Page 4 of Stirring Up Trouble
His laughter filled the room around me. I smiled at the sound, happy we could still be close despite him living far away.
Growing up, Maddox spent a lot of his summers here with me and my family. His mom was first cousins with mine. They believed in making sure we had just as close a relationship as they did. During the school year, we’d talk on the phone and write each other letters about what was going on in our lives.
As adults, we’ve maintained that same level of closeness. There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t hear from him. Usually more than once too.
“Love you, cousin. I’ll try to get out there to see you soon. Jake would love it.”
“Bet he would. There’s plenty to keep him entertained. That much is true.”
“He’d probably give your hands some grief with all the questions he’d ask. Maybe I shouldn’t come when it’s busy,” he pondered aloud.
“Nah. You come whenever. I know getting something in line for the three of you can be tough. We’ll adjust fine.”
My cousin had found himself as part of a throuple, meaning he had two partners. Jake was a rambunctious man who never sat still, while Leon was stoic and took everything pretty damn seriously. They were a great trio together. Even if I didn’t understand the appeal, I could respect their love and time by not making a visit difficult on them.
Romance had no place in my life. Not with how much trouble it had already brought my family. It was better if my focus wason running the ranch and ensuring the Anders name was met with a smile rather than anger.
Maddox hummed across the line before telling me he’d check in on me later in the week. I knew he’d be worried if I didn’t update him with good news. I set a reminder to write down a few positives from each day to be able to tell him.
My memory wasn’t what it used to be. Falling off bulls and horses for most of my youth and into my early twenties means I’ve taken a hit to the head more than once. While my scans all came back normal, there were still changes in how I functioned. My memory was a touch faulty at time, and I tire a bit quicker than I used to.
Ironically enough, I thought Maddox would be the one with this type of issue before me. He took a number of hits on the ice each week. His chosen sport was fucking brutal that way.
And yet, he wasn’t the one with all the specialists and warnings about taking it easy. As if that were an option when managing and running a ranch, much less a whole fucking rodeo.
Taking a step back to put myself into more of a managerial role helped a ton. I no longer got on the back of an animal unless I was herding cattle or putting on a show for the people at the closing ceremonies. Definitely nothing that would get me injured.
Risk wise, I was in a much better position. It still didn’t mean my chances of something happening were zero. I had accepted the truth of it all since I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but on my land.
After getting dressed, I made my way down to the kitchen to see what Ms. Connie had whipped up for us. She’d been my mother’s best friend growing up and the cook here for as long as I remembered. Her food was worthy of more than a few Michelinstars, though she kept it simple for us country guys, gals, and nonbinary folks.
“You look like you’re ‘bout to shit your pants.”
I halted at her words, my brows rising to my forehead. “Good morning to you, ma’am. It’s a beautiful day. Smells delicious.”
She shook her head as she smiled back at me. “Get over here and hug me. You know I’m just playing with you, boy.”
I did as she asked, taking my tall build over to her and wrapping my arms tightly around her cute, plump frame. “Love you too,” I said before pressing a kiss to her head.
Ms. Connie swatted my backside with a towel. “Don’t try to butter me up. Butter a biscuit. Then get your ass moving. I know you’ve got a full day ahead of you. Lunch is already in the cooler in the truck. I made Sylmen put it away when he left just a minute ago.”
Sylmen was her nephew by marriage. He’d come to stay with us several years back when his grandmother passed, leaving him with no one to help him out. As someone nonverbal, he struggled to fit into what others considered normal.
I’d said fuck them and given him a place, a job, and a life worth more than society deemed fit. He was one of the best ranch hands I had. I didn’t see it changing anytime soon.
“Thank you.” I grabbed a biscuit and buttered it like she told me to. Then I snatched up the leftover pieces of bacon to go with it. I was a grown ass man after all. Needed all the food I could get.
She shook her head, but she went back to her dishes rather than call me out. I left her to handle business as I took off for my truck.
The men were already hard at work in the fields as I stepped onto the porch. I took a deep breath, thankful for the gift of having their help today. It was nice to know my sticking around to fix this mess was enough to convince them to stay.
A lotof the men expressed concern when the truth came out about my stepfather. They wanted to know this ranch wasn't going to be run like it had been. They needed confirmation from someone they trusted that things would be different.
I gave them what they needed, assuring them I would do my best to correct his wrongs. I’d also pledged to bring us back into a fruitful state. One where everyone reaped the benefits of our growth.
As someone who didn't make promises I couldn't keep, I gave the next phase of life my all. I refused to hide anything from them. Everything down to the most basic of financials became common knowledge.
I think it's why everything worked out the way it has. The trust I’ve built isn’t something that will be torn down so easily.
