over his jaw. He should have seen this coming. Mick didn’t want to be here. He’d said as much. Ty shouldn’t have forced him to stay. They could have left hours ago and he’d still have his truck.
A few feet away, Penny chewed on her lip. The expression on her face could only be described as pity. Her features were tight and her mouth turned downward into a frown.
He scowled. Having been raised with money, pity was not something he received often, and it wasn’t going to start now. “Will you stop looking at me like that?”
Her brows shot up and she glanced away. “I’m sorry…”
His eyes closed briefly. This wasn’t her fault. He’d been through worse and came out okay. He just needed to track down Bolton. The guy needed to know his long-lost relative had become lost again. “It was nice talking with you, Miss Taylor, but I have to break this to Bolton.”
She nodded and stepped aside as he headed past her. He paused, shook his head, and strode forward. He shouldn’t feel guilty that he was short with her—he didn’t owe her anything. He’d fix the tractor and find a way off this ranch.
A large, red Chevy sat outside the barn. It could be Bolton’s. It hadn’t taken him long to get back with the supplies. Ty’s hands tightened into fists as he ducked around the back of the barn. What he’d told Penny was true. The truck, all his things—they didn’t matter. Yet somehow having his means of escape taken away from him had his stomach in knots. Or had it been the proximity to Penny that had done it?
Women hadn’t interested him lately, but Penny seemed to be the exception. She had certainly gotten under his skin. There was no reason for it either. She was just a normal country girl who happened to live next door.
Ty slowed as he approached the tractor. Bolton wasn’t anywhere in sight. It was his truck out front, wasn’t it? It hadn’t been there earlier. Bolton rounded the corner with another cowboy. The man wore leather gloves and a beige hat. His brown eyes seemed so familiar.
Bolton gestured in his direction. “Ah, Mr. Langston, I was just about to come find you. I found the wires you needed in town and while I was there, I bumped into Cole here. He lives next door and they’re having a bit of trouble with some of their equipment as well. You suppose you could take a look before you go?”
Cole couldn’t be more than nineteen but his eyes betrayed more wisdom than his years suggested. His expression was unreadable. His eyes trailed from Ty’s feet up to his face and he held out his hand. “I heard you were able to figure out what was wrong with Bolton’s tractor. He’s been having problems with it for a while.”
Ty accepted his hand and gave it a firm shake. He nodded. “I know my way around large equipment.”
Cole released his hand and adjusted his hat, the scruff along his jaw only hinting at his age. He folded his arms. “Our resident mechanic moved recently. Are you staying in the area long?”
Ty shook his head. “Unfortunately, I have a job offer a few towns over. I was just dropping someone off before I head in that direction.”
“Pity.”
Ty glanced at Bolton. “Actually, I have something to tell you.”
Bolton lifted his chin.
“I think you’d prefer we speak about this in private.”
Cole’s features tightened somewhat but he nodded. “Come by the ranch when you get a chance, Mr. Langston. I’d appreciate if you could look at a few things.”
Ty offered a tight smile. “Sure. I’ll see if I can get there before I leave.”
“Good day,” Cole waved at Bolton and wandered around the side of the barn. When he was out of sight, Ty turned to Bolton, who wiped his hands on a towel he’d retrieved from a stack of crates.
“Mick’s gone.”
Bolton shot him a surprised look, then tossed the towel to the side. “When will he be back?”
Ty shook his head. “He took my truck. I don’t know if he’s coming back.”
“He took your truck,” Bolton repeated slowly.
“Yeah.” Ty rubbed the back of his neck. “And everything I own. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d hoped you’d drive me over to the shop that hired me. If I can get that far, I should be able to figure thing out.”
“You pressing charges? Maybe the cops can find it.”
“I won’t do that. I’ll be okay