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“So you think he’ll want to stay? The ranch could use a little muscle and someone who can keep it up. But it was always a nice place.”
“Let’s hope so.” Russell would be happy to add that parcel of land to his dad’s holdings, though it wasn’t necessary. Rafe’s inheritance was sure to be coveted by others. But Russell couldn’t help but think it would be the best of all worlds if Rafe was to hold on to it. Keeping things status quo might be the best situation of all. It was likely to create less disruption.
Russell finished his dinner, excused himself, then returned to his office. He still had work to do documenting what had come out of his earlier call, then scheduling a design meeting with the guys.
His software company was largely virtual, and he ran it out of his home office. Most of the people who worked for him were people he’d gone to college with—people he knew he could trust. They were spread out over the country and even internationally, with Tamsyn in London. So work got done almost round the clock. It did make scheduling meetings a challenge, but they had worked that problem out some time ago. The real beauty was that his people could work from home during hours that fit with their families and, in some cases, their health challenges. Productivity was through the roof because people were happy.
Once he had the details down and his meeting scheduled, he got up from his chair and checked the clock. Then he followed the sound of a television and the scent of a fire to where his dad sat in the family room, watching television with his feet up. “Dad, I’m going into town with the guys. Do you want to join us?”
He shook his head. “I’m in for the night. Have fun, and be quiet when you come in. I need to be up in the morning to make the rounds of the ranch, and I don’t want to feel like an old man when I’m done.”
Not that his father was that old, but the cold got to him more than it used to, and he didn’t have the energy Russell remembered him having. He said nothing, though. His dad was the backbone of the ranch, and Russell was in no hurry for him to retire.
“Besides, you young people don’t need an old guy like me hanging around,” his dad added.
Russell shook his head. “Dad, you know you’re always welcome to come have a beer with us. Besides, I have to be up early too.”
But his dad just shook his head and smiled.
A few minutes later, Russell was pulling on his boots and slipping on a coat and hat and heading out to his four-wheel-drive, because one thing was certain in the valley: the weather could change on a dime.
Marshall’s was a bar outside the center of town where tourists flocked in the summer and skiers in the winter. He pulled into a parking spot and went inside. For a Thursday night, the place was full. Maybe it was the weather, but there wasn’t a table or a chair free anywhere. Still, he unzipped his coat and headed to the bar, where Jackson was working as usual.
“Busy as hell,” Russell commented. “Put a round of drinks on my tab for Dusty, Clyde, and the other men from the ranch.” He smiled as they joined him at the bar. “You guys did good today,” he said to them. They nodded and thanked him, then went to get a table. Russell turned back to the bar.
“Some guys stopped in to watch a game and it turned into a real party.” Jackson slid him a beer and added it to his tab. “I needed this after the crappy summer we had.” Then he continued down the bar to quench the thirst of other happy drinkers.
Russell turned to see if he could find a place to sit a minute. He wandered over to what looked like an empty table, but ended up standing across from Rafe. “Didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said, backing away.
Rafe motioned to the other chair. “Go ahead and have a seat. They’re at a premium tonight. I came in here for a spot of dinner and a beer. I got the beer, but I’m still waiting for the dinner. The server says it will be right up. Do you want anything?” he asked, practically shouting to be heard over the din.
Russell shook his head. “I ate before I left the house.”
“The cupboards were bare at home. Tomorrow after I see to the horses, I need to go to the store.” Rafe sipped his beer, and Carly brought him a burger and fries. He took a bite and sighed.
Russell liked the fact that the horses came first with Rafe. That said a lot about the man. “Are you getting settled in?”
Rafe shrugged. “It’s going to take a while. I got the house aired out and all the critters fed and bedded down. I gotta get some supplies so I can repair the paddocks for winter. In the spring, I’ll do some of the heavier work, but for now the priority is getting the barn and paddocks through what’s to come in the next few months.”
“Sounds like you intend to stay awhile.” Russell wasn’t yet sure if that was good news, but at least Rafe didn’t seem to want to sell. “Do you need help? I can loan you some men for a few days to help you get things done. Once winter sets in, it can be harsh.”
Rafe set down his burger. “Are you kidding? After earlier today I figured….” He looked at him quizzically.
“Let’s just say that first meeting didn’t show us off at our best. We were friends as kids, and maybe I needed to remember that.” That was certainly true for him. In business, he always told his people not to assume things—it only led to miscommunications that often spawned other problems. The issue was that he himself had made assumptions about Rafe that might not be true.
“I can’t argue with you there. I didn’t recognize you when I saw you,” Rafe said with a smile. “And I appreciate your offer. I can see that there’s a lot to do, and I’m not sure where to start. I figured the animals were a priority, so the first thing I should do is make sure they are safe. Which means fixing the barn and paddocks.”
“That’s as good a place as any. Maybe Saturday afternoon, a few of us can come over and repair a few things. We used to help Mack out from time to time. He never liked to ask, so sometimes a few of us would just show up to visit and end up getting things done.” He caught the server’s attention and ordered another beer and a water. Then he turned to Rafe and asked if he needed anything.
“One is my limit. I’m taking some pain meds right now. That last ride pulled a muscle in my right arm, so I’m taking stuff to keep the pain at bay.”
Russell nodded. “That was some ride.”
“You saw it?” Rafe asked, his smile growing wider, expression peppered with excitement. “The ride of a lifetime, one of the other guys called it, and I suppose it was. It isn’t often you get to be the one to ride a bull for the eight seconds the very first time, and it wins you the championship.” Rafe lifted his glass, and Russell did the same. “It’ll probably never happen again. I won my championship, and now I’m trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I’m too old to keep bull riding, even though I love it. So I have two choices. I can continue and beat my body up until I can’t move… or worse. Or I can settle somewhere. And it seems like Uncle Mack has given me the chance to find my way.”
Russell drank the last of his beer and leaned over the table. “I have to ask. Why did none of you ever talk to him? Was it because he was gay?” Russell’s father always told him he needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut, but Russell had to know. Rafe didn’t seem like a guy who would abandon a beloved relative.
Rafe thunked his mug on the table. “I didn’t know he was.” His expression grew rock hard. “All I know is that when I was about twelve, I was told that we had to pray for Uncle Mack because he was ill. I thought he had cancer or something. Every time I asked to visit, I was told that he wasn’t well.” He shook his head. “But now I guess it makes sense. To my messed-up family, being gay would equate to having something contagious.” He shrugged, hurt suddenly filling those eyes. “There’s a reason why I don’t have much to do with them.”
