“Where are you goin’?” Hank demanded.

“Harper’s.” Her duster flapped and she was out the door before anyone could say a word.

Bran knew Celia wasn’t going to Harper’s. Stubborn girl would sleep in her horse trailer just to spite her brothers.

Girl? Celia’s the same age as Harper, and you’d never call Harper a girl.

True. Harper was all woman.

“If you’ll excuse me.” Nancy stormed off and Abe followed.

Hank and Lainie exchanged a look. No doubt they were counting down the days until they had their own place and could steer clear of the drama.

Kyle passed out another round. “Okay, Hank, give it to me straight. Did Renner Jackson really buy the three hundred acres of shit land bordering the Kleins’ old property on the north?”

“Yep. It’s a done deal.”

“When did this go down?”

“Before Christmas.”

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“Fuck.” Kyle drained the beer and reached for the bottle of Jack Daniel’s on the buffet. “Who’s in the mood for a throwdown with Jack tonight?”

“Count me in.” Lainie opened the china hutch and grabbed eight shot glasses.

Eli and Nikki passed. Kyle poured the whiskey and lifted his shot glass. “To never getting what you want, no matter how goddamn hard you try.”

Lainie put her hand on Kyle’s arm. “That, my friend, is a shitty toast, and I’m not drinking to it. How about this one instead: to friends who stick by you no matter how goddamn hard you try to push them away.”

Kyle laughed and smooched Lainie on the forehead. “Such a little optimist. Fine. Let’s drink to the optimistic bullshit Lainie said.”

Glasses clinked. Bran knocked his whiskey back, shuddering at the taste, chasing the burn with a swallow of beer. Before they veered onto another topic, he focused on Kyle. “Why’re you so pissed about Renner Jackson buying that land?”

“Because I wanted it.” Kyle poured and consumed another shot. “But like everything in my life, I’m a day late and a million dollars short.”

“Kyle. You don’t want that land, trust me. It’s bad luck land.”

“What the f**k is that supposed to mean?” Kyle snapped.

Hank relayed the bad luck stories that’d befallen the landowners. Including the Lawsons’ parents, who’d died of carbon monoxide poisoning a few years after purchasing the tract of land. “I wasn’t surprised Renner bought it, bein’s his grandparents lived there, but I don’t get why in the hell he considers himself lucky to have it.”

“And how do you know so much about him, anyway?”

“He’s been around off and on for the last year or so. To be honest, I think he’s a great guy and he’ll be an asset as a neighbor.”

“I agree. Although I would’ve preferred you as our neighbor,” Lainie said.

Kyle rolled his eyes. “What’s he gonna do with it? Ain’t raising cattle. It’s shit land for growing grass.”

“He’s a stock contractor,” Ike said. “Maybe he’ll have pens. Or use it as a feedlot.”

“Do you know him?” Kyle asked.

“I’ve dealt with him. Helluva head for business. And like Hank said, he appears to be a nice guy.” Ike’s eyes narrowed. “Have you tangled with his stock?”

“Not recently that I can recall. I’m sure Renner is a nice guy. It just sucks. By the time I have the money to buy land around here, there ain’t gonna be land to buy. I might check into land prices in South Dakota.”

Silence.

“Is that Breck Christianson’s idea?” Hank asked.

Kyle nodded. “He’s been suggesting it for the last year. I’ve been too ... set on livin’ in Wyoming to take him seriously. Maybe it’s time I did.” He poured another shot. “So, Bran. What’s this rumor that Harper Masterson is your hired hand?”

“Not a rumor. She’s filling in until Les is back on his feet.”

“I’ll bet you’re filling her too.” Kyle winked. “Well done, my friend. She’s hot as fire.”

“You’re a f**kin’ pervert. Harper works for me. That’s it.”

“Seriously? You ain’t tapping that?” Ike said with complete skepticism.

“Nope. And for havin’ little ranch experience, she’s turned out to be a damn good worker.”

Nikki fluttered her fingers. “Harper is my manicurist. I’ll be sad when she moves.”

Hank broke out the cards. “Who’s feelin’ lucky tonight?”

For the next hour they played low-stakes blackjack and poker. Bran missed hanging out with his friends, trash talking, losing his ass to Ike the cardsharp. He hated to think their group would scatter even more if Kyle moved to South Dakota permanently.

Abe came around the corner and leaned against the doorjamb. “Hey, can you guys keep it down? Nancy has a headache.”

“So send her home,” Hank suggested.

“It’s eleven o’clock and time for the party to be over anyway,” Abe said.

“We’re in the middle of a poker game, Abe.”

“I don’t care. Wrap it up.”

“Come on, man,” Max said. “Why you actin’ so old and grumpy? Sit down and play a few hands. Relax. Have a beer.”

Bran caught Eli’s eye and knew they were on the same page. This situation could get real ugly, real fast. Abe and Hank and Lainie needed to work this out without an audience, regardless if it happened tonight.




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