opposites, these days, with Walker becoming so cautious financially, as to appear to be in limbo on most major decisions about running Snake River while Austin was still his usual full-tilt, risk-taking self.
They were both stubborn, though, holding on tightly to their little territories at either end of the spectrum. Better not to talk than to argue. It would just devolve anyway into a fight about late-season calving, Dakota’s pet project for the ranch. Austin supported the idea while Walker did not. And the three of them had been on shaky ground with each other ever since.
One hundred yards from camp, Austin whistled loudly to announce their presence. Gabe’s familiar sharp, high-pitched reply cleared their safe passage to the camp itself. The younger foreman hailed them with a wave of his arm as Austin slid off Colter and began to take off the horse’s saddle.
“Didn’t expect you till nightfall,” Gabe said. “Guess the bossman didn’t let you kick your heels up too much.”
Austin snorted. “No, he did not. It’s fine, though. I wanted to get back.” He peered at the landscape around them. “Anything happen while we were gone? I suppose all the tracks got washed away in the storm.”
Gabe nodded. “If anyone was up here, there’s no way to know now. But nothing’s been disturbed lately that I can see. I haven’t seen any tracks that aren’t ours.”
“Thanks for the extra set of eyes,” Austin told him.
“No problem, hermano. Just keep that pistol close. And that shovel, while you’re mining.”
“I’m not a miner!”
Gabe grinned. “Says the man with the shovel digging in the dirt every day. Anyway, everyone else knows, so if any asshole gets any ideas about showing up unannounced, he’s going to get an ass full of buckshot for his trouble.”
Austin grunted. “Don’t kill anyone. I want answers. I want to know who sent them and why.”
Gabe nodded. “You got it. I’ll aim low.”
Austin pushed the point of the shovel back into the dirt and continued grading it. He had no idea who’d come up here or why but he knew one thing for certain: Vacation was over and it was time to get back to work, but his little rabbit was a fond memory that would keep him warm at night on the range.
Chapter Eight
‡
L eah hovered over the toilet, on her knees, for the fifth day in a row. The bathroom tile was cool, at least, and if she closed her eyes, she could pretend she was alone in the room, too.
“I’m going to say it if you won’t,” Candace declared.
Leah tried to groan in protest but she ended up bringing up the rest of breakfast.
“You’re pregnant.”
“I’m not pregnant. It was bad Chinese.”
“That was over a week ago.”
“I have a slow metabolism!”
“Leah, you’re tired. You’re sick all the time. Weren’t you safe with that guy?”
It had been weeks since that night but Leah still remembered most of it clearly. Her guilty look must’ve given Candace all the answer she needed.
Candace sighed. “We should’ve gotten you on the pill before now.”
“Why would I waste money on the pill?” Leah argued. “I admit, I made a mistake. I could’ve ended up with herpes or something. I was drunk and I wasn’t thinking. But I’m not pregnant, now will you knock it off and help me up?”
Candace obliged, but still looked irritated. She slung an arm around Leah and together they limped out into the hallway. In the living room, she lowered Leah to the couch and stood back up. “I’m going to go to the store and get you some ginger ale and crackers.”
Leah could only nod, afraid to speak lest she vomit again. She closed her eyes and listened to the whir of the ceiling fan. The constant drone nearly put her to sleep, the first real sleep she’d had in several days. She barely heard the front door open again and only opened her eyes when she heard her friend’s voice.
“I got you something.”
“Ginger ale?”
“Besides the ginger ale.”
Leah opened
They were both stubborn, though, holding on tightly to their little territories at either end of the spectrum. Better not to talk than to argue. It would just devolve anyway into a fight about late-season calving, Dakota’s pet project for the ranch. Austin supported the idea while Walker did not. And the three of them had been on shaky ground with each other ever since.
One hundred yards from camp, Austin whistled loudly to announce their presence. Gabe’s familiar sharp, high-pitched reply cleared their safe passage to the camp itself. The younger foreman hailed them with a wave of his arm as Austin slid off Colter and began to take off the horse’s saddle.
“Didn’t expect you till nightfall,” Gabe said. “Guess the bossman didn’t let you kick your heels up too much.”
Austin snorted. “No, he did not. It’s fine, though. I wanted to get back.” He peered at the landscape around them. “Anything happen while we were gone? I suppose all the tracks got washed away in the storm.”
Gabe nodded. “If anyone was up here, there’s no way to know now. But nothing’s been disturbed lately that I can see. I haven’t seen any tracks that aren’t ours.”
“Thanks for the extra set of eyes,” Austin told him.
“No problem, hermano. Just keep that pistol close. And that shovel, while you’re mining.”
“I’m not a miner!”
Gabe grinned. “Says the man with the shovel digging in the dirt every day. Anyway, everyone else knows, so if any asshole gets any ideas about showing up unannounced, he’s going to get an ass full of buckshot for his trouble.”
Austin grunted. “Don’t kill anyone. I want answers. I want to know who sent them and why.”
Gabe nodded. “You got it. I’ll aim low.”
Austin pushed the point of the shovel back into the dirt and continued grading it. He had no idea who’d come up here or why but he knew one thing for certain: Vacation was over and it was time to get back to work, but his little rabbit was a fond memory that would keep him warm at night on the range.
Chapter Eight
‡
L eah hovered over the toilet, on her knees, for the fifth day in a row. The bathroom tile was cool, at least, and if she closed her eyes, she could pretend she was alone in the room, too.
“I’m going to say it if you won’t,” Candace declared.
Leah tried to groan in protest but she ended up bringing up the rest of breakfast.
“You’re pregnant.”
“I’m not pregnant. It was bad Chinese.”
“That was over a week ago.”
“I have a slow metabolism!”
“Leah, you’re tired. You’re sick all the time. Weren’t you safe with that guy?”
It had been weeks since that night but Leah still remembered most of it clearly. Her guilty look must’ve given Candace all the answer she needed.
Candace sighed. “We should’ve gotten you on the pill before now.”
“Why would I waste money on the pill?” Leah argued. “I admit, I made a mistake. I could’ve ended up with herpes or something. I was drunk and I wasn’t thinking. But I’m not pregnant, now will you knock it off and help me up?”
Candace obliged, but still looked irritated. She slung an arm around Leah and together they limped out into the hallway. In the living room, she lowered Leah to the couch and stood back up. “I’m going to go to the store and get you some ginger ale and crackers.”
Leah could only nod, afraid to speak lest she vomit again. She closed her eyes and listened to the whir of the ceiling fan. The constant drone nearly put her to sleep, the first real sleep she’d had in several days. She barely heard the front door open again and only opened her eyes when she heard her friend’s voice.
“I got you something.”
“Ginger ale?”
“Besides the ginger ale.”
Leah opened
Similar Books
