Page 29 of Long Time Coming

Fifteen minutes later, I’m walking my ass up the last hill, finally spying the house ahead. When I pass the barn, I see Nightfall. His saddle is put away, and he’s content eating just outside of the open doors. “Traitor,” I mumble and keep walking. Not like he cares. The ornery thing didn’t even bother looking in my direction.

I’m hoping to make it to the truck before Mr. Greene sees me and wants to have a sit-down. No such luck.Fuck.

He stands from the chair on the porch and rests his hands on the railing. “You sure have gone and done it, son.”

I lift my hat to run my fingers through my hair. I stretch my neck to the side but keep walking, hoping to get out of here in one piece. “Sir, I, uh, I can explain?—”

“You best be getting to it, and real fast now.”

I stop at the front of the truck, not planning on going anywhere near that front porch. “I know I shouldn’t?—”

“Shouldn’t? I feel betrayed, Tag.”

The sweat beading at my hairline falls in buckets under the intensity of his eyes on me. “I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Pris right now.”

“Your apology is no good here.” He comes down the steps steadier on his feet than he was yesterday. Guess anger does that to a man. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“There was no need to upset you. She handled it just fine on her own. You raised a fighter.”

His forehead creases as he narrows his eyes at me. “Pris? She holds her own.” He stops a few feet from me. “Are you okay? You look poorly.”

The question stumps me.Am I okay?Is she okay? What’s happening here? “Yeah, sure.” Holding the hat to my chest, I graze over my head again, my nerves still on edge. “But I should check onher. I didn’t mean to hurt any feelings.”

“Pfft.” He waves me off, crossing his arms over his chest and resting them on his belly. “She’s not upset. Not even bothered.”

My brow flattens over the top of my eyes. “Alright . . . I guess that’s good.”

“It’s not like she expected you to drop your life in the Big Apple to come play cowboy here on the ranch.” More salt is tossed on my wounded pride before he continues like nothing happened, “But you have a job if you ever want it.”

“Huh?”

Moving in, he claps me on the shoulder. “Yeah, Pris said how you held more than your own out there today. It was a big help.” He glances at the house, and then lowers his voice to add, “I’m not the same help as I used to be. She can do any task she’s given, but I wish she didn’t have to every time something arises.” Stepping back, he crosses his arms like before. “So I really appreciate you stepping up to help herd today.”

Too stunned to make sense of what just happened, I stumble to say, “I’m glad it worked out.”

“I hear you’re leaving Friday, but if you’re looking for work, Davey won’t be back until next week. We sure could use the extra hands around here.”

My eyes trail upward to see Pris duck from the window. She wouldn’t let me fix my reaction today, so maybe I can fix it tomorrow. I reach my hand out. When he takes it to shake, I say, “I’ll be here bright and early tomorrow morning. Is it okay if I bring Beckett with me?”

“Bring him. I can show him how to clean out the horse stalls.” His chuckle bounces his belly before he turns, heading back to the house. “I’ll see you in the morn.”

Should I have said no?Probably.

Do I regret saying yes?Not one bit.

“See you tomorrow, Mr. Greene.” I get in the truck and start the engine. I miss the convenience of leaving the keys in the vehicle and not having it stolen. I turn around and head for my parents before Pris gets wind of the offer her dad just made.

Pris will be pissed.

I get back before the sun finally sets and hop out, excited to see Beck. He runs from the house like a dust devil let loose, right into my arms. Lifting him, I kiss the top of his head. “Missed you, buddy.”

“Missed you, too, Daddy.”

I shift him to my back, where he holds on like a little monkey. “Tell me everything about your day."

My mom stands in the doorway with a smile on her face. “Did you work up an appetite?”

It’s been a long time since I heard her ask that question. Hearing her now makes me homesick. “Sure did. What’s for dinner?” I asked that every night growing up. It’s weird how it’s starting to feel like I never left home.

---