Page 34 of Undone

“Depends.”

“Can you just tell me the good news?”And then get out of my hair.

“Ford accepted my job offer. Well, he countered on the salary… But it was minimal and he’s worth it.”

“According to you.”

“You don’t think he is? He built this damn resort in record time. Better yet, it’s not done half-assed. He’s an excellent contractor and a jack of all trades, brother. If he doesn’t know how to build or fix something, he knows who will since the man has valuable connections.”

“That he does,” Dylan mumbled, thinking about Erin fucking Ford on this very property. His scowl returned.

“What’s going on?”

Dylan pulled in a breath and on the exhale, lied. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit. Remember? We were once one egg.”

Dylan sighed. “When is he starting?”

“He already has. He also asked if I could hire a few of his employees to help with the maintenance. You know with a resort as large as this, something will always be breaking.”

That was true. Stopped up plumbing, broken pipes, broken furniture, electrical shorts… the list was endless.

He knew hiring Ford as the ranch’s facilities manager was the right decision and he should be happy the man took the job…

But he had mixed feelings about it.

For one reason and one reason only.

But he would not be discussing that reason with Dayne.

Therewasone person he would want to talk to about it, though. “What’s he working on today?”

“One of the run-in sheds.”

“Which pasture?”

Dayne’s brow furrowed. “The far north pasture. Why?”

Dylan surged to his feet. “I want to welcome him aboard.” He quickly skirted around his desk and past his brother.

“Why don’t I believe you?” Dayne yelled as Dylan hurried out of his office and went outside to find the man.

Every timethe utility vehicle hit a bump or hole, Dylan bounced violently in his seat, almost giving him whiplash. He made a mental note to make sure the roads were graded soon so they weren’t so damn rough. They had paved the driveways and “lanes” around the lodge and event hall, as well as all the parking areas open to guest vehicles. However, the dirt roads beyond the farmhouse would be used by guests taking a long walk, going on a hike, or participating in one of the scheduled horseback or ATV rides.

Plus, come winter, smoothing them out would make plowing a lot easier. Once they made some of their investment back, he’d also like to put down stone to keep them from turning into mud come spring.

Of course, he had an entire list of improvements and additions for the future, as long as the ranch turned out to be a success. But for now, the resort was where he wanted it to be for the initial opening. Once they had guests, he planned on asking for feedback on what activities or amenities they’d like to see.

As he motored past the pasture on his right with the herd of grazing horses, Rebel actually lifted his head and whinnied loudly. Dylan chalked it up to the fact the horse was appreciative that he hadn’t been turned into dog food. At least that was what Dylan wanted to believe, when the truth was Rebel probably thought he had a carrot or apple in his pocket.

Another pasture on his left included a menagerie of farm animals they adopted from rescues or shelters. Along with the two donkeys bought from the kill pen, the rag tag group included four llamas, two fat Vietnamese pot belly pigs, six Nubian goats, and the five most senior Holstein cows from his father’s former herd. They still produced milk but not at the capacity they used to, so if they had been sold off with the rest of the herd, they most likely would’ve been turned into hamburger or dog food.

Closer to the farmhouse, two dozen Rhode Island Red hens and one ornery rooster filled the chicken coop. Fresh eggs couldn’t be beat. Neither could fresh goat milk, something Dani wanted so she could make cheese, and whatever else, for the guests.

Dylan made it clear to her before she adopted them from their previous owner, she’d be responsible for making sure those does were milked twice a day. However, she also promised to feed her guinea pig every day when she begged for one at six years old. That lasted about two days before Dylan had to take over Squeaker’s care.

While they had plenty of barn cats to keep the rodents at bay, they were still missing dogs. He figured they’d be a part of the ranch soon enough since some of the full-time employees would be living onsite and he was damn sure a few would bring their pets. They were welcome as long as they didn’t terrorize wildlife, the other animals, or guests.

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