Page 72 of Kentucky Nights
“Romeo isn’t going to apologize. He thinks you’re the one in the wrong.”
“I’m sorry. Is that better? Jeez. It’s not like I removed your hooves.” He twists his head back on, moaning when it snapsinto place. “That’s better.” Placing all his bones back into his body is like a puzzle. Seems he has done this more than once, considering how he knows where all the ribs need to be placed.
“Are we done? I have a woman waiting for me to ask her to the rodeo tonight.”
Lorcan brightens, forgetting the spat we just had. “You’re going? Phew.” He wipes his hand across his forehead, swiping away fake sweat. “I have a few hundred bucks placed on you to win. I lose every year since you never go. Barrel racing? Bronco riding? Bulls, maybe?”
“Depends, what did you sign me up for?”
He laughs, but it’s the kind of humor that’s full of nerves. “All…of…them?”
“Damn you, Lorcan. You’re going to get me killed. I haven’t ridden a bull in—" I try to think of the time and year, but I can’t. It’s been too long. I sigh, shaking my head, “—I’m going to withdraw from bronco riding. I’m not getting on another horse that isn’t Romeo.”
“But I’ll?—”
I arch my brow at him, daring him to continue that sentence.
“I understand.”
“Good.”
Romeo tugs on the rope, keeping him tied to the post. He’s tired of standing here listening to Lorcan and me bicker.
“Alright. Alright. Keep your shoes on.” I unravel the knot, unhook the rope from his halter. “Go on.” I slap his side, and he neighs, bolting out of the barn in a blur.
He must be hungry.
I hold out my hand to Lorcan to help him up. “Come on. I have a mate to swoon. Get off your ass.”
He slaps his palm into mine and jumps to his feet with the smile on his face that I prefer to see. I don’t like my friend mad at me. It doesn’t sit right. Life is hard enough doing it alone. Then,there are some people who refuse to leave you to that loneliness, wanting to prove to you that there’s someone who cares about your existence. A friend like that is hard to find.
Having Dru, Lorcan, and Romeo, I’m realizing my loneliness was a disease. I was dying from it, a sickness that always lingered and weighed me down until getting out of bed every morning felt like a chore.
My loneliness had turned into depression.
Even with Lorcan and Romeo, I don’t think anyone could have saved me. No one could have changed my mind about dying.
Until Dru.
She is the answer to my disease. The cure.
My mate breathed life back into me. I owe her whatever she wants. Whenever she wants.Howevershe wants.
“Skew-dang.” He waves his fingers at me. “Tootles, Darlin’.”
I groan, reaching to take the damn hat off because the attire is getting to his head. He fucking giggles before disappearing, leaving me in an empty barn, and doing my best to ignore the smell of a rotting corpse.
Only paranormals can smell it. Dru won’t be able to tell.
I stroll outside the barn, staring at all the land that goes on for hundreds of acres. Dru’s idea whirls around in my mind as I take in all the pastures. I realize she’s right. There’s so much land here that can be put to good use. I really have been waiting to die if I haven’t been utilizing my ranch properly.
Only focusing on the cattle side of the business, I’ve made great money. I’m a millionaire. If I wanted, I could hang up my hat and call it a day. I can’t turn my back on this ranch. It’s the one thing that has kept me going for over a century.
If anything, I need to stop neglecting it and breathe life into it like Dru did with me. It’s time for a change.
Horses. Cattle. Chickens. Dogs. Whatever she wants. I’m ready for the quiet not to be so loud.
I hop over the pasture’s gate, waving to the cows chewing on the grass.
