21. Lincoln
lincoln
. . .
The first clinic of the summer was done, and I was bone weary. Didn’t help that I couldn’t get my boss’s daughter out of my fucking mind, either.
Ever since I walked away from Josie on Sunday, it seemed like she spent the next week avoiding me at all costs. As much as I hated it, maybe it was for the best. I’d already chosen her, would choose her every damn day if she let me, but she had to choose me too.
Still, I worried maybe I’d taken it too far. I might’ve gotten carried away with my touches, spurred on by her body’s natural reaction to my proximity.
If I was a better man, maybe I would’ve walked away and nursed what was left of my pride. Maybe I could’ve been better about giving her space from the beginning, but dammit… I wasn’t a better man. Josie lit up any room she walked into. I couldn’t have stayed away if I’d tried—and I had tried.
I’d tried for one long fucking year to leave what we had in the past. Most would probably think being hung up on a woman you only spent five nights with was insane. Hell, maybe I was .
When I’d shown up to the ranch and found out she had a boyfriend, I would’ve been fine conceding if I’d known she was happy with him. It’d only taken one look, though… One look and I knew I hadn’t been making shit up in my head, and she was mine.
“You’ve done one hell of a good job these past two weeks, Lincoln.”
I looked up from my work, noticing Doug leaning against the barn door. Sweat beaded along my neck, dripping down my back in the sweltering heat. I saw a lot of him in Josie now that I knew where to look. They had the same straight nose and storm colored eyes. Though it was now littered with streaks of grey, I was willing to bet that his hair once matched hers.
Seeing them together had been a surprise. They had something special, a bond not many people ever have. She was so attentive to his needs; it was like they shared a mind. Anytime he opened his mouth to ask for something, Josie came, item in hand, without asking.
That was just the kind of man Doug was. I’d watched how he interacted with his girls. The way he spoke was inherently different, he still showed the same love and respect to each of them.
It only furthered my respect for him. I had so much to learn, so much that wasn’t taught to me growing up. Frank had done his best, but by the time he’d stumbled into my life, I wasn’t much better off than he was.
I stood up and dusted my hands against my old chaps before turning down the radio. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot, especially since you didn’t have much to go off when hiring me.”
Doug nodded, a sad smile crossing his lips. “Well, Frank’s word carries…” He trailed off, shaking his head before correcting himself. “ Carried a lot of weight. If he said you were good, I’d be a damn fool not to listen to him.”
Would Frank’s death ever get easier? I wasn’t sure. It’d been nearly four months. After he passed, I had to remind myself I wouldn’t see his scowl greeting me the moment I walked into his barn. The bar was the same, constantly expecting to hear him call me out on whatever bullshit he disagreed with.
“He was a damn good man,” I said, clearing my throat. “The world didn’t deserve him.”
“Got that right, but he knew what it took to run these clinics, and you’ve got the talent.” Doug pushed off the doorway and strode to the horse I’d been working with since I arrived. “How’s Sunny treating you? She’s not giving you any trouble, right?”
“Naw,” I said, running my hand along her dark mane. “She’s just a little misunderstood.”
Her nostrils flared as Doug stepped closer, reaching into his pocket and pulling out what looked like two sugar cubes. He laid his palm flat, hovering just under her mouth. “She’s been through a lot. We rescued her from a real shit situation last year,” he explained, chuckling as Sundance reached out and bumped her nose against his pocket in search of more treats. “Bishop had been doing a patrol near the main road one morning when he saw Sunny walking along the road. She was bleeding badly down her right flank, and he lost it. Called me down before calling down the vet and the sheriff.”
My stomach turned. “What happened?”
Doug sighed. “He brought her to the barn to get cleaned up while I met the sheriff where she’d been spotted. We followed the blood back to her old home, finding three more horses standing in piles of their own filth. It was horrific. I don’t know what triggered it. Hell, could’ve just been the drive to survive, but Sunny had broken out of the enclosure. She caught herself on a jagged piece of wood.” He pulled out two more cubes and fed them to the horse. “She’s got a bit of a temper and doesn’t trust easily, but she’s a damn fine horse.”
“That she is,” I agreed .
Doug stood back, much to the horse’s dismay, and stuck his hands in his now empty pockets. “Bishop’s had a lot to say about you the past two weeks.”
I braced my arms along Sundance’s back. “Do I need to pack my bags?”
I’d come to enjoy Bishop. He was a surly bastard that didn’t take much shit. But depending on what he’d told Doug, I might just change my mind.
Doug laughed. “The opposite, actually. He said that you have a damn good head on your shoulders. And I’ve known that boy a long time. He’s not the type to blow smoke up my ass.”
I smiled, trying not to let the surge of pride I felt make me cocky. It’d been a long time since I’d felt proud of my choices or work, longer still since I’d had anything to smile about. Ever since I showed up, I’d found something worth having—worth fighting to keep.
“Well, thank you, sir. That means a lot coming from you.”
He waved me off. “Aw, don’t start that shit. I’m just someone who got lucky. I found my passion and ran with it.” He pointed at me. “That’s what I want to see you do, though. I’d like to talk to you about staying on, maybe taking a permanent position here at Black Springs. I’ve got to slow down here, but handing over the reins isn’t easy. And Bishop doesn’t have the temperament to deal with the public.”
Holy shit. A permanent position.
Here .
In Texas.
With Josie in reach.
When I first started training horses, I’d gotten in with a family who didn’t have Doug’s ideals. They ruled with fear rather than understanding, forcing their animals to submit in ways that made me sick—a stark contrast to the loving face they put on for the community .
On my last day employed, they’d told me to get my ass on the back of a horse who’d given me trouble. He was a mean son of a bitch who didn’t think twice about biting your hand clean off or stomping you into the dirt.
The moment he’d seen me coming, his nostrils flared, and he’d come running. I hadn’t moved fast enough, getting swept under his feet. If one of the hands hadn’t seen me go down, I would’ve been dead.
They dropped me off at the hospital with a medical bill the size of Texas and a forced resignation.
I’d spent several years believing my working with animals was over. It’d taken six months in physical therapy to get me up and moving again. After that, I’d learned they’d blacklisted my name at every ranch. Frank had told me to hang up my hat and walk away. He could see how it was tearing me up, twisting me into someone I didn’t recognize.
But that was just another reason I was destined to make this work.
“I sure as fuck don’t.”
Bishop rounded the corner with his horse, Titan, in tow. The name suited him perfectly. The blue roan was massive, at least seventeen hands tall, with a broad chest. He matched his rider in personality, ornery as hell with a stick up their asses.
Sundance’s head shot up, her eyes wide when she saw the stallion come into view. “She’s got it bad for him,” I said, patting her neck.
It was taking everything I had to stop myself from jumping down Doug’s throat for more information. What would he want me to do? Bishop was his second in command, and that wouldn’t change. I could be another helping hand, but was it worth it?
If I said yes, I’d have to move from Tennessee to Texas. Four months ago, that wouldn’t have been an issue, but with Frank’s death it became a lot more complicated .
“You don’t know the half of it,” Bishop grunted, bringing me back to the present. “I’m just glad you’re here to put her to work, or else I’d have to listen to her fuss about being left behind.”
“Sundance just knows quality when she sees it,” Doug added, stepping back as Bishop and I led our horses into their stall. There was a small window laid into their shared wall, letting them nuzzle the shit out of each other. “Ain’t that right, girl?”
As if on cue, Sundance let out a shrill whinny we all took as agreement.
Bishop shook his head, the ghost of a smile peeking under his cowboy hat. “Lovesick fools,” he muttered.
“One day, you’ll meet a girl who’ll get you so damn twisted inside,” Doug said, clapping him on the shoulder. “And boy, I can’t wait to watch you eat your damn words.”
“Never gonna happen,” Bishop said, shrugging out of Doug’s hold. “What time’s dinner?”
“Seven on the dot, just like every other Friday for the past twenty-plus years,” Doug said, narrowing his eyes at a car coming up the drive.
Bishop stepped up beside him. “Expecting anyone?”
Doug didn’t answer as he walked toward the approaching vehicle with Bishop and me close behind. The make was too rich for my blood, and it certainly stuck out like a sore thumb when it pulled in next to Bishop’s beat-up Dodge.
Two men in suits stepped out, the older raising his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. His voice was gruff as he called out to Doug in greeting. I couldn’t make out their faces from here, but they seemed strangely familiar.
“Aw, hell,” Bishop said. “Fucking hate this guy.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice low.
But my question was answered as the main house door opened, and Josie stepped outside. Her brows were knitted together in confusion as she walked to the end of the drive. “Ellis? What’re you doing here?” she asked.
“Your dad invited us,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Said it’d been too long since we’d come out.”
Josie met my gaze over his shoulder. I probably should have excused myself and headed back to the bunk cabin I was sharing with three other guys, but I didn’t.
“Because he’s a fucking tool. Comes from big money and acts like it,” Bishop said, spitting at his boots. “Charles is alright, but I don’t know what Josie sees in Ellis.”
It’s not your business, Lincoln. Not your fucking business.
“How long have they been together?” I asked, unable to stop myself. I’d never thought to ask Josie the same.
“I dunno,” he said. “Couple of months, maybe? He isn’t around much. Josie says his work keeps him busy, but that seems like a load of shit if you ask me. I think he doesn’t like driving his fancy-as-shit car down the dirt roads.”
I laughed, earning Josie’s stare as we stepped up beside Doug. “Ellis, Charlie… Glad you could make it,” he said, sticking his hand out in greeting.
Ellis took it. “Thank you for the invite, Doug. I’m honored to attend a legendary Hayes family dinner.”
“Fuckin’ brownnoser,” I muttered, and Bishop laughed.
Josie gave him a half smile. “Oh, I didn’t think you’d want to. You said you didn’t like the drive.”
Bishop snorted. “Fucking called it,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Don’t mention it,” Doug said, waving it off. “Hope you brought your appetite, though. These girls have been cooking up a real storm all afternoon.”
“Always,” Ellis said, rubbing his stomach before putting his hand on Josie’s lower back.
I clenched my jaw, unable to pull my gaze from the tiny spot my fingertips should be touching instead. It took everything I had not to walk over and rip his stupid hand from his body. Maybe I could crush it beneath my boot.
Ellis’ gaze swept over the group, stopping when he landed on me and tucked Josie closer to his side. His dad followed suit, reaching out his hand to shake mine. “I don’t think we’ve met before! I’m Charles—or Charlie. Whichever you prefer.”
“Nice to meet you, sir,” I said. “I’m just here to help out over the summer. My name’s Lincoln.”
“Where are you from?” he asked. His smile was genuine, unlike his son’s expression.
“Tennessee. Up near the mountains.”
“Really?” he asked, raising his brows. “Whereabouts?”
“Pinecrest,” I said, shoving my hands in my pockets.
Ellis turned to Doug. “Don’t y’all have a cabin up there?”
Before Doug could answer, I spoke up. “They do. I check in on it from time to time to make sure the maintenance is up to date.”
Josie’s eyes darted to me, the crease between her brows deepening. I’d never told her that, but in my defense, I didn’t know it was her family’s cabin until months later. All I knew was that it belonged to a buddy of Frank’s, and I was doing it to help him.
“Huh,” Ellis said, pulling Josie tighter. He gave me a tight smile. “That’s kind of you.”
I tipped my cowboy hat in his direction. “All in a day’s work.”
Was I stirring some shit? Yeah, a bit. The more time I spent in his company, the more I hated him. It was unreasonable. I had no real reason to dislike the guy other than out of jealousy.
When I saw the uptick of Josie’s lips, it was all worth it.
“Lincoln, you have any dinner plans?” Doug asked, cutting the tension.
“No sir,” I replied. “Other than going back to the bunkhouse with three other rowdy kids, my evening is wide open.”
Doug only laughed. “Might do you some good to show those young’uns how to party. But I’d love to have you at our table. We’ve got plenty to eat.”
I glanced at Josie. She shifted on her feet, distancing herself from Ellis just a hair.
“I’d be honored, Doug,” I said, throwing Ellis’ words back at him with a wink.
“That’s what I like to hear,” he said, clapping me on the back. “Let’s go, son.”
As I trailed behind Ellis and Josie, I smiled as he said, “Why doesn’t your dad ever call me son?”