been exactly normal around here. But I don’t want you to worry. I’m making sure nothing falls through the cracks.”
He lifts his cowboy hat and drags his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry to hear about Bluebonnet. Ava mentioned it to me. I didn’t even know y’all were expecting.”
“We hadn’t announced anything. She wasn’t that far along.”
“You’ve been working at the barn late at night?”
Every night, after holding Bluebonnet until she falls asleep, I slide out of bed and head up to the barn to get more work done. But I haven’t bumped into anyone, so I’m not sure who ratted me out. “Just finishing up a few things.”
He nods, and the crinkle in his brow makes it seem like he’s deep in thought. “How’s Bonnet? She doing better?”
“Yes, sir. She’s back to normal. I’m not sure how she managed to eat a plastic bag. It must’ve blown into the corral and gone unnoticed.”
“Glad she’s okay.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets and meets my gaze. “I’m buying a few more horses.”
“We have space. When are you getting them?”
“Not sure yet. I’d like you to go with me to look at them.”
“Of course. Just say when.”
He slides the phone out of his pocket and checks the time. “And I think we need another wrangler.”
My blood pressure plummets, and I suck in a deep breath before launching into a plea to keep my job. “Sir, if you aren’t happy with—”
“Relax, Parker. I’m not replacing you. You’re the best wrangler I’ve ever had here on the ranch. I’d be stupid to let you go. But you’re doing the work of two people, and I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”
“It hasn’t been too bad.” Until recently, I haven’t felt overworked, but my social life consisted of hanging out with a seven-year-old and occasionally playing poker with the guys.
“Well, I want it to be good because I don’t want to lose you. Clint and I have been talking about it since your honeymoon. When we covered those days off, it became clear that we needed someone else, so we started looking.” He glances at his phone again. “There is a guy coming in about an hour. And I’d like for you to sit in on the interview.”
“I’d be happy to. Thank you. I didn’t even know you were looking.”
“Waited to say something until we got a lead on someone. It can be discouraging to wait for something when you don’t know if it will ever happen.” He strolls over and rubs Blue’s nose. “Isn’t that right, boy? Just like when I was crazy in love with Lilith, and she wouldn’t talk to me.”
Everyone on the ranch is familiar with the couple of months where Beau spent more time in his office than outside. But thankfully, Beau and Lilith worked things out. And the ranch is a better place because of it. He’s happier for sure.
“We’re all glad she finally did.”
“Yep. All it took was her thinking she’d lose me.” He grins. “I’ll bring Anderson out to the barn when he arrives.”
“See you then.”
The clippity-clop of hooves announces Kent’s arrival, and I step outside. “That didn’t take you long.”
“Nope.” He swings down. “First time I’ve seen you smile in days. Things any better?”
“At home, not really. When she looks at me, there’s pain and sadness. And I can’t do anything to fix it. But that’s me assuming it’s because of the baby, but what if it isn’t? What if she regrets us?”
“Why would you think that?”
“She married me so that she wouldn’t have to be a single mother.” My brain has been racing around this rat wheel for a while. “But if she regrets marrying me, at some point, it’ll come up in conversation, I guess.”
“I doubt she regrets it, Parker. But you could let her know how you feel.”
