“Probably. Except like now, when the snakes and bears are roaming around….”
“Yeah, I get it. The chance of you having to deal with either is minimal, but it’s better if I’m with you.”
“Sorry about the gas. I’ll chip in for the extra.”
“No, ma’am.”
“But—”
“Time to get going. We don’t want to be caught sitting out here chit-chatting. And Kieran’s likely worn a groove in my porch floorboards by now. Any questions?”
“Not yet.” She started the engine and put the truck in reverse. “How touchy is the gas pedal?”
“Touchy. Easy does it.”
She stepped lightly on the pedal and gradually added more pressure until the big truck began to move. Using the backup camera, she turned it around until they faced the ranch road. “Thunder’s huge, but he handles like a dream.”
“Having fun?”
“I am.” She shifted into drive and used the parking lights until she rounded the bend in the road. Then she paused and switched on the headlights.
Something small and furry ran across the road. Then a second one followed but stopped halfway to turn and look at the truck, its glowing eyes framed by a black mask.
“Raccoons! How adorable!”
“And that’s why we creep along the ranch roads, especially at night in the summer.”
“I’ve been so fixated on the scary critters I didn’t stop to think you’d have cute ones out here, too.”
“I love ’em all.” He peered through the windshield. “I think it was just those two. You can keep going but stay alert.”
“Don’t worry, I will.” As she gave the truck gas she focused on the road ahead. “Do you really love them all?”
“I do.”
“How about big hairy spiders?”
“They’re cool. We need spiders in this world. Hey, in a little bit, you’ll hit the main ranch road. Take a left.”
“Got it.” She doubted Rance loved every living thing. Everybody had some critter they disliked. At the intersection, she braked, checked for animals, and made the turn. “Mosquitoes. You can’t love them.”
“They’re food for bats and I love bats.”
“Cockroaches.”
“Again, food for other creatures and they also really shine in the forest, where they clean up dead leaves and debris and leave valuable nitrogen behind.”
“I’ve never met anyone who advocated for cockroaches.”
He chuckled. “Well, now you have. I’m a circle-of-life guy and I get to see it in action out here. I need to be close to this land, the plants and the critters or I’ll shrivel up and die.”
He was serious about that, too. She’d never seen this side of Rance. “Then can I give you some advice?”
“Like what?”
“Don’t set your sights on Lani.”
“Too late.”
