I slowed and turned down the gravel drive. The familiar crunch under my tires brought a tear to my eye. Last time I’d been here, it had been to say goodbye to my mother. It was a pain I’d never forget and never get over. The guilt still gnawed at me, and no matter how many times I reread her letters telling me not to come, I wish I had. It was a wish that would never go away, and now, it was too late.
The screen door swung open, my sister stepped out onto the porch, and I wiped the tear away.
Gabriella spotted my car and a giant smile broke out across her face as she bounded down the steps and across the lawn. I stopped the car and unbuckled my belt. I pushed open the door and stepped out, the scent of fresh magnolia blossoms hit me like a tsunami.
“Gracie!” Gabriella squealed as she threw herself around me, hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe.
“Hey,” I murmured, not ever wanting to let her go.
“You’re home,” Gabriella stated, squeezing me again.
Reality and emotions hit me. From the time my life imploded barely a week ago, I hadn’t stopped long enough to process what was going on. But standing on the drive, shadowed by my safe place, wrapped in the arms of my sister, who was the spitting image of our mom, it all crashed down on me, tears almost blinding me. “Yeah, I’m home.”
Chapter two
Cole
Fuck me, I needed this day to end.
I’d been up since the ass crack of dawn and nothing, absolutely fucking nothing had gone right.
With more than a full day of work to get done and two ranch hands short, I got an early start. I burned my tongue on the sludge I passed off as coffee because I’d run out of the fancy beans I liked and was still waiting on the order to arrive, so I’d had to revert to the instant shit. I shouldn’t have bothered. Then I’d trudged out to the truck and trod in dog shit on the porch, only for the damn truck to not start. Seems like last night, when I’d been too sore and tired to pay attention, I’d left the door ajar and now the battery was dead.
After I’d finally sorted all that out, I started dealing with everything else that had to be done. It was a list that seemed never-ending these days. Between mending fences, chasing stray cattle back to where they were supposed to be, and working on machinery I spent more time fixing than I did using, now I had to go into Wattle Creek to run some errands. Going to town was the absolute last thing I wanted to do this afternoon, but there was shit I needed to collect.
I made a quick pit stop at home, showered, and changed into a fresh pair of jeans and a shirt. As much as I despised the idea of going into town, no one deserved to have to deal with me while I was caked in cow shit.
Twenty minutes later, with a PB&J on the seat beside me, I was heading into Wattle Creek.
It’d been two years since I’d bought Blue Sky Cattle Ranch between Wattle Creek and Fort Marshall. After finishing my second tour, I needed a quiet life away from people, and cattle seemed like a good alternative. I should’ve stuck with people. At least when you told them to fuck off, they did. Cattle didn’t listen and most of the time, completely ignored me. But I loved it out here. Despite the weather, the hard work, and the aches and pains, it had become home.
I put my foot down on the gas and hauled ass into town. The sooner I was done the sooner I could come home and put my feet up.
The moment I parked on Main Street, regret hit me. I was barely out of my truck, and people were hollering and waving like they hadn’t seen me in months. Maybe they hadn’t. My hermit lifestyle suited me perfectly. I had my dog and the guys that worked for me and that was enough. It was only on days like today, when I ventured off the property and back into civilization that I was forced to interact. God bless home delivery. These days, I could order almost everything online, andthat’s exactly the way I liked it. Delivered to my door without a signature.
Wanting to get this done as quickly as I could, I slipped into the bank and took care of business. After making stops at the drugstore, the bakery, and the grocer, I dumped my purchases in the back seat.
“Is that you, Flanigan?” a voice boomed.
I slammed the door shut and yanked the hat off my head, wiping away the sweat. When I turned around, I saw another one of the hermits. Must be the day for it.
“Cobb?” I called back, spying the guy jogging across the street.
“What the hell are you doing in here? I thought you hated it as much as I did,” he chuckled, shaking my hand.
“Necessary evil sometimes,” I confirmed.
“I hear ya,” Cobb replied.
Austin Cobb was a truck driver who was based out of Wattle Creek. We’d worked together a time or two, and he was as close to a friend as I had, but that didn’t mean we were close. I hadn’t seen or heard from him in a few months, and the poor bastard looked tired.
“You in town or passing through?”
“Got a few days off so I’m just killing time. Need it. Those hours on the road can be long and lonely.” Austin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I can imagine.”“You eaten?”
“Huh?”
