Page 69 of Long Time Coming

I giggle at my own joke. I must need sleep because I’m obviously delirious after the day I had. And that’s when my phone lights up with a message on the nightstand as if it knew I needed saving from my ridiculous self.

Rolling over, I grab the phone and hold it above my head, instantly grinning like a loon when I see it’s from Tagger, my boyfriend. Secret or not, we’re the real deal, and one day, I just know in my heart I’m going to marry that man.

CHAPTER 24

Christine

Up before the chickens,I race outside, putting on my Wellington boots since my other ones are still covered in dried mud, and start the rounds. I’m feeling motivated and want to make sure if Tagger shows up, I’m free to mess around.

Whatever messing around entails . . . He’s broken the seal, the curse, and cracked the dam. He doesn’t stand a chance. I’m ready for that man.

“Morning,” my dad calls when he drives the UTV up the side of the house and parks. “Why was this left out near the equipment barn?”

“Long story. Even longer storm.”

“Listen, Chris,” he says, angling his legs out the side of the vehicle while staying seated right where he is.

I cross the yard and jump over a few puddles that haven’t dried up yet. “What is it?”

“We never talk about your brothers.” He’s not wrong. We reference them in funny stories or when something makes us think of them, but we don’t talk about their absence or if they’re ever coming home again.

“Why is that, Dad?” I ask. I didn’t want to upset him. For me, I’ve held a lot of anger toward them for leaving me behind to deal with everything. I lean my hip against the front of the vehicle. It’s practically sparkling after being clean in the rain yesterday.

“I was never supposed to be here on this earth alone.”

“I’m here.” I hate that my first reaction is offense because my dad would never hurt me on purpose. But even without intention, that stings.

His face falls. “I didn’t mean like that. I meant, I never wanted to be in this universe without your mother. She was the glue that held us together, and with her gone, our family fell apart. I’m responsible for that.”

“No, it’s not our burden to carry alone. We’re all guilty of letting things go. Griff and Baylor are responsible as well.” I move closer and give him a hug. “They know they always have a home. They just have to make the trip.”

When I step back again, he says, “I’m sure glad to have you in my life, dear daughter. It just wouldn’t be the same without ya.” He climbs out and heads for the toolbox in the back of the truck. “Best get on with your day. There are never enough hours.”

I’m standing there as his words settle in. There aren’t enough hours. Never enough. The work is never-ending. The rewards are further apart. I’ve turned this from a family-run business with two employees into a huge success with more than ten full-time employees and five others on rotation, all of whom earn shares as well. They have a stake in the ranch’s success, and that basic concept has worked out well for everyone.

All four of us Greenes have millions in our accounts to show for my hard work and business savvy. Looking across at the field where Bluebelly and Skyward graze, I realize I will work until I die here. I could drop in a field and not be found for days. Sleeping with Tagger should be a comfort, and him being officially my boyfriend used to be goals. But I want to achieve more than having a secret relationship with him.

I’ll never know what I could have contributed to the world.

Bluebelly neighs, ready for me to feed her this morning. A whole beautiful field of the finest grass around isn’t good enough, I guess. “Hold your horses, literally.” I laugh because there’s no point in crying, and then I get on with my day. “I’m coming. I’m coming.”

“Hey, you,” Tagger says, sauntering up just after eleven, looking like he had a hell of a fantastic sleep. Oh, to be living the life of a prince while visiting. I can’t blame him. I just woke up on the sour side of the bed this morning. “Can you sneak away?”

He looks good, too good. Wearing a hard straw hat, the tips of his brown hair flip on the underside of the brim. His shirt isn’t anything special, but it’s great at highlighting his muscular frame. But those jeans and boots will do the trick for me every damn time. Fitted in all the right ways around the thighs and a good scuffing on the tips of the boots complete the fantasy. “What’d you have in mind, cowboy?”

“Lunch.”

I pull the rope from my shoulder and hook it around a fence post before leaning against a rail and kicking my boot up. With my dad taking a midday break, I start for him. It’s so tempting to give him a kiss, but I control myself and head for the truck instead. “I can sneak away for lunch.”

He opens the door for me, and I climb in. When he gets in the cab, I say, “This feels like a date.”

“It is, babe.” Starting the engine, he glances over at me and gives me that winning smile. “We can’t be showy, but we can make the best of it here in the Pass.”

“You’re quite the charmer, Mr. Grange.”

Driving toward the exit of the ranch, he laughs. “Only for you, Ms. Greene.”

“I’m sure some ladies in New York could argue against that statement.”

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