Page 3 of A Family With the Cowboy

If only… Looking up toward the mountains, he swallowed against the lump in his throat. Of course, none of the if-onlys would bring back their brother, with his big laugh and kind eyes. Not one.

A soft footfall behind him had him turning his head. Willow was approaching and behind her, their faces grave, were Becket and Cooper. They’d also arrived on horseback; he’d been too preoccupied to hear them.

Wordlessly, they joined him and, for long minutes, the four of them stood quietly next to the grave, remembering their brother.

It was bitterly cold, the world around them robed in white, but none of them seemed to be aware of it.

Hayden finally cleared his throat. “From weather reports, the cold weather isn’t changing anytime soon. We still have enough surplus hay for the winter feeding?” It was easier to talk about things that needed to be done.

Becket nodded. “There should be more than enough. I’m on my way to check.” With a wave, he turned away.

“Have you seen Luke?” Hayden asked his sister and Cooper.

He caught the look between them. “No, I haven’t,” Willow said. She put a hand on Hayden’s arm. “Try talking to him instead of shouting, will you?” She cocked her head. “You okay? You seemed to be even grumpier than usual this week. Anything happened?”

“I’m fine,” he just about snarled.

Shrugging, she moved away to follow Becket. “See you later.” She stopped and turned. “By the way, Mom phoned. She said she’s texted everyone, but you haven’t responded. We’re all invited to dinner tomorrow evening. Or rather, late afternoon. Mom wants us there at six.”

Hayden frowned. “Whatever for? And what about Sunday?” Since their mom moved to the family house in town a year ago, Sunday lunch at her place was a standing, nonnegotiable date.

Willow smiled. “Sunday lunch is still on, sorry. Apparently, she’s getting a new neighbor and wants us to help welcome the person to Marietta.”

Hayden cussed and rubbed his face. He didn’t have time for a damn dinner in the middle of the week.

“I also haven’t seen Luke,” Cooper muttered as he waved and left.

Hayden grimaced. If his siblings’ reactions were anything to go by, Luke had again forgotten to do his chores. Something had obviously changed or happened in his son’s life over the past few days. The question was, what? And how did he persuade Luke to talk to him?

Damn it, on days like this, he wished he could ask Madeline how to handle the situation. Whatever he tried to do, he seemed to make matters worse.

It wasn’t as if Luke had many chores, but helping out, doing your bit on a big ranch, had been instilled in all of them since they could walk. And Luke had been helpful, even doing more than what he should until recently.

And okay, Willow was right. He had been shouting at his son. He didn’t mean to raise his voice, but he was at his wits’ end and didn’t know how to get through to Luke.

By the time he reached the homestead, it was nearly dark. Still muttering, he got off his horse. “Luke!” he called out. Their cook Isabella also looked after Luke, but his son was seldom in the house.

Silence.

“Jessie!” he tried. Usually, the border collie responded.

A bark from inside the barn confirmed where Jessie was. And, hopefully, Luke would be close by. Jessie’s water bowl was almost empty, he noticed, as he entered the barn.

Jessie saw Hayden and, barking joyously, she ran toward him. Luke was lying on hay in the loft, apparently still unaware of what was going on around him.

Hayden walked closer. “What are you doing?”

Luke quickly looked up, but it was clear he was still somewhere inside the pages of the book he’d been reading. Only after blinking a few times did he seem to realize where he was. Jumping up, he stashed the book in the front of his jacket. “Sorry, Dad. On my way.”

“Wait,” Hayden stopped him. “What the hell’s going on, Luke? Over the last week you haven’t been doing your chores.”

“’Cause I was reading,” Luke said.

“Reading?” Sighing, Hayden rubbed his face. “This is a ranch. Everyone has a job to do. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, but I...”

“No buts, Luke. I don’t want to talk about this again.”

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