“He’d make a great foreman. If we had the money, I’d give him the job tomorrow.”
“Are you really ready to give up all that power?”
I chuckle and scrub a dirty hand across my face. “And all the prestige.” When we reach the barn, I glance out at the pasture. “It’s gotta be the McAllisters.”
“I don’t know who else would go through all this trouble. Plus, Cash hates you.”
“Not sure why. He was the one fucking my wife, not the other way around.”
He snickers. “Well, you did kick his ass when you found them together.”
“Which he should’ve fully expected.”
We get the horses unsaddled and brush them down before we hand them off to one of our guys, who’ll get them settled for the night. Jace goes to the bunkhouse to make sure the patrols are set up.
That’s my job, but since I was up all night, Jace does me a solid and fills in for me.
Exhausted, I drag myself into the house. Beau’s sitting at the bar. “How are the boys?” I ask as I head to the kitchen to wash my hands.
“Fine. But…”
When he doesn’t say anything, I turn to him with my hand on the faucet. “Is Austin still puking?”
“No. He’s better. The kids are sound asleep. Just checked on them ten minutes ago.”
“Great. I was so worried about him today. That fucking bull gave us a run for our money. We had to chase him down the damn highway. I wouldn’t be surprised if we made the news.”
“Glad you caught him, but listen. Paige didn’t wanna stay at the cabin.”
Shit. Paige. “What happened?”
“Well, after she chewed me out, she made me drop her off at Baylee’s.”
Christ. I’m never gonna hear the end of this from Sylvia. “Did you tell Paige that Austin was puking his guts out all night? That our fences got cut? That we had to chase down a dozen cattle?”
He winces. “Not in those words exactly.”
“So let me guess, she’s pissed I ditched her.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
This is why I never wanted to get married again. No one understands how much responsibility I have here. Our entire livelihood is wrapped up in those cattle. The boys and this ranch have to come first if we want any hope of surviving. Maybe things will be different in a few years, but I don’t have anything left to give a woman right now.
I rub the back of my neck. “I’ll go get her tomorrow after my appointment with Harlan.”
He clicks his tongue. “See, that might be a problem.”
“Why’s that?”
“She kinda said she didn’t think she could do this, but that you could call her if you need her to meet up for appearances.”
“When you saythis, do you mean our marriage?”
“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t think you should wait to go talk to her.”
I blow out a breath. “On a scale of one to ten, how pissed is she?”
He tilts his head. “That’s just it. I wouldn’t say she’s pissed exactly, though she wasn’t thrilled you left her at a cabin with no cell signal, TV, or car. But I think you hurt her feelings. I mean, you left her to go talk to Amber.”
