Chapter Six
Jett called an emergency family meeting. He had brewed up a big urn of coffee since the sun was barely up over the mountain. But this couldn’t wait, and with everyone’s busy schedule, he didn’t want to hear they couldn’t come.
He also had grabbed donuts and muffins from the bakery in town. He might as well drug his siblings with sugar this early too.
Lock stumbled into the kitchen from the family side of the building. His hair was pointing in various directions. He bellowed a yawn and scratched at his chest. “Morning.” He reached for a mug.
“Rough night?”
Lock looked down with confusion across his brow as if he had recently noticed his state of poor dress. “Not rough. Late. I need to grab a shower. But you said this was life or death.”
“I said it was important.”
“Same thing with you.” Lock poured coffee into his big mug.
“You are annoying.” Jett tossed a crumpled napkin at Lock.
“That’s what happens when you’re the youngest.” Lock threw it back.
“Ajay is the youngest.”
“Ajay gave me the job.”
He couldn’t argue with that. Lock had only been nineteen when Ajay passed. Maybe if his tragic death had been from an illness, Lock would behave differently, but Ajay had died in a gang war, fully aware of his decisions, just too young and dumb to know how to get out of them.
Gage sauntered into the kitchen, his appearance the exact opposite of Lock’s. Gage was always put together, even in his zip-up sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers. He had already shaved and smelled like soap. “Good morning. I didn’t think you’d beat me here.” He punched Lock on the shoulder.
“I didn’t want Jett to get his panties all tangled up. I dragged myself out of bed to make sure I wasn’t late.”
Gage gave Lock the once-over. “I can tell.”
“Shut up.” Lock grabbed a donut.
“Good morning, family.” Kace bounded into the kitchen at full speed. He high-fived each of them but went back to Gage for an additional fist bump. Kace also seemed ready for his day in his mechanic’s overalls. He was the brother right after Jett and the family race car driver until recently. Now Kace worked on race cars. “Is Mom coming?” He looked around the kitchen.
Jett pushed away from the counter. “No. I told her I’d catch her up. Now that we’re all here, I can tell you what’s going on.” He held the donut box out to them.
Kace took one. Gage shook his head.
“Are you sick?” Kace said to Jett. “If you’re sick, I’ll go to the doctor with you.”
“Will you let me talk?”
“Yeah, Kace, let him tell it.” Gage put a hand on Kace’s shoulder. Gage was forever their referee and their stand-in father. They all looked to Gage for guidance, and he had always taken that role very seriously. Too seriously sometimes.
“The ski school asked me to coach. I said yes. I’m hoping for the next few months I can ask you all to help me out here at the ranch. I will have practice every afternoon. I won’t be able to tend to the horses in the afternoon or take care of the guests or put out any fires.”
“Isn’t that what Lock’s for?” Kace bit into the donut.
“Lock has his work to worry about. I need some help with mine.”
“You do realize we all have jobs,” Kace said.
“Kace, man, ease up.” Gage stood to his full height and stared Kace down before turning to Jett. “Of course, we’ll help out. You let us know what needs to be done, and we’ll do it. You don’t have to ask.”
“Yeah, I kind of do, because the hotshot race car driver thinks he doesn’t have to help out here.”
“I don’t work here,” Kace said.
“No, but you own a fifth of this land, and you’re living here. At a discount, I might add.”
“Not this again.” Lock rolled his eyes. “I thought you two had buried the hatchet already. Look, I can handle whatever Jett can’t get to. If I get stuck, I’ll call. Otherwise, go about your businesses.”
“I want their help.” He didn’t want Lock overriding what he said. He wanted his brothers to be there because he needed to know his ranch would be taken care of. Sure, they all had a part share in ownership, but he ran the ranch. He made sure everything worked the way it should. Lock helped out a lot, and he couldn’t do it without Lock, but Lock slacked off whenever he could.
“I just said we’d help,” Gage said.
“No, you said you would help. I’m busy.” Kace poured himself some coffee, then leaned against the counter. His lips disappeared into a thin line.
“Why don’t you want to help?” Gage shoved his hands on his hips.
“Because I’m not the rancher.” Kace narrowed his eyes.
Lock shoved a donut in Kace’s face, smooshing it until the pieces fell to the ground.
“What the hell?” Kace wiped the sugar from his eyes. “Are you nuts?” He lunged for Lock. Coffee went everywhere.
Gage jumped in and pushed Kace out of the way. “Enough. You’re still acting like kids.”
“Why did you shove a donut in my face?” Kace splashed water on his face.
“Because Gage won’t and you’re acting like a prick. How often does Jett ever ask for anything? Tell him you’ll do it even though I don’t need you to.” Lock turned to Jett. “I can handle your share of the workload, or we can ask one of the employees to do some of the grunt work, but if you want Gage and Kace involved, then I’m in. I always have your back. Even when this prick doesn’t.” He pointed a thumb in Kace’s direction. “I need a shower.” He grabbed another donut and his coffee and left the kitchen.
“Jett, you hurt his feelings.” Gage wiped up the mess on the floor. “He wants you to think you need him.”
“I’ll talk to him later and apologize.” Lock always had his back. Hurting his feelings hadn’t been his intention, and Jett often forgot how sensitive Lock could be. Extra help around the ranch was always welcome. The pain that had passed over Lock’s eyes, too quickly for anyone who didn’t know him to notice, should have been enough for Jett to realize Lock would want to be the one to decide if he needed help. He was grateful for everything he and Lock shared even if he didn’t say it much.
Jett always wanted to run this ranch with all his brothers, but Gage and Kace had other plans. By rights, Gage should be in charge here since he was the oldest, but he had decided a long time ago he didn’t want to die like their father, alone in the fields and overworked. Jett had become that man—overworked and alone.
The realization he had turned into his father when he wasn’t looking was a cold bucket of water on his head. And part of the reason he had agreed to coach. He did need a hobby. Autumn had said as much last night. He had been surprised about her revelation. He didn’t think she paid any attention to him anymore.
“Just tell us what you need, and we’ll do it,” Gage said.
“We will?” Kace poured more coffee.
“Yes, we will because we’re brothers, and the Rykers always stick together. Not everyone is as fortunate as we are. We have each other. And I, for one, am glad I have my brothers around.” Gage patted his shoulder and then shoved Kace.
“Fine. I’ll help.” Kace pouted just like when he was a kid.
“Thanks.” Jett was glad for his brothers too. Even when one of them was being a jerk.
“Where will you be practicing?” Gage asked. “I heard the slope the school used shut down.”
“Backwater Ski Area. It’s close by.” Having a reason to talk to Autumn more often wouldn’t hurt. He had always wanted to try and build a friendship, but every time he thought he might try, she would see him on the street, shoot him a death glare, and he would keep walking. That woman held a grudge like no one’s business. He had made mistakes back then, but he had been hurt too. She hadn’t been the only one.
“Does any of this coaching have to do with one Autumn Archer? Her daughter is on the ski team,” Kace said.
“Why would you think that? I’m helping out the school because no one will coach. And yes, I asked Autumn for the use of her slope because it’s close.”
“The word at the diner is she has to sell her land by the end of the month or the bank takes it.” Kace dropped into the kitchen chair. “Are you trying to save her or something?”
He hadn’t gotten word she was that desperate. He figured she was short on cash because her attendance was down and she had taken a while to fix that lift. He had sent guests to another downhill slope a little farther away for the past month. But sell entirely? He wanted a chance at that land.
“If she ran her business into the ground, I can’t help her.” But he could buy her land from her and expand the activities the ranch offered. He was sorry she hadn’t been able to make her ski area work after Trent died, but losing sales was not a knock on her. She would probably be glad to be out from under the stress even if he was the buyer. He would run the ski operation the right way.
“He wants to help her,” Kace said to Gage.
“I’m not getting in the middle of this. I have to get to work. Jett, call or text me with what you need. And if I can’t do it, I’ll send Izzy over.”
“Thanks.” He stuck out his hand, but Gage pulled him into a hug.
“Don’t you have to get to work too?” he asked Kace after Gage left.
“In a minute. You didn’t know Autumn needed to sell.” Kace’s eyes narrowed.
“Nope.” If he had, he would have made an offer last night on her porch. She had looked adorable in those silly cow slippers and that oversized coat that hung on her. She hadn’t aged at all through the years. She was more beautiful now than when they were younger.
“Are you going to put in an offer?” Kace finished off the donut and grabbed a muffin.
At least someone was eating. He was starting to think like his mother. When had he become his parents? “Maybe.”
“She’ll never sell to you.”
“You don’t know that.” She was a smart lady. She would take the best offer, and he would make sure it was from him. He’d have to find out which realtor was handling the deal. Then again, Autumn might turn him down if he made an offer directly. She was smart, but she was stubborn. And her mother could influence her. Vera had never liked him since he and Autumn broke up. And then after what his mother had done, well, Vera could hold a grudge too.
“I don’t know that she would turn your offer down, but she hates you.” Kace smirked.
“I’m aware.” Painfully so.
“What is it with you and Gage and those women from your past?”
He and Gage had been in relationships when Ajay died. Their brother’s death had rocked their family. Gage and Calista had broken up because her sister died too that night. After Ajay’s death, Jett couldn’t be with anyone. He hadn’t meant to hurt Autumn, but loving her was too painful. She was better off without him. And she had proved him right. She had eventually married Trent and built a nice life and had a child. Jett could never give her that. He had tried.
He had promised to build a future with her when they were twenty and she became pregnant. They had lost their child, and he had not left her. He had been the rock she needed even though he was suffering too. But after Ajay died three years later, he had fallen apart. He couldn’t be anything to anyone back then. And Autumn blamed him.
“Let’s leave the past where it belongs. We can’t all be in love like you and Tara.”
“I never thought I’d find a woman like her. Speaking of which, I need to ask Mom if she’ll babysit Royce for a couple of days. Tara and I want to get away. Good luck with this Autumn thing.” Kace paused at the kitchen door.
“There’s nothing going on with me and Autumn. I just want to use her slope.” And feed her bank account a little. And do one little thing—buy her property.
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, bro. I’ll see ya.” Kace pushed through the door, leaving him alone again.
He had some time before he had to get breakfast started. He could leave a message at the realtor’s office for a call back. He had a ski slope to own.