I need to know how she’s feeling.
I reach across the center console and take her hand, giving it a squeeze. “What’s going on in that head of yours? You’ve been quiet.”
She turns to face me and says the last thing I expected. “My dad never once asked me if I wanted the foreman job. He offered it to Carson three times, but he continued to refuse. Then one day, Chet showed up out of nowhere. He hadn’t even worked for us before taking over most of the day-to-day operations, and he never talks about where he came from or what his experience is. All Dad said when I asked was ‘he knows what he’s doing.’ Dad focuses more on growth and the overall business now.”
She leans her head back against her headrest and sighs. “I don’t know why he didn’t ask me. Am I not good enough? I grew up there, working alongside him and Carson. I know I’m good with cattle and horses, and sure, I didn’t go get an agricultural business degree, but neither did Carson. I know everything about that place, so why doesn’t he think I could handle the job?”
Whoa.She’s hardly brought up the ranch since she got here. I know she isn’t a fan of Chet, but the way she talks about this, Ican tell it’s been eating at her for a while. “Have you ever asked your dad?” I ask her gently.
“No,” she grumbles under her breath.
I fight to keep the smirk off my face; she’s cute when she grumbles. “It sounds like this really bothers you. I think you should talk to him. I’ve seen you on that ranch—you’re more than capable and he knows that, too. There has to be another reason he hired Chet.”
“When he saw I was worried about you, he practically bought my plane ticket and shoved me out the door. He had no issue with me taking three weeks off. I’ve never taken a week off, let alone three. No one on the ranch takes that much time off. Chet hasn’t so much as taken a long weekend since he started with us.”
I glance her way and see she’s biting her bottom lip. I’ve learned she does this when she’s upset. “Has Chet mismanaged anything or done something wrong? I picked up quickly this spring that you don’t get along.”
She crosses her arms and narrows her eyes in annoyance.
Shit, maybe that wasn’t the right question to ask.
“Other than being a sarcastic ass, no. He’s not very patient with young horses, but great with cattle, the ranch hands all love him. Dad thinks he’s great. Heck, my freaking dog likes him. Technically, he’s the perfect foreman.” She huffs. “I just don’t understand. It’s been bothering me for two years and now I’m about to go back there, and I don’t even know if they really need me. My dad acted like losing me for three weeks wouldn’t hurt them at all. They’d be just fine without me.”
I give her hand a squeeze and choose my words wisely. “Kace, your dad loves you and wants the best for you. The way he talked to me about you when you weren’t around—” Her eyes flick over to meet mine, not full of anger, but hurt. “He’s so proud of you. And I believe there is a reason for everything that man does. Ifhe told you to come out here, he had a reason for it. For the record, I think you would be a damn good foreman. If you want the job, you need to talk to him about it. If he doesn’t think you’re ready for it, then at least you’ll know. He’ll be wrong, but you’ll know.” I look over and give her a wink, trying to relax her.
I honestly don’t believe Cody has any doubts about his daughter. He has to have a different reason for hiring Chet. But Kacey needs to know I’m one hundred percent on her side. I believe in her; she would do an amazing job as ranch foreman.
She takes a deep breath. “Thanks. I know I need to talk to him, it’s just hard. I don’t want him to think I’m whining or entitled. I want to earn it.”
“He knows you better than that. There’s nothing wrong with having an honest conversation with him about how you’re feeling. You love that ranch, don’t let this take that love away from you.”
She gives me a small smile and squeezes my hand back. “You’re right. I’ll do it when I get home.”
We pull into the airport to get Trey thirty minutes later.
Chapter 40
Kacey
Ellensburg, Washington
Trey is standing on the curb at the airport waving both arms in the air, like we might miss him. As if being the only one in a cowboy hat and perfectly starched jeans wasn’t enough, he’s wearing a hot pink “I Heart Boobies” sweatshirt.
I burst out laughing as Knox sighs and opens his truck door. “I never should have let him get that sweatshirt.”
I’m still laughing when I get out of the truck and Trey gives me a side hug.
“Hi, Mrs. Ward.”
“Hey, Trey.” I hug him back. Trey called us every single day for the last three weeks. If Knox ignored his call—like he did on our two days off—Trey would just call again. I’ve gotten to know himpretty well from our truck-speaker conversations. He’s actually a really great guy. It’s evident in the way he helps Knox’s mom and sister when Knox and his brother-in-law are out of town, or how much he supports and cares about Knox. He might not know how to keep his dick in his pants, but he isn’t a shitty person by a long shot.
“Throw your bag in the camper and let’s get out of here,” Knox says.
Trey goes to load his bags as Knox and I both climb back in the truck. As we open our doors, we hear a high-pitched girlish scream come from the camper. We both run to the back of the boxes as Trey sticks his head out of the door.
“ItREEKSof sex in here! If I was a virgin, I would’ve just lost my v card by walking into this camper. Agh!” He shakes out his limbs like a dog.
“Shut up, people are staring. And I got you new sheets already,” Knox reassures him before turning around—completely unbothered by his outburst—to get back in the truck. I glance around, andyep, people are staring at us.
