Teaching Her Billionaire Cowboy Rookie - April Murdock Page 0,15

till he gets in touch with me. I won’t kick a brother while he’s down even if Breeden deserves it a little.” Ty shook his head with a frown.

Bolton glanced around them and lifted his arms. “Why not just stay here and work for me?”

Ty snorted. “Work for you? Thanks, Bolton, but I doubt you need a personal mechanic.”

Bolton chuckled. “No, but I could use another hand around here. The fact that you can fix equipment is the cherry on top. I’m sure I can pay you better than that other place.”

“You’re serious.” Ty folded his arms. “You want to hire me, a stranger, to work on your ranch. Not only that, but you’re offering higher pay. What’s the catch?”

Bolton shrugged. “No catch. I like you. More than that, I trust you.”

“You can’t trust a stranger.”

Bolton rubbed his jaw and a small smile crossed his lips. “You’re right. But I can trust a mechanic who diagnosed my tractor correctly and refused to charge me. I can trust a man who tried to help his friend.” He walked over to a bag that sat on top of the tractor’s seat and snagged it before returning to face Ty. He held it out to him. “Stick around here for a few weeks—at least until we find someone else. There’s free room and board and plenty of tractors that could use tune-ups around here.”

Ty grabbed the bag from Bolton and glanced inside. The coiled wires were exactly what he’d need to start the engine. He met Bolton’s gaze. “You don’t even know what they were going to pay me over there.”

“Whatever it was, I’ll raise it by five dollars an hour.”

Ty’s brows shot up, then his eyes narrowed. “What’s the catch?” he repeated.

Bolton flashed him a smile. “No catch. There’s an opening I need to fill, and you’re available.”

Ty cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck. What would be the consequences of sticking around? Hot meals? Warm bed? Pretty neighbors? He lifted his chin and met Bolton’s eyes. “I’d be happy to help as long as you need me.”

His new boss nodded and rubbed his hands together. He jerked his chin toward the tractor. “First things first. If this doesn’t fix it—”

“It will.”

Bolton cocked a brow at Ty.

Ty pulled the wires from the bag. “I’ve been around the block. The chances I’m wrong are slim.”

Bolton clapped him on the back. “Well, then, have at it.” He was quiet as Ty opened a tool chest and pulled out a pair of pliers. He got to work removing the old wires but Bolton continued to hover.

Ty shot him a look over his shoulder. “Surely there are more important things you could be doing right now. Don’t you run this ranch?”

Bolton laughed. “I run quite a bit more than that—well, I oversee it anyway.”

“You’re free to do that, then.” Ty returned his focus to the tractor.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

Ty grunted.

“How well do you know Mick?”

He paused, then put the tool down. Turning, he leaned against the machine and folded his arms. His muscles rippled. “We were Rangers together.”

Bolton’s face only registered slight surprise. “You were in the army.”

Ty gave him a short nod. “Yes—different units, though.”

Bolton whistled. “I assume that didn’t allow you to get very close.”

Shaking his head, Ty ground his teeth together. “He and I shared a common friend. Mick’s taking his death pretty hard.”

Bolton took off his hat and ran a hand through his mussed blond hair. “I’m so sorry.” He shook his head. “I wish I could say I’ve never experienced something similar. My mother will be disappointed she didn’t have the chance to meet him.”

Ty’s gut tightened. What must it be like to have even a stranger wish for his return? Mick had walked out before he even knew what he was missing.

Bolton replaced his hat and let out a deep breath. “Alright, then. Come get me when you’re done and we can go over some of the things you’ll be expected to do.”

Ty nodded as Bolton shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away. When he was out of sight, Ty returned to his work. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad working here.

Chapter Eight

Penny rested her elbows on Cole’s truck, her toe digging into the dirt. Why was he here? Hadn’t her mother said he was in the city? She gritted her teeth and shook her head. He should have been home, working with their father.

Cole appeared from around the side