Page 63 of Rough
“Oh yeah...” That, at least, I can admit with certainty. I don’t doubt they’re sorry, but it’s the fact that it happened I can’t seem to push past.
He tips his head back and forth, considering something. “I don’t know much about women, no sisters or anything, but I feel some groveling and hard, possibly emasculating, work might make you feel better.”
We had started walking deeper into the field and when he says that I burst out laughing. We’re close enough to the cows now that they jolt a little at the sound. “I’m not sure how I can make that happen. Wouldn’t it be something they’d have towantto do?”
“Maybe. I don’t think you’re seeing what I’m seeing, though. Looks to me like they’re trying to do exactly that, only they’re a bit too dense to figure out how to go about it. I know how men think,” he says with a wink. “I also work for you. Some redirection on my part could at least give you someentertainment, and it’s kind of sparking an idea of what we can do for you on your social media.”
My laughter dies, my mind swirling over his suggestion. “I… uhh… I’m not sure…” The words are broken because I don’t know what the hell I’m trying to say.
“Listen,” he says, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing hard. “I may not have written a book on men, but I fucking understand them. Iamone, I’m dating one, and I’m not entirely oblivious to our ability to fuck shit up unintentionally. Those guys? They’re broken over whatever they’ve done to upset you. You think the four of you are just friends, but I’m telling you right now, those guys donotsee you as just a friend, and they’re torn up about it. Now, I don’t know what they did or if it’s forgivable, but what I do know is how to make them work.”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“Never fear, I got you.” Then, David proceeds to fill me in on his idea of how to make them do crazy, difficult, shit jobs. His idea for my social media is to film them doing these things and show the world men getting their due. He seems to think that people will eat up the idea of the ‘Ropin’ Ranchers groveling for forgiveness from CountryGirl, which apparently is my new handle, whatever the hell that is.
After he lays out his ideas, I tell him I want to think about it while I show him around the rest of the farm. He does some more photos along with a few videos, but after telling me to just ignore him, I do my best to adhere to that and trust the process.
David Jensen didn’t write the book on men, but maybe he has enough insight for me to get a bit of revenge for the time being.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Wilder
The engine roars as we make our way from town toward Betsy’s house. Uncle Murphy has been calling me repeatedly since Donny’s funeral, and when my phone starts up again, I finally say fuck it and answer.
“Obviously, you haven’t gotten the hint that I don’t want to fuckin’ talk to you.”
His loud sigh annoys me. “Kid, I don’t know why you’re avoidin’ me. Haven’t seen you since the other day. Am I gonna before ya’ll head back to the ranch?”
I’m sure Remy and Clyde can hear what he says, and I just shake my head, unbelieving he could be this dense. “Are you for real right now? Do you realize how much damage you fuckin’ caused?”
“Oh, come on. Are you talkin’ ‘bout Betsy? What kinda crap she been feedin’ ya’ll now?”
Remy jerks my phone from my hand and hisses into the speaker. “Aside from the fact that I took a look at that contract my daddy and Bets signed, you completely manipulated the entire situation to make it look like she was fuckin’ us over, when,in fact, it was the complete opposite!”
Yanking it back, I add in, “What was your play here, Murph? In what world did you think gettin’ on her bad side was gonna help you, or us?”
“It’s a fuckin’jokethat Donny handed everythin’ over to her! I been workin’ there for over three decades, and for what? Just to get a little girl orderin’ me around? Where’s my due? What about you? You been workin’ there since you could pick up a bucket. No one thought you were deservin’ of the chance to buy ‘em out?”
I blink in shock over his verbal diarrhea and start shaking my head slowly. Remy is vibrating he’s so pissed, and Clyde goes blank. “I…” I clear my throat and try again, firming up my resolve. “I’m only gonna say this once, so listen well,Uncle. You stay the fuck away from the LandrysandHarper.”
“Now see here—”
I cut him off. “I appreciate everythin’ you did for me growin’ up, takin’ me in the way you did, but I’ll be honest, I never took you for a greedy son of a bitch. I won’t say you’re dead to me, but I’m done with you until I decide otherwise.”
Disconnecting the call on his protests, the guys let me seethe for the rest of the drive. I’m itching to see our Betsy, so when we finally park, I jump out before the engine is turned off.
“Can I talk to you for a few?”
The guy who’s working for Betsy waves us over just as the three of us start storming toward our girl. Waving him off, I shoulder past him, determined to talk to her, but he grabs my arm.
“Don’t got time, man.” I tell him and pull my arm free.
He lets me go, but steps in front of me. “You all might want to take a minute to talk to me before you go over there and continue to piss her off. I’m maybe, a little, on your side.”
That pulls Remy up short, but Clyde is still on a clear path in her direction. “Clyde!” I call to him, and the look I get wouldmake anyone back down. Luckily, I’ve known this fucker his whole life, so I’m not intimidated. He stops and I know we’ve got about one minute before he storms off again. “Talk fast, fucker.”
“Alright. If you all go over there right now, you’re only going to dig yourselves a bigger hole. Betsy and I talked earlier.” He holds a hand up in Remy’s face when he opens his mouth to argue, shutting him down. “She didn’t tell me what you did, but I’m not an idiot. I proposed an idea, which she temporarily seems on board with, and it’ll help your cause. Want to listen? I suggest you do.”
