Page 1 of January's Bad Boy: Shane

CHAPTER 1

SHANE

For years,I've imagined what it would be like to come home. I always pictured my parents greeting me at the front door, and my mom's cooking filling the air. Hell, what I'd give for a home-cooked meal.

During all those nights in the desert during deployment, I never once thought I'd be coming home to an empty house with my name on the deed because they weren't there to greet me. I never thought they would die, and I wouldn't make it to their funerals. But when you are in jail, they don't care about things like your parents' funerals.

It was just something else that was taken from me, but now my life is in my own hands, and I plan to turn it around.

Starting with the damn bunkhouse. I've been sleeping here the past few nights because I can't bring myself to stay in the main house. I tried the first night, but the memories are too much to handle right now. So, I packed up my stuff at two in the morning and moved out to the bunkhouse.

The ranch needs work—a lot of work—and I need help to do it. I've been mulling over the idea of bringing on some help and giving them room and board as part of their paycheck, like my father did. When I couldn't sleep last night, I did the math, andI can float six people working here for about a year. So I’m going to need to get moving and give them a place they will actually want to live.

There are so many memories I have of the ranch hands in the bunkhouse. I'd have dinner with them once a month so my parents could have a date night. We'd eat, and then they would teach me to play cards—first blackjack and then poker.

First thing I did was make a list of what I needed to do. In the next few weeks, my buddy, Aiden, will be here, and I’ll need to get started. But until then, I'll be on my own.

I need to check the roof of this place. Who knows when it was fixed last? Then, get new beds. I should move that to the top of the list. The kink in my neck from sleeping on these old bunks is no joke.

The wood floors are in decent shape. They just need to be refinished. The kitchen and bathroom need updating, along with the building’s heater.

Atlas said he could spare a few guys to help. I appreciate it since they are finishing up the rebuilding of their clubhouse from when a rival motorcycle club decided to use it for target practice a few months ago.

My phone rings, pulling me out of my head. Speaking of the devil, there’sAtlas's name and face on my screen. "Hey," I answer.

"So, how were the first few nights back in your old room?" he asks with a grin on his face.

"I slept in the bunkhouse," I reply.

The line is quiet. Dead silence. He knows why I did it without even having to explain.

"It will get better, but it’s going to take time. Something you have plenty of now," he says, his tone more serious.

"Yeah, time I have. I’ve got a list going of things to get started on in the bunkhouse. Before I can bring more guys in, it needs to happen. I’m heading into town now to shop.”

"Sounds good. Let me know when you are ready, and I can send a few guys over. The clubhouse is almost done, so I can spare a few of them," he says.

"Well, I'm going to start on the roof first."

"Perfect, I’ve got just the guy to help," he says.

He won't take no for an answer, so I don’t bother arguing. My gut is saying that the guy who will help me is him. But now is not the time to pick a fight with Atlas about it.

"Thanks, appreciate it. When I get everything I need, I'll call you."

"Alright. Talk to you later, brother," he says, and we hang up.

I sigh. I'm pretty sure if I mention the rebuild to Ruby, she can find a few people to help out with it, too. At least she used to be able to, she might not be able to find help now that word is out about my jail time.

Now that I have a game plan, I need to put that plan into action. It's not to see Caitlin, I tell myself. My trip is to order the supplies I need for the bunkhouse.

I grab my keys and head to the front of the house, where my truck is parked. That’s when I see the large manila envelope on the front door. How did anyone get up the driveway without me hearing them? I need to get a dog to let me know when people are on the property. Tossing the envelope on the kitchen counter, I close the door behind me. I will deal with that later. Nothing is going to stop me from seeing the one thing I know I will never be able to have.

When I'm in town, I try not to notice the side-eye looks I get from everyone. Even though I grew up here, I’m not sure it will matter to people. Who knows if they’ll even come to help me? Whatever, it doesn't matter. What is important is that I get myplace back up and running and make my parents proud of me in a way I wasn't able to before they died.

I happen to know that Caitlin is filling in at the outdoor store while Jensen and Jonas are out of town on a well-deserved vacation. This is their slow season, as tourists don't really visit Mustang Mountain in the dead of winter.

Climbing into my truck, I check the time. The outdoor store closes in an hour and I'm going to need a nice durable water bottle with all this work I'm going to be doing. At least, that is how I justify my visit to the shop.

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