Page 41 of Dark Side of the River

Cooper said, “Holly Jo and I spent some time in the stables learning about horses.”

Her head jerked up. “I still haven’t gotten to ride a horse! What’s the point of living on a ranch if I don’t even get to ride a horse?”

Holden chuckled. “I’m glad you’re interested in riding.” He was also glad that Elaine had gotten the girl boots, jeans, Western shirts and a summer straw hat. Holly Jo had said she hated the clothing, but she was willing to wear it in the stables if it meant she would eventually get to ride a horse.

“When Cooper says you’re ready, I’d love to come with you on your first ride,” he told the girl.

She pulled a face and stabbed her fork into a large piece of broccoli, clearly not excited about the prospect. He watched her chewing on the stalk of broccoli for a moment before he looked at Cooper. “I heard Oakley is conscious. Was she able to tell the sheriff who shot her?”

“She’s conscious, but because of the concussion, her memory of the hours before that hasn’t returned. The doctors aren’t sure it will.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Treyton said after clearing his plate, “I have to get back to work. We’re having trouble with another one of our wells.” With that, he left.

Duffy finished his meal and excused himself as well. “Date,” he said on his way out.

Holly Jo pushed her plate away and started to stand.

“Young lady, please ask to be excused,” Holden said.

She stared at him as if in shock. “But they didn’t really ask to be excused.”

“They’re grown men and they did excuse themselves.”

She glared at him, the words coming out like thrown stones. “May I please be excused?”

“Yes.” He wanted to talk to her about her eating habits, but decided to pick one battle at a time.

“She’ll adjust,” Cooper said after she’d gone upstairs. “I like her spunk.”

“There is a lot of anger there.”

“I get it. She has no control over her life. Her mother died, and now she has been forced to come here.”

“Some people might not think living on a ranch is such a hardship.”

“Have you enrolled her in school yet? Don’t classes start right after Labor Day?”

He cursed himself under his breath. “Of course they do. I’ll take care of that right away. I didn’t even think... Let me know when she’s ready to ride. I was serious about coming along. I’ve missed riding.”

Bailey had been secretly staring at her phone, which was partially hidden under her napkin. She rose, excusing herself, leaving him and Cooper alone.

COOPERHADWANTEDto ask his dad how the ranch was doing, but from the things Treyton had said and the new worry lines carved in his father’s face, he had a pretty good idea. “Is there anything I can do around here to help?”

“For now, I really appreciate you teaching Holly Jo how to ride. After that, well, we’ll see how you feel about being more involved in the daily running of the ranch.”

“I don’t want to step on Treyton’s toes.”

His father laughed. “No one wants that.”

Cooper hesitated before he said, “I know we talked about this, but I don’t think Treyton has given up on drilling methane wells on the ranch.”

Holden sighed. “He and I have discussed this at length. He knows how I feel about it, and I have the last word on the subject.”

He chose his words carefully. “You don’t think he’d take it on himself to do it behind your back, do you?”

His father looked surprised. “Not if he has a lick of sense.” He could see his father’s ire rising. “I’ll talk to him again.” He wanted to bring up again his concern about Treyton visiting the realty company in town, but his father pushed his plate away and rose, saying he had a conference call.

He watched him head for his office, worried about his dad, about the ranch, about what was going on in the Powder River Basin. He worried that Oakley Stafford’s shooting was just the warning shot of what was to come.

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