Page 29 of Nate

“Okay, boss. I’ll get the fence tended to.”

“Alright.” Nate put his phone back into his pocket, then entered the barn to see three other men working with the feed.

“Hey, boss,” one of them said.

“Guys. I’m going to be helping out since we’re a man short today.”

The guys nodded. They probably hated the idea of him working with them because they couldn’t cut up and carry on with the boss around. Nate smirked. He remembered days like that and anytime one of the bosses worked with them, the day seemed to go too slow.

Two hours later, Nate removed his T-shirt. It might be chilly outside, but the feed barn was unbearable. He noticed the other men did the same.

“Damn, it’s always hot in here.”

Nate looked at the men. “It’s because we have to keepthe barn well-insulated to prevent this type of feed from freezing solid. I’m sure Beau wouldn’t like it if he spent all this money on feed to have it ruined by the cold.”

“Yeah, I know I wouldn’t like it if I had to pay for it,” one ranch hand said.

“You don’t have to worry about that. You’ll never make that kind of money,” another said.

Nate chuckled as the men continued to rib each other, but they never stopped working and the sooner they got done, the sooner they could move on to another chore.

“Who mucked out the stalls today?” Nate asked.

“I’m not sure.”

Nate opened a bag of feed, poured it into the bin then looked at the men.

“So, you don’t know if anyone did it?”

“I don’t know, boss.”

“Shit. Alright. I’ll check. If I’m not back, you know where I’ll be.” Nate pulled his shirt on, left the feed barn and entered the horse barn. Thankfully, the horses were out, but mucking out the stalls took time. Time he really didn’t have but he couldn’t pull anyone else off the other chores.

Nate walked along the stalls to see that they all needed mucked out. Huffing out a sigh, he headed for the toolshed, gathered up the wheelbarrow, shovel, and rake, then got busy. At this rate, he’d be doing payroll at home tonight. With twenty stalls and at least twenty minutes on each one, he’d be here quite a while, and it was already noon. He’d be lucky if he got out of here before six this evening.

****

“What’s his number?” Markie asked Sydney when she answered her phone.

“Why? What are you up to?”

“I thought I’d invite him to dinner.”

“You’re a glutton for punishment, Markie.”

“I have to try to make it up to him, Syd. If he’s a great guy like you say he is, he should be able to forgive me. Right?”

“Markie, how would you like it if someone judged you without knowing you?”

Markie sighed. “I wouldn’t and that’s why I want to make it up to him.”

“Fine, but if he turns you down, do not come crying to me. I’m still upset with you over thinking that of him.”

“I know you are. I’m so sorry. It’s—”

“Yeah, I know. I understand. With what that prick has put you through, I do get it, but you cannot jump to conclusions. Not every good-looking man is like that. Look at Sam. Does he seem cocky to you?”

“Oh, no! Not at all.” Markie sighed.

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