“Let’s start with what the fuck are you doing?” He takes his hat off and runs a hand through his hair. “You’ve been acting different all week. You haven’t joined the guys in the bunkhouse for dinner once. Not to mention, Richie saw you drive off with a truck bed full of hay bales yesterday.”
Shit. “I brought them back.”
“You borrowed them? For what?” He stares with disbelief as he throws up his hands. “And I can’t fathom how watching porn on a cattle drive fits in!”
“It’s not porn.”
“It sounded like porn!” My brother raises his voice.
“Well, it’s not.” I shrug as if I don’t notice his patience is running thin. “It’s actually a book.”
“You’re listening to a book? That kind of book.” He squints. “Jesus. Are you okay?”
I’m insulted he’s so shocked at the idea of me reading. “What? I can’t enjoy a book on the job?”
“Jackson.” He heaves out a sigh and rubs his temple. “Stop answering me with questions.”
Because he asked me not to, I do just that. “Can I have tomorrow off?”
“Seriously! You’re asking for the day off?”
“No.” His irritation only softens for a moment. “I’m not so much asking. I’m telling you. I won’t be here tomorrow. Saturday too.”
“Damn it, Jackson!”
“At least I told you.”
“Yeah, well, next you’re gonna tell me you’re quitting.” He scowls. “Fuck, you aren’t quitting, are you?”
“Whoa.” I hold up my hands. “Where did that come from? Are you okay?”
“Am I okay?” His shoulders drop with defeat. “You’re not starting a competing ranch, are you? Or going to work for someone else? Because I’ve got enough problems with those Jones traitors across the river. I can’t take much more.”
“I’m not working against you.” I don’t know who gave him that idea. Sure, I’ve been a little distracted since Saturday. But Rosalie’s presence in my life hasn’t changed me that much, has it?
Ryan walks over to a hay bale and takes a seat. “So, what gives?”
I can’t tell him. Though I wish I could. If I explained the situation, we’d share a laugh and move on. But I promised Rosalie.
“I don’t think you want to know.”
“I probably don’t,” Ryan grumbles under his breath as I take a seat beside him. “And I’m probably gonna regret asking, but you didn’t join some sex cult, did you?”
“A sex cult!” My entire chest shakes as I laugh.What the fuck?
“That was Hank’s guess.”
I can’t help but grin. “Y’all are taking bets?”
“We each have our theories.”
“What’s the consensus?”
“Ellis suspects you have a gambling debt.”
I snort. “I’m not our father.”
“Dallas thinks you’re earning money for drugs.”
