Because the answer should have been easy.
It wasn't.
Not anymore.
I glanced toward Sadie.
She was watching me.
Waiting.
The boys were watching too.
Even the cow seemed interested.
The entire ranch held its breath.
Then I heard myself answer.
"Yeah."
A smile appeared on Hank's face.
A real one.
The kind that reached his eyes.
Sadie's did too.
And for some reason...
That smile felt a lot better than it should have.
Way better than it should have.
11
BEAST
The boys knew they were in trouble the moment Hank stepped onto the porch.
The old rancher leaned heavily on his cane.
His swollen knee was obviously bothering him.
But the look on his face?
That had nothing to do with gout.
That was pure irritation.
The three ranch hands stood in a line near the barn.
Covered in dirt.
Sweat.
And poor decision-making.
