help Stacey dismount. Jake parked the ATV, took his daughter’s hand, and started to walk away, while Shea took care of Rambo. Jake stopped and turned around.
“You’re not coming?”
Shea leaned on the fence railing and uncinched the straps from underneath Rambo, then pulled off the saddle and blanket from his back. “I gotta take care of my horse. I can’t just walk away and let someone else do it for me. Runnin’ a ranch isn’t all about ridin’ and fishin’ and playin’ around. There’s grunt work that’s gotta be done. Cleaning the stalls and the chicken coops. Buyin’ the feed. Caring for the land and the animals and people connected to it. It don’t all just run itself, you know.”
Jake scowled, and normally Shea would find it cute, but not now. The casual offer to buy the ranch reminded him of those rich people who’d come and think their money entitled them to special privileges. Jake wasn’t supposed to be like that. Shea’s earlier good mood melted away.
“I know that. I’m not stupid, you know.”
“Never said you were. I’ll see you at dinner.” He undid the bridle and set Rambo off into the paddock with a slap on his flank. “Go on with you. I’ll be around to brush you in a few.” The horse loped away, and when he turned around, Jake and Stacey had disappeared.
“What’s wrong? You look like someone just kicked your puppy.” Craig followed him into the barn, where he collected brushes, a currycomb, and a few soft cloths.
“Nothin’.” Retracing his steps, he found Rambo, who’d taken a nose at some oats and fresh water. “Lemme brush you, buddy.” He began the process of cleaning his horse.
“Anyone ever tell you, you’re a terrible liar?”
Hoping Craig would leave him alone, Shea ignored him, but it had never worked in the past, and the same was proving itself at the present. “You ’n Jake have an argument? He had a face full of thunder on his way back to the house.”
“Nope.” He brushed down Rambo’s coat, checked his hooves, and finding everything as it should be, gave the horse a few scratches. When he was young, he’d come to the barn and talk to his horse, Sugar, spilling out all his fears about feeling different and cut off from the world. Sugar was long gone, and so was that little boy.
“Don’t be lettin’ that man leave without tellin’ him how you feel.” Craig tipped back his hat to give Shea the benefit of a full glare.
“Don’t you got some manure to shovel besides all the crap you’re talkin’ to me?”
“ ‘There are none so blind as those who cannot see.’ Or, and excuse me, Lord, for changing his words, but in your case it’s refusin’ to see what’s standin’ right in front of you.” Craig left him standing at the gate.
Shea stomped over to his apartment. By the time he showered and changed for dinner, his mood had shifted again. Why was he so angry? If Jake wanted to buy the ranch, then let him. He buttoned up his dress shirt and tucked it into a pair of dark jeans. He knew Patty wanted the last night to be a special one, and Shea had every intention of leaving his ugly mood behind and making it so.
Walking onto the rear porch, he spied everyone already there with drinks in hand. Looking like a flower, Stacey wore a colorful dress, with a ribbon tying back her curls. She stood by Terry, who was whispering into Patty’s ear and nodding. Shea suspected the two women were cooking something up between them.
His gaze landed on Jake sitting in one of the rocking chairs, staring off into the jumping flames of the firepit. His green shirt set off those glittering eyes in his tanned face, and the sun-streaked brown hair lay in sleek waves. Shea itched to run his fingers through its silk and hoped he’d get the chance later.
“Evenin’, everyone. Hope you weren’t all waitin’ on me.” He smiled, then went to the table Patty had set up as a bar and made himself a rare whiskey and soda. Usually he went for beer, but tonight he felt the need for something stronger.
Liquid courage.
He gulped down half, and with its burn lighting a fire in his belly, Shea sauntered over to Jake and took the chair next to him. He stretched out his legs. “Howdy.”
“Hi, yourself. It’s so beautiful outside. I’m glad we’ve had all our meals in the fresh air.