Page 128 of Dust Storm

By the time I finished and dressed, I was certain the girls would be back.

But they weren’t.

I grabbed the radio and changed the channel, calling up to my parents’ house to make sure Bree and Gracie weren’t getting into trouble. It was a school night after all. They’d need to do homework and get in bed soon.

No answer.

Fine. I’d just go up to the house myself.

But before I set foot over the threshold, the radio chirped. Jackon’s voice crackled over the line. “Hey, boss. Looks like it’s gonna rain and there’s shit outside the cabins.”

“I’ll take care of it,” I said, knowing if I sent Jackson out there, all my tools would get rained on.

We had made progress on the cabins. They were mostly livable now, with four sturdy walls, plumbing and electric, new counters and cabinets.

Appliances would be installed the next week, and Cassandra had been hoping to get at least one of them furnished and decorated so it could be toured as part of the groundbreaking. I didn’t tell her the furniture had already come in. I had intercepted the delivery, hoping to corner her in the cabin so she would have to talk to me.

Gray clouds loomed overhead, threatening to pour as I hopped in my truck and rode out to the cabins. I didn’t mind the rain. Whatever made the grass grow, paid the bills, and kept food on the table was fine by me.

“Huh.” I threw the truck in park when I pulled up between the two buildings.

The tools and equipment that had been in the grass earlier today were gone.

I sat back for a moment, wondering why the hell Jackson would call me all the way out here to pick the shit up if someone got to it first.

I knew it wasn’t CJ. Supposedly, he was back in the bunkhouse.

Nate was in full daddy mode as he settled into newborn life with Becks and baby Charlie.

Maybe my dad had been piddling around and picked everything up?

The light was on in the cabin, so I hopped out to go turn it off.

When I slammed the truck door and turned, Cassandra was standing there, looking pretty as a summer day in a long, flowing dress that had flowers stitched all over it. Her hair was damp and tied back in a braid. She looked fresh-faced from the shower.

“What areyoudoing here?” she snapped.

I scoffed. “I’m supposed to be picking up tools, and this is my ranch. I can go wherever I please. What are you doing here?”

She sneered. “I was told an inspector was coming to approve the work, and I needed to be down here to sign some papers.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Who told you that?”

“Jackson. Who told you there were tools to be picked up?”

“Jackson,” I said.

Cassandra eyed the cabin warily, and I saw her riding the same train of thought I was on.

There were no tools, and there was no inspector.

Feet pitter-pattered from inside the cabin.Now, those footsteps I would recognize in my sleep.

“We’re being set up,” Cassandra said without a hint of amusement.

I sighed and headed up to the little porch. “Just… be nice.”

Reluctantly, Cassandra followed.

---