Chapter 6
Chapter Six
LANDEN
As I watch one of our stallions attempt to mate with one of the many mares we board during breeding season, I find amusement in how watching them have sex is my job.
Ranchers from around the state bring us their horses, I make sure they get pregnant, and then once the season is over, we send them home to deliver their babies.
At the moment, Rocky’s in the pasture with Maggie Mae, getting more action than I’ve had in the past two years.
When I’m not witnessing horses getting it on, I’m hooking up our stallions to a breeding mount, inserting their massive dicks into an artificial vagina, and collecting their sperm.
It’s another option for ranchers to impregnate their mares without bringing them to a stud farm.
Afterward, we send the semen for evaluation and processing before it’s shipped out.
So every day, I watch. I ensure the mares get pregnant to keep up our ninety-nine percent success rate.
Worst part? I signed up for this voluntarily.
My siblings love to give me shit for it, too.
Wilder started sending me live webcam streams as a joke, but the joke was on him because who was I to say no to watching pretty girls?
And because my brothers can’t keep their mouths shut, word got out about it.
Not only that, I asked Tripp one manscape question and Magnolia, having no boundaries with their phones, saw various angles of my dick.
That was the last time I reached out for help.
After my morning chores of mucking stalls and feeding, I walk over to the retreat to grab a coffee from Magnolia’s Morning Mocha.
She parks her mobile coffee trailer at the retreat twice a week and before she was Tripp’s wife, we were close friends.
I’d say we still are, but now she’s busy juggling her business and family.
I love that for her and my brother, but it makes me feel more alone than ever.
When I arrive at her spot, I notice Ellie in line and stand behind her.
“You should try the Maple Me Crazy latte,” I say, hovering above her ear.
She quickly whips around, steps back, and glares. “Why?”
“Try something new. You always get the same thing.” I shove my hands in my pockets, flashing her a boyish grin even though she looks ready to knee me between the legs. She doesn’t even give me credit for memorizing her coffee order. “Plus, it’d suit you better since you’re always makin’ me crazy.”
She crosses her arms, standing fully in front of me now. “Was that another one of your lines? You’d think a playboy like yourself would have better ones, honestly. Your game must be off.”
“If you must know, I don’t have to give out lines. I’m also not what you claim I am. Haven’t been out on a date in months.”
At least over a year. But no need to look even more pathetic.
“Guess I’m right then.”
“You’re not.”
“Prove it.”
I scoff, lying through my teeth. “My game is fine.”
“Says the guy who just admitted he hasn’t had a date in months.”
“When’s the last time you’ve gone on one?” I counter, not wanting the answer. Though if I had to guess, it’s been even longer than me. She’s too obsessed with her career to give up time for anything else.
She twists a strand of her hair, wrapping it behind her ear over and over, one of her signs that she’s frustrated. “None of your business.”
“Even more of a reason you should go out with me.” I pop a brow, hoping she’ll take the bait. “We could both use the practice.”
Instead of agreeing, she snorts and laughs. “It’ll be an icy, cold day in hell before I sink that low. In fact, someone better sedate me if that day ever comes.”
Smacking a hand over my heart, I act crushed. “You wound me, Little Devil.”
Her glare deepens at the unwanted nickname, but I swear I see her eyes light up, too. Just like how I catch her checking me out when she doesn’t think I’m paying attention.
“Aww. Poor baby.”
I can’t help smirking at her taunting tone. “Baby? Wait, are we fightin’ or flirtin’?”
She pretends not to like me. To hate the attention I give her.
But the fire in her eyes anytime I’m near tells me otherwise.
She doesn’t even dignify me with a response before she spins back around toward Magnolia.
“Ellie, hi!” She beams when Ellie approaches.
“Hey. Love your haircut.”
I can’t help but scoff and roll my eyes at their exchange. Of course Ellie’s nice to her.
“Thank you! Willow wouldn’t stop yankin’ on it, so it was time for a change.” Magnolia twirls a piece of her hair that’s closer to her shoulders than before.
My niece is attached to her back in a baby carrier, peeking over Magnolia’s shoulder. Instead of waiting in line, I help myself to the inside of the trailer and tickle her little feet.
“Are you helpin’ your mama today?” I ask Willow. “How dare she wear you like a backpack.”
She giggles as I blow raspberries on her cheek. I know my mom usually watches Willow when Magnolia works, but she must not have been available today.
“Landen Michael,” Magnolia scolds, pushing me back. “You’re too big to be in here with us.”
“Or maybe your trailer’s too small.”
“Either way, I can’t maneuver around you.” She tries to hip-check me to grab a cup, but it’s hardly a push. I step back anyway to give her room.
“You didn’t mind when I was in here playin’ your bodyguard and shot a man to save your life,” I muse, crossing my arms, and yeah, I made a point of saying that loudly in front of Ellie.
Last spring, when she was five months pregnant, her ex and his dealer were after her.
Since she couldn’t avoid working, Tripp stayed with her during every shift up to the last thirty minutes so he could make his shift at The Lodge on time.
For that half an hour, I stayed with her until she closed.
But then the dealer found her location before the police could find him.
The day he showed up, Magnolia was on her hands and knees looking for something underneath the counter, so he hadn’t seen her when he approached the trailer.
When he waved his gun at me, demanding I tell him her location, I pulled out my own gun tucked in the back of my jeans and shot him in the dick.
I hadn’t meant to aim that low, but it was a happy accident. The guy got what he deserved and then went to prison for murdering Magnolia’s ex.
Sugarland Creek labeled me the town hero—which I happily accepted—but Ellie hadn’t seemed to care. Nothing impresses her.
Magnolia glowers at me. “How long are ya gonna keep bringin’ that up?”
“Till the day I die, baby!” I drawl, stealing a glance at Ellie, who’s looking down at her phone, and then she fucking yawns.
Goddammit.
“Out!” Magnolia shoves at me.
“I can’t spend a few minutes with my niece?”
“Not when I’m workin’. You wanna see her, walk down twenty steps and come babysit.”
She and Tripp live below me in the ranch hand quarter duplexes, but with our schedules, we only see each other in passing or at Sunday supper.
“Fine, I will tonight. Now make my drink.” I smirk.
“Get in line and I will…” she says between gritted teeth, looking toward Ellie, who looks annoyed at me for interrupting. And now there are two more people behind her, waiting.
Well, that didn’t go as planned.
She gives me her you’re an idiot expression.
Before I walk out, I kiss Willow’s cheek and then like a dog with its tail between its legs, I go to the back of the line.
Every Sunday night, my parents, siblings, and I get together for supper and scrapbooking.
It’s been a tradition for years and even though I’m not a huge fan of decorating a page filled with photos, I get sucked into staying anyway.
I don’t mind it, though, since Gramma Grace bakes the best desserts.
Now that two of my siblings are married with a baby, we sit at two tables to accommodate everyone, which means there’s more shouting but also a lot more laughing. It’s always a good time.
“Why’re you sittin’ so close to me?” Mallory scoffs, elbowing my arm.
“Why’re you sitting so close to me?” I elbow her back and though I know it’s childish, it’s too easy to annoy a fifteen-year-old. “Better be nice if you want me to teach you to drive.”
Noah shrieks from the other table. “You think outta all of us, she’d pick you to teach her?”
“Have you seen my pickup? It’s badass!” I shout above the other conversations.
Tripp helped me restore a 1970 Chevy C10 and we only finished it six months ago. I only drive it around town or on the backroads during sunlight to reduce any risk of getting into an accident or hitting a deer. I utilize my beat-up Ford or dirt bike to get around the ranch instead.
“You’d lemme drive it?” Mallory pipes up.
I give her a pointed look. “Only if you’re nice to me.”
She scowls. “All the time or just when we’re drivin’?”
Noah chuckles, and I shoot her daggers from my seat.
“Why do chicks get a kick outta being rude to me? Do I have a sign on my forehead that says I hate puppies or somethin’?” At least that’d be a valid reason.
“Well, that just means they like ya,” Gramma Grace says, passing out slices of her strawberry cheesecake.
“Nah, I don’t think so. Ellie would stab me in the eyeball, twist the knife a dozen times, and then stab my other eye without a second thought.”
“Thanks for the visual…” Mallory slides her dessert plate away from her.
“I’m sure there are plenty of single ladies who’d love to date you,” Mom says.
Great, now we’re going to discuss my dating life.
“My friend’s mom is single,” Mallory says.
I glower at her. “Just how old do ya think I am?”
She shrugs. “I dunno. Some men like older women.”
“Cougar hunters! That’s what they’re called,” Wilder explains. “Wouldn’t mind findin’ me a cougar.”
“Wilder,” Dad echoes his name, gives him a firm look, and then Wilder bows his head to focus on his cheesecake.
“Anyway…subject change. When are y’all havin’ another baby, Fisher?”
His head pops up, clearly trying to stay out of the conversation.
“We just had one last year!” Noah exclaims. “You boys are up next.”
“I wouldn’t mind more grandchildren.” Mom smiles as she holds Poppy, sneaking a dollop of cream cheese in her mouth.
“Just wait for the next cougar to be desperate enough for Wilder and he’ll knock her up in no time,” Waylon says.
“Waylon,” Dad mutters his name, and I swear to God, they’re the reason he’s going bald.
“Would you rather I date someone twenty years younger than me?” Wilder asks.
Again, Fisher looks up as if he’s trying desperately to stay out of it.
“Ew, that’d be gross!” Mallory makes a face.
I snort. “And illegal.”
Once everyone finishes eating, Mom and Noah bring out tubs filled with scrapbooks and supplies. I’ve been working on one of the family albums that Mom put me in charge of and thankfully, I’m almost done.
“Aww, look, Mallory when she was cute and sweet,” I taunt, holding up one of the pages. It was our first professional family shoot after Mallory moved in with us.
Her parents died in a car accident when she was nine and then she was sent to us.
She’s been like a little annoying sister ever since.
But I love her. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to lose your parents at such a young age and then be taken from the only home you’ve ever known and thrown into another.
She’s been a great addition to our family, though.
She scowls. “Are you sayin’ I’m not anymore?”
“I’m sayin’…now you’re a little less sweet.” I smirk, nudging her with my elbow again.
“You try being a young woman in a patriarchal world, who is less valued than a man simply because I have a vagina and see how sweet you are. Next, you’ll be tellin’ me to smile more.”
“Only if he wants a knee to his balls,” Magnolia says.
He does not.
“Alexa, play ‘The Man’ by Taylor Swift,” Noah says with a laugh, and within seconds, the song echoes throughout the house.
“Of course,” I mutter, shaking my head. It’s bad enough I had to listen to Ellie sing it during our jogs, but now my entire family is humming along.
“Can’t deny it’s a bop, though.” Wilder dances in his seat.
I throw a roll of washi tape toward him, and he laughs.
“It’s usually me pissin’ them off, so this is a nice change of pace,” he taunts.
Noah snorts. “Don’t worry, it’s only Sunday. You still got all week to do that.”