Page 22 of Holiday Friend Zones
“You doing alright, Verne?”
“I’m fine,” Verne grumbles.“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You called me out here to help with the fence.Just checking.”
“Just fucking fine.”He flips me the bird before lighting up a cigarette.“Mind your business.”
His back is more hunched than it used to be and his pace is a bit slower.
Verne has been working this ranch since his dad handed it down to him some fifty-odd years ago.His skin is old and leathery, having spent nearly every one of those days in the sun on the fields.
“Which fence needs mending?”
His jaw cracks as he adjusts his wide, worn-in Stenson.“The one that butts up to the old barn on the north forty.”
“Got it.”
“That old piece of crap needs to be torn down.”
“I can help with that.”
He shakes his head.“You have a bar to run.I don’t need your pity out here getting stuff done.”
“I don’t mind helping out,” I say, not for the first time.
“Go mend the fence.That’s all the help I need.”
“Got it.”
Hopping on Lollipop, the young mare, we start the trek out across the ranch.A cold wind cuts across the open field.
Would it be easier to take the old access roads out?Yes.But having been cooped up at the bar for the last few weeks, I need the fresh air.
The holidays are always busy at The Dusty Spur, so any chance I have to get out here and help Verne, I’ll take it.
Even if he bitches and moans the entire time.
It helps to put the woman I can’t stop thinking about out of my head.
Rylee Clarke.
Now that she’s home for good, it’s hardnotto think about her.Considering I run the only bar in town, she’s a frequent visitor with her friends.Especially since she’s best friends with my younger sister.
When did she get so damn sexy?
It certainly wasn’t the first time I’ve seen her at the bar, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.She is so fucking sexy, it hurts.
It’s a good hour trek out to the damaged fence and it does nothing to quell the thoughts of Rylee.
By the time I make it to the fence, the temps have dropped and it smells like snow is coming.Grabbing the tools from my bag, I grab the new wire to start the repair.I don’t know how often the cattle come out here, but the last thing Verne needs is the cows getting loose.
Working out here isn’t the easiest job when the wind starts howling, but it’s damn satisfying helping Verne as he gets older.
Gloves don’t help, and by the time I’m clipping the last of the wires to secure everything in place, my fingers are damn near frozen.I put everything back into my bag and grab an apple for Lollipop.
“You ready to head back, girl?”I ask, stroking her neck as she chomps down on the apple.
I don’t get a response, but hop back into the saddle and set a faster pace on the way back.Lollipop doesn’t need much to urge her on, wanting to stretch her legs as we run through the fields.
