Page 14 of Wrangled

“Tell me it’s always this good,” I demanded. “Tell me it’s not gonna be grits and beans after this, that you’re lulling us into a false sense of security.”

Zeeb’s eyes gleamed. “Holy fuck, another one who talks like the boss.” He glanced at Declan. “Mind you, that’s howyouspoke when you first got here.” His eyes twinkled. “You soon learned how us good ole boys talk.”

“Maybe Toby’ll pick it up just as fast,” Teague murmured.

I was intrigued he knew my name.

“Do you go into Bozeman much?” I asked.

“Not as much as we’d like,” Zeeb said with a rueful expression. “But that’s because we got banned from Lacey’s becausesomebodygot drunk one night—naming no names,Butch—busted a pool cue over Vince Traynor’s head and got all of us embroiled in a bar fight.”

Butch chuckled. “‘Embroiled’. You’ve been talking to the boss again. Youalwayscome out with these big words when you’ve been talking to the boss.” Zeeb gave him the finger.

“What’s he like? The boss, I mean.”

“He’s a good man,” Teague declared.

Paul sighed. “He’s a troubled soul.”

“Enough of that,” Zeeb flung out. He gazed at me. “He’s fair. You can talk to him, for one thing. I’ve worked for bosses who had a broom shoved up their ass.Heain’t got no airs and graces.”

“That’s true,” Walt admitted.

Butch helped himself to more cornbread. “You just don’t see that much of him.”

Declan leaned back in his chair. “I think I’ve seen him… twice, maybe three times, in six years.”

“Isn’t that a little strange?” I’d thought a ranch owner would be more hands-on.

“Not really,” Teague said. “He leaves me to run things how I like, and I report back to him.”

“He must trust you a great deal,” I observed. When Teague arched his eyebrows, I smiled. “You look like you’re my age. That’s a lot of responsibility for a guy in his thirties.”

“I’m thirty-four. He’s known me since I was sixteen. Made me foreman when I was twenty-nine.”

Butch stared at me. “You think maybe an older guy should have Teague’s job? Someone like me, for instance?”

I held my hands up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”

Butch indicated Teague. “He’s younger than any of us, with the exception of Walt. He knows his shit and he don’t take no shit either.” He snorted. “Zeeb nailed it. I’ve worked for more than my fair share of assholes in my time. Teague and the boss? They’re solid.”

Teague gave him a look of obvious gratitude.

“Looks as if you’ve got a fan,” I remarked. I turned to Butch. “You’ve been here a long time too. Since you were nineteen, I think you said.”

Butch smiled. “You just take everything in, don’t you?” He glanced at Paul. “He remind you of someone?Nothinggot pastthatdude.”

Paul cleared his throat, and I swore something drifted across his face.

Something that seemed a lot like sorrow.

Then it was gone, leaving me curious as fuck. “Got past who?”

“Don’t matter,” Teague muttered. “Ancient history.” He glanced around the table. “Okay, I know Dec here can handle a horse. Tomorrow we’ll find you guys a suitable mount.”

“Garrett’s gonna need Lucy to start with.” Butch flashed Teague a glance.

Teague nodded. “Fair enough.”

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