Page 6 of Unforgettable Cowboy
“Warning—you’ll be up against my brother and he’s good.”
And Hayes felt old because he was old in the rodeo world.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ben laughed then glanced at the sun, which was climbing over the treetops.“We better get to it.Let us know if you get an update on Wade.”
“Will do.”
He watched them head off, Ben to the tractor and Andy to the baler, then frowned as he heard the sound of another engine, coming from the direction of the barn.Instead of traveling on the main road, as she’d done when she’d left the night before, Bailey had taken the barely maintained back road between their two properties.The distance was shorter, but the travel time was about the same, due to ruts and rills.
She pulled to a stop and Hayes approached her truck, wondering if—despite what she’d said the night before—she was there to work, or to pick up her last paycheck.For that, she’d have to wait for Wade.She opened the truck door and dropped to the ground, pushing her long braid over her shoulder before approaching, walking with the cowgirl swagger he remembered so well.
“Do you have coffee?”Her tone was businesslike, and he wondered if she was setting the stage for their future relationship or getting ready to quit.
“As it happens, I do.”
“Just thought we could sort through a few things.And I’m out of coffee.I was supposed to make a food run yesterday, but all the business with Wade kind of got in the way.”
He held open the yard gate for her.“Are you okay?”When she gave him a puzzled look, he said, “After last night?”
“I guess I can ask the same question.”She tucked a few strands of loose hair behind her ear as she spoke.“It’s been a while since I punched someone.”
“You do a lot of that?Punching?”
A half-smile tilted her full lips.“When the need arises.”
Hayes did not ask for details.Bailey had been tough back in the day, but he’d been privy to a softer side that he didn’t think many people saw.That was part of what had drawn him to her.Now he wondered if the softer side was still there.The woman in front of him was all business.
“What do you want to talk about?”he asked after she sat in Wade’s chair, and he’d poured two mugs of coffee from the pot he’d left warming.
“Wade,” she said simply.
“Okay.”
“He’s been trying to do too much after his full-time guy left.”
“Parker.”
“Yes.Your uncle’s down one guy but thinks he can keep up with everything.Now that he’s laid up…” she gave a shrug “…he’s going to need more help.”
“He was supposed to hire day help to take Parker’s place.”
She spread her hands in a here-I-am gesture.
“I meant more than one person.”
“I don’t know what to tell you there.I’m the only one who’s been helping him since July.I think he might have lost someone in June.”
Which he’d never mentioned.Classic Wade.
“And I don’t think Parker was much use before he left for his operation,” Bailey said.
“I can understand that, but frankly, I had no idea Wade was shorthanded.”
“Why not?”
The simple question touched a nerve.“Have you met my uncle?”
