14. Red
14
RED
I’m finding it harder than ever to act normal around Mags.
As much as I try to deny it to myself, I can't stop seeing her in ways I never expected to look at my best friend. It’s not helpful when you're trying to have a meeting with the rodeo owner in his camper and you can hear the contagious laugh of the woman in question as she socializes with the rodeo wives and partners right outside.
Rod clears his throat, grabbing my attention. Turning back to him, I find him smirking. “Anyone would think you were a bit distracted today, Red?”
I ignore him. I’ve known the man for decades, he used to be my boss, and now he’s a vital part of the Bull Stud’s business. He has the champion animals, we breed them. Supply and demand. He also knows what Mags is to me so he’s just tryin’ to stir the pot.
"So, how are you lookin' for stock? We've just castrated our first lot of calves, so they'll be ready for delivery in the next six months."
Rod leans back in his chair. “Good, good. That’ll work well. Can start training them for junior riders next season. A few years later, they’ll be ready for the big leagues.”
I nod, cradling the mug of crap coffee in front of me on the table. It’s drinkable, but nothing beats the cowboy brew we make back at Bull. Or anything Mags can make at the Hog. “Sounds like a plan.”
"What else have you got for me?” he asks. “You ever think of movin' into horses? I have a fair few animals that are nearin' the end of their circuit life. They deserve a fittin’ end to their careers too. Can’t have the bulls gettin’ all the love.”
“We have talked about expandin’. It’s not like we don’t have the land, and we’ve got the plans drawn up for more stables too. What are their lineages like? Do they have a good history?”
“Oh yeah. You know me, I don’t have anythin’ but the best. Why’d you think I had you workin’ for me for so long? I was ready to hand over the circuit to you when the time came,” he replies, shocking the shit out of me. “Then you had to go be noble and retire.”
My head jerks back. “That’s news to me, Rod. I thought for sure you’d be passin’ it down to family.”
He laughs. “You and me both. That was before Sarah and Josie got stolen away by that mountain spirit, didn’t they? Don’t get me wrong, we’re all happy for them, and we wouldn’t give our grandchildren up for the world. It has just left us with a little legacy issue.”
Sarah–Rod’s daughter–and Josie, his niece–both heard the mountain’s Call one after the other with their now husbands, Jasper for Josie, and Sawyer for Sarah. They’re both some of the owners of Eagle Mountain Ranch. It’s also the place where the only Graham sister, Tess, lives with her husband Remy and their children.
“You could sell it,” I suggest.
“You goin’ to buy it?” he counters with a grin, already knowing my answer.
“My time on the road is in my rearview mirror. I’ve hung my hat at Bull Mountain Ranch and I’m damn happy about that.”
“And you just had to take my best bull rider and his brothers along with you, didn’t you,”
“Don’t forget Colt, he’s back from Colorado with rave reviews from the rodeo down there. He’s a champion bareback rider now.”
His deep laughter fills the RV. “Don’t worry, Jeff, the owner down there, took great pleasure in tellin’ me all about my loss and his gain. What about Colt? Any chance he wants to hit the road again? I have Landry and Star for events but we both know that won’t last forever.”
“Yeah, Lan and Star are good people but you’re right, they do want to settle down soon. Colt too. They’re all startin’ to build houses of their own on the ranch now.”
“I figured that would happen sooner rather than later.” Rod huffs out a sigh and looks over the table at me. “What about you, Red? You happy?”
My head jerks at his question. What’s with everyone asking me that lately?
"Yeah. Of course," I roll out like I'm on autopilot.
Rod scoffs and shakes his head. The man has always called it as he sees it and this time is no different. “You forget I’ve known you for a long time, Red. You’re sayin’ what you think I want to hear because you bottle things up inside.”
I let his words sink in, the weight of them hitting me harder than I expected. Rod always had a way of seeing through my tough exterior, straight to the heart of things. Taking a deep breath, I set down my mug and meet his gaze square on.
"You're right," I admit quietly. "I’ve been so focused on rebuildin’ the ranch and the Stud, and raisin’ Wy, I think I forgot about what else might be out there for me."
Rod nods, drinking his coffee before speaking again. "There's more to life than work, Red. You of all people know that. You've got friends who care about you, a family back at Bull that looks up to you, and then there's your friend out there who has been by your side through thick and thin. The way I see it, if you're wantin' to start workin' to live instead of livin' to work, then she might be a good place to start.”
“I hear you, Rod,” I finally reply quietly, mulling his words over in my head. I’m starting to think everything leads back to Mags.
A slow-growing smile appears on his aged face. "I know you do. You’ve always been good at listenin' to advice though. When are you goin’ to start doin ’ somethin’ with it? The loss of Anna was hard, I know. But that woman loved you so much she would never want you to live the rest of your life alone. And I don’t think it’s escaped you that Mags is one of the good ones–beautiful, loyal, hard workin’ and strong as hell. She’s the kind of woman you don’t wanna let slip through your fingers just because you’re afraid to put yourself out there. You get me? You’re a good man, you deserve to have another good woman by your side.”
I study the man I’ve known since I was a green-around-the-ears ranch hand begging for a chance to join the circuit. “You moonlightin’ as a life coach these days, Rod?”
He barks out a laugh. “Yeah. Maybe I am. When it comes to you, we’re more than just business associates, Grayson. Hope you know that.”
“Yeah, I do.” I lift my mug and down the rest of my drink. “But how ‘bout we shelve the life advice and get down to talkin’ numbers. What do you say?”
Rod grins and rubs his hands together. “OK, Grayson. Let’s get down to business, but we’re doin’ it with a whisky,” he says before I can argue, He stands and pulls down a bottle of what looks like moonshine from an overhead cabinet. “Don’t think this conversation about you and her is over though.”
I sigh and nod. “I know, Rod. You wouldn’t be you if it was. But let's talk about these Bulls you’ve got for me.”
By the time we’re finished negotiating a deal and called back to Bull to get everyone else’s’ agreement, I leave Rod to get back to rodeo business and find Mags sitting right where I left her, talking and laughing with the rodeo wives.
I walk slowly, watching her animated expressions and smiling at the way her eyes light up when she laughs. She looks free and easy, relaxed just like I’d hope she’d be. The warmth that spreads through me isn’t just from the whiskey I’d had with Rod; it’s all her. She really is beautiful.
Just as I think that, she turns her head and catches my gaze, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Hey there,” she calls, patting the seat next to her.
I settle in beside her and take the bottle of beer she offers me from a cooler, happy to sit back and listen to their chatter. After a while, the other women all excuse themselves to go find their men, leaving Mags and I sitting alone among all the trucks and RVs.
Mags looks over, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “How did it go?”
“Everythin’s settled with Rod,” I start, looking straight into her warm hazel eyes. “We’re goin’ to get those sires over to Bull soon. Might even get some horses from him eventually too.”
“That’s great news! I knew you’d work your magic,” she says, leaning in a little closer, her pink cheeks and cheery grin making me wonder just how many of those beers she’s had. She’s not drunk–far from it–she’s definitely happy though.
“You havin’ fun?”
“Oh yeah. Those girls are a hoot . Helped pass the time away while you were seein’ to business. Her hand brushes lightly against mine but the jolt of electricity that shoots through me at her touch is anything but. I don’t pull away this time thought.
Maybe it’s the mountain air and Lee’s prediction, or maybe it’s because Rod’s advice is still ringing in my ears. Whatever it is, I’m going to lean into it. If there is a mountain’s call, and I’m hearing it, and Mags is my One, then I’m going to go with the flow and see what happens.
Her hand lingers on mine, her seeking gaze does too, holding my eyes captive in a way that feels both comforting and exhilarating. Something I haven’t felt in a long time.
“What’s the plan for the rest of the day? Know any bears we could go feed?” she asks.
I bark out a laugh. “Bears? You’ve fed the moose so you’re movin’ up the food chain now?”
"Maybe." A small smile plays on her lips. "But I have been thinkin’.”
“Hmmm. About what?” I find my body being drawn toward her without me realizing it. I don’t move away though. Not when I can feel her body heat radiating toward me.
“How ‘bout we get back to the job of enjoyin’ this vacation you keep remindin' me about? We’re here, at the rodeo, and the finals are about to start. How ‘bout we take this cooler, grab some terribly greasy junk good, and go be spectators for once. Think you can forget about business for a little while, Red?"
Her flirty, playful tone catches me off guard, but in the best way possible. Why shouldn't I take this chance to let loose and enjoy the little moments with someone special to me? She's been with me through thick and thin, the good and the bad, and she’s right, we are supposed to be on vacation.
Maybe it’s time I stop thinking about the ranch, Wyatt, business, and whatever the matchmaking mountain spirit might have planned for us, and just be .
I stand up and offer her my hand, grinning down at her. “That sounds like a damn fine idea, Ms. Gallagher.” She snickers and stands in front of me, her cheeks flushed. “Well, I’ll be damned, is that a blush I see?”
“Shut it, Red. I thought you were a gentleman.”
”Oh, I am a gentleman. But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate your blushin' beauty.”
She narrows her eyes. “You'll get yours, Grayson. Just you wait. You forget I’ve seen you blush too, remember?” She drops her voice, leaning in close. “Seen a lot more than that too.”
My brows jump high, her knowing smirk and reminder of this morning’s… situation … causes a startled laugh to burst out of me.
She snickers, looping her arm in mine before bumping my hip with hers. My situation sparks to life and suddenly I’m feeling like I’m a teenager with zero self-control again.
Thankfully, Mags stays oblivious to my reaction to her and keeps talking. “Now, if we’re goin’ for the whole rodeo experience, then that means you’re buyin’ me one of those BBQ pulled pork sandwiches for lunch. I saw it on a food truck sign when we drove in this mornin’.”
I look down at her, my lips twitching. “ Just a sandwich? Is that all? C’mon, darlin’. I’m sure we can do better than that. You said greasy junk food.”
She puffs out her chest and grins. “OK then. Curly fries and a Coke too. Think you can manage that?”
“Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll make sure you get everythin’ you need.”
I realize then that I'm not just talking about the here and now, I’m talking about forever.
And isn't that a revelation? Maybe Rod was right.
“Mags is one of the good ones–beautiful, loyal, hard workin’ and strong as hell. She’s the kind of woman you don’t wanna let slip through your fingers just because you’re afraid to put yourself out there.”
“You’re a good man, you deserve to have another good woman by your side.”
Now all I have to do is work out what I’m going to do about it.