46. Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Colt
T his day has gone to shit. My guys are acting like they have never worked on a ranch a day in their entire lives.
"What the fuck are you guys standing around for? There is work to be done." I start to count off each task on my fingers, "Muck the stalls, check the water, mend some fencing, unload the hay and feed the damn horses!"
This finally kicks their asses into gear. I hear them mumbling to each other as I walk off and head to find Blake. Brooks stops me on my trek to Blake's office.
"Who pissed in your oats this morning?"
I roll my eyes, trying to keep my temper in check. "No one. Today feels like I am babysitting a bunch of toddlers."
Brooks smiles, "Yup I hear someone is extra grumpy today. Any particular reason?"
I clear my throat, lift my cowboy hat off my head and run my fingers through my sweat-soaked hair. "Nope." I lower my hat back down. "Were you coming to see me? "
"Nah, just coming to check that you haven't strangled anyone," Brooks laughs as he starts walking to the barn.
"I don't have time for this shit," I mumble under my breath as I walk off.
"Give her a call. Then maybe you won't be such a broody son-of-a-bitch!" Brooks yells from behind me.
I flip him the bird and carry on my way to find Blake. I need to get back to the ranch hands as soon as possible. I know if I don't watch them like a hawk, they will be fucking around and not getting their jobs done.
I knock on Blake's open office door, and he waves me in. He is on the phone, so I take a seat in front of his desk and wait for him to be finished.
"That was the engineer. He will be here tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. Can you make time to meet him with me? We need to get the land surveyed and make sure it is solid. I can't be having all these issues when the snow comes."
"Of course. Are we meeting at the main barn?"
"Yes. That will be good." Blake leans back in his chair and clears his throat. "Have you heard from Brynn?"
"Not much." I don't want to share anything from our conversation last night.
"I think Whit mentioned she was supposed to meet with her insurance company today. Would I be a bad brother if I hope she has to come stay here? "
I look him in the eyes. "No. I am ecstatic that Callie is going to be working on the ranch. I haven't been in the same town as her for a long time. I hope she loves it here as much as I do."
"I am glad she will be working here, too. She is a wealth of knowledge." The tips of his ears pinken as he grips the back of his neck with his right hand. "I am glad she finally accepted the offer."
That gets my attention. "When did you offer her the job?"
"Right after I saw her with the new additions. I couldn't get over the way she was basically reading their minds," Blake laughs and stands from his desk. "I am glad she is staying. You have an awfully cute niece."
I warn Blake as I stand to leave. "Millie is definitely cute but watch out. She knows exactly how to use that cuteness to make you do whatever she wants."
Blake laughs, "I think I can handle her."
I nod and leave his office and head back to the barn to be sure the ranch hands are doing their jobs and not fucking off. I enter the barn to find it immaculate.
"The guys just left. They were working their asses off when I came in here. I let them go shower and get cleaned up for dinner," Brooks says as he stands from checking out the leg of a new filly.
"Okay." I continue to look at how clean and tidy everything is .
"I hope that's okay, it looked like they had done a damn good job."
"Yeah. I actually didn't expect the barn to look this good."
Brooks laughs, "I don't think it has been this clean in years."
I blow out a breath. "I am going to call it a night. See ya tomorrow."
"Not joining us for dinner?"
"Nah. I need to shower and catch up on my housework."
"You know Momma Ann will do any cleaning or washing you need, right?"
"Yes, but there is no sense in her doing it when I am perfectly capable."
Brooks nods and goes back to his tasks. "Have a good night, Colt."
"Thanks, you too."
I go to my cottage and strip as soon as I am in the front door. I walk to the bathroom and turn the shower on. Waiting for the steam to rise so I can get in and wash away the day. My shower is quick and to the point. I dry off and pull on a pair of shorts and head to the kitchen.
I am searching through my leftovers for something to eat when my phone chimes.
Brynn: Hey Cowboy.
Colt: Hey Firecracker.
Brynn: What are you up to?
Colt: Just got out of the shower, trying to find some food.
Brynn: Momma Ann not making dinner?
Colt: Didn't feel like going to the main house.
Brynn: Long day?
Colt: Very. How was your day?
Brynn: Productive.
Colt: How so?
Brynn: Got a lot of my to-do list done today.
Colt: That is good. Glad you had a productive day
I want so badly to ask her if she is coming back, but I don't know if I can handle the heartache if she says no.
Brynn: Miss you
Colt: Miss you too
Brynn: I'm going to call it a night. Goodnight Cowboy.
Colt: Goodnight baby.