Cowboy Take Me Away (Rough Riders 16)

That was his dad’s answer to everything. We’ll do what needs done.

Meanwhile Casper would skate by with the minimum amount of work and get paid the same amount as Carson did. And now he’d be adding travel to his day.

Doin’ what needs done, my ass.

He’d make sure the new sections of land were ready for cattle, but he would not help Casper get his house ready for his bride.

Just then Casper and Charlie pulled up with Cal following behind them in his truck.

“Now’s as good a time as any to talk to them.”

“You plan to pull Casper aside afterward?”

“Nope. He done what he done. Ain’t no reason to hide it.”

Fuck. This day just got better and better.

As soon as Casper, Charlie and Cal were out of their vehicles, their dad said, “Meetin’ in the dining room.”

Carson felt his brothers’ curious gazes but he focused on Cord. “Come on, son, and leave the rocks. We’re goin’ inside.”

“Don’t wanna!”

I know how you feel, kid.

He held his hand out and Cord took it.

Once they were seated at the table, their father zeroed in on Casper. “What kind of fool are you? Man named Patrick Tellman paid me a visit today, informing me that you knocked up his daughter, Joan.”

Casper’s face turned bright red and for a second Carson worried his brother was about to have a stroke. “She’s pregnant?”

“So it seems. She swears you’re the only man she’s ever been with.”

“She says she was a virgin, but I don’t see how that could be. She’s one of those women who’ll do anything in bed. And I mean anything. She had to learn that kinky shit someplace.”

“How long have you been dating her?”

“I never dated her,” Casper shot back.

“Fine. How long have you have been proddin’ her?”

“I met her five months ago. But I ain’t been with her for over a month and a half.”

“You just f**ked her when you felt like it and walked away?”

Casper glared. “I wouldn’t be the first man to take what was offered.”

“You’ll be the last man when it comes to her.”

“What are you talkin’ about?”

“You’re doin’ the right thing for once in your life and marryin’ her.” He looked at Cal. “Seems you’re the only one who hasn’t impregnated a woman, so let that be a lesson to you to keep your goddamned pants zipped.”

Carson shot Charlie a questioning look and Charlie seemed equally confused.

But Casper interrupted before Charlie could speak. “You can’t make me marry her.”

“Yes, I can. You will take her as your wife or you’re out.”

“Out. Out of what? Out of favor?” He aimed his glower at Carson. “Too f**kin’ late for that.”

“I’ll kick you out of the house. You’re off the ranch and on your own. Since I own your truck, pay your wages and you’ve been livin’ in my house your whole life, you got a lot to lose by thinkin’ you can get around this. I’m done putting up with your laziness and lies. It’s time you own up to your responsibilities, Casper.”

“So I’m bein’ punished.”

Yeah, some punishment. By being a f**k up you’re giving him a house and land of his own? Maybe I oughta f**k up.

“Since you’ll soon have a wife and a child, you’re movin’ down to the Ingalls place. Charlie will eventually live down that way too, but for now he’ll be makin’ the drive every day from here.”

Charlie stood. “This is bullshit. What’d I do? Nothin’. Now you’re sendin’ me thirty miles away?”

“Like I told Casper. Your options are to do what you’re expected to or you’re out.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get you’ve got the biggest set of balls in the McKay family. But I also know why Casper is such a big prick. He gets it from you.” Charlie left.

Carson’s eyes met Cal’s. Charlie had been in a funk since his jailbait girlfriend had suddenly moved away a few months ago. With the way Charlie talked, they half-expected to show up one morning and find him gone. Their youngest brother was the smartest of the lot. He owned his truck so he did have the means to leave if he so chose.

“You got anything to add?” their dad asked Cal.

“Just the same thing that me’n Carson have brought up several times. Dividing the land so we’re each workin’ our own section. The way it sets now it’s not equal pay for equal work.”

“You just had to get a shot in at me, didn’t you?” Casper demanded. “You act like I don’t do nothin’ around here.”

“You do about half as much work as Carson, get paid the same and he has a wife and kid to support,” Cal snapped. “That ain’t a shot, that’s the honest truth.”

“Enough,” their father said. “Only thing that’s changing is Casper is getting married and movin’ out.”

Carson looked at his son, wearing secondhand clothes, and swallowed his pride. “So this ain’t the time to ask for a pay raise?”

“Not when I just bought the Ingalls place.”

“Even if we have a good year?”

“Depends. A bonus might be in order, but you know any profits pay off existing debt and then what’s left goes in the expansion fund. It’s about the long term and the future.”

Think before you speak.

But Carson couldn’t hold it in. “So in the short term, I have three mouths to feed, plus soon a fourth, on the same salary you’re payin’ yourself and your single sons. Think on the fairness of how we’re raising beef for other folks to eat, while your grandkids and the future of this ranch are eatin’ canned beans and powdered milk because that’s the only food I can afford to buy for my family.” He glanced down at Cord. His lip quivered and his blue eyes were enormous with fear. Great. Now he’d scared his son. He picked the boy up and nuzzled his cheek. “It’s okay. Let’s go home to Mama.”

Carson had made it to his truck when he heard Cal say, “Wait up.”

He opened the passenger door and set Cord on the seat. “Stay down, okay?”

“’Kay.”

Then he faced his twin. “What?”

“Is it really that rough for you and Carolyn?”

He felt his cheeks heat and he looked away. “Yeah.”