Page 14 of Chasing Home

“I know. Have you heard about the money yet?”

He lifts a hand to his face, fingers gripping his jaw hard enough it must hurt. “Yeah. Got a call from the officer on the case yesterday. The money hadn’t even left the fucker’s account yet when we caught ’im.”

“Jail time?”

“Maybe. Could be up to ten years. Could be less. Most likely will be half or less that time. I’m just damn glad Eliza noticed when she did.”

I nod, anger swelling in my stomach. “How’s she been handlin’ this?”

Wade’s wife is sweeter than honey on ice cream. She’s been in charge of the financial side of Steele Ranch since the two of them got married. I don’t think a single other person has ever touched the ranch’s finances in the past twenty years. Not until the new financial analyst they hired last month to help with the budgeting for the new stable expansion and the few other changes they’ve been wanting to do to the place, that is.

It only took a week for them to get burned by that decision. One bad apple plucked from a tree bursting with a million juicy ones.

The man took one look at their finances and created a plan to get rich quick. It didn’t work the way he thought it would. The moment Eliza took a curious look between the lines and found that their supposed seventy-thousand-dollar stable was really only going to cost fifty-five while the guy took fifteen for himself, he was laid flat out on his ass.

“She’s workin’ herself to the bone. That’s how.” Wade scowls, his exhales harsh and short. “It’s damn time she retired. I was selfishly hopin’ that asshole was goin’ to help with that. Maybe open her up to the idea of lettin’ someone else take over soon. Now she’ll be workin’ the ranch’s books in the grave.”

“There’s someone else out there, Wade. I’m sure of it. I’ll help convince her any way I can. She deserves rest just as much as you do,” I say pointedly.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead.”

“Typical bitter old man response.”

“I ain’t bitter, Johnny.”

“No?” I look over at him, arching a brow as we get closer and closer to the house. “Fine. Not bitter. Just plain old grumpy.”

“You’re goin’ to wind up neck-deep in cow shit today if you don’t quit pissin’ me off,” he warns, but there’s no venom there.

“Don’t tease me with a good time, Wade.”

His laugh is gruff and raw, speaking to a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. He slaps me on the back.

“There’s a hole a foot long on the far south fence real close to the wood beam again. Fuckin’ bulls won’t stop taking chunks out of it. I need it fixed up as soon as possible. You got it?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it. Swapping the wire for steel pipe over there might be worth it at this rate. They’ve got a vendetta against that fence.”

He twists his mouth, thinking. “Yeah. I’ll think about it. For now, just get it fixed up. The last thing we need is someone hittin’ a bull on a country road and flippin’ their shit on me.”

I tip my chin and pat my back pocket, confirming my gloves are still there. “Sounds good. Tell Eliza I’ll see her at lunch.”

“Yeah. And try not to make a habit of changin’ your schedule so you can fit in the time to bug that poor woman in town. You’ll set a precedent for the others.”

I chuckle, flashing him a bashful grin. “I don’t have a damn clue what you’re talking about.”

He huffs a breath and continues toward the main house, leaving me behind before he calls over his shoulder, “Keep it that way, boy.”

If he knew that I’m still not an inch closer to winning Aurora over after this morning than I was before, he’d be even more unimpressed with me. But I’m still far from admitting defeat.

I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that are guaranteed to convince her to start giving me the time of day. Hopefully.

5

AURORA

The water coming from the rusty shower head above me sputters as I finish washing the conditioner out of my hair. A beat later, a brief wave of cold hits my skin, sending my body into shock before it warms again to absolutely fucking scalding.

Hissing at the burn, I frantically turn off the shower and then clench my teeth, fighting back a wave of shivers at the sudden cold. I rip back the deep green shower curtain and step onto the matching mat, letting myself drip-dry for a minute before snatching my towel from the back of the toilet.

---