Page 37 of When The Dust Settles

“Turns out I suck at keeping secrets,” I told him, smiling up into eyes that were no longer sad but heated pools of molten silver.

“That’s good,” he agreed, sighing deeply, pulling the brim of his hat back down low. “I’m the same, and as you know already, a bit too possessive for most people.”

“I’m not most people.”

“No, you ain’t, not at all.”

“You’ll miss me, right?”

“You have no idea.”

I was smug as I walked away, and when I waved from the truck, he was waiting to wave back. It was nice. A man who could show he was invested…. Very nice.

The ride back to the Red Diamond was a bore because Everett didn’t want to talk, he simply concentrated on the road, watching for state troopers and scaring me into ordering him to slow the fuck down. I didn’t want me, him, and Juju to end up splattered all over the highway.

“You shouldn’t have come,” I groused.

“It was me or Stef,” he said, clipping his words. “And have you ever seen Stef drive a truck and trailer?” He raised his eyebrows and I chuckled. “Terrifying just don’t do that situation justice.”

“No, I bet not.”

“And Rand woulda been madder than a peeled rattler if I let that happen.”

Possibly. “Well, if you could slow down just a bit, I’d appreciate it.”

He did so without any further pestering, and so in appreciation of that, when we got to the Red, instead of making him take the time to drive me up the long road to the house, I told him I’d unload Juju and ride her to where my truck and trailer were parked.

“Thanks, Glenn,” he said sincerely, giving me a wide smile. “It’s my first baby, you know, so… all I’m wanting to do is stay home with both her and my wife.”

I nodded, and as I led my girl out of the trailer, before I could saddle up, Everett took hold of my shoulder.

“Ev?”

He took a breath. “I just want you to know that Mac is a real good man, and I ain’t never seen him chase no tail.”

I had no idea what I was supposed to say to that. “Okay.”

“You and him.” He stopped and thought a second. “I can see that.”

He could? “You can?”

“I reckon so. He’s scary and mean, and you’re kind and soft-spoken like Stef. Y’all will balance each other out real nice.”

He thought I was kind? “Everett, when have you ever known me to be kind?”

His scowl was funny. “You take care of all them orphans that work for you up at The Bronc, I watched you carry Bella three miles through the brush when she got out that time and tangled with them coyotes, and you ain’t never got no hurtful word for no one but members of your own family.”

I smiled at him, overwhelmed by how he saw me and how maybe I should start seeing myself. Perhaps I was more of a nurturer than I realized. There could be more of my mother in me than I ever suspected.

“And everyone knows the only people you can complain on is your own.”

“Yeah.”

“So if you end up on the ranch, living on the other side of Tyler’s old place down by the creek… that’d be just fine,” he finished, offering me his hand.

Amazing how people could surprise you.

IT WAS almost two when Juju and I came cantering up the drive. She was happy to be out of the trailer and I was just happy, period. The stitches in my side hurt a bit, a twinge now and then, but when Mac had checked it, there was no redness or any signs of infection. Rand had done a really good job, and the hug I gave him when I left—which startled the hell out of him—was my thank-you.