And I can’t be distracted right now. I have cattle to sort, brand, and vaccinate.
I have twenty-two ranch hands working here, who need organized, directed, and kept safe.
I have profit margins to worry about, decisions to make on which cows to keep, which steers to butcher, and which ones need to be taken to the sale barn.
I can’t afford to get caught up in the smell of her hair or the curve of her waist dipping into that ridiculously short skirt.
Who makes skirts that short, and why?
I need to fucking fight. I need to use my fist to beat a man’s face in so I can clear my head—preferably Joe’s because he’s been staring at Dolly more than the rest of them.
“Joe, you here for the sights or to fucking work for me?” I bellow across the arena.
Joe startles, eyes widening as he jumps up to tag the steer that’s waiting inside the chute. I make a mental note to fire him later.
“Yo, tight-ass, where’s the fire? We’re making good time,” Duke hollers at me from the top of the horse he’s riding as he sorts the cattle into the right pens.
Sterling chuckles, shaking his head. He’s beside me, keeping notes on a clipboard of the tag numbers of which cows we’ve vaccinated.
“Did we give fifty-two a shot?” I ask.
He consults his notes. “Yeah.”
“So, what brought you home early? Thought you had another year or so.”
“Injury. I have four months of leave to recover at home. I’m hoping to head back in two though.”
I look over at him. He looks fine, albeit a little sweaty after working for just one hour. “I had no idea. Glad you’re here for a bit though.”
He nods, his face solemn.
Sterling has always been the quietest Redford sibling. He’s right above Duke in age, the middle child. He’s an inch shorter than my six-three frame, and his shoulders are massive. He has a typical military haircut and the same dark hair as everyone in his family.
“Whoever this fucker is threatening my family will die before I leave though.”
I nod, not doubting for a second that he means it. Whoever it is, they have a rude awakening coming with the Redford men. Between Holden, Cash, Sterling, and Duke, they’d be a fool to try anything.
“Has Holden gotten any more letters?” I’m trying to focus on the cattle and this conversation while simultaneously blocking Dolly’s body from my peripheral vision.
Sterling’s face hardens. “Yeah, he did. He asked us to come over for a meeting tonight. He wants you there.”
“Fuck,” I curse.
My gaze automatically skirts to where Dolly is perched in a lawn chair on the platform near the middle of the arena. She’s reading a book, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around us. Her face is shaded by her pink cowboy hat, legs crossed at the knee.
My chest aches with the unbridled desire to keep her safe.
She’s okay. She’s here with you.
“She doesn’t need to know. You’re doing a big thing, keeping her here. We’re grateful to you, Sam. You’re like a brother to us.” Sterling’s gaze meets mine, a flicker of emotion in the depth of his dark eyes.
I nod, looking out over the arena. “I’d do anything to help y’all out.”
“We know that. And it means a hell of a lot more than you can imagine.”
I don’t reply, shoving down the emotions that coat my throat. Sterling is more emotionally vulnerable than Duke has ever been. Duke is always joking around, making threats about touching his sister that sound empty, but I know there’s a hidden sharpness to them. Sterling is quiet, but when he does say something, he’s more real and raw.
“Hey, get that one! Don’t let him out!” I yell at Joe, who is once again focusing on Dolly instead of his job.
