“I’m simply making an observation.”
I shake my head. Christ, if Gid sees that I’m suddenly seeing Willow in a sexy light, I must have been obvious as fuck.
Because sheissexy. There’s no denying that.
“I’m not trying to start something with her,” I say just as a truck rounds the bend in the driveway.
Saved by the truck.
“Thought he was coming later this morning,” Gideon says.
“Me too.”
I wasn’t expecting Dusty until a little later, but I’m glad he’s here now.
“Ryker,” Dusty says by way of greeting as he approaches the porch. “Gideon. Thought I’d see if you two were available a little early.”
“We are. Come on inside, and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.” I stand and gesture for the older man to follow me, and when we step through the door, Dusty whistles.
“Shit, did I come to the wrong house?”
I shake my head as Gideon walks in behind us. “Gideon and I have gotten a lot done since the funeral. The house needed some freshening up.”
“You two have busted your asses. Listen, I know I said so at the funeral, but I sure am sorry about your dad.”
I swallow as I catch Gid’s gaze, and I walk to the coffeepot to pour Dusty a cup, then refill my own. I don’t usually drink more than one cup a day, but I have a feeling I’m going to need this.
I know how Dusty takes his coffee. I made it for him for years. During the school year, Gid and I lived here in the house, but in the summer, Dad put us out in the bunkhouse with the other hands.
We fucking loved it.
Dusty was our boss, and he was someone who, along with Dad, taught us how to be a man. How to do what needed to be done here.Sometimes, he was a hard-ass, but he taught us a work ethic that has served us both well.
“Thanks,” Dusty says when I set his mug in front of him and then sit across from him at the table cupping my own mug in my hands. Gideon sits next to me.
“When did he let you go?” I ask, jumping right into the reason we asked him here.
He stares at the mug, taps the table with the tip of his finger. “About six months ago. The only animals that were left on the ranch were the horses. He’d let all the other guys go at the end of the summer, and then he pulled me in here, in this kitchen, and told me he didn’t need me anymore.”
“That was bullshit,” Gid says.
Dusty nods. “He was my boss.”
“He was your friend,” I counter.
“Yes, he was my friend, but he was also my boss, Ryker. If the man wanted to fire us all, that was his prerogative. He owned the land. I didn’t have a say in that. But I kept coming every day to look in on the horses because by that point, he hardly left this house.”
“Shit.” The guilt just sits heavier and heavier. “What did he do in here all day?”
“He drank,” he says. “Ate garbage. Missed Debbie. Losing her is what killed him.”
“I know.” I tug my bottom lip through my teeth, watching the older man. Gideon stands to pace. He’s not good at sitting still. “I’d like to hire you back on, with a raise. Summer’s coming up, and I’ll be hiring others to help too. I need to buy cattle and get this place up and running.”
“You’re reviving the Triple Creek?” Dusty’s face is full of surprise.
“Yes, sir.”
“What about hockey?”
