‘I didn’t used to, but having come back on the circuit, seen what’s happening on the ranch, I know I’ve got a limited amount of time to make hay from this. I gotta make it work for me, long term. So I invest more than half of what I earn, and put the rest into the ranch.’
‘Can’t the ranch cover itself?’
A feeling of pride rushes through me. ‘It can now, thanks to Beth.’
Bailey’s gaze is on me, but I don’t glance at her.
‘When she came along, we were up the creek without a paddle, hence the whole social media thing. She got us sponsors who dug us out of trouble at first, then got Cole investing in more stock, better systems. This year, it’ll run a tidy profit on its own, and it’s all down to their hard work.’
‘Impressive.’
‘That’s them. They’re a great team.’
‘So what do you do back on the ranch?’
‘Whatever’s needed.’
‘Will you live there when you retire?’
I grip the steering wheel even tighter. Retirement isn’t something I like to think about.
‘Most likely.’
‘On the same property?’
I nod once.
‘All together, in the same house?’
‘Nah, Cole and Beth moved out to the guest house last year. It was this old staff cottage on the property that sustained a whack of damage during a storm, when a tree came down on it. Beth fell in love with the place, so they’ve been doing it up. At the moment, when I go back, I just stay in my old room. The house is big, Cassidy and Nash are away a lot, Austin’ll be deployed again soon?—’
‘That’s right, you said he was in the service.’
‘A Marine,’ I say proudly, though not without a corresponding twinge of something like concern, because Austin’s taken on a lot, and I can see the way his time overseas has changed him, each deployment costing him personally. He doesn’t talk about it, which shows how much it’s affected him.
‘When I move back for good, I’ll build something for myself. I’ve got just the place picked out.’
‘Describe it to me,’ she suggests.
‘It’s a spot in the bend of the creek. Huge old trees give it shade and privacy. There’s a clearing, though I’ll need to fix it up a bit better, move some of the stumps. I want my cabin right there, so I can hear the water at night, the wildlife, so I can sit and fish when I feel like it, smoke and barbecue?—’
‘You smoke?’
‘Nah, not unless it’s a special occasion and there’s a big fat Cuban on offer. I mean smoke meat, fish.’
She arches a brow.
‘I love to barbecue. When you’re back home, I’ll show you.’
She’s quiet and I get why. It all sounds like too much. Like I’m offering more than we’ve agreed.
‘We can think of it as your farewell party,’ I add. ‘You’ll be off to Washington after the Phoenix event, right?’
‘Washington?’ She pulls a face. ‘I hope so, but god knows when my prick of an editor will deign to assign me there.’
I frown. ‘What’s the deal with that, anyway?’
She sighs. ‘Just that I’m kind of at his beck and call, and for now he’s taking an inordinate amount of pleasure keeping me chained to the sports section.’
