7. Jack
Jack
Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma by Luke Combs
I saddle up and head out before any of the wranglers make it out to the barn. Which isn’t saying much because they haven’t been working that hard, anyway. Tucker and I have been picking up the slack, and let me tell you, things are going to be changing around here.
After I fired Jace and Anson, who both had misguided loyalty, there’s been dissension in the ranks.
Apparently, it’s gotten so bad that Tessa, one of the seasoned wranglers, has asked me to meet with them.
Tessa’s been around since my mother died when I was ten.
She’s been like a mother to me and my brothers and sister.
We love her and couldn’t imagine this ranch without her.
She has always said that she could never leave us kids or the ranch.
I ride the fence line and swear when I see a whole row down. I slid off my horse and inspect it. It was purposely cut.
“Damn it!” I say as I pull out my phone and call Tessa .
She answers, “Yeah, boss.”
Boss. Shit, that’s what she used to call my dad.
And I hate that she just called me that.
It’s like I’m being compared to him, and I am nothing like him.
Tessa is pretty much the only wrangler left that respects me, other than Hank.
The rest have been acting out since my dad was arrested and I took over.
Most of them aren’t happy with the way things have been going.
They used to get away with a whole lot more and do a whole lot less when he ran things.
I’ll be damned if my brothers and I work circles around lazy hands we’re paying.
“Tessa, I’ve got a row of fence down along the east pasture. Purposely cut. I need you to get a team out here as soon as possible and get this patched up.”
“You got it, boss,” she says and disconnects.
Yeah, I’ll be asking her to call me something else.
I’m so pissed at how much fencing we need to repair that I don’t even see Cami until she’s right up on me.
“Who pissed in your Cheerios?” she asks as she stops Mouse in front of Pesto.
I grunt. “My fence is cut all along here. And so far, I’m missing at least a dozen head of cattle.”
She looks surprised and upset on my behalf. “Let’s ride and see if we can find them.”
I look over at her, surprised at her offer.
I’m also surprised she’s not screaming at me and trying to beat me up right now.
She definitely doesn’t know yet that I bought her ranch.
I wanted it to be anonymous because I wanted to tell her myself when the time is right.
If she’d already found out, she’d be giving me an earful.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop and for her to find out is excruciating.
I have no idea how she’s going to respond.
There are so many layers to this onion, I don’t even know where to start.
I put everything I have on the line for her ranch, and I’d do it again if it meant keeping her safe .
Intrigued by her non-reaction, I just simply nod, and we ride along.
Cami has a big heart for her neighbors and especially animals.
I’m not surprised that she’s offering to help.
We don’t say anything. I can tell she’s upset, and I can’t blame her.
I want to tell her. But I don’t know how she’ll take it.
I just want to help her. So, if she’s going to play it like nothing’s wrong, and we just ride in silence like we sometimes do, so be it.
That’s one of the things I love about Cami. We don’t have to say anything. Something about being around each other has always been calming. When we’re talking, we’re sparring. But sometimes we’re just…together. And that’s a peace no other person has ever given me.
I clear my throat. “Got any more of that coffee?”
She gives me the side eye and then hands me her thermos. Every morning, she brings her coffee out here in a thermos and drinks it while she rides. She reaches into her saddlebag and hands me an apple cookie for Pesto. He pokes his head back, knowing the drill, and I hand it to him.
“Spoiling them,” I mutter as I pat Pesto. He’s a good horse, and he knows it.
“Pesto deserves it for putting up with an ass like you riding him all day.” She smirks as she pats Mouse, who huffs as if he wants to be praised as well.
“There she is,” I mumble. I knew she’d give me grief today, so I just grin and shake my head. “You talking about my ass, Wilder?”
“Why are you so quiet today, Jessop?” she asks, ignoring my jab.
Because this is how it is with Cami. We’ve always been so in tune with each other.
Despite our differences, we have always had a palpable connection that neither of us can seem to get past, no matter how much we try not to like each other.
“Been dealing with a lot back at the ranch. Had to fire two wranglers yesterday,” I drawl.
“Which ones?” she asks curiously.
“Anson and Jace.”
She doesn’t look surprised and nods. “Jace was always a hothead and a bully. And I know he and Granger are tight. I see them at The Black Dog together all the time. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s who cut your fence and took your cattle.”
“I need to hire new wranglers. Thinking of cleaning house and making a fresh start. I want things to run differently,” I admit.
“I’m sure you’ll find good wranglers,” she says as she points at another fence down in the distance. A calf lingers on the other side of the fence, the mom nowhere in sight. My blood boils.
“Yeah,” I grunt. “Hard to find good people who trust the Jessop name these days.”
She just looks at me and doesn’t say anything. We both know how it is to have a mean asshole of a father ruin our names and ranches. That much we have in common.
“Damn it,” I say, getting angrier as I see more fence cut and cattle missing. I don’t have time for extra work right now.
We come up on the calf, and Cami slides out of her saddle. She carefully slides over the fence and cautiously walks up to the calf. I hang back so we don’t startle the calf into running. She gently ushers the calf back into the fence, props up a piece of wood, and blocks the opening.
“Well, look at you, Cami. Maybe I should hire you to help me get my ranch in shape. God knows you’re mean enough to deal with assholes.”
She gives me a look. “Not happening.”
Actually, shit, that’s not a bad idea. Cami could help me act as a liaison with the town. Get them to trust me if they see us working together.
“I have my hands full at the coffee trailer,” she says as she looks over at me and realizes I’m serious. “I don’t have time for another job. And I’d never work for you, Jessop.”
“What if you moved Steamy Sips out to the Jessop Ranch? You could even use the kitchen to bake at the house while you work the trailer, so you’re not burning the candle at both ends,” I offer.
She stares at me suspiciously as if wondering how I know she bakes in the evening. But it’s the only thing that makes sense, because she keeps up with a massive crowd and works her trailer in town during the day. “Why would I help you, Jessop?”
“Steamy Sips will draw a crowd out to the ranch and might make more of the town trust us when they see we’re trying to do things the right way,” I add, as I glance over at her to see what she’s thinking. “It would help bring people out to shop, and we could really use the meat sales.”
She stops and stares at me for a beat. “I’ll think about it.”
Really? Wow. Cami grew up working her own ranch.
She knows what to do. She knows what not to do, that’s for sure.
And I can use people around me who will give it to me straight.
I need loyal people who have my back. And while Cami and I have a different sort of relationship, I know deep down she would do anything for me, and she knows I would do the same for her. We just don’t admit it.
“I’m not taking your shit, Jack,” she says firmly, staring at me.
“What shit?” I scoff. I wait for the jab, but it doesn’t come. She’s serious.
“If I don’t take shit from a thousand-pound animal with a mind of its own, you better believe I won’t put up with your shit or any other person shit out at your ranch. No one,” she swears as she shakes her head with finality.
I point at her, feeling excited that she is on the same page as me. “See? That’s what I need. No bullshit. ”
Cami just watches me and raises her eyebrows as if to tell me to continue.
“I’ve got my hands full cleaning up the ranch.
Figuring out where the snakes are and getting rid of them.
Can’t trust a snake. They only shed their skins and become bigger snakes.
I don’t do second chances, Cami,” I tell her as I reach into my back pocket for my tools to tighten the fence and twist it.
Her eyes snap to mine when I add that last part, and she watches me curiously.
“Have you been to see your dad at all?” she asks quietly.
“No. I don’t have anything to say to him,” I mutter. But that’s a lie. I do have a lot to say to him. I just don’t want to see him.
She just gives me a look and stays silent.
“Have you heard from your dad lately?” I ask, putting the ball back in her court. I know fathers are a sore subject for both of us.
“Nope. He pops up when he needs money or a place to stay. Now that the ranch isn’t an option for him anymore, he’ll probably move on to siphon off someone else,” she sighs.
We continue to ride and check the fence, and it feels good to be with her.
“I guess it’s good that mine can’t just pop up at any time. At least mine is right where he needs to be, behind bars,” I say with disdain for the man who tormented me and my siblings for most of our lives.
“Stay out of trouble, asshole,” she says as she takes off, Love reluctantly following her as she stops to gaze back at me and Pesto. I watch as she makes her way across the pasture.