Chapter 32

Link pulled up to the homestead, taking one of the only remaining spots left in the gravel area out front. "This is the homestead," he said. "My uncle Ranger and aunt Oakley live here."

"But they don't run the ranch," Danny said, peering at the huge house. "Seems odd that they live in the biggest house."

"There are a lot of big houses here," Misty said from the passenger seat of Link's truck. He'd followed her and Danny to the house she shared with Janie, and then they'd all piled into his truck to make the final leg of their trip to Shiloh Ridge Ranch.

"My daddy and Ranger are the oldest brothers in their family lines," Link said. He watched the windows and didn't see any movement. "They lived here, in opposite wings, at first. Before Daddy met Momma. I lived in this house when they were first married. And when Smiles came along. Then Uncle Ranger and Aunt Oakley started havin' kids too, and Aunt Etta was living in the downstairs suite, and it was just a lot of people in a big house."

He smiled over to Misty and back to Danny. "My folks built a new house, and Etta got married. She and August got a new house too, so now, Ranger and Oakley live here alone. They host all the big parties that aren't at True Blue or the firepit, and I don't know. This house feels like home to me too." He blew out his breath, and reached for the door. He didn't really spend this much time traveling and talking, and the quiet emptiness of his house sounded pretty amazing about now.

However, Link had spent an hour on the phone last night, with only the first ten minutes of it with his daddy. Then, they'd done a group call with Uncle Ward, Uncle Ranger, Uncle Cactus, and Uncle Preacher. All of them would be here tonight, and probably more. Link hadn't put a limit on it, and the Glovers never really passed up an opportunity to get together and eat.

"Time to rip off the Band-Aid," Link said. "Because my mother has some sort of radar that tells her when I'm nearby, and she knows we've been sitting out here for a few minutes." He flashed a smile all around and reached for the door handle.

"It's not radar," Misty said, "Every building on this ranch has cameras."

Danny chuckled as he spilled from the backseat, and Link led the way through the fenceposts and onto the sidewalk. To his surprise, no one opened the front door before he reached it, and he pushed into the homestead and called, "We're here."

He reached for Misty, and thankfully, she knew when to ground him. Her fingers slid between his, and they went under the arch and the carved mention of the Glover family name and into the kitchen.

So many eyes looked back at him, and he couldn't even imagine how they made Danny's skin itch and burn.

"Son." Of course Daddy would be the first to greet him. He'd probably been hovering next to the fridge for the last half-hour. He grabbed onto Link and pulled him into a hug. Link didn't believe for a moment that Daddy wasn't already sizing up Danny, but he'd be kind about it.

He had a very good first-impression-meter, and Link had been praying that Danny could pass it for the entire drive from Amarillo.

"Daddy," Link whispered. "Thank you."

"I love you." Daddy pulled back and looked at Misty. "Hey, Misty-girl." He hugged her too, and Link nearly lost his composure watching his father hug his girlfriend. His eyes filled with tears as God whispered to him that everything was handled.

I've got this, he heard as his mom tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey," she said as he faced her. He grabbed onto her and held her tight, not sure if he should tell her everything in his mind and heart right now or just let it all play out.

"Introduce us," she whispered, and Link stepped back.

"Daddy," he said, doing a quick swipe at his eyes. "Momma, this is Danny Granger, Misty's brother." He indicated the man, giving him a quick nod and even quicker smile. "Danny, these are my parents, Bear and Sammy Glover."

"It's so great to meet you, sir," Danny said, all proper and polite. "Ma'am." He shook hands and looked at Misty.

"Link's aunt and uncle," Misty said, "Ranger and Oakley."

"Great to meet you." Danny shook their hands too. "You live here. It's such a beautiful home."

"Thank you," Oakley said. "Our foremen." She indicated Uncle Ward and Uncle Preacher. "They'll be over what you do here on the ranch. Ward and Preacher Glover."

"Thank you," Danny said, stepping past Ranger and Oakley. "I am gonna work real hard here, I promise you that."

Link watched him pump Uncle Ward's hand and then Uncle Preacher's. Neither of them said a single word, and neither of their faces moved an inch. Link turned his head away to hide his smile, because his uncles were putting on a show, plain and simple.

And when Uncle Cactus stepped next to them and said, "We have a rule on this ranch, son," Link dang near burst out laughing.

Danny looked at his tall, broad uncle and said, "Oh."

"This is Cactus," Daddy said, and they'd so rehearsed this. "He's the second son behind me."

"Why's he here?" Misty asked, folding her arms and giving Cactus a shrewd smile.

"Because someone has to keep Bear from doing something senile in his old age," Cactus said without missing a beat. Link did let his laughter loose then, as did several others.

As Link sobered, he said, "Hiring Danny is going to be the least senile thing any of us does." He gave the man a grin as wide as the sky. "Trust me."

"I'm here," someone called from the front door, and it sounded like Aunt Etta. Sure enough, she walked into the kitchen a moment later, carrying a big pot of something. Her husband, August, came right behind her, as did all three of their children. Hailey belonged to them too, but she didn't live at home anymore, so Link wasn't shocked not to see her.

Their oldest son, Joey, carried a huge tray of rolls that had been perfectly baked and browned, and Link's stomach roared for bread, butter, and strawberry jam. The twins, Nash and Nellie, carried a bowl each, and Uncle August set down cardboard bowls, plastic utensils, and a bag of bottles and containers.

"What do we have here?" Misty asked as she moved over to the island to help unpack the food.

"Misty," Nellie said, right in her face. "Momma made chicken pot pie stew. You are gonna love it." The ten-year-old lived life with a certain enthusiasm that Link could barely maintain

"I'm in love with it already," she said kindly. "Etta, this is my brother, Danny."

Etta threw her hot pads on the counter with wild abandon and stepped right over to Danny. She already wore a big smile to go with her bright blue eyes, and she gripped him by the shoulders. "Look at you."

Someone in the room stifled a laugh, and someone else cleared their throat. Link wasn't sure what to do. His heart hammered at him a couple of times, but the way Momma and Aunt Oakley just stood there when they could've intervened had rendered him silent and still too.

"What a handsome man you are," Aunt Etta said. "Yep, I think you're going to do just fine here." She released him and stepped back. "My kids." She indicated them and then her husband, introducing them all around.

"Nice to meet you," Danny said, looking a little shell-shocked. In fact, his lips had barely moved when he'd spoken.

"Let's eat," Aunt Etta said. "Unless we're missing people still." She lifted the lid off her pot of chicken pot pie stew. "Are we?"

"No," Daddy said. "We're all here."

"Enough to start," Uncle Ward said. "Dot and the kids are headed over, but we can start without ‘em."

"Then let's start," Momma said. "I think I just heard Link's stomach growl from here." She gave him a lopsided grin, and Link only smiled. A certain nervousness continued to run through him, though his family had been accepting and welcoming of Danny.

He prayed that having Misty's brother here wouldn't cause any problems, that he'd never have to reprimand or fire the man, and that everyone would be happy here at the ranch.

"And you just put the tack back where we got it," Link said several days later. "And?—"

"We brush down the horses and put them away," Danny said. "I can do it."

Link looked over to him. He'd done every task asked of him since he'd come to the ranch. Sure, Link had found him icing his back and his shoulder in the evenings, because ranch work wasn't a walk in the park. But he showed up on time in the morning, he listened, and he worked hard.

Link hadn't heard a word of complaint, and even Cutter had texted Link to say that Danny was welcome company in the evenings.

"I can do it," Danny said. "Really, Link. If I need help, I'll grab someone." He moved to take the saddle over to the shelf. "Lord knows there's a cowboy every five feet around here."

Link grinned at him and said, "Okay. I have to go down to Preacher's for a meeting."

"Yeah, that's why I said I got this." Danny took his saddle from him, and Link met his eye. "What should I do after this?"

"Nothing." Link gave him a quick smile. "Go home. We're done for today."

"It's four-fifteen." Danny looked like he'd been told they'd open Christmas presents next.

Link chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Yep, and the job is done, which means you're done."

Danny's smile spread across his face, and it made Link so happy. "Hey, could I ask a favor?"

"Sure thing." As Link spoke, he heard how much he sounded like his father.

"I don't have travel restrictions here," Danny said, his feet shifting. That could've been from the weight of Link's saddle. "And I'd love to go get pizza tonight."

"Sure, did you get the Two Cents app? Anything on their pizza list is going to be amazing."

"I got it," he said. "What I don't have is a way to get to town to pick up the pizza."

Everything clicked in Link's head. "We've got extra trucks here. I'll text Ranger that you're gonna come by and get the keys to one. Okay?"

Relief filled Danny's face. "Thank you, Link." He sort of tried to reach out to shake his hand, but he held a saddle, and the whole thing became awkward. Link ended up taking the saddle back before Danny could drop it, and he put it away before turning back to Misty's brother.

"Listen, Danny," he started.

"I'm okay, Link," he said quietly. He looked up, and those Granger green eyes stared straight into Link's. "I just want to really thank you for giving me this chance."

"I didn't do anything," Link said.

"You love my sister," Danny said. Just like that. Just right out loud as if it was common knowledge. As if everyone knew it. "And without that, I know you wouldn't have vouched for me and spoken up for me and let me come here." He swallowed and coughed a little cough. "So you did do something, and I really appreciate it."

Link's own throat worked as he tried to get it to perform its natural function. He nodded, and Danny nodded on back. Then Link headed out to get to his foremen meeting with his uncles. He sat in the cab of his truck and texted Misty really quick, though he was already a few minutes late getting down to Preacher's.

Your brother is great, he said. Just wanted you to know.

Really? she sent back instantly. You're not just making that up?

I would never make something like that up, Link texted. He's doing well up here.

Are you busy later?she asked.

Meeting now, he said. Then I'm free. Probably close to six-thirty or so. That would give him time to get home and shower. I can pick you up for pizza?

Can't wait, Misty said.

To which Link responded, I love you.