Where We Call Home (Faircloud #2)

Chapter 14

Fourteen

A utumn in Texas was my favorite season. You didn’t have to deal with the unbearable summer heat, and at least you could keep your shirt on—though Boone didn’t seem to get the memo. He always found an excuse to go shirtless, probably hoping Aspen would drop by unannounced. Honestly, you’d think he’s still trying to win her over, but we all know she was hooked the moment she saw the mustache.

Today, the vet was coming to check on the ranch’s cattle, so Boone needed Logan and me there early to get things ready. One of the heifers was close to calving, and having the vet on-site was standard procedure to make sure everything went smoothly.

I tried focusing on the task at hand, but my mind kept wandering to Theo and the apartment hunt. Lately, I felt this overwhelming sense of protectiveness over her and the baby. I’d been mentally ticking off a list of requirements for her new place: ground floor for easy access, two bedrooms so she had her own space, and close enough to town for quick errands. Faircloud had options, though none seemed to check every box.

I tilted my head back, letting the sun warm my face as I shook off the thoughts. I knew it wasn’t my place to dictate where Theo should live, but I still couldn’t help but want the best for her and the baby. With each passing day, Theo was becoming more of a permanent fixture in my life, not that I was complaining.

She’d call me after work to chat about some random documentary she’d watched, asking me the most bizarre questions.

“Are you a serial killer?”

“You sure you’re not just putting on a nice-guy act to lure me in before chopping me up?”

She even joked about not having life insurance, just in case of her “accidental” demise I’d know there wouldn’t be a profit.

Boone, Logan, and I rode on horseback trying to herd cattle into the holding pen. Horses made the cattle less skittish, which made our job easier. At Cassidy Ranch, we believed in working smarter, not harder.

We were still a ways from the barn when Boone, wearing his usual khaki hat and shirt slung over his shoulder, turned to us. “You two free Halloween weekend?”

“Thinking about throwing a party?” Logan asked, riding between us.

Boone smirked. “Well, it was Aspen’s idea to get everyone together. The one rule is that you have to wear a costume.”

“I’m in,” I replied, shifting in my saddle. The crisp air carried the faint scent of earth and livestock, and the mountains loomed in the distance under a clear blue sky as the cattle walked lazily in front of us.

Logan chimed in. “How’re you and Aspen doing?”

“Better than ever,” Boone said with a grin. “Her book’s coming out in a few months, and she’s knee-deep in ‘beta edits,’ whatever that means.”

“Does it feel weird knowing the book’s about you two?” I asked, genuinely curious. I don’t know how I’d feel if someone wrote a book about my life, putting it out there for people to read like that.

Boone shrugged. “Not really.”

“From the jump, Boone was helping her with ‘inspiration.’” Logan laughed, putting air quotes around the last word. “He knew what he was getting himself into.”

I grinned, nodding. “In the name of science, right?”

Boone rolled his eyes and adjusted his hat with a smirk.

“Aspen and Boone, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I—” Logan's off-tune singing was cut short by Boone’s interjection.

“Alright, enough. What are we, twelve?” Boone smirked and swerved his horse close to Logan’s to push him off course.

Logan laughed, too; his beaming, kiddish smile was always nice to see. His messy blonde hair curved slightly around the fitted part of his cowboy hat.

Taking in the group before me, I felt like I was the only ranch hand who didn’t partake in the hat fashion choice. I understood why the guys did it, but I was more comfortable in a backward cap and less sweaty that way. Plus, there were so many styles of hats for the different seasons, and I couldn’t get behind them all.

The banter kept the work light. By the time we finished getting the cattle settled for the vet, I was ready to head out. Apartment hunting with Theo was next on the agenda, and I was running late.

I barely had time to clean up, so I grabbed some cologne from the glove box and gave myself a quick spritz. In the rearview mirror, a streak of dirt stretched across my face, but I shrugged it off. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

Pulling into Theo’s driveway, I took in the sight of her small, dark brown bungalow. It looked even more cramped than I remembered—no shutters, no bright pops of color, and the neighbors practically on top of her. She needed more space, no question about it.

I raised my hand to knock, but before I could, the door swung open. Standing there was a woman who could’ve been Theo’s twin–though her eyes were different. The woman’s sharp blue gaze swept over me, head to toe, before a knowing smile tugged at her lips.

“You must be Rhodes,” she said, holding a dish towel in one hand.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, catching myself staring.

Her scrutiny softened. “Call me Sissy. ‘Ma’am’ makes me feel old. Theo’s upstairs, come on in, but stay by the door. I don’t need those boots tracking mud through my house.”

“Yes, ma’am—uh, Sissy.”

My mom raised me with strict manners. “No, sir” and “Yes, ma’am” were ingrained in me, slipping out even when I didn’t intend them to.

The house had a dated feel—wood paneling, tiled floors, and a cozy but cluttered vibe. The inside was cozy, the kind of authentic home you would picture in a small town. My eyes landed on a familiar box stacked in the dining room, the one I’d helped Theo move in months ago.

I spent the time alone looking at my surroundings, understanding what Theo meant when she said she had to find her own place before the baby was born.

“You ready?” Theo’s voice broke through my thoughts.

She stood at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in white overalls and a fitted black long-sleeve top. Her hair was braided into pigtails, and there was just enough makeup to highlight her eyes. Smoky shadows made them pop, shimmering under the light.

“You look…” I trailed off, my brain scrambling to find the right words as I realized I’d been staring too long.

“Yes, I’m wearing makeup,” she muttered, her voice tinged with self-consciousness. “You can stop staring.”

I leaned in close, lowering my voice. “You look beautiful.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw her swallow hard. Before either of us could say more, her mom’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

“You two better get moving!”

“Thanks, Mom,” Theo called back, sarcasm dripping from her tone as she turned away with a grunt.

I followed her out, jogging to catch up and as she stomped to the truck.

“Nuh huh, Honey. You’re not opening that door for yourself.”

She raised an eyebrow, but I beat her to it, opening the passenger door. As long as she was riding with me, she’d never open a door again.