“Ain’t ridden a bull in twenty years, pretty man, and I pay people to bale my hay.”
“Fancy,” Skylar said, looking at his palms. Kit reached for his back pocket and pulled out a bandana, then handed it to Sky.
Sky winked at him and wiped off the ointment. “I’m gonna give Rowdy a list of exercises to text over to you. I doubt you’ll do them, just like I’m not even gonna bother telling you to stay off that knee, but I’ve gotta do my due diligence.”
Sky returned the bandana to Kit, who stuffed it in his back pocket. “I’ll...I’ll give it a look.”
“Good. And, if I can convince you to get one of those hinged knee braces—just get whatever’s on sale on Amazon—then that’ll support you while you continue to batter your poor body.”
I laughed out loud this time. “God, Sky—you sounded just like Cynthia then.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I smacked my forehead and sent Kit an apologetic look. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean any?—”
He held up his hand, and his pained smile seemed genuine. “Cynthia is still a very good friend of mine, and I don’t mind bringing her up.” He rubbed his chest. “And you’re not wrong. This one sounded just like ’er for a second.”
“Is this Cynthia person cute, smart, and mouthy like me?” Skylar said, hand on his hip.
“My ex-wife is all of those things and more.” Kit put on his cowboy hat and ignored Sky’s outstretched hand as he stood up. “You’ve got her beat with that manicure, though.”
Shaking his head—likely at Kit’s stubbornness, which was evergreen—Sky smiled and said, “Then, if nothing else, know that you have good taste.”
“Well, that’s one thing goin’ for me,” he retorted with a tight smile. “And I just hired myself a new land manager, so I should be able to take it a little easier than I have been.”
Damn. I’d really hoped he’d have something for Sadie and Jax. But good on him for finally hiring out that position.
Before things got too awkward between him and Sky, I whistled for Bandit. Besides being our shared pet, Bandit was also the preserve’s official round-up dog. He came racing up the hill seconds later, doing figure-eights between my legs three times before sitting and waiting for his command.
“Axis,” I ordered, and he took off like a shot.
We watched through the trees as he found the two Axis deer and got them moving in our direction. I got out the deer treats and clicked my tongue, bringing them in the rest of the way. Kit tried to help me lead them into the trailer, and Sky glared at him until he stepped back. I couldn’t tell what impressed me more—the fact that Sky got Kit to back down, or that he opened the back of the horse trailer without chipping a single nail.
“Sika number two.”
Bandit took off again, and minutes later he came running up alongside the Sika, who was a bit more stubborn about getting into the trailer. Bandit, however, was on top of it, barking and gently nipping at its heels until it escaped into the safety of the trailer.
“That’s a neat trick,” Kit said, scratching his chin. “Think your cousin might be willing to train another dog?”
“To help you out? Yeah, I think he would.”
“I don’t need no help.”
“Clearly,” Sky snarked, gesturing at his bent form. “You’re the picture of self-sufficiency.”
Kit grinned—actually grinned—as he shook his head. “I swear, I don’t let no one talk to me like that, but my knee feels so much better, I hafta allow it.”
“Damn skippy.” Sky fluffed his sculptured quiff. “And if I hear you’re not taking care of that knee, I’m not above showing up at this dude ranch of yours and bullying you into a brace.”
Kit narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t know anyone who’d rat me out.”
I held up my hands, and we all laughed. I swear, it was magical.
Kit walked a little straighter, quickly reaching his truck. “These animals look fantastic, Rowdy. Let me know what y’all’re feedin’ ’em.”
“Will do, Kit,” I promised. “I’ll send that over with Sky’s instructions.”
He chuckled and heaved himself into the driver’s side. “You do that. I don’t want that pretty man with the glitter makeup comin’ after me.”
Skylar flexed his expensively trained arms. “Don’t mess with ortho, or we will fuck your shit up.”
