"What else have you got for me?” he asks. “You ever think of movin' into horses? I have a fair few animals that are nearin' the end of their circuit life. They deserve a fittin’ end to their careers too. Can’t have the bulls gettin’ all the love.”
“We have talked about expandin’. It’s not like we don’t have the land, and we’ve got the plans drawn up for more stables too. What are their lineages like? Do they have a good history?”
“Oh yeah. You know me, I don’t have anythin’ but the best. Why’d you think I had you workin’ for me for so long? I was ready to hand over the circuit to you when the time came,” he replies, shocking the shit out of me. “Then you had to go be noble and retire.”
My head jerks back. “That’s news to me, Rod. I thought for sure you’d be passin’ it down to family.”
He laughs. “You and me both. That was before Sarah and Josie got stolen away by that mountain spirit, didn’t they? Don’t get me wrong, we’re all happy for them, and we wouldn’t give our grandchildren up for the world. It has just left us with a little legacy issue.”
Sarah–Rod’s daughter–and Josie, his niece–both heard the mountain’s Call one after the other with their now husbands, Jasper for Josie, and Sawyer for Sarah. They’re both some of theowners of Eagle Mountain Ranch. It’s also the place where the only Graham sister, Tess, lives with her husband Remy and their children.
“You could sell it,” I suggest.
“You goin’ to buy it?” he counters with a grin, already knowing my answer.
“My time on the road is in my rearview mirror. I’ve hung my hat at Bull Mountain Ranch and I’m damn happy about that.”
“And you just had to take my best bull rider and his brothers along with you, didn’t you,”
“Don’t forget Colt, he’s back from Colorado with rave reviews from the rodeo down there. He’s a champion bareback rider now.”
His deep laughter fills the RV. “Don’t worry, Jeff, the owner down there, took great pleasure in tellin’ meallabout my loss and his gain. What about Colt? Any chancehewants to hit the road again? I have Landry and Star for events but we both know that won’t last forever.”
“Yeah, Lan and Star are good people but you’re right, theydowant to settle down soon. Colt too. They’re all startin’ to build houses of their own on the ranch now.”
“I figured that would happen sooner rather than later.” Rod huffs out a sigh and looks over the table at me. “What about you, Red? You happy?”
My head jerks at his question.What’s with everyone asking me that lately?
"Yeah. Of course," I roll out like I'm on autopilot.
Rod scoffs and shakes his head. The man has always called it as he sees it and this time is no different. “You forget I’ve known you for a long time, Red. You’re sayin’ what you think I want to hear because you bottle things up inside.”
I let his words sink in, the weight of them hitting me harder than I expected. Rod always had a way of seeing through my tough exterior, straight to the heart of things. Taking a deep breath, I set down my mug and meet his gaze square on.
"You're right," I admit quietly. "I’ve been so focused on rebuildin’ the ranch and the Stud, and raisin’ Wy, I think I forgot about what else might be out there for me."
Rod nods, drinking his coffee before speaking again. "There's more to life than work, Red. You of all people know that. You've got friends who care about you, a family back at Bull that looks up to you, and then there's your friend out there who has been by your side through thick and thin. The way I see it, if you're wantin' to start workin' to live instead of livin' to work, then she might be a good place to start.”
“I hear you, Rod,” I finally reply quietly, mulling his words over in my head. I’m starting to think everything leads back to Mags.
A slow-growing smile appears on his aged face. "I know you do. You’ve always been good at listenin' to advice though. When are you goin’ to startdoin’ somethin’ with it? The loss of Anna was hard, I know. But that woman loved you so much she would never want you to live the rest of your life alone. And I don’t think it’s escaped you that Mags is one of the good ones–beautiful, loyal, hard workin’ and strong as hell. She’s the kind of woman you don’t wanna let slip through your fingers just because you’re afraid to put yourself out there. You get me?You’re a good man, you deserve to haveanothergood woman by your side.”
I study the man I’ve known since I was a green-around-the-ears ranch hand begging for a chance to join the circuit. “You moonlightin’ as a life coach these days, Rod?”
He barks out a laugh. “Yeah. Maybe I am. When it comes to you, we’re more than just business associates, Grayson. Hope you know that.”
“Yeah, I do.” I lift my mug and down the rest of my drink. “But how ‘bout we shelve the life advice and get down to talkin’ numbers. What do you say?”
Rod grins and rubs his hands together. “OK, Grayson. Let’s get down to business, but we’re doin’ it with a whisky,” he says before I can argue, He stands and pulls down a bottle of what looks like moonshine from an overhead cabinet. “Don’t think this conversation about you and her is over though.”
I sigh and nod. “I know, Rod. You wouldn’t be you if it was. But let's talk about these Bulls you’ve got for me.”
By the time we’re finished negotiating a deal and called back to Bull to get everyone else’s’ agreement, I leave Rod to get back to rodeo business and find Mags sitting right where I left her, talking and laughing with the rodeo wives.
I walk slowly, watching her animated expressions and smiling at the way her eyes light up when she laughs. She looks free and easy, relaxed just like I’d hope she’d be. The warmth that spreadsthrough me isn’t just from the whiskey I’d had with Rod; it’s all her.She really is beautiful.
Just as I think that, she turns her head and catches my gaze, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Hey there,” she calls, patting the seat next to her.
