Page 16 of Dusk's Devotion (Blue Ice Ranch 3)

“Yep,” I piped up. Everyone looked from Shep to me. “And so when he rode up half-dead, I let him come in. Seemed the decent thing to do.”

“I’ve spoken to you every day since you left the ranch. Why the hell did you not once mention that all of this had taken place?” Nate asked me. Will was staring at me as if prairie dogs were doing a Scottish jig on my head. Perry was still stunned, as was Landon. It was hard to tell about the other hands, but overall I’d say they were all shocked as shit as well as totally uncomfortable. Poor bastards. Thought they’d signed up to drive cattle to the ranch, not for an episode of Queer Dallas.

“Shep asked me not to,” I replied with candor and pushed to my feet. “His reasons were his. Given the circumstances of his recent outing, I felt subjecting him to a cross-examination when he was recovering from the loss of everything he ever owned as well as an assault and battery seemed a bit harsh. Even for a McCrary.”

That reply took the starch out of Nate and surprised me. Since when did I back up a McCrary instead of my dearest friend? There was not a man I respected more than Nate, but yet here I was busting his balls in defense of Shepherd. Odd. That got filed in that now burgeoning file called “What the hell has Shep McCrary done to me?” to be examined at a later date. Much later. Death bed later.

“Sure. Yes. And we’re sorry for grilling you,” Landon said to which Shep gave him a wobbly smile and let his shoulders loosen just a bit. “Of course your horse can stable here until you’re settled. What can we do to help otherwise?”

Fuck but Landon Reece was a good man. No wonder Montrell loved him as he did.

“We could offer Shepherd a job,” I said, then blinked in surprise over the words that had just fallen out of my pie hole. Even Shep was astonished. No more so than me. “He’s going to need cash to hire a good lawyer.”

Mouths were agape. “Of course,” Landon hurried to say, although his gaze never left me. “Shepherd is welcome to stay on for a few months, help out through calving, and when he’s financially able, he can move on. A seasoned ranch hand is always welcome.”

I threw a questioning look at Shepherd. I could see the wheels in his clever mind turning. Obviously, I’d caught him off-guard with a suggestion out of left field like the job idea was. I’d not even considered it until a moment ago when I was caught up in the knowledge that today might be the last day that I’d see him and, for some reason, I didn’t want it to be.

“Uhm,” Shepherd brilliantly said as he looked over the small team of men staring openly at him. Christ it was awkward. Now I felt bad for letting my…whatever it was…greediness perhaps, push him into a place that he did not wish to be in. “That’s quite kind. Thank you. I accept.”

Shep’s sapphire eyes met mine for a brief moment and I wasn’t sure what emotion I was reading in them. Anger or appreciation. Whatever it was, I’d deal with it later, as well as the ten thousand questions Nate, Landon, and my brother obviously had.

“Good then. Let’s clear this place out and get those cows to the ranch.” I clapped my hands, smiled like a motherfucking lunatic, and dove into work. Keeping busy and surrounded by others meant that Shep wouldn’t kick my ass for backing him into a corner and Nate couldn’t grill my ass. Seemed my ass was going to get a workout. Pity it wasn’t in the enjoyable way I’d been envisioning since Shep and I had become lovers. Shit, that might have to end when we were back at Blue Ice. Probably it should end. After all, it was just slaking mutual needs. We’d both agreed on that and that it should stay. Still, my sight kept moving to Shep, the lone horseman on our cold drive, all day long. And his would touch on mine whenever my gaze strayed his way. What would take place once we were settled was anyone’s guess, but at least I’d be able to see him and talk to him. I’d delayed his departure for Cheyenne for a spell, and that made me happy. It probably shouldn’t and I’d deal with that somewhere down the road, but for now, Shep was going to remain in my life if not in my bed. Guess a man had to be grateful for those small favors when he got them.

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