Page 8 of Daddy's Grumpy Cowboy

“He doesn’t want to steal me away.”

Fuck me, probably, yes. Steal me away? I fucking doubt it.

“But he’s got an eye on ya?” she asks warily.

My parents have always been decent about my sexuality. They’re not hateful, but they’re kind of old and don’t always want to hear about it. Honestly, I don’t think they’d want to hear about it if I had any attraction to women either. If it ain’t about the ranch, football, or food, they ain’t all that interested.

This place is their whole lives, and if I’m being honest, I could probably go the whole rest of my life without ever coming back. I’d miss my family a little, I think. But if I had all the money I needed and nothing holding me back, I’d be gone.

“I doubt it, ma,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Think he’s just real friendly.”

“Ah,” she hums. “One of them smiley types, is he?”

You can say that again.

“Pretty sure most people would be smiling with his bank account,” I joke, still attempting to shrug her off.

It’s the wrong thing to say.

“Money don’t buy you a personality, son,” she reprimands, giving me a stern look. “Anyway, if you think he’s just nice then I feel a lot better about you helping him tomorrow.”

I frown, not knowing what she means. “Tomorrow?”

“Tyler didn’t tell ya?” she asks, clicking her tongue. “He can’t guide their hike tomorrow afternoon so you’re going to have to do it.”

Oh, fuck my life. I hate that hike.

What is even the point of scaling a mountain you’ve seen the top of a hundred times over? It’s a waste of a perfectly good afternoon. But fuck it, at least I’ll be getting paid.

Sighing, I finish off my drink and rinse my glass. “Guess I better go prep for that.”

“Mhmm,” she drawls. “You be back in time for supper.”

Wincing, I reply, “I was just going to eat at my place.”

It’s no use. I’ve been living in a loft above the equipment barn for four years now and the amount of times my mother has allowed me to eat on my own, I could count on a hand.

She doesn’t even look up from the counter. “You bring Tyler over with ya, I’m making plenty and his mama don’t feed him near enough.”

That’s because Tyler can tell his mama no.

“Yes, ma’am,” I mumble, letting myself out before she can say another word.

Chapter 5

Elias

“You’re bailing on me?” I groan, clutching my heart like I’ve been shot. “The betrayal. How will I survive this? I’d never known you to be so cruel.”

I’m being over the top, of course, but she deserves a bit of pestering. A solo hike with just a guide is boring. It’s supposed to be the three of us.

“Make him shut up,” Erin groans, covering her tired face with a couch pillow. Somebody had one too many glasses last night and is now facing the consequences of it.

Abel gives me a scathing glance and brushes his fingers through her hair. “Spare her the dramatics until she can function again, asshole.”

Chuckling to lighten the mood, I lift my hands in mock defense. “Fine, fine. Do you guys need anything before I go?”

I’m not going to bail on whoever is scheduled to lead us through the mountain trail, I know they get paid extra for it. I’ll just make it a quick one if it gets too awkward alone.

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