Page 20 of Hard Rain Coming

Dallas nodded. “It did.”

Benton grabbed two glasses from a drawer in his desk, then snatched a bottle of whiskey from the shelf behind him. He poured two generous tumblers and handed one to Dallas before he took up his seat at the desk once more.

Dallas knocked back the whiskey in one gulp, enjoying the burn as it slid down his throat. He savored the sensation for a bit, exhaled, and relaxed. “The grass looks good, and depending on how winter goes, we might be able to go easy on trucking in feed.”

“I took a ride out to the pastures day before yesterday and thought the same thing.” Benton grinned. “We can concentrate on Big Sky Red.”

The stallion, a ten-year-old roan, was one Dallas and Benton had bought the year before. He’d cost a small fortune but would be the backbone of their new breeding program.

“I thought we could take a look at some mares coming up for auction. There are a couple I’ve got my eye on.” Dallas set down his tumbler.

“Yeah?” Benton asked. “When?”

“Two weeks. Kentucky.”

“I’ll have a look at my calendar, but I have a feeling Nora’s got some dance thing weekend after next. Not that you need me there. You know horses better than anyone I know.”

Dallas got to his feet.

“You heading home?”

“Yep.”

“I took Nora along to feed the animals today.”

Dallas had already reached the door, but looked over his shoulder. “She told me the kittens’ eyes are open.”

“They are.” Benton poked at the edge of his glass. “Viv came with me.”

Dallas didn’t respond for a few moments, then shrugged. “Fine by me.”

“Is it?”

He turned to face Benton. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Benton’s expression was thoughtful, curious even. “You two have always confounded me.”

“That’s a big word, Bridgestone.”

Benton ignored the jab. “Back then, we all knew the two of you were a thing even though you tried to hide it. You were always sneaking off, and when she was in a bad mood, which was a lot, I knew y’all had had a fight.”

“I don’t sneak.”

“You did when you were seventeen, because Dad would have whooped your butt if he’d have known you were having sleepovers when he was drunk off his ass.”

“Just say whatever the hell it is that you want to say, Bent. I’m tired, and it’s been a long week.”

“She’s different now.”

Dallas all but snorted. “You bang your head on something? She’s still ornery as hell, in a bad mood twenty-four-seven, and her tongue is as sharp as ever.”

“You got all that from a truck ride?”

“It was a long ride.”

“The fact that she’s still here says a lot. I think that…” Benton looked conflicted. “She’s going through something, and I think she could use a friend, is all.”

Dallas let that sink in for a bit. “Look, I get that you’re concerned about your sister, but she and I…we don’t do well together. Never have.” Benton looked as if he was going to add to the conversation, but Dallas had had enough. “There’s nothing more to say. Vivian is one complication I can do without. We crashed and burned fifteen years ago. It was ugly, and I don’t aim to live through that again.”

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