Page 45 of Rancher's Pride

“Knows what?” He asked, walking out of thekitchen, looking confused. He reached for Lottie as Josie kicked off her boots and handed my hat up to me to hang up. “Do you even get to wear that anymore?” Kipp said, grinning as I tossed it on the hook.

“She loves it, and the one I got her for Christmas apparently doesn’t feel right.” I shrugged as I toed off my boots.

“You’re not wrapped around her finger at all, are you?” He arched his brow and I could have hit him.

“Calling the kettle black again, pot.” Rolling my eyes, I followed Fallon down the hall to Kipp’s office. “She’s like a dog with a bone. You better help her find what she’s looking for before she tears your office apart,” I said, watching Fallon rummage through folders and files.

“Umm, Fal, can I help you look for something?” Kipp asked as he pushed past me, handing Lottie back to me.

“Where are all Dad’s files?” Her voice was strained, and she planted her hands on her hips and glared at her brother. “They were always in here and now they’re not.”

“Life had to keep moving on, Fal.” He walked over to her and wrapped his big arm around her shoulders like Miller had done when she was younger. Kipp pointed to the wooden filing cabinet along the far wall. “I moved them there.”

Pulling open drawers, Fallon’s fingers flew through all the files, and suddenly her hand stopped on one. “Here it is.” She pulled it out and set everything on the desk. “She said that while there had been substantial gold taken out of the mine in the eighteen hundreds, the veins were small and had been tapped out.” Fallon placed papers in front of Kipp and I.

“Here you all are,” Nora said as she walked into the office. “Suddenly I found Josie playing in Cooper's room. Nash, give me your sweet baby, I need snuggles.” She took Lottie from my arms and cuddled her close. My heart lurched at Nora calling Lottie mine. As far as I was concerned, she was and nobody would ever tell me differently.

“Kipp, why do you have an arrears invoice?” I looked over at Fallon, and her brows were pinched together.

“Oh, it’s just for the feed store. Langston knows I’m good for it. He just sends them to remind me.” Kipp brushed it off.

“How many of these do you have?” She sorted the papers on his desk. “You idiots are richy, rich, rich and you make people wait for payments. God, you’re annoying. Don’t you have an accountant or secretary or something?” She looked from Kipp to me and we turned to look at each other.

“We have a guy to file our taxes, but that’s it.” I shrugged. Fallon rested her elbow on the desk and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You know Fal, you were always good withnumbers, and you kept Dad’s office clear of the clutter,” Kipp said, grinning at his sister.

“That’s because he paid me to keep the books up to date, pay bills and be the PR for the ranch.” She leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms.

“You’re hired,” I said without looking back to Kipp, or discussing it with Griff, Ryder and Linc.

“Are we going to talk about this?” Kipp muttered under his breath as he turned away from Fallon.

“You hired Nora and didn’t talk to anyone. The way I figure it, we all have one undiscussed hire in play.” I frowned. “And she’s your sister.”

“Hey, I didn’t say I wanted a job.” She stood and pressed her hands on the desk.

“What’s she getting for taking on the nightmare that is this office?” Nora walked behind the desk, standing next to Fallon, crossing her arms.

“Room and board,” I said, arching my brow, grinning at the woman who was making me a family man. Kipp groaned and out of the corner of my eye saw his fist clench.

“Not good enough. She can get that at Julie’s.” Nora shook her head.

“An accountant's wage, the same benefits we offer to the employees, and room and board,” Kipp said through gritted teeth.

“An accountant’s wage is non-negotiable since I am one,” Fallon said nonchalantly, as the room fell silent. “Why are you all staring at me like I just revealed my deepest, darkest secret again?”

“When did you do that?” I asked.

“I finished last year, I did it online while dip shit was working or fucking around on me.”

“Do you want the job? You don’t have to take it,” I said, looking at her.

“I’ll take it.” She smiled at me. “I want to feel useful again, like what I’m doing matters around here.”

“Raising my girls to be as strong as you matters, Fallon. Never forget that.” I wanted the room empty so I could take her in my arms and make her see she belonged here. And once more, we weren’t going to get into the fact that only one was actually mine. But if I had my way, they both would grow up only knowing me as their dad.

“Welcome to the team,” Nora said, putting her arm around Fallon’s shoulder. “Now, let’s go make fun of our bosses and talk about what pains in the asses they are. But we can also gossip about how hot they are.” Nora led Fallon to the door.

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