The Virgin Cowboy(7)
I walk up and down the stalls, saying hello to the ladies being milked and giving them treats. The rest of the herd is out in the pasture eating breakfast. Just before I leave, Mark gives me some bad news. His mom is sick and he’s got to move back to Arkansas to help care for her. I hate to see him go, but I completely understand. He’s been working here since my parents started the place, and I’ll be sad to see him leave, but family always comes first. I don’t think I could ever move away from mine. I’m not sure how he’s done it all these years. I can barely go a day or two without checking in on my brothers, making sure they don’t need anything. Especially Blake and Trace. Ty has MJ now and doesn’t need me as much, but Blake can’t cook to save his life and would starve to death without me, and Trace would probably forget how to talk if someone didn’t pull conversation out of him like I do.
Louis, the backup foreman, can handle it for a short time without him, but it’s not a position that can be left empty long-term. Louis is older, and he’s said on numerous occasions that he isn’t interested in more responsibilities here. He wants to be home by five, enjoying the dinner his wife puts on the table for him. He’s happy being second-in-command. Mark was the go-to on day-to-day operations, and he kept up with the staff here, working long hours when needed. I don’t have the desire to step into his shoes, so I’ve got to find someone to fill it. I like checking on my girls and making sure everything is in order, but I’m a caretaker by nature. Just like I am with my brothers, I can’t stop myself from making sure everyone is okay. As much as I love my farm, I know my strengths and weakness, and micromanaging operations isn’t my style. I’m more suited to the creative department.
Mark and I talk for a while, and when we’ve worked things out about when he needs to leave, I head over to the office. I’ve got a small building near the entrance of my land where my secretary, Cathy, runs the office stuff I hate dealing with.
“Hey, pretty lady!” Cathy says as I walk in and grab a cup of coffee, topping it off with some cream.
“Hey. Mark told me the bad news. He’s giving a week’s notice.”
Cathy nods, not at all shocked by this. She’s always five steps ahead, and that’s why I love her. “Want me to put some feelers out and see who’s available?”
“Yeah, we’ve got to get on this. I don’t want it sitting open too long.”
“I heard Brandon Knight was calling it quits out at the Johnson place. Maybe he’s available,” Cathy says, making me nearly choke on my coffee.
“What did you say?” I cough, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. He quit? He’s been working with Cash for as long as I can remember.
“Seems he told Cash he’s taken the farm as far as he can and turned in his notice.”
My stomach drops as I plop down in the closest chair. Brandon is leaving? I knew he wasn’t happy there lately. I could see it written on his face. Hell, the whole damn town did. But I never expected him to quit. Does that mean he is leaving town? I never thought he’d pussy out on making me his.
The disappointment turns to anger, and I feel like punching him in his beautiful mouth.
“From what I’ve heard,” Cathy says, casually typing away on the computer, not looking at me, “he’s staying out in one of Ty’s bunk houses for the time being.”
I’m out of my seat and out the door before Cathy finishes her sentence. As I barrel from the office, I hear Cathy call out from behind me, “Take care, Dolly. Tell Mary-Jane I said hello.”
I take the Gator back to my house, run inside, and grab the phone. It rings a couple of times, and I stomp my foot while I wait. Finally, Mary-Jane picks up, and I start with the questions.
“Is it true he’s out at your place?” I pause for half a second, not nearly enough time for her to answer, before I ask another. “When were you planning on telling me he was there? MJ, I thought we were sisters.” MJ is the only female friend I really have, and we’ve become close since she married my brother Ty and started popping out his babies. Most of the girls I’d grown up with were off in college or already married and living a life I wanted.
“Slow down, Dolly,” she says into the phone, but her voice is whisper-quiet. “I called you three times this morning, but you didn’t answer.” I hear a door shut, and her voice picks up. “He showed up here yesterday talking to Ty. I couldn’t tell what they were saying, but something’s going on. I tried to get it out of Ty last night, but none of my tricks worked.”