Page 106 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“There might not even be a Roaring Fork Ranch.”

Buck’s eyes met mine. “Do you think she ended up with him because of it?”

I shrugged. “No idea. It’s all a huge fucking mystery, man. But at the end of the day, here’s what I know matters—us. You, me, Porter, Holt, Flynn, TJ, Buckaroo, and the twins.”

“And Juni,” my brother added.

“Most especially Juni.”

“Is she going to be a permanent fixture around here?” he asked.

“In my life? Yes. Around here? I can’t answer that.”

“I get it.”

“Which leads me to the roughstocking business. With both Porter and me gone, I don’t see how we can keep it going.”

“The same way we have for the last few weeks,” said Buck. “Holt has been pitching in when he can, plus we’ve got about a thousand goddamn cowboys on the payroll. A few of them seem at least somewhat knowledgeable about bulls and broncs.”

“Yeah?”

“One guy in particular—Kingston West. Do you remember him?”

“Of course I do.”

“He’s taught me ahelluvalot, I can assure you of that.”

Rather than throw it like Buck had, I picked up a flat stone and skipped it across the water. Maybe all was not lost as far as Porter’s and my venture. “The important thing is we stay profitable.”

Buck nodded. “We’re doing better than you think.”

“Glad to hear it. I guess that means you won’t need me sticking my nose in.”

He put his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll support whatever decisions you and Juni make, but I willsay this; if the Roaring Fork isn’t your home, I’ll miss the fuck out of you, Cord.”

“Even though I’m an asshole?”

He chuckled. “Especially because you are.”

“Speaking of Juni…”

“And TJ…”

“We should get back.”

33

JUNIPER

Whether I was right or wrong in telling TJ that Roscoe Wheaton most likely wasn’t Buck’s biological father no longer mattered. I’d done it, and there’d be no taking it back.

What I didn’t doubt was her love for the man. Without her reassurance, I knew she’d handle it in a way that helped rather than hurt him.

I looked up at the SUV pulling into the parking lot near where we sat, and when I saw TJ stand after Buck got out of the vehicle and the two embraced, I knew I’d done the right thing.

“Babysitting?” Cord asked as he approached where I waited by the stroller.

I rested my head on his shoulder when he sat beside me. “Giving them a moment. How is he?”

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