Page 104 of Colt

Ranching may look like all fun and chaps, but in reality, there’s a lot—a lot—of paperwork involved. Supplies, payroll, invoices, orders—my inbox is flooded with them every day of the week.

Luckily, Dad and Billie handle most of it. Once I took over as foreman, Dad started focusing on the business side of things. He’s spent most of his time in the office ever since.

I’m not sure that he loves it. But judging by the way he leans forward in his chair, bifocals perched on his nose as he scans the spreadsheet and murmurs into his phone, he’s at least dedicated to the work. Always has been, whatever that work looks like.

My stomach drops. Dad’s a good man. He makes good decisions. What is he gonna think about my decision to hang out with Lainey? What will he have to say about not telling me about her in the first place? My gut’s telling me I’m not gonna like the answer to that question.

Not everything is a fight.

I keep thinking about my brother’s words. What if I put my dukes down? Just this once? Just to see how it feels?

Tucking my hands into my front pockets, I lean a shoulder against the doorjamb and wait.

Dad must hear me, because he glances over his shoulder and smiles. “Hey, Rachel, I’m gonna have to let you go. Thanks for the update. Right. Yes. We’ll catch up again soon. Good luck with your son’s game tonight.”

He hangs up and drops his phone onto the desk.

“Got a minute?” I ask. My heart thumps in my throat.

Dad folds his hands and sets them on his stomach. “For you? Always. Sit.” He nods at the empty seat at Billie’s desk.

I do as he tells me, noticing that I don’t feel quite so angry knowing who she’s with and what she’s doing. More than anything, I miss her. Wish she were here, because I feel like she’d back me up with what I’m about to say.

Or she would have, before I walked out on her and Ryder and stopped talking to them. Even now, a knot forms in my gut when I think about how I behaved that day. I was an idiot. And yeah, definitely jealous.

I imagine my growing, er, relationship with Lainey might have something to do with the fact that their betrayal doesn’t consume me like it did a week ago. Being around Lainey—letting down my guard when we’re together—has made me realize just how miserable I’ve been keeping myself closed off. Yeah, I may have been in control, but I was also alone and wildly overwhelmed.

I run a hand down the worn denim on my thigh. “I’d like to have a word with you. It’s about Lainey.”

Dad’s brows pop up. “And here I was, thinking you’d come to tell me you made things right with your sister.”

“I’m working on that,” I say carefully.

“I’m glad to hear it. But please tell me Lainey didn’t leave?”

“No, no.” I wave him away. “We’re getting along. Pretty well actually.”

“You’re making things right with her at least?” His brows pop up.

“I can admit when I’m wrong.”

Dad just stares at me, a grin spreading on his face. “What a nice change. Is that Lainey rubbing off on you?”

“Ha. So what the hell are y’all gonna do now that I’m perfect?”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “Nobody’s perfect. But Lainey—isn’t she something?”

Something. My God. You have no idea, Dad.

I realize my palm is clammy when it catches on my jeans. “I wanted to know—I mean, why didn’t you tell me that you hired her? Really, why didn’t you tell me you wanted to rebrand the ranch in the first place?”

To his credit, Dad thinks on this for a minute before responding.

“I want you to know that I’d trust you with my life, Colton,” he says slowly.

“Then why not be honest with me? Because I’m tryin’ real hard to be honest myself, and it’s—that wasn’t cool of you, Dad.”

His gaze meets mine. “You’re right, son. I’m sorry about that. But I knew you wouldn’t agree. You don’t get away from the ranch as much as I do. Not because you don’t want to but because that comes with the territory when you’re foreman. I would go whole months without leaving when I had your job. I remember Tate talking about the movie Cars and thinking he was into NASCAR or somethin’. I had no idea what was happening in the outside world.”