Page 49 of A Rancher's Love
Ashton dipped his head. “Last I checked, the weather looked friendly for a few days.”
“If you need me to sign anything while I’m gone, just email.”
A muttered conversation between Jack and Luke broke off as Luke stepped forward. “We’re coming with you,” he announced.
“Get out,” Tucker protested. “It’s a full day’s drive, twice, and it’s going to take me at least a couple of days to help my old boss with some final tasks.”
Jack answered this time, smile flashing as he grinned. “I’m on vacation, remember? Part of what I’d love to do is see more of Canada.”
A snicker escaped Luke. “Nice try, but no one will believe that’s the selling feature for us to get away. We’ll be driving east through some of the flattest land God created.”
“Good point,” Jack returned. Then he looked Tucker in the eye. “I’ve been foreman for my family stables for over fifteen years, and I love to talk. Consider me your own private question and answer service.”
Which was a gold mine of an opportunity. Still…
“You think your wife—yourwives—won’t mind you leaving for a chunk of days in the middle of your visit?” He included Luke in the question.
“They were already plotting some girls-only thing that we can’t be around for.” Luke shrugged. “They’ll be fine. Give us twenty minutes and we’ll be ready to go.”
Tucker would be a fool to turn down time with his friend and time with a willing resource who could make his future life easier. “If you’re sure, I’d love the company,” he admitted.
Jack hooted. Luke slapped him on the back, and the two of them took off running like they were teenagers with a free hall pass.
Even Uncle Ashton was amused. “They’re good people,” he told Tucker. “I’m glad you didn’t ignore their offer and insist you could do it on your own.”
He usually would have, Tucker realized, except that option hadn’t felt right. “There’s something about Silver Stone that makes me want to make it a group effort.”
Ashton’s expression turned serious. “You know, that’s nearly word for word something Walter Stone used to say a lot. The group effort part. How it was everyone doing their part that made the job easier. That got the important things dealt with.”
His uncle sent him off with a promise to look into a different living situation for when he got back. “I suppose if you have to, you can stay in the trailer, but that’s only temporary.”
As far as Tucker was concerned, as long as Ginny came with the accommodations, he had zero problems with it.
He drove his truck up to Luke’s house where it overlooked Little Sky Lake to grab his drive buddies. While he waited, he got out and stood in the cold, admiring the snow-covered landscape.
Luke had built on a small rise, and while the main ranch buildings and Caleb’s house were close enough to the left, the actual house faced slightly more to the northwest, offering a pristine wilderness view over the smaller of the two lakes.
This wintery picture wasn’t one that Tucker had gotten to enjoy often. He’d spent so many summers here, but the first time he’d come out to the ranch in the winter had been the February of the accident. He’d visited every year after that for some non-official memorial sharing. It had felt right to make sure he was around.
It had been one of those non-official winter visits when Ginny had talked her way into his bed.
Smiling now at that memory, he let his gaze wander, tracing trails into the bush, following them into the distance where Heart Falls would be ice-locked and beautiful. He looked to the south and spotted men already at work in the arena. There were trucks leaving the ranch hand parking area outside the bunkhouse as workers headed out to whatever tasks Ashton had assigned them.
Something akin to terror filled his veins. He wanted this so bad. To be a part of Silver Stone. To have the right to be here, and not just the job. To be the man Ginny needed.
Her OperationProve It—he felt the urge to succeed all the way down to his soul.
Luke poured out the door with Jack on his heels. “Whoohoo, let’s get this party bus on the road.”
Kelli and Diane poked their heads out and waved farewell.
Luke handed Tucker a travel mug. “I was ready to pour you a manly drink, but Kelli interfered.”
“I love you, Kelli,” Tucker called toward the door. “Anytime you want to leave this loser, give me a shout.”
“But I’ve got him half trained,” Kelli complained. “Have fun storming the castle, boys.”
Feminine laughter followed as the ladies disappeared back inside the warm house.
