Page 27 of Wrangled

“And so what if they did?” Teague chuckled. “What does it matter when you’ve got the gayest bunch of cowboys this side of the Rockies?” He speared me with a look. “Do I exaggerate?”

He had a point. Among the regulars, Matt was the only straight guy, and I wasn’t even sure about him. He kept a lot under his hat. Walt and Paul were bi, and as for Zeeb? I’d have said he was straight until our chat.

Now? I wasn’t so sure.

Teague smiled. “They don’t care if you’re gay.”

I picked my glass up and drank. “When Butch came to Salvation, I’d have sworn he was straight. I thought I could tell back then if a guy was gay.” I laughed. “I was nineteen, what did I know? But no, I didn’t think he was gay.”

Yeah, back then my gaydar was for shit.

“I don’t think he is now,” Teague murmured. “I don’t flatter myself.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m a convenient hole. Not that I’m complaining. Like I said, it works out just fine.” I blinked, and he coughed. “And I just said way too much, didn’t I?”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” I regarded him with interest. “You never thought of settling down? You’re still young.”

He chuckled. “Got my hands full with this place.” He fell silent.

I stared into the flames. I knew what lay at the root of my insomnia. Salvation was my life… and it wasn’t making me happy anymore.

“What’s wrong?”

I glanced at him. “Hmm?”

“It’s just that… lately… Well…”

“Spit it out.”

He looked me in the eye. “If you want the truth? Your heart doesn’t seem to be in it anymore. And I’m not talking about yesterday—that day was always gonna be a shit show.” He winced. “Sorry.”

I waved my hand. “You’re the third person to mention what day it was. I’m kinda getting used to it being common knowledge.” That was no lie, which came as a surprise.Maybe Diana was right. I’m finally healing.“But let’s get back to my heart not being in it anymore.”

What struck me was how much Teaguesaw. He always had, right from the start.

“I’m talking about how you’ve been acting for more than six months. When you first started this venture, you were excited. Anyone could see that.”

“I was,” I admitted. “Then I lost him.” I heaved a sigh. “That kinda took the shine off. What was the use in being excited if I had no one to share it with?”

Then I realized the only sound in the room was the crackle of the logs.

Teague was so still, his gaze unwavering. “You… You’re not thinking of selling up, are you?”

I frowned. “What makes you say that?”

Damn. That had crossed my mind for the first time less than twenty-four hours ago, then vanished from it as fast as it had arrived. The man was uncanny.

“I hear things on the grapevine. Seems like every day a business folds, a ranch dies…” Teague cocked his head. “We’re doing okay, aren’t we? I mean, you haven’t said anything, and I know we’ve had a few cancellations, but—”

“We’re doing okay,” I said in a low voice, hoping my tone reassured him. “Well, the dude ranch is. There are always cancellations when money gets tight. And itistight for a lot of folks right now. But no, I’m not thinking of going anyplace else.” I gazed at the window. “This place is in my blood, my bones.” Somewhere out there in the dark was the ranch cemetery, where generations of Thorstons lay below ground. “And part of me is buried here.” I turned to look at him. “I’m not saying that to get a pity party started, just stating the God’s honest truth.”

Teague nodded. “Time you moved on—emotionally speaking.”

I smiled. “You sound like Zeeb.”

He smirked. “We do end up on the same page now and then.” He stared at me. “Did he tell you the same thing?”

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