“Anyway, I have two meetings I need you to take for me. You can bring Gracie over here. Owen and I can watch her.”
“Won’t Owen be at work?”
“Oh, um... he took the week off to help me out since I can’t drive.”
“Of course he did.”
“Charlie, it’s not what you think.”
“That’s right; it’s about the dog.”
She sees right through me.
“Don’t worry, we’ll talk about this later. Right now, you worry about getting better. I have all the details for the meetings. I’ve got it covered.”
“I’m so sorry. I know you’re still on leave.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s good for me to get out of the house. Besides, if I bring the baby to you, we can have a much-needed chat. Until then, do you need anything? Can I bring you… soup or an ice pack or something?”
“Honestly, I just want to sleep, but thanks.”
I am tired, but the truth is I don’t want visitors. I enjoy being here alone with Owen. And the dog, of course.
“Okay, get some rest, sweetie.”
“Thanks. Oh, and Charlie?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you and Cal not tell Mom? She’s on her cruise. I don’t want her to worry. I’m fine. If we tell her, it will ruin her trip.”
“Sure.”
“And can you maybe not tell Cal until tomorrow? I’d like one last day without my brothers invading my space and my sanity.”
“Daisy, he’ll kill me.”
No, he won’t. But it seems someone might be trying to kill me.
“Please?”
“Fine, but only because he’s already stressed enough. Some assholes got on the property and cut the fence line. A couple hundred head of cattle got loose. It’s all hands on deck at the ranch right now. Since you’re okay and safe and sound with his best friend’s dog, I’ll leave this bit of information until tomorrow.”
Owen shows no reaction to the news about the fence.
He already knew.
“Shit, that’s terrible. No clue who did it?”
“Nope. The ranch is thousands of acres, yet they did it close to home base, so we couldn’t miss it. They must have done it in the middle of the night.”
“Fuckers.”
The baby cries in the background. “Listen, I’m glad you’re okay, but your niece is hungry. I have to go. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Give her a kiss for me and keep me posted on the ranch. Yeah?”
“Yep. Bye, Dais.”
