10. Bradyn
CHAPTER 10
brADYN
“ A ll right, that’ll do it.” I straighten and roll my shoulders then step back and examine the gate we just rehung. It hadn’t been fully down, though it was sagging enough that it was only a matter of time.
“Looks good.” James, the ranch hand who’s lived and worked here the longest, lifts the box of tools and carries them over to the UTV. He sets them in the back before getting into the passenger side while I climb behind the wheel.
I was supposed to be bringing Arthur Kidress out here since, out of everyone, he needs the most hand-holding when it comes to performing tasks around the ranch. Honestly, even without what happened last night, I’m about ready to fire him.
The man just has no attention for details. Mainly, the rule of leaving the gates exactly as you find them. If it’s open, leave it open. Closed? Secure it behind you. His inability to do the latter led to a few of the cattle getting loose earlier today and us having to round them back up.
But last night was just icing on the cake.
Seeing Sammy wild-eyed and afraid she was going to lose her job unlocked an anger in me I don’t know that I’ve ever felt on the home front. Of course, we wouldn’t have fired her for that.
Self-defense is self-defense.
When I’d told my dad about it this morning, even he’d been ready to fire Arthur. But I’d promised her last night we wouldn’t do that. Unless things get worse. If he doesn’t back off and stop putting his hands on her, he’s out. Period.
“Let me ask you something, James.” I pull away from the gate and start heading back to the shop.
“Go for it.”
“What do you think of Arthur Kidress?”
James snorts. “I think he’s a snot who didn’t have enough structure growing up.”
“So you don’t like him?”
“Not at all. He’s lazy. Most of us have to go behind him and finish up whatever he’d been supposed to be doing because he lacks any kind of pride in his work. He’s a passerby.”
Passerby is a term we use for people who won’t be staying long at the ranch. Those who clearly have no pride in their work and therefore have no reason to stick around.
“He’s got a mouth on him, too,” James adds. “Mostly muttering under his breath, though I think that’ll change now that Sammy took a swing at him.” He chuckles. “Girl has a mean right hook.”
The pride in his voice makes me smile.
“What about Sammy? How do you feel about her? Right hook aside.”
“She’s great. Hardest worker here. Besides me, of course.” He winks. “She’s up first, in last, and always leaves the gates the way she found them.”
I chuckle. “Ranch rule number one.”
“Ranch rule number one,” he repeats. “She’s quiet… keeps to herself most of the time.”
“Think she’s a passerby?”
He considers. “She’s a hard one to read. Doesn’t speak much about her life. I get the feeling she left something behind she doesn’t want to revisit.”
I get the same feeling. That, and she’s hiding something. Though I keep reminding myself that it’s none of my business unless it affects the ranch.
“I’m glad she’s at least working out so I don’t have to fire two hands.”
“You planning on getting rid of Arthur?”
“Possibly. Keep it between us though.”
“Lips are sealed, boss.”
We’re just pulling up to the shop when Arthur strolls out. He glances our way, and I get a look at the black eyes he’s sporting as well as the bandage on his nose. Lani wanted to have it reset last night, but he wouldn’t let her anywhere near him. Now, it looks like he’ll have a slightly crooked nose until either he gets it fixed or puts his hands on Sammy again and she hits him from the other side, knocking it straight.
I park the UTV and climb out. “You get the stalls cleaned out?” I ask him.
“Sure.”
“Sure?” I try not to pull out the boss card often, but the blatant disrespect has anger roaring to life inside me.
“Want to try answering that again?” James questions.
“You asked if I got the stalls done. Yes, I got the stalls finished. I was just about to head home and take some more meds for this massive headache I have. If, of course, that’s okay with you?”
He’s trying to get a rise out of me, which makes him an idiot. I don’t have to bite. And I won’t. “Fine by me. Feel free to take the rest of the afternoon if you want it.”
Arthur heads off in the direction of the cabins, muttering something under his breath. I just let it slide. No reason to get all worked up over someone who is proving every single day that he doesn’t need to be here.
If it weren’t for Sammy, I’d have fired him already. But she’d been adamant that I don’t fire him because of her, and even though I have valid reasons without that, it’s exactly how it would look.
“Hey, boss.” James taps me on the shoulder, and I turn as Sammy, Elliot, Tucker, Dylan, and Riley all ride toward me on horseback, Rev saddled and running beside Sammy.
Adrenaline surges in my system. “What is it?”
“Some cattle got loose. They’re on the road now. Sheriff Gray called it in. We need to go wrangle them up.”
“Got it.” I head over toward Rev and take the reins when Sammy offers them to me. “Which pasture?” I ask as I climb onto my horse’s back.
“Three,” Elliot says.
I look down at James. “Load up some fencing equipment, take Leon, and go find out what happened.”
“What about Arthur?”
“Leave him to tend to his nose,” I reply.
James nods. “On it, boss.”
We take off riding, guiding the horses down the road and toward the highway so we can cut the cattle off.
As we ride, I go over all possible scenarios. A predator could’ve driven the cattle through the fence; it’s happened before.
A tree could’ve taken the fencing down, or a gate could’ve been left open.
And if it’s the latter, not even Sammy can save Arthur’s job.
“Who would have cut the fence?” Sammy asks as we survey the damage.
“A couple of years ago, we had some teens sneak onto the ranch to see if cow tipping was a real thing. They cut the fence then, but we’d caught them quick and haven’t had any issues since.”
“Could be a new set of teens,” Riley replies.
Thanks to the still-soft dirt from the last storm that came through, I study the tire tracks in the mud. Someone parked near our fence, got out, and cut the wires. Boot prints head into the pasture, though they stop about a quarter mile in. “I don’t think this is teens.”
Following the prints again, I stop where they turn back around. Standing where the intruder stood, I try to put myself into his position and see what it is he was looking for.
“What are you thinking?” Elliot questions.
“I’m not sure. Seems strange that they didn’t go any farther in.” I study the trees in the distance. They just stood here, out in the open. Were they spooked maybe? Or just someone who doesn’t mind trespassing as they’re trying to get close to a cow? We’ve certainly had our fair share of those before.
“We’ll get the fence patched back up,” James offers.
“Good. We’ll drive the cattle back toward the closer pasture. We needed to do it in preps for the storm anyway.” I turn my attention to the sky, noting how dark it’s gone in just a matter of a few hours.
While the storm isn’t quite here yet, it’s looking like we may end up with some rain tonight. Better to have the cattle moved before it hits than have to try and drive them the rest of the way through deep mud puddles.