Tobin directed Jade to the couch and sat beside her. “So Renner offered you my job.”
“A version of it anyway. I wouldn’t be full-time. He doesn’t want to hold you back from doin’ what you need to do, but he doesn’t feel comfortable just cutting you loose.”
“Sounds like him. I’ll be blunt, Street. How can you support yourself and a kid on part-time wages?”
“I always did my part on the ranch. Not bragging to say I worked harder than either Dad or Driscoll because it’s the truth. They turned nasty after Danica . . .” He stopped and cleared his throat. “When I had other responsibilities and wasn’t there all the time doin’ their work. They started giving me reminders that I’d be expected to make up for the hours I missed. Which they never did if they missed time. It was getting to be unbearable. The week before Danica’s life insurance policy cleared, my paycheck was a quarter of the amount it should have been. When I asked why, they said it was an actual accounting of the hours I’d worked and that’s how I’d be paid from there on out.”
Tobin’s entire body went rigid. “Those bastards.”
“I quit on the spot.” A smile ghosted the corners of his mouth. “Of course, that was before I knew how hard jobs were to come by. It’s worse when you’re a single parent, sole provider and sole caretaker.”
“I don’t even know what the hell to say to you,” Tobin said quietly.
“No one does.” Streeter folded and refolded the hem on Olivia’s dress. “My life ain’t the same as it was a year ago. Most days I don’t remember that guy I used to be. Dad and Driscoll—their way of dealing is to tell you to suck it up ’cause we’ve all got problems. They’re gruff and self-centered. They don’t understand I’m not ‘babysitting’ and I’m all Olivia has. Every bit of her care falls to me for the long term. Olivia acts out. Some of it is her age. Some of it isn’t. I don’t know which is which, but it’s up to me to figure it out.
“And I sure as heck can’t do that where everyone in town knows the ugliness my wife left us with. People I barely know whisper when we walk into a room. Olivia isn’t Olivia Hale. Now she’s referred to as ‘that poor little girl.’ Makes me freakin’ nuts. People I’ve known my whole life act as if they have a right to ask whatever inappropriate question that pops into their fool head. I can’t live like that.” He briefly closed his eyes. “I need to get out of the area and start over where what happened isn’t common knowledge and openly speculated about in the local diner. Isolating Olivia isn’t the answer. There’s a child therapist in Casper who we’ve met with several times and I have high hopes we’re on the right track.” He kissed the top of Olivia’s head. “The insurance money is payin’ for all of that. Which is ridiculous and sad and just plain pisses me off because the only reason Olivia has to go into therapy is because of what her mother done.”
Jade ducked her head, to hide her tears. This poor family.
This is your family now too.
Streeter sighed. “I’ve always been a ranch hand; I don’t know how to be anything else. It seemed like a sign when I found the therapist in Casper and then I heard you were leaving your job. Muddy Gap is a helluva lot closer to Casper than Saratoga is. Still . . . I debated before I applied. Renner said hirin’ me was all dependent on you.”
“No pressure,” Tobin muttered.
“You heard the negative. Now here’s the upside. Job sharing would let us both do what we love. I agree with Renner that you wouldn’t have stuck around this long if you hated it. Splitting the workload would let you explore other options and let me get my sh—stuff together as far as Olivia. You could get to know your niece. Hell, Tobin, we could get to know each other again.”
“I’d like that.” He cleared his throat. “Where would you live? The foreman’s cabin?”
Streeter shook his head. “A trailer would work better. Olivia needs her own room.”
“Will that give you enough room for all your stuff?”
“I got rid of most of it in the move after the funeral. But if I get the job I’d insist on Dad and Driscoll handing over the livestock that belongs to me. So I’d need to lease a parcel or two for that.”
Tobin studied him. “You wouldn’t have an issue with taking orders from your younger brother? I recall that’s been a problem in the past.”
“I disagree. We ain’t really ever worked together. Dad and Driscoll didn’t want your input before or after you graduated college. I had no opinion one way or the other since I had my own shit to shovel. As far as the work and how things get done . . . I learned Dad’s way, T. I never thought that was the only way.”