Page 83 of Never Left You

“And he’s been helping out around the ranch. Not sure if I could have gotten the roof fixed, the barn painted, and the fences up before calving season with just us. Having Cash around has been nice.” Lachlan agreed.

“I won’t charge him,” I said. “He’s been helping a lot, and Rhett’s right…I don’t feel right charging him.” I looked at my phone on my lap. “But I don’t know if he’s going to be staying.”

“Talk to him, see what he says. Maybe we can offer him a discount instead of not charging. We still need to make the money.” My dad gave me a nod. “Keep doing what you’re doing, putting these offers out there. It’s working. And Lach” —he turned to my cousin—“the place really does look great. Now—”

“Ah, the reason for the meeting!” Wyatt clapped his hand and rubbed his palms together.

“Your mom and I are heading out soon.”

“Officially retiring?” Rhett leaned forward.

Our father nodded. “I want to draft up the new title before we leave, so here’s my suggestion. Lachlan has fifty percent of it already, and after talking to him, thirty percent to Abi, fifteen percent to Rhett, and the remaining five to Wyatt.”

“I don’t need any of it, Dad.” Wyatt leaned forward in his chair.

“You’ll want enough to build a house on in the future, I guarantee it.”

Wyatt shrugged. “Maybe one day so…” He nodded, agreeing with him. “Yeah, I can take that five percent.”

Rhett and I locked gazes, and then he softly said, “I can live with fifteen percent.”

I pinched my brow at him. He deserved more than fifteen percent. Rhett took a deep breath, the life draining from his face. He didn’t like this either, and from what I was gathering, neither of us was going to say anything.

Dad smiled. “We’re planning on a trip to Europe in the beginning of May, so I’ll draft up a new title and have it ready to go before we leave.”

“You’ll be back for the Fourth?” Rhett asked, referring to the Fourth of July Hartwell Rodeo, the one rodeo of the year where this town went all out. Rhett was going to ride, Wyatt would announce, and Lachlan would set up the fireworks. Me? I’d make sure my son didn’t die from riding a sheep and maybe…

I smiled.

Maybe convince Cash to make his comeback.

“Most definitely. You know we wouldn’t miss that for the world. We have a few places planned to go this year, but home for the Fourth of July is exactly where we will be.”

“Perfect.” Lachlan pushed himself off the windowsill and slapped Rhett’s shoulder. “Come on Rhett, we have more to do today.”

Rhett stood, giving me one last glance before following Lachlan out the door.

I looked at my dad and attempted to give him the best smile I could.

Once it was just him and I in the office, I unlocked my phone to read the text from Cash, feeling a small flutter in my stomach. These damn butterflies.

Cash

Because I’m new to this…what’s your coffee order?

Me

My coffee order?

“Abi?” This time it was my dad to pull me out of my texting stupor.

“Hmm?” I hummed, raising my brow, once again ignoring the buzz in my hand.

“Did you hear me?”

Shit.

“Sorry…no. I was talking to”—I looked at my phone—“Kyla.”

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