Page 27 of Rancher's Strength

“There’s a building for sale across the street from Fred’s. I noticed the sign in the window the other day. We should be able to get it for a song.” He lifted his cup and took another sip of coffee.

“It might not hurt to check it out,” I said, waiting for Ryder to say something.

“We’ll go look at it, but I want this to be something that doesn’t include the Diamond. You won’t get caught up in the mess that is Kipp and Griff’s feelings, if they can’t get their heads out of their asses.”

“Ryder, you know why...” Ryder held up his spatula and pointed it at Linc.

“They were absolute mother fuckers, and whatever happens, this is my family. If they can’t accept that, then there’s no place for me here anymore.”

“I get it, and I respect it.” He held his hands up while Ryder put breakfast on plates for the kids before making another one.

“Kiddos, breakfast,” I called as I set their plates on the table. I moved my coffee over, and Linc followed me.

“Uncle Linc, how many horses are at the ranch?” Ruby asked. “Uncle Ryder said lots, but I need to know how many.”

“He’s not wrong, there are lots. As for a number, probably about thirty.” He shrugged, and I wasn’t sure if he was making it up or if he actually knew how many there were. “That’s tame horses, including Elle’s. If we add the wild horses Griff takes care of, it’s probably closer to seventy.”

Well, there was one thing that hadn’t changed. Griff still had to care for the wild horses.

I’d gone out with him once to check on them, and that’s when I first saw the lake. This country had been my home my whole life, and I had no idea such a beautiful spot was only miles away.

“Then I can have one to ride?” Ruby avoided looking up from her breakfast, and I saw the look of pride flash between Linc and Ryder. If there was one thing they’d always encourage, it was a kid finding her horse.

“Absolutely,” both men said at the same time.

“Me too?”

“Yes, you too, Sawyer,” Linc said as he ruffled the little boy’s sandy blond hair.

“Thanks, Uncle Linc,” he replied with a mouth full of eggs.

“How did you become an uncle so fast?”

“We had a chat at the wedding yesterday,” Linc answered as if we knew all about it. “Ruby and Sawyer were on the porch trying to figure out who everyone was, and I just happened to walk by and help them.”

“Yeah, and Uncle Linc said he was basically your brother, so that makes him our uncle, like you’re our uncle.” Ruby’s explanation might have been lost on some people, but all I could think about was that these two kids had more people who already loved them, and they’d help them through whatever they were going to deal with in the future.

“Well,brother, get eating. We’ve got horses to pick out.” Ryder set a plate and fork in front of Linc. “Linc and I will bringin a few that we think would be good for you both, and then you can decide who you bond with.”

“Bond?” Sawyer asked.

“There’s a heart horse for everyone; you just have to spend some time with them to see if you’re a fit,” I replied, smiling at the thought of them finding their heart horses.

“Auntie Lexie, do you have a heart horse?”

I stared into my coffee, thinking about all the fun Ryder and I’d had picking out my heart horse. "I haven’t had a horse for a few years."

“She still has them. She just hasn’t seen them,” Ryder said as he set my breakfast before me. “They’re all at the ranch, just waiting to see you. I’ve kept them trained and ridden, but I do have to admit I think you’ve lost Doc.” He said quietly into my ear.

“To whom?”

“Me.” He grinned and took a seat at the head of the table. I could almost see him sitting tall in the saddle atop my big grey stallion. I’ll give him a hard time, but I think they were meant to be together.

“We’ll see about that.” I rolled my eyes as he took a seat at the table.

Chapter Fourteen

LEXIE

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