Page 50 of The Oath We Take

Butcher puts his hands on his hips. “You able to stay with Ember tonight?”

“You asking me or telling, Prez?” I ask. My old drama teacher would be pleased with this level of performance.

“Telling. You two can barely stand to be in the same room.”

“Hence the question.”

Butcher walks towards me, and I can see Ember watching us carefully from the open doorway to Butcher’s office. “She’s my daughter, Atom. And you’re the only one I can trust her to. I’d rather she were staying with me and not above the goddamn bar. But Wraith’s right. It’s too easy to jump to the obvious answer. That the Bratva are intimidating my town to get to me. It could be me they’re truly after and are using her. So, me being with her would give them a double target.”

“Fine. I’ll stay there again tonight.”

“And be her bodyguard.”

“You better clear this with my father, because now I’m back, I got a sharp reminder from him that I’ve got shit I’m responsible for at the ranch.”

“Will do.”

“Speaking of, I got a meeting at the ranch. Should only be gone ninety minutes. You think you can keep her here while I take care of it?”

Butcher nods. “I owe you, brother. Remember when you used to sneak around the back of the bar and steal alcohol when you thought no one was looking? You’ve grown into a good and loyal man, Atom.”

He turns on his heel and returns to Ember. And I’m left feeling like even more of a fool.

I drive to the ranch and check that one of the hands has brought down Big Don, the bull the breeder is interested in. He’s a fine specimen. Long, thick fur, pedigree, a strong stance, and as fertile as they come. When he snorts through his nose and walks towards me, I smile.

“Don’t be giving me attitude this morning, Don. I know you don’t like being brought in from the fields, and believe me, I feel you. So, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t need to.”

He snorts and shakes his head. But I know better than to reach over and pet him.

I look over toward the building my father lives in. It’s like succession musical chairs. My grandfather is in the main ranch house, a property way too big for an old man, but the only way we’re getting him out of there is a coffin.

My dad gets the second biggest. A smaller version of the main house. When Dad moves into the main house, I’ll be expected to move into that one, but the truth is, I don’t want it.

It’s too close to the bunk house where the hands sleep. Any problem, no matter how small, the hands go disturb my father. Plus, it’s too close to everything else. The paddock, the barn. It’ll be too hard to switch off on days off.

My place is perfect where it is. About a half mile down the trail. Small, so it takes no time to clean. Separate from the work of the ranch and more connected to the land.

There is privacy around it, which I appreciate.

But it’s the other property I have, the one very few people know about, that I like best.

“You thinking big thoughts?”

My grandpa’s voice is as gnarled as his knuckles. When I turn to look at him, his face is equally weathered. His hair is white as snow and a touch too long beneath his Stetson.

“I don’t want Dad’s house.”

My grandfather places his hands over the wooden gate. “Didn’t think you would. But that’s between you and your dad.”

I roll my eyes. “And we both know he’ll want me there.”

“You’re like a horse that hasn’t been broken, Hudson. You don’t want the bit and bridle that goes with being ridden. You just want to roam and run.”

I tap my Outlaw patch. “That’s why I’m a biker.”

“And one day, you might have to choose. Are you a biker or a rancher? Because I keep the peace between you and your dad. Won’t be able to do that forever. He’s already started to pull away from the club, just like I did, as his responsibilities here increased. That’s your future too.”

“He takes those responsibilities you’re giving him now and passes ‘em straight on to me. He wants the money, but not the work. When it’s my turn, when I’m older, I’ll do what I have to for the ranch. But I won’t reduce my club commitment to do all the work for him, while he maintains control and does whatever he likes. I have plans for the ranch when it’s my turn, and I don’t want him ruining it before I have my time.”

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