Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“And we will,” he vowed. “We’ll deal with it together.”
She took his hand and let him lead her away.
* * * *
Shane pulled the SUV into the drive as Trev was hustling out of the big house, Bo running right behind him. There was a definite harried look in Trev’s eyes. Bo had one of the kids’ bags over his shoulder, and while he moved a bit more slowly than his partner, there was no way to miss his tension.
“That doesn’t look good.” Brooke unhooked her seatbelt before he got the car slowed down.
He noticed there were two young men standing on the porch. They looked to be in their early twenties, and they were wearing standard cowboy gear. Jeans, Western shirt. They had bolo ties on and belts neatly wrapped around trim waists that let Shane know they were dressed to impress.
Trev paid them no mind, simply ran to his truck, but Bo stopped.
“Hey, Shane,” Bo said and tipped his hat toward Brooke. “Beth took the kids into town today after her consultation with Hale, and Miranda fell off the monkey bars at the playground. Her arm might be broken. I would ask Jamie to take over the interviews, but he took Hope into Alamosa to shop for baby stuff, and Noah’s in the barn with Nell and Henry and Lucy.”
“Bo!” Trev yelled.
“He’s overstimulated.” Bo was cool under pressure. “Beth already told us she’s going to be fine, but Trev can’t stand the thought of our baby girl bumping her knee, much less breaking a limb. I happen to know our boys are going to do a lot of that. Talk to the new guys for us, Shane. They seem okay, but Trev is acting like he doesn’t trust them. He’s been standoffish since they walked in, and we need some help, so figure out how much experience they have.”
The truck honked and Bo stepped back.
“I’ll handle it,” Shane told him.
“Do you need help? Does Beth have the boys?” Brooke got out and walked around as Bo got into the truck. “Is my sister-in-law here?”
Bo’s grin kicked up. “Your sister-in-law found out one of her husbands was in jail and made a beeline for town. Apparently Rye’s asking the sheriff to leave them alone in the cell for a half an hour.”
Shane could guess what would happen then. “You need one of us to come help with the younger kiddos?”
Those boys could be a handful.
“Thanks, but we’ve got it,” Trev promised. “I’m sorry to leave you with the new guys. And those dumbasses brought a girlfriend, though she’s done nothing but sit in the living room and play around on her phone.”
Shane got out of the SUV. “We’ll be fine. Maybe Brooke can make some cookies. Miranda loves her peanut butter cookies.”
“I’m sure she would love that. By the way, Max is bringing Bay back,” Trev said, his eyes grim. “The guy declined to press charges. Nate’s finishing up paperwork and then Bay will be back. We’re supposed to…”
“Move the herd. Clean out the back barn. Get the new fencing ready for Friday. I’ll get it all done. Go.” Shane waved him off. It was nothing he couldn’t handle. In the last couple of months he’d noticed Trev and Bo and Jamie had started leaning more heavily on him. Not Bay. Him.
Because he was the organized one, the one who was deeply competent when it came to keeping things running. He used to joke that he was nothing but middle management with cows, but was that a joke? Managing any kind of business or job had roughly the same principles.
Could he manage a set?
“I’ll make some supper later for all of us so Beth doesn’t have to worry.” Brooke moved to his side.
He couldn’t lose this woman.
He reached for her hand as Trev sped away. “You need to get some groceries?”
He honestly didn’t like the thought of her driving alone right now. What was going on around town wasn’t some coincidence, and it was all about him. The most important thing in the world to Shane Kent was Brooke Harper, so he intended to keep an eye on her.
Her head shook. “I happen to know what Beth was going to cook for supper. It’s an easy recipe. I’ll go check in with Lucy and see if they need any help in the barn. I’ve got hours before I need to start cooking. I think I’ll hang with the goats for a while. Unless you need backup with the new guys.”
“I can handle it.” He glanced over where they stood. One of the two had a cell phone to his ear. “Though I’ve learned if Trev gets a bad feeling about people, he tends to follow his gut. I’ll see if I can figure out what’s putting him off.”
She went on her toes and kissed him. “You’ll do great, babe. I’ll text my brother and let him and Bay know I’m already out here.”