Chapter 39

Bright and early the next morning, we meet up with another rancher. This one has nearly two thousand head of cattle and comes with their own large group of cowboys.

“This here is the Circle Bee Ranch,” Wiley offers when I peer at them. “They’ve been raising bees forever. They have the best fresh honey.”

“He looks young,” I comment, watching as the leader instructs his people to tighten up the cattle group. He can’t be older than twenty-six, I think, as he waves over at Dakota with a bright smile, but despite his age, his eyes look far older. He carries himself as if he’s walked this earth far longer than he looks to have. An old soul.

When he comes trotting up on his own horse, I straighten, studying him closer.

“Dakota!” he says with a grin. “I didn’t know you’d have so many this year! You just keep growing it seems.”

“That’s all Levi’s fault, Rhett,” Dakota replies with his own grin. “He’s just too damn good at his job.”

“Hey! We could use some of those magic hands,” Rhett laughs. His eyes find me, and they widen when he takes me in with my cow print hat and William sitting on my saddle. “Pardon me, ma’am! I didn’t realize the boys at Steele Mountain hired a guardian angel to watch over their herd this year,” he says with a tip of his hat.

I blink in surprise and flush. I don’t think I’ve ever been so thoroughly complimented before. “I, uh. . . no angels here, unfortunately.”

He grins smoothly, and I can see immediately he must be a lady killer. That smooth look, the sparkle in his eyes, the way he carries himself. Despite the old soul in his gaze, he’s still twenty-six. “Well, we don’t mind devils out here neither,” he teases. “Makes the sinning sweeter, doesn’t it?” He tips his hat again. “I best go check on the others. They’re libel’ta sneak some liquor out here if I’m not careful.”

He gallops off and I glance at Dakota. “He seems nice.”

“Yeah, Rhett is a good kid,” Dakota sighs. “He’s had a hard go of it, but he’s done well for his ranch.”

“I’m surprised how young he is,” I murmur, watching him control his horse. Despite his age, it’s clear he’s an expert at what he does. Age has nothing to do with his skill.

“He’s been running that ranch since he was sixteen,” Wiley says, his own eyes on Rhett.

My eyes widen. “By himself?”

“Well, with some help,” Wiley shrugs. “His parents died in a car crash while he was at school. Stepped off the bus to find the police waiting for him.”

“How has he managed it all?” I ask, shaking my head. “It must have been so hard.”

“You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes,” Dakota shrugs. “He wanted to keep the ranch in the family, and that’s admirable. I don’t know exactly how he did it, but he came to me asking for help at one point. I gave him all the help I could every time he’s asked, but for the most part, he’s done it all by himself. He’s tenacious, that one. Has a circle of friends around him as close as Wiley and Levi are to me. They’ve done well.”

“You sound proud,” I murmur, watching him closely.

“I am. Circle Bee Ranch has been with us since the beginning. This cattle drive has lost ranchers for many reasons over the years, and I thought that would be the end of the Circle Bee Ranch. Turns out, they only thrived, and you have to admire how much work he’s put in for it. He’s earned all the good luck coming his way.”

“I don’t even know what that kind of dedication feels like,” I rasp, my own admiration for Rhett filling me. What a strong kid to pull through that. Ten years and he’s still here, holding his own. Good for him.

“Nonsense,” Wiley says. “You’re literally working on a cattle drive right now. Plus, I’ve seen you shoot off a few emails to your last job.”

Dakota frowns and looks over at me. “You’ve still been working another job?”

I flush. I haven’t really advertised what I’d done before. Wiley only knows because he was in my cabin when I had to send a quick email into work for my final projects so I didn’t leave them in a bind, but I haven’t told anyone else. It didn’t feel necessary to bring up, not when I consider myself a ranch girl now rather than a tech one.

“I quit my other job, but there were a few projects I needed to finish up before I was officially done,” I clarify at Dakota’s worried expression. “I’m done now. I’m not working two jobs.”

His eyes narrow. “Do I not pay you enough?”

“You are, but?—”

“I’ll fix that,” he interrupts. “I assume that little BMW wasn’t cheap.”

“It’s paid off,” I say, laughing. “Stop that. I’m not out here trying to work two jobs or anything. I just didn’t want to leave them hanging with a few of the projects. And they were fine with that. It’s no big deal.”

Dakota sniffs but doesn’t argue. At least he seems to understand now. I’m half scared he’ll start throwing money at me if he thinks I’m not being paid enough.

“You ever thought that’s how they’re tracking you?” Levi asks from his side-by-side.

I frown. “Who?”

“The Crow people.”

I pause. “My work information should be confidential.”

“And yet they found you all the way out here,” Levi comments. “I’m sure you let your work know your new address for paychecks?”

Wiley frowns. “Levi may be onto something here.”

Levi shakes his head at me. “Leave it to you to be bad at staying anonymous.”

“Hey, fuck you,” I spit, annoyed. “I’d like to see you try it. I’ve tried my fucking best. I didn’t think they’d chase me so far.”

He meets my eyes. “I have.”

Blinking, I straighten. “You have what?”

“Tried it. And no one found me when I didn’t wanna be found.”

“What?” I ask dumbly, but he doesn’t answer me, letting his gaze linger instead. Dakota’s comment about them being a nest of rattlesnakes comes back to my mind, a reminder that there are secrets here I don’t know. “What does that mean?” I ask again, needing to know, needing some answers.

“Later,” Dakota murmurs. “Too many ears out here.”

With the other ranches slowly adding in, our numbers have grown insanely large. The sheer amount of cowboys out here now is almost terrifying. So I understand that there are too many ears. Cowboys ride along all sides now, herding the massive group of cattle. I wonder exactly how many there are.

“Fine,” I grumble, but my eyes dance back to Levi when he starts driving again. I take in the way he holds himself, the way he so easily moves like a coiled snake. He has his secrets and I’m starting to think the attitude isn’t just formed from his accident. What sculpted him into the man he is? What hurt him deeper than Kill Dozer ever could?

I glance over at Wiley and Dakota, noting that they both carry themselves with a confidence that only comes from knowing you can defeat any foe. Each of them is careful with their movements, purposely keeping them casual, as if the secrets could escape if they’re not in full control at all times. I hadn’t seen it before, but I do now. I see it all.

It’s foolish of me not to be afraid.

It’s even more foolish of me to know I don’t want to leave, no matter what those secrets are.

Secrets don’t scare me, but they probably should.

They probably fucking should. . .