Paul is blustering, sputtering and rambling angry nonsense. “Well, I never . . . in my own damn house. You disrespectful punk . . . ruined everything . . . I oughta . . .”
It seems he’s more strung out about the real issue than us, and all three Tannen boys are looking at each other with questions in their eyes, obviously shocked at the extent of their dad’s gambling, but still in defense mode as Paul rants.
Paul gets it together enough to stab a threatening finger in Mark’s direction. “Get. Out. Get off my land, and do not ever step foot on it again.”
He turns away, waving a hand in Brody’s direction before storming down the hallway, an obvious “deal with this” gesture. Brody puffs up, handling his assignment and letting all his stirred-up anger drip from every word. “You heard him. Off and don’t come back.”
Mark nods once and we back up, sort of covering for each other as we head down the hallway to the door. Right before we walk out, Mark looks back, eye to eye with Brody. “Same goes for you too. Stay off our property; no more stupid shit.”
Brody just glares icily at Mark, who seems to decide that’s as much of an agreement as he’ll get. Inside the truck, it’s silent until we turn off Tannen’s land onto the main dirt road. Luke speaks first, glancing into the rearview mirror as he does, probably making sure nobody has a shotgun pointed our direction. “Think they’re gonna stay away, handle whatever money issues Paul’s led them into?”
Mark grunts, speeding up a little. “Hope so. Done on our side unless they start something. Agreed?” He asks like it’s a question, but really, we know it’s an order and nod accordingly.
“I was watching Brody when you started talking about the gambling,” I note. “He had no idea. Totally shocked.”
Luke chimes in, agreeing. “Bobby and Bruce too.”
Mark sighs and slows down as we approach our gate. “Not our problem. Let them handle their business, we’ll handle ours, and hopefully, they’ll never cross. The important thing is, he’s not gonna try buying the ranch out from underneath us, and he’s not gonna keep hounding Mama about selling. Done. Problem solved.”
I nod, hoping he’s right, and trusting that if anyone can protect the ranch, it’s Mark. He’s smart enough to watch for sneaky business tactics and rough enough that he could put a beatdown on someone if necessary. It’s what makes him a great fit for being the boss.
I’ve got another issue to deal with, though. “Uh, guys? Mind if I ask you a question?”
“You’re asking for permission now? Sophie’s a good influence on you. What’s on your mind, James?” Luke asks.
I turn to the side in the back seat and look toward town. “I’m going to have to fill Sophie in on what happened, and her and Shayanne are gonna realize that I pulled a fast one by encouraging their girls’ night. Think Sophie will be mad? Hope Shayanne doesn’t hold it against Sophie too.”
Luke glances at Mark, who shrugs. Luke looks back at me, grinning. “Girls deal with their shit in their own weird ways. You assholes and my horses are complicated enough for me. I say you let them figure it out for themselves and stay out of it. And hope Sophie doesn’t put you in the doghouse for using her to get little Shayanne out of the house while the big boys talk. Good luck, man.” He says it like I’m already a dead man walking, leaving no doubt what he thinks will happen when Sophie and Shayanne hear about tonight’s meeting.
I lean forward, reaching over and flicking his ear hard. “Thanks, asshole. Really helpful advice there.”
CHAPTER 23
SOPHIE
Typing away at the computer by the front desk, I’m looking forward to getting off work. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the day; I mean, I got to help a mama basset hound deliver six adorable puppies, but I’m looking forward to my night with Shayanne.
Wrapping up the last of my notes, I pop my head into Doc’s office. “You need anything else? I’m about to head out if we’re good for the day.”
Doc grins, looking up from his own computer where he’s handling paperwork. He’s got an office manager, but he still checks everything since it’s his name on the checks to the IRS. “You’re in a sure-fired hurry, miss. Got a hot date with your rodeo man tonight?”
I laugh. Doc’s great about my relationship with James. “Nope, not tonight. I’m actually having Shayanne Tannen over for a girls’ night in. We’re doing spa treatments and pampering ourselves. It’ll be fun tonight, but my gorgeous manicure won’t last ten minutes after I get to work tomorrow.”
Doc nods thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. “Shayanne? Nice girl. Such a shame about her mother, though. Shayanne was just a tot herself when she passed. But she seems to take good care of her dad and brothers. There’s a tough cookie under that bubblegum shell.”
“She’s great, once you get her to take a breath in between bursts of talking. Did you know she’s making these goat soaps? They’re pretty amazing. I told her she should try opening up an online shop.”
“I knew they had a goat herd, but didn’t know Shayanne was making soaps. Selling them sounds like a good idea if she wants to. Might even see if the resort tourist shop would sell them?”
“Oh my gosh, that’s a brilliant idea! I’ll tell her that tonight!”
Doc laughs, nodding. “Hey, I know I’ve done this several times, but you won’t blame me when you get my age. Mind if an old man gives you some advice on something besides veterinary medicine?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Shayanne is a sweet soul, and like I said, she’s a tough country kid, but she’s sheltered in a way most young ’uns aren’t these days. She’s been the caretaker of their family for a lot of years, and doesn’t have a whole lot of outside interactions beyond an occasional trip into town. It’s just . . . I’m glad you’re being friendly with her because I think she could use a friend. Maybe broaden her horizons a little bit to the possibilities beyond their thousand acres.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Doc. I think I’m just as excited as she is to hang out tonight. I’ve made some friends”—I smile as Doc raises one bushy eyebrow at my characterization of James as a friend, but I continue—“but having a girlfriend around to do girly stuff is something I’ve missed. I think maybe we’re good for each other.”
He grins and gives me a nod. “Well then, you’d better skedaddle. And bring in one of her fancy soaps for me to try if you don’t mind. See you tomorrow!”
Before he’s even got his screensaver unlocked, I’m off like a flash to set up and make my house presentable for company. I’m definitely no slob, but if we’re going to be spending the night doing various beauty treatments in my tiny bathroom, I want it sparkling. And I’ve seen Shayanne’s version of clean—the woman could do surgery on her countertops.
Seemingly minutes later, the house is ready, and I am, too, and just in time because I hear a truck pulling up out front. I run to open the door, thrilled to see Shayanne again. “Hey, Shay!”
She hops out of her truck and runs up, giggling madly with a bag over her shoulder and her eyes lit up like twin diamonds. “Thank you for inviting me! Are you ready?”
“Absolutely!” I promise her, caught up in her enthusiasm. “Pizza is on its way, plus extra cheesy breadsticks. I’ve got cardboardeaux for me and grape juice for you chilling in the fridge, and all my nail polishes lined up for you to pick from. And if you get bored with swapping stories and treatments, I’ve got all my favorite rom-coms on Netflix ready to go! Let’s get this girls’ night in started!”
I do a little booty shake, arms raised up high, celebrating our plans, and Shayanne laughs until I grab her arms and jerk her around, forcing her to dance with me in the front yard. “Come on, I know all the horseback riding you do must’ve loosened those hips. Don’t make me give you lessons here in the front yard—show me what you’ve got!”
Shayanne blushes but does a halfway decent hip roll. I’m sure she can do better, especially since she sasses back, “Good enough for the price of admission?
”
“It’s a start,” I tease, leading her inside. “Now, first things first—you’re ditching those cowgirl boots and soaking your feet. I’ve already got that ready right here in the living room for both of us.”
In between treatments, which start with salt and baking-soda foot baths that leave our skin soft and totally smell-free, we talk about our day. “So, yeah, if you’re looking for a puppy, give them a call,” I tell Shayanne, who’s been gushing over the pictures of the basset pups I helped with today. “Although . . . is a basset hound the best for a ranch?”
“Maybe not, but who cares?” Shayanne giggles. “I’d just baby this little pup and teach it to watch the goats. They can’t run as fast as the cattle and don’t get as riled up.”
“And they’re great kissers,” I say, making her laugh. “What? Those big, slobbery lips and sad eyes? How could you not want to just smooch the hell out of one?”
“Doggy breath, that’s how! You know, Daddy says . . . oops.”
“Oh, hell no you didn’t!” I mock protest, standing up and duck walking across the room. The foot soaks gave way to toenail polish, and I currently have little foam spacers in between each toe, making me very off balance. “Now you’ve done it, and we haven’t even gotten through the pizza yet. I’m smacking you, and you’re gonna let me.”
Shayanne looks at me nervously, half turning away, but I lean over with a grin and smack her ass. “There, now don’t let it happen again, or else I’m gonna think you like it. Hear me?”
Shayanne laughs along, saluting me. “Aye-aye, Captain. Won’t let it happen again, sir. I mean, ma’am.”
I try to keep my faux-stern look, but we both dissolve into giggles. “So . . .” she says, grinning, “how are things on the romantic front? You look a lot more at peace than the last time we talked.”
I shrug, tossing back the last of my wine. “You were right. I didn’t realize until you started interrogating me, but you were right.”
“About what?”
“That I’ve fallen in love with him,” I reply, fishing for a slice of bacon and bell-pepper pizza. “That what started out as summertime fun has turned serious.”
Shayanne nods wisely, grabbing a breadstick and chewing it slowly. “Well, it was so obvious considering the way you were talking about him. So, now what?”
“Well, we talked last night. It was . . . changing. We both said I love you.”
Shayanne squeals, dropping her breadstick and jumping to her feet. “Whaaaaat?” she says before dancing around the room happily. “Oh my gosh, Sophie and James sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sophie with a baby carriage . . .”
“Sit down, you goof! And don’t ever do that again.” I laugh, unable to be angry at all. She’s just too cute.
Shayanne stops abruptly, turning to me questioningly. “Wait, what about school? What about the rodeo?”
It’s my turn to be unsure as I play with a piece of bacon on my pizza for a minute before answering, “I don’t know. We haven’t gotten further than saying I love you, and then, well . . . you know.”
“I don’t, but I can make some guesses,” Shayanne says lightly. “Go on.”
“I know James is feeling some pressure to stay here this year more than ever, but honestly, I think it’s more him putting pressure on himself than his mom or brothers. He loves the rodeo; he lights up when he talks about it. I don’t want him to give it up on a whim and be unhappy. If rodeo makes him happy, he should do that. And school starts for me in a few weeks. I’ve got to go; I want to be a vet someday. I just don’t know how that works out.”
Shayanne shrugs, sitting back down next to me. “But if you love each other, you’ll make it work. If there’s one thing James Bennett is known for, it’s going all-in. Good idea or bad, once he’s agreed, he goes whole hog. He’s legendary around here for some of his stunts in his younger days, but he always follows through, even with running away to join the rodeo. He’ll move heaven and earth if he has to.” She nods like it’s just that easy.
I smile, because she’s right—that sounds just like James. “Enough on me. How about you? Any guys on your radar . . . a townie maybe?”
Shayanne snorts and shakes her head. “No way. Definitely not a townie, and honestly, I rarely leave the ranch, so I don’t know how I’d actually even meet a man. I’m doomed to a life forever alone, caring for my bachelor brothers, the spinster sister.”
She feigns a melodramatic faint, plopping back on the couch. I laugh and slap her leg with a breadstick. “I doubt it’s that dire, Drama Mama! You’ve just been watching The Bold and the Beautiful too much. Oh, speaking of leaving the ranch . . .” Shayanne gives me a cautious look, but I continue, “I know you weren’t so sure about selling your soaps online, but Doc had a great idea. You could sell them at the shop up at the Mountain Spirit resort. Easy delivery if they need restocking, close to home, and the resort is just an email away—no website needed.”
Shayanne nods, her eyes lighting up. “Actually, that is a great idea. Especially since my soaps are locally known from the farmer’s market when Brody sells them. It’d be a way for people to buy them all the time. I like it! Tell Doc thank you for the brilliance.”
“Will do,” I tell her. We’re wrapping up the messy spa treatments, sitting down to watch a movie and eat a second round of pizza when a loud truck pulls up outside.
Shayanne looks at me, smirking. “You expecting James tonight? Or is your cowboy that needy for your sweet lovin’?”
“Stop, silly,” I say with a shake of my head, heading to the door, but whoever is here is already pounding a fist on the outside. Boom boom boom, boom boom boom. Startled and a little frightened, I peek out the peephole and see Brody, every inch as tall and wide as I remember him from the Fourth of July festival. He’s just as mad tonight, although he looks sober at least. “What the—?”
I crack the door, leaving the chain closed. “Yes?”
“Shayanne here? She’s coming home now,” Brody grumbles. It’s not a question, more of a command, and it irks me that he thinks he can just boss her around.
“Hang on one second. Let me talk to her.” I close the door, ready to give Shayanne shit about her overbearing brother, and turn around to see her already slipping her shoes on and grabbing her bag.
My shoulders slump a little, but I square up, keeping my voice low and supportive. “You don’t have to go just because he says so.”
She smiles ruefully; I think she understands the thoughts in my head. “Yeah, I kinda do. He’s a good guy, a good brother, so if he came all the way to town to get me, it’s for a good reason. I’ll call you?”
I nod, wrapping my arms around my waist, uncertain about this whole thing. But Shayanne’s calm, if a little regretful that our evening’s been cut short. I open the door and see Brody looking frantic, worry written all over his face for a split second before he morphs it back to anger.
“Shayanne, get in the truck. We need to talk on the way home. Bobby can drive your truck home.”
I see another guy getting out of Brody’s big truck and already heading for Shayanne’s. Presumably that’s Bobby. He’s not quite as big as Brody, but still big enough, with that sort of farm-boy build that can heave hay bales for a couple of hours without getting tired.
“What’s going on?” Shayanne says, adjusting her bag. “I basically just got here.”
Brody gives me a hard look as he answers Shayanne. “We’ll discuss it on the way home. But you,” he says, pointing a menacing finger at me, “you’re with James Bennett, yeah? Tell them something for me. Tell them thank you and to stay the fuck away from us.”
Confused, I nod before turning my eyes to Shayanne, mouthing, “Call me.”
She nods, worry written all over her face. I’m still not sure I should let her leave with him, especially when he’s so mad about something that I’m not even sure he should be driving, but she’s an adult and knows him better than I do.<
br />
It’s a small peace when I see Brody turn to Shayanne, the anger dripping off him as a sense of weariness takes over, definitely calmer but more morose.
It’s quiet, but I think I hear him say something about finances.
I realize that maybe whatever was happening tonight with James’s meeting with the Tannens was probably to shut down their purchase offer again, and now Brody is asking about their finances.
I bite at my bottom lip, worrying about Shayanne and her family, and James and his family. James said when he asked me to get Shayanne out of the house that they had to go talk to Paul Tannen . . . and I’d say things didn’t go well.
Which puts me in a bind. Because the Bennetts feel more and more like my stand-in family, and Shayanne is my best friend in town.
Frankly, I don’t want to play the role of Benvolio in this little redo of Romeo and Juliet.
CHAPTER 24
JAMES
The frogs croak, and the crickets chirp as I sit on the edge of Pops’s pond, my feet dangling from the dock as I reflect on the day. Sophie called, asking about Brody coming over to basically drag Shayanne home, but I told her it was fine. Brody might want to tear my head off, but I could never picture him doing more than saying boo to Shayanne. When Sophie asked, I was totally honest and explained our visit and that they had some family stuff to go over.
“Well, I guess Doc might want to make visits to the Tannens’ a solo thing for a while,” Sophie said, sighing. “Thanks for being honest with me, though. Um, do you want me to come over?”
That simple question touched me more than I could have said, but I had to refuse. “It’s late, darlin’, and while nothing would feel better than holding you through the night, I think it’d be best if we stuck to the original plan. See you tomorrow after work?”
“Okay . . . tomorrow. I love you.”
Buck Wild (Bennett Boys Ranch Book 1) Page 20
