Page 79 of A Reckless Memory

I didn’t want him to leave. His presence made me feel...secure. Like I wouldn’t be wandering aimlessly around my childhood home, marveling over how it didn’t feel like my home. “Can you stay until the will is read? Daddy arranged with his lawyer to do it the night after the funeral. In Cody’s office.”

“That’s ominous.”

“Right?”

“I’ll stay as long as you want me.” He brushed a hand over my wild curls. “Let me go out and grab my bag.” He fisted my hair and planted a hard kiss on my mouth. “And lock the door.”

I was in bed by the time he returned. He dropped his coat on my dresser and took a pair of shorts out of his duffel. While he stripped out of his hoodie, black T-shirt, boots, and jeans, I watched. He tossed the shorts on and crawled in next to me. I shut the lamp off.

Cuddling close, he wrapped his arms around me, my back to his chest. “How’s it really been?”

We’d only been messaging back and forth, but it had mostly been about the rescue and the time line for the week. “My brothers are still my brothers.”

“That bad, huh?”

“No, not terrible. I keep expecting there to be something here for me, but they’ve got it all taken care of. Like always. Honestly, I’m surprised Cody talks about the issues with his in-laws as much as he does.” My oldest brother didn’t have anyone to talk to, and the others probably wouldn’t understand how much it bothered him his in-laws were trying to control his kids. He instinctively knew I’d understand. “How are things at home?”

“Fancy has claimed the whole trailer as hers. The barn cats left me a mouse when I got back to the barn from working with the horses. I’m not sure if I should be flattered or insulted.”

“That’s sweet. You can’t hunt them yourself, and they need to take care of you.”

“Dr. Jake came to check on Shrek. He said a family has ducks they need to get rid of.”

“I don’t know a damn thing about ducks.”

His chuckle vibrated through my back. “You and me both. We seem to be saying that a lot.”

He splayed his hand over my stomach. He wasn’t making a move, like he sensed I only needed to be held. If his fingers found their way under my pajamas, I’d be there for it, but right now, I wanted this. Him with me in my queen bed from my childhood.

“Can we sell ducks?” I asked.

“Maybe. If they’re layers.”

“I don’t know a damn thing about duck eggs.”

“And again, we have something in common.” The humor in his voice made me smile. “But that’s never stopped us. I’m caring for a donkey. Dr. Jake says Shrek’s hooves are almost healed. Then he can be sold. I think he’ll be a good livestock guardian. He’s been braying lately when Tex is outside.”

“He is feeling better. Good.” I didn’t doubt Ansen could rehab Shrek. The job was more than a challenge to him. He cared about the animals. “I’ll prepare a sales ad and find out if anyone wants a donkey.”

“Since there are enough ranchers around, you should get some hits.”

We fell quiet. “Shrek would be my first sale. I’d have a real rescue.”

“You do have a real rescue.”

“I mean one that brings in money instead of hemorrhaging it.”

“I told you, you can pay me half—”

“Absolutely not.” Since he refused to sit out weekends and holidays, I owed him overtime he’d never ask about.

“You can find another Mangalitsa and breed Skinny. She’s got some good breeding years.”

I glanced over my shoulder. The yard light filtered through the room’s blinds, but the rays highlighted his serious face. “Then I’d be a rancher. I have a job.”

“A lot of people in the area ranch part time and work full-time. Besides, you have me for now.”

This time I rolled around, too raw from Daddy’s passing to see his face when I asked my question. “For now?”

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