I see an off ramp and hit my exhaust brake to slow and exit. “No, we’re driving all night. We’re stopping at the ranch.”
Without moving his body, he slowly turns his head like an owl. “We’re—what? What ranch? We don’t ranch.”
“Kacey’s ranch. It’s not very far out of our way. I can spend tomorrow with Kacey, then we’ll go to Vernal.”
This wakes him up and he turns to face me fully, setting his elbow on the center console, resting his face on his palm. “There are girls all over the rodeo. Why’d we have to detour 500 hundred miles just for this one?” The shithead is quoting the movie8 Seconds.
I reach across the truck and smack him. “Love knows no bounds.”
He finishes laughing, completely unfazed by my death glare.
“Stop being dramatic. It’s not 500 miles; it’s like an hour and a half.” I pull over on the shoulder of the off ramp and unbuckle.
“No, it’s a twenty-four-hour detour, is what it is. But it’s okay, I love love. Speaking of love, will the redhead be there?” He smirks at me and opens his door.
I make a mental note to tell Kacey not to invite Jessie around. I want quality time with Kacey—I don’t want to waste my time keeping Trey from humping Jessie’s leg.
“Just drive, I need some sleep. Wake me up at seven and I’ll trade you back.”
“Yeah, you better rest up. Don’t want to be tired for all thequality timeyou’re going to spend with Kacey.” He raises his hands, making air quotations with his fingers before taking off his hoodie and putting the truck in drive.
I roll my eyes and lean the seat back, quickly passing out.
Trey wakes me up at seven and we trade.
I shoot a quick text to Kacey, asking her to call me when she can. I want to give her a heads up that we’re coming and make sure it’s okay. Someday I’ll be able to surprise her, I’m just not sure we’re at that point yet.
“Ugh, that graveyard shift will get a guy,” Trey says as he cracks his neck side to side. “But anything for you, buddy. Can we stop for breakfast? I’m starving.”
The truck screen lights up with Kace’s call. I shush Trey and answer over the truck speakers, “Morning, beautiful.”
“Hey, you. You’re up early,” she says with the sound of feed buckets being filled in the background.
“I haven’t exactly gone to bed. What’re you doing today?”
“Oh my word, get some sleep. I’ll ride out and check the mares and foals soon, then I told Chet I’d help him and a few of the cowboys move some yearlings to the feedyard. You guys driving all day?”
I check the maps and see we’re two hours from the ranch. “That’s up to you,” I tell her.
“Huh?”
“I’m about two hours from the ranch.”
I hear her stop filling buckets, and there is a long pause before she squeaks out, “This ranch?”
I can’t help but chuckle at her, and Trey covers his mouth, trying not to laugh next to me. “Yes, your ranch. Is that okay? We have tonight off, then we can drive the rest of the way to Vernal tomorrow.”
“Yeah—yes, of course,” she says quickly. “Let me talk to Chet, I’m sure one of the other cowboys can move yearlings—”
“No, I don’t want to affect your work. I can come help if you want. I could take Buck out.”
Trey is waving his hand around, trying to get my attention.
“Ask about the redhead,” he whisper shouts.
“What?” Kacey asks.
I smack him in the stomach, making him grunt. “Nothing, that was just Trey saying something. So Buck?” I ask again to distract her.
