One Hundred Choices (An Aspen Cove Novel Book 12)

by Kelly Collins

  He had goals, and staying here working under Tom would never work. He had enough money saved to take care of him and Three for a while. They’d leave the ranch and find a place together.

  His boots hit the stairs heavy. He marched across the porch and pounded on the door. It was early, but not too early for a rancher.

  Cade flung open the door. His expression was anything but friendly.

  “Wyatt. What can I do for you?”

  “Can I come in?”

  Cade stepped aside, and Wyatt entered.

  “Just stopped by to tell you that I’m leaving. I’ll give you two weeks to find someone else, but the sooner, the better.”

  His statement must have shocked Cade because he stumbled back.

  Abby walked down the hallway. “Mornin’, Wyatt. Would you like some coffee?”

  He tipped his head. “Thank you for the offer, but this isn’t a social call.”

  “I don’t imagine it is, but you can have coffee just the same. Cream and sugar?”

  “That would be fine.” He wasn’t picky; he took it any way it came.

  “Have a seat. Let’s talk about why you’re leaving.”

  Cade led him to the kitchen table. He was afraid to sit in the spindly chairs. They looked too delicate for a man like him.

  “They won’t break. I promise you that. Abby says the chairs are over a hundred years old. They knew their stuff back then. They’re probably glued together with the sap of the trees they cut down to build this house.”

  Wyatt sat and took the coffee from Abby. It was far too sweet for his tastes, but he drank it just the same. Maybe she could see the saltiness in his demeanor and thought he could use something sweet.

  “I came down from Montana to work with Lloyd.”

  “Bozeman, right?”

  He nodded. “Yep, I was at the Starling Ranch.”

  “Good outfit.”

  “It is but no room for growth. Their foreman has been there for years, and he’s too stubborn to die, so I imagine he’ll outlive the owners. Not that I’d wish death on the man. The point is, there’s no room for advancement. I don’t want to be a ranch hand the rest of my life. I want to be a foreman. When I answered Lloyd’s call for help, he said he needed a right-hand man. I stepped up, thinking he wanted a foreman.” He shook his head. “He had a son he never mentioned. I arrived and found out I’d fall under the supervision of a kid who hadn’t even busted his cherry much less run a ranch.” He looked at Abby. “Sorry, ma’am.”

  “I’ve heard worse.” She smiled. “Said worse.”

  Cade nodded. “Her worst is usually directed at me.”

  “Anyway,” Wyatt continued, “I’m not a bag of sugar that can be loaned out when someone needs to borrow some. I want a permanent position on a ranch that values my mind and my skillset. This isn’t the ranch for me.”

  Cade cocked his head. “You don’t like my ranch?”

  He knew he had nothing to lose by saying what was on his mind. “The ranch is fine, and I’m sure you’re a great guy, but honestly, I don’t think you’re looking at the big picture. You’re growing too fast, and you’re making decisions without thought.” He held up his hand when Cade opened his mouth to defend himself. “You should be more selective about who works on your property.”

  “You’re speaking of Tom?”

  Abby grunted her disapproval. “Told you. I can see an asshole a mile away. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if my bees up and left too. They’re intuitive about danger.”

  “Tom isn’t an asset. He’s a liability. I haven’t been able to talk to your sister since she got caught in the storm yesterday, but I know being pelted by hail was a better choice than staying in the shelter with him.”

  “Tom said they sheltered under a tree together.”

  “Well, who are you going to believe? Tom or your sister? It’s not my objective to offend you, but honestly, you’re a shit brother, and she deserves more.” He rose, but Cade asked him to stay.

  Wyatt turned to Abby. “Did Trinity sleep here? I’m worried about her.”

  Abby’s expression turned serious. “No, I took care of her wounds, and she left. She didn’t sleep in the bunkhouse?”

  He shook his head. “No, and she’s not answering her phone. I haven’t beat the trailer door down, but there weren’t any lights on last night, so I figured she stayed here.”

  Cade picked up his phone and dialed her. He waited several seconds. “No answer.”

  He called Tom next and asked him to come to the house.

  Abby phoned Trinity. She shook her head like she couldn’t get through, and then her eyes lit up. “Trinity, this is Abby. Can you come to the house?” She listened for a few minutes. “Yes, they are here, but this isn’t for them, it’s for me.” She hung up. “She’s on her way, but she doesn’t want to talk to any of you. She’s coming to talk to me.”

  That stung Wyatt. He was in love with her and was ready to pack up and go nomad to be with her.

  He took his seat again and tapped his fingers on the table until he heard footsteps on the porch. They weren’t heavy enough to be Tom’s, so he knew they were Three’s.

  As soon as she walked inside, he moved straight to her. She held up her hand. He pulled her into his arms anyway until she screamed out in pain.

  “What the hell?” He spun her around and lifted her shirt. She was black and blue. Every so often, there were small scrapes and abrasions that split her skin. “God, I’m going to kill him.”

  “I told you I took care of it.”

  “Baby, he’s still walking, and that isn’t good enough.” He kissed her head and whispered, “I’ve given your brother my notice. We’re leaving as soon as he finds my replacement.”

  She whirled around to face him. “We are?”

  “Yep, there’s only one thing for me here, and that’s you,” he whispered. “If I’m here, I can’t have you. I refuse to work for Tom.”

  Abby took Three’s arm and led her away. “Let’s put more cream on that back.” They disappeared down the hallway.

  A moment later, a knock sounded at the door.

  Before Cade answered it, he turned to Wyatt. “Let me handle this. When I’m finished, you can beat the living shit out of him. When you’re finished, I’ll complete the job, or I’ll start, and you end it.”

  As soon as he nodded, Cade opened the door. “Tom, come on in.”

  He eyed Wyatt and looked around as if searching for others.

  “I don’t know what he told you, but it’s bullshit. He’s so whipped it’s unbelievable. You know your sister.”

  Cade fisted his hands. “I do know her, and I know she attracts a lot of attention because she’s beautiful, but I also know she’s smart and honest and loyal. She’s also a badass.” He waved Tom inside and closed the door behind him. “The boys used to pass rumors about her because everyone wanted her. My brother and father would beat the hell out of them. It got to the point where no one would go near her.” He chuckled. “She made us promise not to defend her honor, that she’d deal with it herself. We gave her that because she was a Mosier. She was born to be tough. Raised to be tough. She is tough, but I forget that she’s tough on the outside and soft in her heart. I let you call her a whore because I respected her choice to take care of her stuff herself. But you know what? She told me a story yesterday. It was about Coach purses and paying attention. I realize that I haven’t been truly looking in front of me. I see what I want to see. My sister is a storm. She can cause destruction, but she rarely hits dangerous levels unless it’s warranted. Right now, she’s a hurricane spinning at hundreds of miles per hour. I’ve been stupid to not watch while she gained speed.”

  Tom lifted his hand. “What the hell does this have to do with me?”

  “Everything.” Cade took a step forward while Tom took a step back. “All I saw when you both showed up was trouble. You two butted heads in Wyoming. I thought you were the blessing, and she was the curse. Not so. Turn around and show
me your back.”

  “What the hell, man?”

  Wyatt leaned against the door, making sure there was no escape for Tom.

  “Do it!” Cade yelled.

  He turned around and lifted his shirt to show smooth, tawny skin.

  “You’re a liar, Tom. You told me you sheltered under a tree with my sister.” He turned to face the hallway. “Trin, I need you out here, sweetheart.”

  She must have been listening closely because she and Abby appeared in seconds.

  “Show me your back.”

  Trinity didn’t argue; she turned and lifted the T-shirt to reveal ugly black, blue, and purple bruises.

  Cade moved so fast even Wyatt was stunned. He gripped Tom’s collar and twisted it to choke the man. “You were in the shelter, and she chose to go outside because it was safer.”

  Tom pushed him away. “You’re all crazy.”

  “Well, you’re fired.” He stepped back and looked at Wyatt. “I’m a man of my word. You can take him out and give him a beatdown or let him go. The choice is yours.”

  Three stepped forward. “No, the choice is mine.” She marched over to Tom and punched him in his already broken nose.

  He cried like a baby. “Why is it always my damn nose?”

  Three stepped back. “Because I already broke your dick.” She pointed to the door. “Out.”

  “You want some tea?” Abby asked.

  “Love some.” She shook her hand and moved to the kitchen. “I need ice and more salve.”

  Cade watched Tom run for the door. When he left, he turned to Wyatt. “I’ve got a proposition for you.” He pointed to the couch and chair where they took seats. “I can’t pay you a ton, but I’ll offer you the position of foreman of Mosier Ranch. Your incentive to stay is owning a percentage. Each year you’ll continue to earn equity, up to thirty percent.”

  “You’re offering me a percentage of profits or a percentage of the actual ranch?”

  “The ranch, which comes with the profits. You take a day to think about it. We can come up with the details later, but I’m thinking an increase in your current wages, you still get to live in the bunkhouse, and you get a percentage of the assets. That way, you have an incentive to make the ranch profitable.” He pointed to the door. “I need to talk to my sister, and you’ve got shit to do.”

  Wyatt looked at Three, who was smiling despite her pain. “Can we talk later?”

  She sighed. “How about tomorrow? I’m really beat. I just want to sleep for a week.”

  His heart sank to his boots. He needed her now, but this was her choice, and he’d respect it. “Tomorrow then.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Trinity carried her tea to the table and took a seat. Everything hurt, from her back to her knuckles to her heart. Earlier, Wyatt had told her they were going to leave together. That was before Cade offered him everything. She knew he’d never get another deal like that anywhere. Ownership of a ranch was beyond his dreams, and she’d never take that away from him.

  She wouldn’t beg her brother to change his stance of mixing money and love. If it didn’t work out between them, one would have to leave, and she knew he’d offer, but she’d never allow it. She had options. Blain wanted her back. She was in a position to negotiate. When she had gone to work for him before, she was desperate to have someplace to belong. She was in the same position, but he didn’t know it.

  “Trinity, I owe you an apology. I tough loved you in hopes that you’d figure your way out,” Cade said.

  Abby cleared her throat. “Really? You’re going to use the tough love excuse for your behavior?” She turned and walked toward the hallway. “I’ll start packing your shit.” She glanced back at Trinity. “Do you spoon? I ask because I like to be big spoon. It’s the only time I can be big anything.”

  Cade growled. “No one’s packing anything.” He looked back to Trinity. “I’m a fricking idiot. Obsessed with advancing the ranch, I overlooked what was important. You are. Sometimes I lose sight of my priorities, and it takes someone or something to make me rethink my positions. I’ve always known you weren’t sleeping around. Dad would have locked you up. I also know that I shouldn’t have listened when you said you could handle it. You shouldn’t have had to.” He looked at Abby.

  “You’re getting there. Keep going.”

  “I love you, Trin. You’re my family. You belong here with me. Abby has offered the spare bedroom. You should take it. It’s yours.”

  Abby smiled and walked away.

  The problem was she didn’t want the spare bedroom. She wanted Wyatt. Him offering her the spare room meant that he hadn’t changed his position on her having a relationship with someone working at the ranch. That was the general rule everywhere. Workplace romances were frowned upon. She understood and couldn’t argue. Look at what their relationship had done so far. Tom had been fired, and Wyatt was the only one left.

  She knew if she went back to the bunkhouse and told him she wanted to leave, he would take her away. He’d give up everything he wanted just to please her. But because she loved him, she was willing to give him up so he could have his dream.

  “I should get going. I’ve got a lot to do.” She gave him a weak smile. “The horses don’t shovel their shit or feed themselves.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “You’ve got to be hurting.”

  “Well, I feel like a bull knocked me on my ass and trampled over me, but I know it will feel worse if I don’t move.”

  “Has anyone ever told you how stubborn you are?”

  “You have countless times.” She walked to him and lifted on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for everything.”

  “See you later?”

  She nodded. “Yep, definitely later.”

  She slogged her way to the stables. Tom had already loaded Willow and left. She felt bad for the sweet mare. Deep down, she hoped that Willow would reach the end of her fuse soon and turn around and bite Tom or buck him off.

  She took care of Sable and Red.

  “Seems like I’m always saying goodbye,” she said as she nuzzled into Red’s muzzle. “You be a good boy.” She walked over to Sable and gave her some loving too. These horses would be fine. They were treasured and cared for. Hell, most good cowboys took better care of their horses than they did themselves.

  It hurt her heart to think about leaving everyone. Most of her family was in Aspen Cove. She knew, with a little prodding, they would have been able to get her father there too.

  On a final attempt to give herself a reason to stay, she leaned against Sable’s stall and dialed Goldie. If she thought Jake Powers would be gone within the week, she’d rough it out here and move into the rustic cabin when he left. That was a win-win. Surely, she could find a job doing something else. Something she hated but would put up with for a chance to properly date Wyatt. Cade couldn’t say much if she wasn’t living or working on the ranch.

  Goldie picked up on the third ring. “Hello, girlfriend.”

  Trinity swallowed the lump of sorrow. She’d never had girlfriends. Most women didn’t understand her because she was a cowgirl, and those that did didn’t like her because their men did.

  “When did you say Jake Powers was leaving?”

  “He just got here. He’s got the big reveal, and then he said something about getting someone to run whatever it is he’s revealing.” She laughed. “This is worse than wondering what’s behind curtain number one on Let’s Make a Deal.”

  “It’s always a donkey in a hat,” Trinity said.

  “Lord, I hope not. With those construction crews fixing up the old houses in the area, we have enough asses here. What we need are more good men.”

  “Are you getting ready to trade Tilden in?”

  “No way, just thinking about the singles in town like Natalie, who should be back soon. Then there’s Mercy Meyer, the schoolteacher from Copper Creek. Deanna, who is Samantha’s assistant. She’s been talking about moving here too. We’ve got that a
rtist Sosie Grant, but she hasn’t been here for a while. There’s also Brenda, who is Deanna’s assistant. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an assistant who had an assistant? With that property development guy Mason Van Der Veen buying up all those houses and refurbishing them, there’s bound to be more people coming in. I just hope they’re as nice as you.”

  “You should start a local gossip column and post it with your vlog.”

  Goldie laughed. “Not on your life. First off, I’m dyslexic, so letters aren’t really my thing, but printed gossip gets you in trouble. When I talk on the phone, I have deniability.”

  “I knew you were smart.”

  “Anyway, I’ll let you know when the place opens up. I’d say at the earliest a month, the latest maybe two or three.”

  She tried not to let her disappointment show in her voice. This was a sign that the universe wanted her to move on. “Sounds great. I’ve got to go. Work to do and all that.”

  “Talk to you soon,” Goldie said.

  “Yep, soon.” She wouldn’t talk to Goldie anytime in the near future. Goodbyes were too hard.

  She made her way into the bunkhouse. She had a lot more than she came with. More than her backpack could handle. This time she’d be smarter. No way was she leaving her underwear behind. She didn’t want anyone to know because they’d give a hundred reasons to stay. The reason to leave was bigger and more important—Wyatt. She wanted him to have everything, and at Mosier Ranch, he could. Well, everything but her. Someday he’d find a woman who wouldn’t be a conflict of interest. Maybe it would be one of those women Goldie mentioned. The waitress or the artist or the assistant or assistant’s assistant would have enough separation from the ranch to be perfect.

  The tightness in her chest almost hurt as much as the bruises on her back. She took the paper sack the donated clothes had come in and filled it up. Making sure no one was around to see, she snuck it to her SUV. She made two trips, the last including the pictures on her dresser. She stared at the woman who had birthed her. Maybe she’d done the same thing. Maybe her leaving had allowed her father and brothers to have the life they wanted. She’d always considered her mother to be selfish, but maybe she was being selfless. Often, the truth looked different from someone else’s perspective. Sadly, only her mother knew.