Page 15 of Rancher's Pride

“I’ve already talked to Phil, and he’s going to get on it. Knowing him, he probably started already.” I didn’t want to out him and Julie, so I tried to keep it vague. “I’ll go to Kentucky and handle it.” It had been a while since I’d messed someone up, but I was more than willing to brush up on my skills.

“We need to bring Griff, Ryder and Linc in on this. There’s so much more to lose now than when we had no ties. If we take things into our own hands, it will have to be precise and without a trace.” His voice lowered, and I knew everything he’d just said.

“Let’s wait to hear from Phil and then we can make a plan.” We couldn’t go off half cocked anymore even though I think we all would agree the swifter this happened, the happier we’d all be.

Josie walked into the kitchen, and our discussion abruptly stopped. She wandered right to me and climbed up onto my knee. “Good morning, little one,” I said as she burrowed into my chest.

“Mornin’,” she mumbled, her little voice still full of sleep. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Wait, how does this work? I’m the actual uncle and she adores you? This doesn’t seem fair.” Kipp huffed as he leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.

“What can I say? She’s got good taste in uncles.” I laughed.

“You don’t even like kids.” He complained.

I shook my head as I reached for my cup. “No, that’s not true. I like Cooper.”

“You have to like him, he’s mine,” Kipp grumbled.

“So by that logic, I have to like Fallon’s kids, too. So see, I like some kids.” I shrugged, looking down at Josie.

“I like you, Nas,” she said, grinning at me. I was a goner. In twelve hours, this little doll had me wrapped around her finger and I would do anything she asked me to.

“Well, don’t you three look cozy,” Nora said as she came into the room braiding her hair. “How was Fallon’s night?” She looked around the room for Julie.

“Nash sent Mom home, and he stayed with her all night.” Kipp was grumbling again. Nora poured herself a cup of coffee and sat next to her man.

“Oh, quit being a bear. Did she do okay?” Nora asked as she looked over at me.

“She was dizzy when she was up. I think if Jake can get out here today, he should see her.” I didn’t even try to hide my concern. There wasn’t a reason to.

“He said he’d be out to check on her and he has no problem sending her to the hospital if she needs to go,” Nora whispered.

“I’m not going to a hospital. I’m fine.” Fallon grumbled as she slowly walked out of the hallway. “Does one of you want to help me?” She leaned against the door frame and I quickly set Josie on Nora’s lap and went to her.

“Come on, you should be in bed.”

“Nope, get me to that table. I’m tired of lying down.”

“Fallon.”

“Nash.” She frowned up at me. There was no use fighting her, she would win.

CHAPTER TWELVE

FALLON

Ilet my head rest against the rail fence that surrounded the corral. Sighing, I took long deep breaths of the cold winter air. Snowflakes fell around me and I could almost forget everything that had happened this last week. And I could almost imagine I was in one of the snow globes I used to collect.

They’d always seemed magical, and I could believe just about anything as I stared into the scene depicted before me. But right now, the scene surrounding me was something I didn’t recognize. Anxiety arose in me as I wondered if I’d lost myself coming here, the same way I’d lost myself with Andrew?

The cold not only numbed me, it also calmed my soul. With all the action in the house, I was happy for a quiet moment. Grabbing on to the fence, I felt like Iwas hanging on for dear life so I didn’t whirl down the drain because someone pulled the plug.

Nobody let me lift a finger. Cooper had Josie so occupied playing when he wasn’t at school. I’d hardly seen her. Having Mom around made all the difference, but I craved peace. I was used to wandering around an empty house, with only Josie as company. All this action here was making me irritated.

I still didn’t feel like I was bonding with Lottie either, and it made me afraid.

It was happening again, and I didn’t know how to stop it. Asking for help was out of the question. They were all so happy I was home, and they already pitied me enough. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of anything else.

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