Hang Tough(13)

“How are we supposed to ‘steer clear’ of each other, GG?” Jade demanded.

“Yeah. We’re sharing a house, a bathroom and . . . time with you, Miz G.”

Jade muttered, “Suck-up.”

“I’ll divide up the mealtimes with a schedule so you both get equal time with me. I’m giving you ten minutes to figure the rest of it out. Then I don’t want to see you two anywhere near each other after that, understood?” She shook her finger at Jade, then at him. “Don’t test me on this. You both know how stubborn I can be.” Miz G paused again. Her eyes filled with tears. “I won’t watch two people I care about deeply, ripping each other down either in front of me or behind my back in my own home. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jade said, “Of course, GG. Whatever you want.”

As soon as Garnet was out of earshot, Tobin leaned in. “This was your doin’? Whining to GG how mean I was to you at lunch and seein’ how fast she’d freeze me out?”

“News flash, cowboy. I didn’t bring up your name at all. Maybe she finally sees what you’re up to and is taking precautionary measures.”

“That right there? Is why us steering clear of each other won’t be a problem.”

Jade stood and said, “Ditto.” She gave him a wide berth and hustled down the steps, her hands in her pockets as she wandered up the driveway.

Tobin watched her until she disappeared over the hill, wondering why the hell he didn’t just get in his truck and leave. He didn’t need this crap.





Chapter Four




Tobin hauled himself out of bed earlier than usual the next morning.

But he still hadn’t gotten up before Garnet.

He thought about their conversation as he completed his usual daily chores, feeding the herd, checking the outlying areas for cows that might’ve strayed. He did a quick run-through of the Split Rock grounds, but he didn’t see anything the groundskeeper had to worry about.

Out of habit he checked the stock in the pasture across the road. Hugh, the former foreman, and Ike, the former cattle broker, now leased that section to house their rodeo stock that once had belonged to Renner. Now that Jackson Stock Contracting was a separate entity from Jackson Cattle Company—both of which were separate businesses from the Split Rock Ranch and Resort—the daily care of those animals was no longer Tobin’s responsibility.

Hard to believe six years had passed since Tobin had finished grad school. He’d started at the Split Rock as a hunting guide and within a year he was second in command of the livestock operation. The money wasn’t bad, and he did have his own place. The longer he worked there, the more responsibilities were passed off to him, but none of those responsibilities utilized his degrees. Tired of being a glorified ranch hand, tired of watching all his friends—except him—find a life partner, Tobin knew he needed a drastic change.

He’d expected things to be awkward between him and his boss, but the truth was Renner understood loneliness and the need for a change better than anyone else. He’d uprooted his own life in Kansas to build the Split Rock and expand his cattle company. In doing so, he’d met Tierney, the woman who’d become his wife, his business partner and the mother of his children.

Two hours later, Tobin’s thoughts were pulled in a dozen different directions when he wandered into the office section of the barn.

Renner was pouring a cup of coffee in the break room. “Hey. Please tell me you didn’t stick around because you have bad news.”

“Nah. Everything checked out fine this morning. But number 224 ran off again and I tracked her to the bottom of the ravine. Third time this month.”

“Damn jumpy heifers are the bane of my existence,” Renner said dryly. “What else is goin’ on?”

“Let’s go into your office. It takes that ancient computer of yours fifteen minutes to start up, so you can get that goin’ while I bend your ear.”

“Hilarious.” Renner started down the long hallway.

Tobin grabbed a soda out of the fridge and followed. In the office, he dropped into the chair opposite Renner’s desk and sighed heavily.

Renner said, “So?”

“I know I’ve filled you in on the Garnet situation but it just got a whole lot more interesting.”

“Moving vans haven’t shown up already, have they?” Renner said sharply.

“No. Garnet’s granddaughter Jade showed up yesterday instead.”

“Jade?” Renner frowned. “I don’t recall ever hearing that name.”

“Exactly.”

“What do you know about her?”