40. Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Colt
T he afternoon turns to complete shit. The ranch hands are hot, tired and don't want to listen. Something, my guess is a large animal, keeps breaking through the wire fences. I am hot, tired as fuck, and just want to go home to a shower and a beer.
"Colt. We have a heifer down." Matt's voice comes through on my walkie.
For fuck's sake.
"Location?" I grind my molars, waiting for an answer.
"East field, by the pond."
"On my way." I pull out my cell and call Brooks. "Hey man, we got a heifer down."
The walkie crackles again, "Colt, this looks like a sinkhole."
"Fuck. Sounds like it might be a sinkhole," I tell Brooks as I hop on the side by side.
"Pick me up. Main barn. "
I get quickly to the main barn and Brooks jumps in. "Blake hasn't had any issues with sinkholes, but I remember my dad talking about them when we were younger."
"Maybe it's a one-off," I say as we haul ass to the field.
"Let's hope," Brooks says as he grasps for the handle above his head. "Damn Colt. Are we in a race I don't know about?"
I pull my foot off the accelerator, "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it, I am wild, but I don't want my ass chewed by Brynn if you mess up that pretty face of yours."
I give him the side-eye and he is staring at me with a full-on smile. "Don't try to deny it."
I just grunt and pull up as close as we can to the pond. "Let's go see the damage."
"Doesn't look too good," Matt says when we reach him. "We got her up, but I think her leg is broken."
"Dammit." Brooks kneels beside the heifer and checks her out. You can tell by looking that her back leg is clearly broken. He pulls out his kit and starts to examine her further.
We leave him to his assessment and head toward the sinkhole. The ground around it is soft, no wonder it caved. "Let's get the cattle moved. We are going to have a long night boys."
A chorus of curse words ring out from around the ranch hands. "No complaining. Get on it," I say in a gruff voice that means I'm not fucking around.
"Yes sir," the chorus says again .
I make my way back over to Brooks. "How is she?"
"Suffering and miserable."
"Fuck."
"Yup. My thought exactly. I'll handle her."
So much for that cold beer.
Between Brooks, the ranch hands, and myself, we get all the cattle moved until we can have the land surveyed and checked out by an engineer.
Working this late into the day is not unheard of on a ranch, but boy does it suck ass. I am filthy, tired and sore as fuck from getting the heifer on the wagon.
"Come join us for a beer at the main house when you get cleaned up," Brooks says as he claps me on the back. "You deserve it."
I make my way home to the cottage and take a shower. The dirt, grit, and grime from the day washing away down the drain. I want to crawl into bed, but I'll be nice and meet up at the main house for one beer.
I throw on a pair of shorts and a cut-off tee and slip on my slides. I might be a cowboy every day of my life, but I still like comfy clothes. I hop in my truck and meet the guys on the front porch of the main house. "Y'all haven't had enough of this heat yet today?"
"Let's go inside. Momma Ann left some food out for us," Brooks says as he opens the door. We each grab a pulled pork sandwich from the fridge and a bag of chips and sit down at the table.
"We didn't just invite you for a beer," Blake starts. "We have an ulterior motive."
I drop my sandwich on the paper plate and look at the two men sitting across from me. "What's going on?"
"Brynn left," Brooks says, and then takes a swig of beer. "And we want her to come back. Permanently."
I laugh, "You guys do know you can't control that woman, right?"
"We know. We just figured she might come back for you. If that is something you wanted," Blake says, eyebrows raising, making his forehead crease.
"She says her home is in New York," I take another bite. "I'm not even sure she would want to stay here for me."
"Bullshit. You make her happy," Callie says, sneaking up on all of us.
"Holy shit, you are like a ninja," Brooks says, hand over his heart.
Callie laughs, "Brynn taught me all her secrets." She takes a seat beside me. "So big brother, is this where you confess your love for her, and I get to tell you what an idiot you are for letting her leave?"
I lean my head back and groan. "She had to go take care of her apartment. She didn't want to stay. If there is one thing I know about Brynn, it is that she doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do."
"So that's it? You are just going to let her leave and not even let her know how you feel?" Callie asks wide-eyed.
"Everyone leaves," I mumble. "I'm going to bed." I stand from my chair and Callie is glaring at me.
I get not even two feet from the table when she says, "Colt William Wright, don't you dare walk out that door. Not with that attitude. Sit your ass back down."
I turn to see Callie standing, hands on her hips, preparing for battle.
Shit.
"Let it go, Callie," I grumble.
"The fuck I will. Sit down!" Her tone tells me I better do as she says, or I will wake up with no eyebrows.
I hang my head and go to sit back down in my seat. "Can we not?"
"Life is hard. People leave, death comes. You are not alone. I am here. You have this wonderful family that has pulled you in like you are one of them. I will not sit here and let you wallow in this pity party. Grow the fuck up."
I cross my arms over my chest, "Callie." I have to stop her rant, or she will go all night. "I am grown. This is not a debate. She left. It is her decision. Yeah, I would love if she was here. But she isn't." I stand and walk straight out the door before my sister can start her rebuttal.
It is going to be a long fucking night.