Page 51 of Pigeon

“I’m refusing to admit that Craig might be right, but fuck me sideways, this shit is hard!” Axel moans to the ceiling. “I have show muscles, obviously. They’re pretty, but that’s about it.”

Laughing, Gunner, Cash, and I take seats on the nearest bales of hay. Reaching for the bottles of water the women tossed up to us a while ago, we all drink to remove the dust from our throats. After a few minutes of silence, Cash speaks.

“How’d she keep up with all of this? Doesn’t sound like she had much help, yet the ranch is well-cared for, and everything is as neat as a pin. It’s fucking beautiful here.”

“During haying season, she said she’d hire a few neighbor men to help. Otherwise, I have no idea,” I answer the best I can.

“She busted her ass nonstop to make her grandparents proud and to honor the work they put into this land,” Trigger says quietly and most likely, accurately.

“There’s a million other things that need to be done year-round too. Fencing, calving, foaling, breeding, feeding, planting, the list goes on and on. I grew up on a small farm, nothing this size, and the work was endless,” I add. “And yet, it’s like she’s one with the land and animals. No place she’d rather be, and she’s not afraid of the hard work. I think the only thing she fears is her brother and not doing right by the gift her grandparents gave her.”

“We’ll deal with the brother if needed. As for the ranch, I’m willing to help whenever she needs it. I love this fucking place,” Cash states.

“Really?” I ask, surprised.

“Fuck yeah. Way the hell away from people, quiet, beautiful country. Grazing animals, streams, ponds, and did I mention away from people? I’d love to have Liam grow up out here and not in a city. I want to bring my dad out and drive him around in the side by side. Hell, I’m tempted to ask Ivy about a job, quit the gym, and make the move tomorrow.”

Listening to Cash speak, I realize why Ivy has considered herself lucky regardless of the struggles with her brother. She was born to be on this land. This is home to her in the truest sense of the word. Standing, the others following my lead. We finish moving the hay in silence. When we’re done, we go looking for the kids and women.

Finding them putting food out, we file past filling our plates before finding seats on the deck, in the shade, overlooking the ranch. Even the kids seem a little in awe of the view while eating their meal. Ivy sets her plate on the arm of my chair, turns, and pulls another one close before sitting and retrieving her plate.

“No idea how I can thank you all for the help today and the women for the food,” Ivy says while looking at each of the men in turn.

“No need to, darlin’. Getting out of the city for the day has been thanks enough,” Petey replies between bites.

“Ava and Pippa mentioned that you’re going to give the kids some riding lessons. I have two little girls that haven’t shut up about that since,” Gunner says, and both twins giggle loudly. “Luke wants to come too, and Ava and I want that for him. What you’re planning on doing with this ranch is amazing, Ivy. Anything we can do to help make that happen, count us in. Kids deserve the best life they can get, and you wanting to help make that happen for them, yeah, count us in.”

“Thank you, Gunner. I have a lot to get done before any of that can happen, but I’m hopeful the attorney will have some good news for me soon.”

“Good news or not, start getting things in order, Ivy. I think we can help with the brother situation,” Trigger states.

“Unfortunately, he controls the ranch’s money until I meet the terms of the will. I have a few years to go before that happens. In the meantime, I can’t afford to make the changes I need, and he’d never give me a cent to help. Heck, I don’t even earn a wage here.”

“You do all this work and don’t draw a wage from the ranch?” Cash asks in a dangerously angry voice.

“No. I work at the rescue for my income in the meantime. I started there in my teens simply because I liked working with animals but have stayed because of the pay.”

“A lot of places to hide a body on this ranch,” Trigger mutters.

Ivy grins, but probably because she doesn’t know that Trigger wasn’t making idle conversation.

“What’s that building over there?” Axel asks while pointing.

“That’s a bunkhouse. It was built years back, but Papa had it updated before he passed. Bathroom, kitchen, several bunk beds. It can sleep eight comfortably, more if needed. The ranch hands used to live in it back in the day when they worked the summers here. I plan on using it for the kids and adults that come from out of town.”

Conversation flows for a while, people asking Ivy questions about ranch life and her future plans. Once we’re done eating, Ivy turns to Trigger.

“If you have a few minutes, I wanted to show you something.”

Trigger’s eyes light up, and he nods, standing eagerly. The kids abandon their plates and stand too. Laughing, I tell Ivy to take them and go, and we’d put the food away. Ivy pulls the side by side up to the deck and helps seatbelt the boys and twins in the rear seat. It’s a tight fit, the twins sharing a seatbelt, but they make it work. Little Alex is placed between Trigger and Ivy in the front seat, dogs in the bed, and they’re gone.

“She’s going to make Trigger a fan for life,” laughs Petey as he gathers up paper plates and carries them inside.

The rest of us clean up outside before entering the house to put away the food and raid the fridge for cold drinks. Taking them back outside, we take our seats again.

“Why didn’t Chubs come today?” Livi asks.

Everyone looks at everyone else, and I get that chill up my spine again.

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