27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Grayson
M y temples throb as I hop out of my truck in the Boulder Ranch lot.
It’s my normal day to come out and work with the livestock. One of the many things I’ve done around this place since I was a teenager. A pastime that may now be lost under “new ownership.”
I spit at the ground, imagining it’s my brother’s face. Fury still roars through me, knowing he flat-out lied to me. The loving words he’d fed me when I was a drugged invalid in the hospital doesn’t make up for that. Truthfully, likely nothing can.
Readjusting my ball cap on my head, the area where they shaved me bald bristles against the interior.
Several insisted I cut all my hair to match the huge, looming open area, but I refused. I simply popped some gauze over the spot and put on a hat. The hair will grow back.
“Gray, whatcha’ doin’ here?” one of the other usual ranch hands calls out to me.
“Working.” The answer grunted as if it was some huge inconvenience to answer in the first place.
I’m just pissed at Tate and that’s going to get taken out on everyone else but him.
I haven’t heard from him or seen him since I left the hospital, though I know he’s been calling River. Another thing that makes me vibrate with anger. Where he got off thinking he could freely talk to my woman about me doesn’t make me happy.
Outside of the night we walked into the bar to grab our women together, it’s been crickets. And that had been a coincidence that we pulled in at the exact same time.
“Aren’t ya supposed to be on bed rest or something?”
If looks could kill, the scowl I shoot his way might be the one. His hands immediately shoot up as if I’m pointing an actual pistol his way. Quick retreating steps, putting him out of range, should I strike.
“Why don’t you handle your own business, hmm?”
“Yeah, ‘course. Have a good one.” He scampers off, chancing a look behind him several times as if he thought I’d follow.
I don’t have the energy or the time. River took every bit of that this morning when she rode my dick and then my face. The second I had to talk her into. The woman was more concerned about the metal in my head than letting me make her come and scream my name.
Making my way to the cattle barn, Tate is there with another of the ranch hands. The moment he spots me, he races toward me. The spin on my heel not nearly fast enough to get away.
Sure, I’ve been doing everything I shouldn’t. All the things River listed nights ago, but my head is pounding too damn hard at the moment to run from him.
“Gray, wait!”
“Busy,” I call behind me.
“Stop!” Tate shouts. Spinning to face him, our chests nearly collide. “You should be home… resting.”
“Playing Dad again,” I growl.
“Come on, Gray. We’re all breaking our backs to make sure your recovery goes well, and you want to throw childish retorts my way?”
“Bending over backward? I don’t recall you helping do a damn thing since I’ve been home.”
“Then think again. Who do you think fixed your fence? Who do you think has been doing all the things you normally do around here while you were laid up? Who do you think has been checking to make sure River was okay because I know what an asshole you can be?” His scowl dark and menacing as he stares down that single inch at me.
“Fuck you, Tate. It doesn’t change that you’re a liar.” The words are spewed with such venom, he recoils.
“Fine. Yeah.” He runs his hand over the back of his head. “I lied to you. It was a confidential business contract I couldn’t talk about until everything was signed. I didn’t know they were going to announce it that way. We’d just gotten everything finalized that morning.”
Something inside me softens. Just a fraction. My mouth presses into a straight line as I take a few steps back. “Well, congrats on the place. If you’ll excuse me, I have livestock to tend to.”
“It’s already done,” Tate all but whispers.
My steps only falter for a moment. “Well, thanks for looking out for me. Seems it didn’t take you long to figure it out without me.”
Then I’m stomping back to my truck. I need a drink. I don’t care if I’m not supposed to have one.
The Thirsty Pony is nearly empty when I enter. It should be. It’s not even eleven in the morning.
Slipping onto one of the stools, my arms fold over the bar top. I hate that I let Tate ruin my mood with every interaction. I’d been so happy this morning. Getting River on a bull was the ultimate win. I’m honestly surprised she caved as quickly as she did. I thought there would be a bigger argument where she’d continue to tell me what an idiot I am about my health. Then she made my heart melt with the way she trusted me enough to get on the back of that massive bull.
“Fester,” I snort to myself. A horrible name, but all the names she’s picked for the cows are equally bad. Still, they make her happy, so they make me happy.
“Must have had a run in with that brother of yours,” Betty leans her elbows on the counter in front of me, dangling a beer bottle by the neck.
I take it from her hands a bit too eagerly before chugging down half.
I huff out a humorless laugh. “Glad we’re still the talk of the town.”
“No, you’re not, but don’t think that beer is gonna help either.” She whips her towel in my direction before disappearing to the opposite end to serve Tom Donovan, a regular. Usually, we only see him in town for rodeo weekends. One of the main suppliers of the competition bulls for decades.
“Hey there, Grayson,” he waves his cowboy hat in my direction.
“Hey, Tom.” My two-finger salute is all I’m willing to give before chugging the rest of my beer.
Betty’s quick to place another in front of me with a glass of water.
I don’t bother thanking her. She already knows. This isn’t the first time I’ve been in here drinking in the middle of the day alone because Tate has once again pissed me off enough to do something stupid.
It’s not long before Tom slides over next to me. “How ya holding up?”
“Better every day,” I nod.
“That’s good. That ranch up there is going to need you back in tip-top shape.”
I only snort, taking another pull from the bottle. “Tate can figure it out without me.”
“You two are a pain in the ass. Ya know that?”
I only scoff, swallowing a large gulp of my drink. “I don’t mind the company, but I don’t need yet another person today telling me how toxic the infamous Garrison brother relationship is. I am well aware.”
“Fine then. I won’t.”
“Good.”
We sit in silence a while longer. A companionable one. It’s then I notice how many more wrinkles mar his face. The age spots and tired eyes giving away how long he has been a cowboy himself. Tom never rode, but he’s been involved in the rodeo his whole life. His father was a bull distributor before he took over, and I hear his son, Nash, is next in line. We see him from time to time. If I remember right, he actually went to school with Betty’s brother. A little older, maybe.
“How’s the next generation shaping up?” I ask, curious about the new line of bulls we’ll see in the next year or two.
“Shaping up real good. We’ve got some real agile ones coming down the pike. They’ll be in the pro circuit, no doubt.”
“That’s great. I’m thinking about getting back out there myself.”
“Are ya now?” he harrumphs. “Interesting, since I heard you were planning to make an honest woman out of that doctor. Doesn’t seem the type that’ll like it.”
“Funny, she’s the only person who has ever encouraged me to go after what I want.”
He smiles just as my phone vibrates in my pocket.
River: Done
The single word could mean a million things, and I’m not sure how to interpret it. Dialing her number, it rings twice before going to voicemail.
I’m up off the stool in seconds, tossing several twenties onto the bar before storming toward the front door.
“Gotta run,” I toss over my shoulder. Tom only shakes his head my way, that knowing grin conveying more than words ever could.
Dialing River again, the same happens.
I’m in my truck in minutes, speeding down the roads, eager to get to the hospital where I left her.
She’s walking out just as I’m pulling up, a wan look on her face.
I’m out of the truck in seconds, crushing her against my heaving chest. My heart racing so fast I’m nervous it’ll crap out on me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, where’s the fire?” she drones, patting my back awkwardly.
“Your text said done and nothing else.”
“Shit. Damn reception. I finished up early; another surgery was canceled. Wanted to see if you could come early so we could grab some lunch.”
I can only laugh as I hold her that much tighter, breathing her in. Pressing my eyes shut, I memorize how she feels in my arms, willing my fears away.
“Whatever you want, baby.”