Page 137 of Captivated

Robert cocked his head. “I take it this is a new experience. Because I don’t recall you ever being involved with anyone, not in all the years I’ve known you.”

Zeeb focused on his clasped hands, his fingers laced across his stomach.

“Never had me a relationship before. Kinda scary.”

“Have you spoken with Nate since he left?”

“Spoken? No.”That’s because he didn’t answer my calls.“Texts? Yeah, plenty of those.”

“And does he feel the same way?”

“I wouldn’t know. We sorta danced around the edges, if you get my drift. Neither of us came right out an’ shared anything personal.”

“So because he didn’t, you kept quiet? Is that it?” Zeeb nodded, and Robert let out another sigh. “Both of you too damn scared to put a foot wrong.” He drew in a breath. “Question is, what are we going to do about it?”

“Nothingtodo,” Zeeb remonstrated. “I jus’ have to get back on track, that’s all. Do my work. Focus on that.”

“There’s more to life than work,” Robert said in a gentle tone.

Zeeb snorted. “You sound like Walt. You know what he said to me? An’ I’m talkin’weeksago, back in June, when we took the herd to the south pasture. He said ‘We all deserve happiness. Maybe it’s your time to find some.’”

Robert’s eyes twinkled. “Wise man, Walt.” He stood. “Do one thing for me?”

“What’s that?”

His face tightened. “Focusing is good. Make sure you do that when you’re on a horse. I don’t want you falling and breaking something. Like your neck.”

Zeeb knew what had passed through the boss’s mind, and his gut clenched.

“I’ll take care, I promise.” Besides, Kevin Porter had been drunk as a skunk the night he’d fallen from Lightning. Zeeb knew enough never to mix horses and alcohol.

Robert’s lips twitched. “Don’t you have work to do, cowboy?”

He had a point.

Zeeb stood and gave the cabin a final glance. “Yeah, I do. An’ sittin’ here ain’t getting it done.”

“Ride back with me, then.”

“Sure thing, Boss.”

They stepped across the creek, and Zeeb deliberately didn’t turn around for one last look.

I need to stop this. It isn’t helping.

By extension, he knew he needed to stop thinking about Nate too. All it did was bring him down, muddy his thoughts, and cloud his judgment.

I just have to accept this wasn’t meant to be.

Even if that meant acknowledging Nate was a dream that had come and gone.

Robert sat on the chair on his porch, his phone in one hand, his tablet with the ranch’s records in his lap. He tapped in the number.

It answered after three rings. “Hello?”

“Derek, it’s Robert Thorston.”

There was the slightest pause. “Hey, Robert. It’s good to hear you. Sorry I wasn’t there for the last Deliverance week. I needed to be here for Nate.”

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