Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
I thought back to a few minutes ago, when he’d declared that he hated his mother. Granted, Caroline wasn’t the perfect mother, but she loved her children. I was sure of that.
Wasn’t I?
Emeline stood, took Rhett’s hand, and headed back to me. When I saw her face, I instantly knew something was wrong.
As she approached, she forced a smile. “I was thinking it might be kind of fun for Rhett to see the working side of our operation. Maybe Caden can show him what it’s like to ride out on the ranch, if he’s an experienced-enough rider.”
Confused by the request, I replied, “He is. Is that something you’d like to do, Rhett?”
His eyes lit up. “Be like a real cowboy?”
Emeline chuckled. “Yep. But we need to go back inside and get your cowboy hat. Would you mind doing that while I call Caden?”
She wasn’t giving me much of a choice in the matter. “Um, yeah, let’s go get your hat, bud.”
Emeline dropped Rhett’s hand, pulled out her phone, and walked away.
As we walked back into the main building of the camp, I asked, “Everything okay?”
Rhett nodded. “I like Ms. Emeline a whole lot.”
I smiled. “Yeah, she’s one of a kind.”
“Do you like her?” he asked as he placed his black cowboy hat onto his head.
“Sure, I like her.”
“Will you date her?”
I let out a laugh. “I like Emeline as a friend. I’ve always liked her as a friend, but I don’t feel that way toward her.”
Except, suddenly, I felt like I was telling my son a lie.
He frowned.
“You’re sure you’re okay? Did you want to talk about what you said earlier?”
Rhett shook his head. “Not right now. I wanna go riding.”
Giving him a nod, I said, “Well, let’s go see if Uncle Caden is free.”
As we walked back outside and toward the Mule, I saw a truck pulling up. It was the ranch truck, and sitting inside were Caden and his younger brother, Gatlin. You couldn’t ask for more authentic cowboys than these two. Both got out, Gatlin basically identical to Caden in jeans, boots, a T-shirt that said River Falls Cattle, and a dark cowboy hat. His face exploded into a wide grin.
“If it isn’t Levi Tucker!”
I walked toward him and reached my hand toward his outstretched one. We shook, then Gatlin pulled me into a quick hug, slapping the shit out of my back. He may have been younger than Caden by five years, but they might as well have been twins. The only difference in their physical appearance was that Caden’s eyes were the color of the sky, and Gatlin’s looked more gray.
“It’s good to see you, Gatlin.”
“I couldn’t believe it when Caden told me you were back for good!” He glanced down and smiled at Rhett. Tapping his hat, he asked, “And who’s this cowboy?”
“Rhett, this is Gatlin, Caden and Emeline’s brother.”
Reaching his hand out to shake Gatlin’s, Rhett said, “Can I call you Uncle Gatlin?”
Gatlin glanced at me, then down to Rhett. “Hell yes, you can!”
Smacking her brother on the arm as she walked back up, Emeline said, “Gatlin! Language.”
Looking sheepish, he replied, “Not used to littles.”
“It’s okay, it’s not like he hasn’t heard a curse word.”
Rhett nodded. “My daddy says ‘fuck’ all the time.”
“Rhett,” I warned.
He covered his mouth with a hand and giggled.
“Little dude, how would you like to go riding with me and Caden? Maybe help us check on some cows?”
I watched as my son nearly exploded with excitement. “Can I, Daddy? Please?”
“He’s a good rider, but you’ll give him a calm horse? And no running. He’s not there yet.”
“I can run!” Rhett argued.
Caden grinned as he reached down and lifted Rhett effortlessly. “I promise we’ll keep him safe, Levi.”
I walked over and kissed Rhett on the cheek. He tried to squirm away as he pushed me and said, “Dad, not in front of Emeline!”
Holding up my hands in surrender, I took a few steps back. “Sorry. Listen to Uncle Caden and Gatlin, okay?”
Caden glanced at his sister.
“Thirty-minute ride?” she replied to the unspoken question. “We’ll meet you at the barn.”
“Sounds good,” Caden said before they turned and headed to the truck.
Once they were driving off, I looked at Emeline. “So? Why did you send my son away?”
She swallowed hard. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something that Rhett shared with me, and I thought it was best if he didn’t see your reaction.”
Panic instantly hit me square in the chest. “What is it?”
Wringing her hands, she motioned for us to go back into the building. She walked to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge. “Do you want one?”
“What I want is for you to tell me what’s going on, Emeline.”
Sliding onto a barstool, Emeline closed her eyes, then opened them again. “I have to ask you a question first.”