Page 3 of Stirring Up Trouble
Griffin waved his hands to dismiss my words. “It’s not TMI. We’re all men who live on a ranch together. You think we don’t know far more than we should about each other?”
I snorted at the truth of his words. These guys were on top of each other all the time. I meant it as a metaphor and as a reality. The number of stories I heard about one of the couples getting caught in the barn or out in the field when they thought they were alone was astounding.
“Fair enough. I’m at a loss of what to do. I want to fix whatever the hell I broke,” I admitted.
Bobby Allen chose that moment to walk through the door. He stepped into the living, a frown coming over his face as he took us all in. “Good grief, who died?”
I snorted. “Not a person. Just my libido.”
“Oh, ok. Well, that sucks. Have you tried anything different? Maybe changed up your routines?”
At his suggestion I shrugged. “Not really. It’s a small town. A few people come through here, but you all know how it is. It’s much harder to meet someone new.”
“What if you had the chance to be surrounded by new people in the next couple of weeks? Would you take it?” That question came from Atticus.
I tilted my head. “What do you know that I don’t?”
“Got word a little earlier today they need extra help at the rodeo coming up. Bobby Allen agreed to go field some intel about horses for sale.” He pointed at the other man. “That means Elton will obviously be going too. There’s more than enough room for you to tag along.”
“Am I going in a vet capacity or as a ranch hand? I’m only really good at one of those.” Technically that wasn’t true. I’d helped enough to not be a problem. I simply didn’t want to overpromise and underdeliver in the case of the latter option.
“They’re mostly looking for extra hands in a general sense, not just ranch hand help. I think they’ve lost a few of their more reliable volunteers this year. Don’t know what’s going on. Just told Leslie I’d send the help I could. You’d leave day after tomorrow and be gone for about two weeks.”
My jaw dropped. “Two weeks? I can’t leave the clinic…”
“The clinic will be fine,” Griffin interrupted. “I can maintain things while you’re away. If not, I’ll bring some of the local volunteers in to get some service hours. They’re more than willing to help us. You know that.”
I did know that.
I just didn’t know what to think about all this happening so quickly. Then again, this was probably exactly what I needed. A chance to get away from the routine. Maybe it’s the place that’s got me batting at zero.
“Are we driving or flying? How far is this place anyway?”
The men let out a loud string of cheers at my easy agreement. It was loud enough to draw Jackon’s son, Dakota, into the house. “What’s happening?! Tell me too.”
Beau pulled the kid into a big hug. “Nothing too exciting. Mr. Robin is going to take a trip with Uncle Bobby Allen and Uncle Elton. They’re going to the rodeo.”
Dakota’s eyes went wide. “Oh, wow! That’s cool. I hope you have lots of fun.”
Me too, kid.
Two
Blaze
“Still can’t believehe left like that.” My cousin’s voice came across the speaker as I searched for what I wanted to wear. It was going to be a busy day with me taking over as head of this year’s festivities. We were less than twenty-four hours out from the opening event.
I felt about as prepared as a nun in a brothel.
“Maddox,” I sighed. “It was a long time coming. The man kept getting himself into trouble. Life catches up with us all at some point.”
“Yeah, but this isn’t like he wrote a few bad checks or something. He stole from the community. Took money out of people’s hands and used it to build a completely new life. If I ever get my hands on him…”
I scoffed as I pulled out a denim button-up to put over my white tank. “You’ll do nothing. I won’t have you risking your professional hockey career simply because my stepfather is a thief and a liar.”
“Maybe I could hire someone to take care of him. You know I hated him ever since Auntie married his dumbass.”
“Annnnd that’s where this call has to end. I don’t want my FBI person finding out my family is plotting someone’s demise. Learn to talk about that shit on secure lines, man.”
