Page 39 of Tough Love

So, this is it. This is how my old man makes me step up and take the reins. I knew it was coming. In all honesty, I thought he would have had this conversation with me four years ago. And I have spent the last four years trying to give him whatever he wants, thinking that was what it would take. And I couldn’t havebeen more fucking wrong. Yes-man, Pa’s version of a pushover. No wonder he waited. Goddamn.

“Yes—” I shift on my seat. “Alright, I’ll make it happen.”

“Good. You will need to have Addy ready. I won’t lose any animals because of a lack of a willing ride-along vet. And the foals, half of those will need to be sold after the roundup. It will take every last penny to buy out that hack, Justin. God knows he has had long enough to run the clinic into the ground. And besides, we will need that equity for further growth.”

“On it.”

“Good. Now, onto more pleasant business. Where you planning on takin’ Addy for her camping trip? It would be good for her to see how the ranch operates and the pure scale of this all.”

My eyes widen, how the hell does he know about that?

“Um, she loved the hill under the new fence line on the north end. Probably there.”

Reed clears his throat.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I dunno, Huddo, why don’t you take her to the vista? It’s much nicer. Unless you’re worried she’ll notice that half-built house of yours...”

“I’ve already taken her up to the house,” I grunt and slouch in my chair, folding my arms. Why is everyone in this house so damn invested in a simple camping trip? Reed drops his fork, his eyes widening.

“You have?” Ma pipes up. Her face is lit up with excitement. Now I get it. They all think Addy and I are a thing.Sorry to disappoint.“Yup, I had to get her out of here when Harry couldn’t mind his own business during Sunday lunch. Was a quick visit, don’t read into it, Ma.”

“Oh, I definitely won’t.”

Reed sniggers and runs a hand through his hair. I glare at him until the stupid expression on his face slips.

But it’s Harry’s face of stone that sees us all quiet. “Don’t want to get involved with her, son. In a few months, you will practically be her boss. One of them, at least. She’s off-limits.” His brows are pulled down, eyes studying me deep. And then it dawns on me: if things don’t go well with the clinic, or if it’s a mess when Harry takes over completely, Addy’s job might not be safe. And I will be part of the decisions around what happens to the clinicandthe employees.

No pressure, Hudson.You only need to ensure twelve healthy, salable purebred foals, pull off the biggest roundup of the year with a vet who can’t get out of the round yard on a horse, bring in every last head of cattle to make sure the business side of our—what did Justin call it... dynasty, or was it empire—can thrive and not sink like the fucking Titanic.

Not be romantically involved with the most incredible woman I have ever met. And finally, prove to my old man that I have what it takes to run a ranch and not follow orders like some idiot.Nah, no pressure at all.

Oh, and all before Thanksgiving.

Fuck my life.

Chapter Twelve

ADDY

Sergeant moves under seat a little as I readjust my stirrups, and I ignore the panic that creeps up my insides. Hudson is right beside me. I am safe. Sergeant is safe. Everything is going to be A-OK...

My knuckles whiten around the reins. If I can make it through all three gaits today in the round yard, Hudson wants me to try the small paddock attached to the barn. And the thought of that much freedom on a horse ties my stomach into a thousand knots.

But we have three weeks left until the big roundup. Despite extra lessons and Hudson’s endless patience, I’m terrified. Not for me. I’ve fallen off horses more times than I care to count. What I can’t handle is that I might do something or make a decision that endangers Sergeant. And the thought of this wonderful boy getting hurt or me letting Hudson down gives me hives.

Hudson is distracted today. The usually light banter that took weeks to establish between us is strained. He’s tense. Is he worried about the camping trip? Maybe he thinks I expect things to heat up between us. I’m not gonna lie, that thought has crossed my mind a few times. Who am I trying to kid—it’s morelike a lot. When I can’t sleep late at night... in the shower. Heat pools low in my belly thinking about it.

“Walk on, Howard,” Hudson says.

All business today. Righto . . .

I push the horse into a walk and shorten the reins.Two can play that game, Rawlins.I squeeze Sergeant into a trot and rise and fall with his footfalls. But Hudson’s brows lower and he puts his hands on his hips. Ugh. I squeeze the gelding into a canter and lope around the yard for a few revolutions.

Hudson doesn’t even look at us. He isn’t watching my body language, or Sergeant’s. His attention is somewhere else entirely. I pull Sergeant around and canter to where Hudson stands, sliding to a halt only inches from him.

Wow, that felt amazing. Sergeant takes two steps back automatically. I pat his neck. Iamready for the paddock. “Earth to Rawlins.”

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