CHAPTER 23
ADAM
On Sunday, I arrive at the ranch just before six o’clock to help Matt and Joe repair some fencing. The sun hasn’t yet peaked over the mountain, and the morning air is cool.
I park beside the work truck, surprised to see nothing has been loaded for the long day driving the fence line and repairing any breeches. Mending fences is an annual job on the ranch. Some days go quickly, and others take us from sunup to sundown. It isn’t like Joe to not be ready when I arrive.
I follow the lights and the commotion in one of the stables. Based on the hushed voices, it sounds like one of the mares is sick.
I round the corner just inside the stable doors and find Matt, Joe, and even Momma huddled around a pregnant mare.
“Everything okay?” I ask, my voice still rough from not being fully awake and ready for this day.
Joe grunts before he pushes himself to stand. “Looks like we’re getting a late start. This mare is in labor.”
“I thought you said you didn’t expect any foals for a few more weeks.”
“Yeah, but Matt says this timing is still fine.” Joe points to Matt on the opposite side of the stable where he’s crouched down, checking the animal’s heart rate.
Matt stands with his hands on his hips and smiles. “Everything looks great. I imagine this little angel will be out in about an hour or less. I’m gonna grab some supplies from the clinic. Momma can stay with the mare if you two wanna go ahead and start loading up the truck.”
We stand in silence for a few moments, no one moving as they all pass glances. It seems odd for them not to immediately get to it considering we’re losing daylight hours with this delay. Then it hits me, and my shoulders sag. They know about Camille and me.
I had hoped to get through this day without talking about her. I definitely didn’t want to talk about how I told her I love her and that her feelings aren’t mutual. But that’s not how my family works. Growing up with foster kids and then adopted siblings, my parents instated specific rules about sharing our feelings. Especially if they were feelings that would affect the atmosphere of the entire household.
We all hated it, particularly Matt. Since he didn’t come to us until he was twelve, he had a lot of emotional issues to work through. He’s the master at deflection and avoidance. To this day, Momma never stops trying to get him to open up. He does occasionally, but he still guards his emotions and heart carefully.
Matt pats my shoulder as he walks by to head next door to his clinic while Joe and I start to gather the tools and fencing supplies.
We work in silence for a few minutes before Joe finally speaks. “I’m sorry about losing my temper on you the night Cami and her daughter joined us for dinner.”
“Don’t sweat it.”
He grunts again. Joe’s roughness always makes it hard for him to find the words he needs to express himself, but I have to give him credit. He may not always say or do the right thing, but at least he tries.
“Yeah, but I was wrong to come at you so strong.” He sighs and leans against the back of the truck. “Do you think we’re cursed?”
“Cursed?” I furrow my brows. “Why would you say something like that?”
“Well, look at us. You’re divorced, never had kids. Matt’s wife died in childbirth. I’m still alone. Leann never sees someone past the first date. Then there’s all the issues Momma had trying to have kids that led to her adopting Matt and me. It’s like the universe is trying to end the Langdon family line.”
“Hardly, bro. Matt has Emmie. Just because I didn’t get my family doesn’t mean you and Leann won’t. You’re young. You have plenty of time to find love, settle down and pop out some children for me to spoil. Hell, Matt still has plenty of time to have more kids, too.”
A darkness passes over Joe’s eyes. He’s only ever had one serious girlfriend, and that was nearly a decade ago. He dates plenty, but no one ever sticks with him. Maybe he did find someone and is having girl trouble. “You wanna talk about it?”
He shrugs and shakes his head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Then why all this talk about being cursed?” I pin him with a stare, and he refuses to look at me. “You having girl trouble?”
“Nope,” he chuckles. “Sounds like you’re having enough trouble for all of us. Maybe I should be asking you if you wanna talk about it?”
I cross my arms over my chest and frown. “I’m good. Not much to talk about.”
He picks up several posts and tosses them into the back of the truck. “I heard you and your girl were in a fight. Is that not true?”
“I wouldn’t call it a fight. More like we’re not at the same stage in our relationship.”
He snorts. “What did you do? Tell her you loved her?” Joe’s smile grows and my face drops. His arms freeze midway while tossing some tools into the back of the truck. “Well, fuck. That’s it, isn’t it?”
