Page 40 of Drifter’s Heart

Dammit, dammit, dammit.

“Mommy? Why are you swearing?”

I draw back to find Sally nibbling her thumbnail. “I’m sorry, chicken. I was thinking about something else. So, how big was this bull?” How excited can I be about an animal I want to end up on my dinner plate as a slab of steak?

“Oh, it’s a feeder calf,” Sally says cheerfully. “I’m almost bigger than it!”

Cord loses it against my doorframe.

I flip him the bird behind her back. You’re forgiven, I mouth. Once.

“Uh-huh,” he responds. “Billy did a great job. He’s even climbed on a bull himself. For about half a second.”

I snort. “Yeah, I’d love to see that.”

“You might, if you come to the Valiant Peak Invitational.” An inflection at the end of Cord’s sentence makes the whole thing a question. A hesitation.

I release Sally and send her off toward the laundry. “Make sure you unpack and bring your bag back!” I holler after her.

Cord rubs the back of his neck. “You know, this place isn’t as big as the homestead,” he starts.

“I know that.”

“So you don’t need to yell after her like that.”

“I know that, Cord. It’s a habit, all right?” I lower my voice, seeing as that’s what he wants. “West was right. You can be an asshole.”

It just tumbles out, and I freeze. So does he.

“West was here?” Cord says eventually, striving for a casual tone and failing in magnificent fashion.

I shoot him a look. “I thought you were meant to be all cool and calm under pressure. Infamous for this shit.”

Cord rolls his eyes. “Yeah, once I was good at it. Haven’t been back for a while. I’m more than a bit out of practice. Someone else runs the company now.”

“That someone is kicking your ass.”

“Probably,” he agrees.

I wrinkle my nose. “Stop agreeing with me. I hate it.” The sentiment sounds petulant. It probably is.

“I’d say sorry, but I’m not.”

“Fine.” I high-five Sally as she thunders past me, waving her empty bag as evidence of dumping her dirty clothes in the washer. I cheer her and bring up the elephant in the room. “Lanie’s pregnant.”

“Yeah.”

“Cord. I would have liked to have found out from you.”

Cord frowns at me. “I did tell you.”

Releasing the sort of breath I save for long afternoons when my twelve-hour shift has expired, I give him a gentle smile. “No, you didn’t. West shared that one with me.” And you forgot. Not being included in news of Cordell’s growing family is becoming a trend.

He scratches the back of his neck. “Ah. Shit.” His lips form another word.

I fold my arms and wait.

“Sorry.”