Page 28 of Blame It On Midnight

He closed the gate and headed for camp.

Decker had the chuckwagon up and running, and the boys gathered around, filling bowls with hot chili while grabbing big chunks of bread and cold thermoses of water. Benton didn’t allow booze when working and had fired cowhands who’d made the mistake of thinking it was a soft rule.

He took a seat and dug into his food, eyes on Colton. “How does it feel being a real cowboy?” His cousin’s spread in Texas was at one time one of the largest outfits in the state. But mismanagement, a recession or two, not to mention family squabbling, had led to its near demise. Colton’s father had gone a long way in rescuing the place, and though it was much smaller, it still took a lot to run. They turned a healthy profit on account of their extensive horse breeding program. Cole was a large part of it. The man knew horses better than anyone Benton knew, save maybe Dallas.

“I think I broke my back,” Cole replied with a grin. “But it feels good. I forgot how much I like Montana.”

“It’s a lot different than Texas, that’s for sure.” Benton’s gaze wandered and stopped when he spied Ryland chatting with Haimish. The two of them were close in age, with Haimish pushing twenty-two and Ryland staring down twenty.

“How’d he like Texas?”

“He seemed to like it. Met up with some of his pals who already did their first year at A&M.”

“He doesn’t like the idea of college.”

Cole snorted. “That’s because he doesn’t want to go.”

“He knows the deal. College was always in the plans. I let him defer one year, but he’s going. Education is never wasted, even if he never does anything with his degree.”

Colton didn’t reply, probably because he felt it was none of his business. The two men fell into an easy conversation.

“How’s Aunt Roan?” he asked. Colton’s mother was a force of nature and was Benton’s favorite Aunt.

“About the same.”

“Still trying to marry you off to anything in a skirt?”

“Hell, she don’t care if the lady wears a skirt or pants or a goddamn tutu. She wants grandbabies in the worst way, but I don’t think I can help her out. I don’t have time for a wife, and I sure as hell haven’t met one to change my mind.”

“What about Teddy?” Colton’s brother was a few years younger than him and back home for good after leaving the Army.

Colton sighed and shook his head. “That boy is a horn dog. He’s having too much fun with the ladies. No way is he settling down.”

“Isn’t Lily engaged?”

“Not anymore.” Colton raised his eyebrows. “Don’t ask.”

“I won’t.”

“What about you?” Colton asked.

“Nothing going on here,” Benton replied, taking a swig of water. “Living life. Dealing with Daisy Mae.” Thinking of a woman I don’t want to want.

“I heard she wants to move Nora out of the state.”

“It will never happen.”

“No, it won’t. Doesn’t take a lawyer to figure that one out. You’ve raised that little girl; no court in the nation will let her take Nora away from you.” Colton leaned forward. “So why do you think she’s pressing the issue?”

“Who the hell knows?” He grimaced and tossed the leftovers in his bowl.

“Maybe she wants to get back together and feels this is the only way to make it happen.”

“Her and I…” He sighed and shook his head. “We don’t work. And maybe one time, I wanted her to make things right. Get healthy so we could be a family, but now…” He clamped his mouth shut and looked away. What the hell? He was sharing stuff he hadn’t had the time to properly process.

“Now?”

“Come on, Cole. Do you want to hold my hand while I confess my feelings?”

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