19. Bailey
Bailey
W e were five minutes away from the auction house when Travis called my cell phone, his voice coming through the speakers of the truck.
“Did I catch you two before you checked out of the hotel?” he asked.
“Just left. Why? What’s up?”
“If you’re up for it, I need you to head over to a kill pen today.”
Lettie straightened in her seat, breaking her silence. “A kill pen?”
“I just got off the phone with Beckham. He said he saw an old bronc posted on their Facebook group. Guess he’s been bucked off of him a time or two and wants him to retire here.”
Though he didn’t show it, Bekcham had a heart of gold just like Lettie and their mother. It came with the territory of being around these thousand-pound animals. They knew how to tug at your heart strings.
“He wants a crazy old bronc retiring on our ranch?”
Taking note of the way she said our ranch, I glanced at Lettie. Maybe she really did intend to stay in Bell Buckle.
“They’re only crazy if you make ‘em so,” Travis said.
“We can stay another night, it’s no problem,” I interrupted, already knowing Lettie would be up for it. Just like her mother, she never could say no to a horse, regardless of its background.
“Great. I already called the auction house, told them you’ll be coming tomorrow to pick up the other four.”
“Five,” Lettie corrected.
Travis was silent for a beat before his sigh filled the cab. “I figured that would happen. Keep me updated. And Lettie, no more horses. You’re lucky that’s a stock trailer.”
Knowing Lettie, she’d walk the damn horse from Billings all the way to Bell Buckle if there was no room in the trailer. Her dad should know her by now. Nothing stopped her if she set her mind to it.
“No promises,” she said as she leaned back in her seat.
“We’ll be ready to help unload the six ,” he overemphasized the number, “horses when you get here tomorrow evening. Char’s barbecuing, so come hungry. I’ll text you the address. Though his job is shitty, the guy is nice, so I expect you two to be respectful.”
My mouth instantly started watering at the thought of Mrs. Bronson’s cooking.
“We will. See you then,” I said.
Before I hung up, I heard Travis grumble, “Like mother, like daughter.”
Lips twitching, I pulled into a parking lot to turn around.
Since we already checked out of the hotel, we’d have to reserve another room for one night.
Getting back on the road, I headed toward the hotel in the hopes we could reserve the same room.
With the limited available parking this morning, I had a feeling there was a slim chance of any rooms being empty, but it was worth a shot.
“I’m surprised Beck keeps up with a kill pen’s Facebook group,” I said.
I didn’t miss the slight lift of Lettie’s lips out of the corner of my eye. It was pretty damn funny that he was even on Facebook.
“He tried his best to take part in the rescue. My mom wouldn’t let him have it any other way.”
“Yeah, but now that he’s some big rodeo guy?” I shook my head. “A bronc rider with a big ol’ heart. Imagine that,” I joked.
“What’d my mom used to call it? Silent compassion?” She held up air quotes.
We both laughed at the memory, remembering all too well. “That was your mom’s way of coping with the fact that he was the least interested out of all of us.”
“He gets brownie points for trying. I think you being involved made up for it when he was out of town for weeks on end.”
I shrugged. “Rescue never stops. Neither does ranching. He’s got other things on his plate, but I’m not holding it against him.”
She looked out the window at the large expanse of green hills and mountains peaking up in the distance. “He found what he was passionate about, so I’m happy for him, regardless of the fact that it takes him away from family.”
“Yeah, I sure do miss him when he’s gone.”
“Just makes you appreciate the moments he’s here a little more," she said.
I looked over at her to find her eyes on me, sympathy shining in them.
I nodded, swallowing the emotion building in my throat. “Yeah. It does.”
If she thought for a second I didn’t appreciate every moment I’d been able to spend by her side, she was crazy.
Lettie Bronson was the only woman on this planet I wanted to spend my time with.
I didn’t give a fuck what we were doing.
As long as we were in each other’s presence, that was enough for me.
** *
Pulling the truck up along the curb on the street since every spot in the parking lot was taken, I killed the engine, getting out to come around the hood to open Lettie’s door for her.
“Thank you,” she said before slipping past me.
I nodded, closing the door. I grabbed Rouge from the back seat before we headed inside the hotel lobby. The eating area was packed with families, kids' shouts filling the small area as people dined on their late breakfast.
We walked up to the front desk, the woman’s face lighting up as she recognized us. “Hey! Forget something?”
“Actually, I was hoping you might have a room available for one more night?” I asked.
Lettie picked a brochure about wildlife in Montana up off the counter, flipping it open and acting interested in the information.
“Let me check. We’re pretty packed tonight.” A few clicks later, she took her eyes off the screen, looking up at me from her swivel chair. “We have a king-sized bed available, but it’s only one.”
Suddenly not deeply invested in the words on the paper, Lettie flipped the brochure shut. “You’re sure there’s nothing else?”
The blonde looked back at her computer for a moment, scrolling on her mouse, then back up, her eyes glancing between the two of us. “No, I’m sorry. ”
I turned to Lettie, tightening my hold on Rouge’s leash as two kids ran behind us. “We can check a different hotel if you want.”
She visibly gnawed on her cheek before shaking her head, plastering on a smile as she faced the woman behind the desk. “No, that’s fine. We’ll take it.”
The blonde smiled back, oblivious to the tension rolling off Lettie. “Great. I’ll just charge the same card you used the last two nights?”
I nodded. “That’d be great. Thank you, ma’am.”
“My pleasure.” She typed something on her computer, then handed another room key over.
Lettie grabbed it before I had the chance, spinning on the heel of her boot and walking toward the exit of the hotel instead of in the direction of our room.
Granted, we had no reason to go up to our room yet.
I offered my best apology smile to the woman behind the counter and took off after Lettie.
She was halfway to the truck by the time I caught up to her, Rouge panting beside my leg as the afternoon heat beat down on us.
“My dad send you the address yet?” she asked.
“Yep. Looks like it’s about thirty minutes away.”
“Great,” she clipped as we approached the truck. I opened the back door for Rouge to jump in as she pulled the passenger door handle.
“Are you mad about the room? I can sleep in the truck if it’s that big of a deal.”
She faced me. “No.”
“No about the room, or no to the truck?”
“No to both. It’s fine. It’s just one night. What’s the harm in sleeping next to each other?”
I arched an eyebrow. Lettie wasn’t ignorant. A lot could happen in one night.
But I’d be a gentleman, keep my hands off of her. I could do that for one night.
Right?