19. Will
19
WILL
Over the past few weeks, Birdie and I have fallen into somewhat of a routine.
During the day, when she's working at the restaurant or City Hall, my brothers and I make progress around the ranch. On the nights she's not at the Lair, we spend as much time as we can together.
We've been to the Icebox diner in town to finally have our pie and coffee date. We've hiked to the top of Cooper's Ridge and even taken a ride on the tourist train that goes up one side of Deer Mountain—the non-Wilson side. Then there have been a few hikes to the top of Cooper's Ridge too. The rest of the time, we either spend the night in her cottage or at the ranch with my brothers.
And the more time that passes, the more certain I am that something very special is growing between us. I think about her when she's not with me and we message each other the rest of the time. She's so positive and encouraging with any of the ideas we come up with for the ranch, and it's made me think more and more about a future I never thought to wish for before. More importantly, just how I want her to be in it.
We've finished another series by Aster. Every new book I read leaves me with more questions than answers about the mountains, my family, and our ties to the mountains, and has me entertaining the crazy notion that Birdie and I could be on a similar journey toward love that the fictional couples are.
Because there's no doubt in my mind that my feelings for Birdie are growing daily. In the almost two months that we've now known one another, it becomes clearer that she's different… special…. meant to be in my life.
Today is another milestone for my family and the ranch. Not only is it now Spring, but our ranch hand Wyatt is also due to arrive. He's going to be a huge help to getting things moving forward, not just being another pair of hands, but his knowledge of a life lived around animals and on ranches. If there's anything we don't know, Wyatt will. Or at least be able to find out.
"Ah, Will," Sutton calls out from the porch. "Is there somethin' you forgot to tell us?"
I take one last look at Wyatt's room at the back of the house, making sure it's ready for him, before making my way out to the front where I find Sutton staring at not just a Bull Mountain Ranch truck coming to a stop outside the fence, but a trailer with at least two cattle inside.
"What are you talkin' about?"
"He's brought animals with him," Sutton informs me.
"It sure looks like that."
He stares wide-eyed at me. "Did you buy them without tellin' us? I know we said we'd get a small herd, but I didn't think we were there yet. We don't even have anywhere safe to put them."
I roll my eyes. "I wouldn't do that. I know all too well that we've got those fences to fix. Been waitin' on Marshall at the timberyard to call us when the pailin's are ready. You made me the head of the ranch but that doesn't mean I can act without clearin' everythin' past y'all.
"OK," he sighs, sounding relieved.
I arch a brow. "This is a democracy, not a dictatorship, remember?"
"Could they be his pets then?"
"Hey!" Wyatt says, hopping out of the truck as soon as it comes to a stop. "Damn, Will. This place sure is somethin'."
Sutton and I move down the stairs to greet him, shaking his hand before I introduce them. "Sutton, this is Wyatt. He worked with Cap but soon discovered the sea was not for him."
My brother chuckles and greets our new employee. "Nice to meet you. And believe me, all four of us Cooper men had our turn out in the Bering with Cap and it's not for the faint of heart."
"Not when you end up shelterin' from a storm and the boat's nearly turnin' on its side," Wyatt replies. "And call me Wy. Wyatt's what Dad and Mags call me, and doesn't matter if I'm nineteen or nine, it still makes me think I'm in trouble."
"Duly noted," Sutton laughs, before looking over his shoulder. "And is this your Dad I've heard so much about?"
"Red," I say, wrapping the man in a hug and clapping his back. "Couldn't let the boy come on his own, huh?" He shakes Sutton's hand before wrapping an arm around Wy's shoulders and roughhousing him a little.
"Been awhile since I've been to Timber Falls, and you bet I wanted to come see how y'all were gettin' on. Mags sends her love too."
"She didn't happen to send you a care package with some of her Corned Beef Hash did she?"
Red's wife Mags owns the diner in their hometown and that's her 'world famous' dish. When I first met them in a karaoke bar in Anchorage, they told me to stop by to try it. Having done that one the way here, it's now one of my favorite dishes.
Red laughs. "Sorry, that's somethin' best eaten straight from the source. But I'll make sure to tell my wife how much you want it."
I turn to Wy. "You didn't steal the recipe for me? Some friend you are."
There's no missing the amusement written all over Wy's face. Something tells me this isn't the first time he's been asked. "Mags is willin' to give me many things, her secret recipe is not one of them."
"OK. Now you've got me wanting this damn hash," Sutton says just as his stomach growls loudly. "How far away is Spring Haven again?"
"Too far for a dinner trip. But next time you're visitin' your parents in Anchorage, schedule a pit stop. You won't regret it." Red jerks his head to the trailer. "Bet you're wonderin' who we brought with us."
"You could say that. Not sure we're ready for any other animals just yet. A lot of things were neglected and the fences were the worst hit," I tell him.
Red tilts his head, his expression turning curious. "You said others . What have you got already?"
It's then Grumps starts making a racket, right on cue from his pen next to the barn. Red and Wy share a wide-eyed look as our resident jackass makes his presence known to all and sundry.
Wy's brows bunch together. "Is it OK ? It doesn't sound OK…"
"Seems we found us a donkey," Sutton says. "Actually, he found us. He just turned up one day and since it seems no one is missin' him, we've decided to keep him."
"Or he's keepin' us," I add, smirking.
Wyatt looks over toward the barn again. "Never owned one of those. Is he friendly?"
"He sure likes Will's girlfriend," my brother snickers.
Wy shoots me a curious look. "You got a girlfriend already? Damn, Will. You don't waste your time."
"Would you believe he met her at a furniture shop? She doesn't even work there but walked straight to Will and offered to help style the house. Everythin' you see inside is her doin'."
I chuckle, my heart swelling just thinking about my girl. "Couldn't get her off my mind after that. It's like we're two peas in a pod."
"Already?" Wy says, cocking his head. "Haven't you only been here a few months?"
"Yep." Sutton nods. "But if you saw them together, you'd think they'd been in love for years. "
Wy's mouth gapes open so wide it's a wonder he doesn't catch flies. "Love?"
All eyes turn my way, including Sutton's amused ones. I shrug because there's no point denying it. My feelings are heading that way, if not there already.
I catch Red looking at me strangely, almost curiously. "You read?"
Now I'm the one frowning. "Yeah..."
Sutton scoffs. " Yeah? Jeez, Will. You and Birdie have been racin' through those romance books." He turns back to Red and Wy. "You know the ones with the buff, shirtless men on the cover? They've been buddy readin' them." He adds air quotes for effect before shooting me a challenging look. "I think they're on to another animal mountain now. What was it?"
I rub the back of my neck. "Bear."
"Yeah, that one," he says, crossing his arms and looking far too proud of himself. It's times like these he reminds me of Case.
Red quietly watches, a knowing smile slowly making an appearance.
"What's on your mind, Red?" I ask.
As quick as the look is there, it's gone. "Nothin'. Don't mind me. Just thinkin' 'bout that some things are meant to be, that's all. Like me and Mags. Didn't see it comin' and when I realized what was right in front of me all along, I grabbed hold of it–"
"And her," Wy adds. "I swear you two are attached at the hip most of the time."
"Yeah. OK, kid. Her too. And have never let go. Just somethin' for you to think about, that's all."
"OK… " I reply, more than a little puzzled. It's like Red's trying to say something without telling me. "Is your dad always this cryptic, Wy?"
"You have no idea. Ever since he had to eat his words about never hearin' the Call, he's been all soft and gooey. Dad and Mags are lovey-dovey all the time now. It's taken a while to get used to." The Call? Like in the books?...
Before I can ask about it, Red reaches out and taps the rim of Wy's ball cap. "One day you'll understand, kid. Now, let's get these steers unloaded. I want to get back to Bull before sundown. Understand what?
"Tryin' to get rid of me already, Dad?" he teases.
Red shoulder bumps him. "You bet I am. I'm lookin' forward to having the house to ourselves so Mags and I can do all those lovey-dovey things you hate."
Wy fakes a gag before laughing. "Yeah, OK. Do y'all have somewhere to put two steers? They're pretty docile, but they have just been cooped up in the trailer for hours so you're goin' to want somewhere secure until they're settled."
"About that," I say, walking around to the back of the trailer. I pop my head over to look at our two new surprise residents. "You sellin' us some unwanted stock, Red?"
"Nope. Think of them as a housewarmin' gift. A little somethin' to say welcome to the ranch life and thanks for takin' a chance on my boy."
Not for the first time, I'm thankful that my parents put me in touch with Randy, who in turn, helped me meet Red, but also for Cap recommending Wyatt. He's a good, hard worker who just didn't like crab fishing. The bonus is, he probably knows a lot more about ranching than me and my brothers.
I share a surprised but grateful look with Sutton. "I don't know what to say."
Wy leans my way. "You say thank you, Will," he stage whispers cheekily. "Jeez, you weren't lyin' when you said you need me here."
That gets us all laughing and I take the opportunity to knock the kid's hat off his head, ruffling his dark hair underneath before turning to his dad.
"Much appreciated, Red," I say as we shake hands. "Though I'm not sure the fences we've got are goin' to be able to keep them in for long."
"Where were you plannin' on puttin' your herd?" he asks with his experienced ranch boss hat on.
I point to the barely fenced field that lines the Western side of the driveway. "That one," I say, wincing when I see Red's brows jump sky-high.
"OK," he says after a spell. "Well since I'm here to help, let's get to work. It just so happens that you've got two ranchers for the price of one and lucky for you, we know how to keep cattle where we want them. Let's see what you've got to work with, and we'll get started. In the meantime, let's go introduce your donkey to his new neighbors."
Since Birdie had a shift at the Lair, and it's Wy's first night, we organized a phone date for during her meal break. We've both admitted that we get antsy if we go without seeing or talking for too long. I can't focus on anything and get distracted because I can't think about anything else but her.
While waiting for her call, I open my nightstand to grab the latest Aster book we're buddy reading and spot the corner of Gramps's old journal the guys found in the barn. I've been so busy with everything else that I forgot I put it in there.
It's kind of ironic that on the same day Red and Wy seemed to speak in code and mentioned a "Call," Gramps's journal reappears.
Just as I'm about to flick it open, my phone lights up with a message from Birdie. I bring up her number and connect the call, my whole body relaxes when I hear her voice.
"City Boy," she breathes, almost a sigh of relief.
"Hey, honey. How's work goin'?"
"Steady. Not too busy, not too light."
"So just right?" I say, chuckling.
"Exactly." I can hear her smile. "What are you doin'?"
"Waitin' for you, of course."
She clicks her tongue, and I can just imagine her rolling her eyes playfully like she seems to do whenever I say something 'smooth'.
" Apart from that."
Now I'm smiling. "I'd just sat down so I could read and wait for you, and then I found Gramps's journal from the barn."
"Huh. You mean the one with your name on it?"
"Yeah," I reply, turning back the cover to see the note inside with my name written in Gramps's shaky penmanship, my chest twinging at memories of letters he would send to us as kids. "It had slipped my mind."
"Well, it's not like you have been slackin' off, Will. You've been workin' hard every day since you arrived. At least now that Wyatt's arrived and the house is finished?—"
"For now, anyway."
"Yes," she says, and I can hear her smile through the phone, "it's in a–what did you call it–a livable state. If Case gets his way, you'll have a smart home with Wi-Fi controlled appliances, a steam shower, and at least one other bathroom."
"Ha, yes. He has a lot of ideas."
"Yeah, but you've all got time. Until then, with more hands on deck, you can start enjoyin' other things in life."
"Like my girlfriend?" I say, using the word Sutton used today.
Birdie laughs warmly. "You askin' me to go steady, Will Cooper? I don't know what to say. You see, I've been seein' this man in town for a good wee while now. He's all I can think about, and when I'm not with him, I miss him." Damn, I love how she is so open and honest with her feelings. "I'm not sure if it's fair to be goin' steady with someone else…"
"Honey, not sure if you've been payin' attention on this ride we've been on, but I'm not askin' you to be my girlfriend. You already are."
"Hmm," she hums. "Isn't that somethin' you usually ask ?"
Grinning, I don't waste any time making things clear. "Birdie-Lee Walker, are you my girlfriend?"
"I don't know, William John Ridley Cooper. I might have to think about this for a while. It's just come out of nowhere you know?" The line between us falls silent and I wait her out. Then, just as expected, the sweet sound of her laughter fills my ear.
"You know you shouldn't act so cute when I'm not there to kiss you."
"You like kissin' me whether I'm bein' sassy or cute. Don't lie."
"Damn right, I do. Would be doin' it now if we were together." There's no disguising the huskiness in my voice. I want her to know what she does to me. Whether she's with me or not, she's never far from my mind.
"Do you ever think it's strange that we don't like bein' apart?" she asks out of nowhere. Not like I've been thinking the same thing…
"Strange? No. Nothin' I've experienced before? Sure." But now that she's mentioned it… "Does it worry you ?"
"Will, don't you get it? There's nothin' about you that worries me. Not a single thing." Well , damn. That feels good to hear.
She asks me to tell her about Wy and our new cattle as she finishes the rest of her meal.
"Are you goin' to read the journal? We could do it together if you want?" she offers.
"You want to read the ramblin's of an old man with me, honey?"
"I wouldn't mind bein' there with you while you read them, yeah."
I smile at that, my body feeling lighter. "Wouldn't mind havin' you here any way possible."
"And here we go again with the sweet talkin'. Don't mind it when it's you doin' it. The old timers who prop up the bar, not so much." She giggles when a growl rumbles out of me.
"Someone givin' you trouble?"
"Settle down, wolverine. You've got nothin' to be worried about. Tonight's one is seventy-two, has two missin' front teeth, is as ornery as Grumps the donkey, has nine fingers and–accordin' to him–eight toes. All of which he says were lost while living his best life in the fast lane as an ice road trucker, in between living and breathin' his ranch.
I snort. "How do you lose teeth as a trucker?"
"It beats me. But he's harmless. He just likes tellin' us stories about his life."
"So he's a lonely old man?"
"Nah. He's got children and a brother, some of which still live on the mountain with him. He comes to town now and then to have his one drink and leaves again," she says.
"I don't need to storm down the mountain to stake my claim then?"
"Now, you're welcome to stake your claim any time you like, City Boy. But there's no need to defend my honor against Old Man Wilson. He just wanted to chat."
"Wait. Wilson as in those Wilsons?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.
"You mean the ones livin' on Deer Mountain who rarely come into town, and if they do, it's to the Lair and never as a group, always just one or two of them? Yes, the same ones." Then she pauses. "Oh that's right, you said there's some sort of rivalry or somethin', right?"
"Apparently," I reply. "Just wish I could find out what it's about and what started it. At least then I'll be prepared if anythin' ever comes of it."
"Will…" she says, dragging my name out. "What do you mean apparently ? You don't sound sure?"
"All I know is what Gramps told us growin' up. He called them 'the family who shall not be named.' Maybe his journal will shed some light on why the two families don't like each other."
"You never know, maybe there's some sort of long-held grudge we don't know about. It could be fun to find out, though." She sounds like a kid at Christmas now.
"Hmm, I'll think about it. How 'bout that?" I say, hedging my bets.
"OK, I'll give you that one. Let's talk about somethin' else before my break ends and I end up more annoyed that I have to work instead of bein' cuddled up next to you," she huffs and I can't help but smile.
"Fine by me. What do you want to talk about?"
"How's Wy settling in?"
"Good, I think. I stayed with him and his family at Bull Mountain before I came here," I explain to her. "So, it's not like we're strangers. But he knows all about livin' and workin' on a ranch, so I bet he'll end up teachin' us everythin' we need to know."
"Then it's a good thing he's here, right? Maybe you can get stuck into puttin' all those plans of yours into action," she says, and it's like she can read my mind. If only…
"You're right. Him and Red already kicked our asses into gear and helped us fix up the front paddock today. They gifted us two steers as a house–more like a ranch warmin' gift. Needed to make sure the fences were goin' to keep them in."
"The fences that were on your 'next month' list?" I snort. "Guess it frees up time for somethin' else now that it's already done."
"See, this is why I love…havin' you around. Nothin's ever a bad thing with you."
She snickers. "I may be biased but can't say I've found a bad thing about you either, Will."
"You know what I mean, honey."
"Yeah," she sighs happily, "and I love that you think that about me. Figured out a long time ago, around the time Mom first got sick that there's no point focusin' on what can go wrong, might as well just look for the good things and enjoy those."
"That's the right way to live."
"You know what else is good?" she says, not giving me a chance to answer before pressing on. "The fact you've got cows. Why didn't you lead with that? We could've spent all this time talkin' about your new pet animals and their names and where they're goin' to live, and whether we can get them little coats to keep them warm. All of that."
Chuckling, I shake my head, subconsciously smiling and rubbing my thumb over the worn leather cover of the journal. Did you know I'd find here, Gramps?
"Not sure what you've changed in me, honey, but I don't think I've laughed more in my entire life since I moved to town."
"Does that mean you're happy?"
"With you, there ain't no other way to be," I reply truthfully.
"Dammit, Will. You can't say stuff like that. You're goin' to make me tear up and then I'll have to go back behind the bar and have everyone ask me if I'm doin' OK," she replies, her voice thick.
"Good tears though?"
"The best tears. I don't know how this happened or…" She pauses as if searching for a word. " how the future is goin' to play out. I just know that I'm over the moon that I'm goin' steady with my city boy, ranch-ownin' boyfriend, who not only owns a donkey but two cows too."
"Steers, honey. Bulls with no n–"
" Yes , Will. I know," she giggles.
I think I love you . I want this–us–forever , I think but don't say.
We've got time. There's nothing saying my brothers and I have to leave the ranch, and the more time and money we invest in the place, and the longer we stay here, I think it'll keep feeling more like home than any of us could've ever imagined.
We've got time.
"Well now, I better get goin'. My break's almost over. Talk tomorrow?"
"Always, honey. Have a good rest of your night." That's when I grin. "And stop letting those old timer's chat my girlfriend up. They need to know she's taken."
A giggle hits my ears, making my smile grow wider. "Sweet dreams, city boy." I swear, hearing those four words from her settles my soul.
"You too, honey."
Then I put my phone down and turn to the first page of Gramps's journal.