“He does at that. He and Trigger have taken a real shine to each other. Maybe it’d help Shawn to have Trigger go with him?” his father asked.
Fisher looked at him.
“Course, you’d have to drive him up in a few weeks, after the camps are done.” His father winked at him.
Fisher laughed then. “Never knew you were such a matchmaker, Dad.”
“Two down, two to go,” his father said. “Gotta keep the family name going and make sure there’s enough Boones to keep working the place.”
“What if your grandkids are in Montana?” he asked. He’d go, if Kylee asked him to.
“Pretty country up there,” his father said. “And it’s Boone country, too. Just a might colder in the winter months.” His father shivered.
Fisher laughed again. He wasn’t a fan of long, cold winters, either. Truth be told, Stonewall Crossing was exactly where he wanted to be. But he’d follow Kylee anywhere if she gave him some inkling that’s what she wanted.
He glanced at her only to find those big blue eyes watching him and his father. In unison, he and his father tipped their hats at her. She turned away, but not before he caught a glimpse of her smile. He’d missed that. He missed her.
At the vet school, he lingered at the admissions desk. After work, he headed for the ranch to help Renata—knowing full well Kylee would soon be there. He’d chatted with Shawn, watched the progress the boy had made and tried to engage Kylee when she got there, but she’d shut him down and found a place to stand exactly opposite of him.
“I admire your determination,” his father said.
“Some things a man can’t give up on,” Fisher answered, meaning it. No matter how long it took, he wasn’t giving up on Kylee. Or Shawn. He knew they were his family, one he was proud of.
Long after the blue sky turned pink and orange and black, he was still finding things to do in the barn. There were thirty kids in camp so there were thirty horses that needed brushing out, thirty saddles that needed polishing, stalls that needed to be cleaned, plenty of work to wear himself out. When he looked at the clock, it was almost midnight. He wiped his face with his bandanna and started flipping off the extra interior lights.
“It’s late.” Archer strode into the barn, heading toward the small office. “Why are you here?”
“Helping Renata,” Fisher mumbled.
Archer looked pointedly around the empty barn. “Renata?”
Fisher crossed his arms over his chest and stared at his brother. “Why are you here?”
Archer paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as his gaze met Fisher’s. “I left my computer cord in th
e office.” He disappeared inside the office briefly. “Have some charts to review before I can power down for the night.”
Fisher nodded. He’d caught up on his charts. “Need help?”
Archer shot him a look. “With my charts?”
He nodded.
“It’s not like you to mope.”
Fisher felt an instant flare of anger. “Mope?”
Archer nodded, pointing. “Mope.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re—”
“Opinionated? Honest?”
“An asshole?” Fisher asked.
Archer’s eyes went round.
“I accept you’re not a people person. I accept that you don’t believe in love because it’s not concrete enough for you.” Fisher’s words were hard. “I can’t prove or explain or show it to you but I can tell you it’s pretty...damn great. And losing it hurts more than...anything. Like getting kicked in the chest by a horse, over and over and over.” He paused. “So how about giving me a break?”