Gunner’s face grew into a wide grin. It was clear how much he loved his grandparents’ ranch. His dream was to take it over someday, and he’d do a great job running it. There was no doubt in my mind about that.
“All right, then, let’s plan on heading out after your class. I’ll let Grams and Gramps know the three of us are coming out for the weekend.”
My mood instantly lifted, knowing we were headed out to the country for a long weekend. There was something about Mason, Texas, that made me feel happier. We’d made a lot of memories on that ranch, and a part of me knew it was only the beginning of many more to come.
Chapter Six – Gunner
We pulled up to the gate, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Home.
That’s how the ranch felt for me. I hadn’t spoken to or seen my father in almost three years. My mother had called a few times since I’d left home for college. I hated she was caught between my father and me. My grandfather and grandmother were the only family I felt like I had left.
“I sure hope Gramps has some work for us to do. I’m ready to get some of this built-up energy out,” Josh said with a clap of his hands.
“One of these days I’m gonna have to bring Ellie out here.”
Josh and I both turned and looked at Jeff in the back seat.
“What?” he asked.
“Ellie, as in your hot sister?” Josh asked with a chuckle.
Jeff pointed to Josh. “You are not allowed to say my sister is hot, dude. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
I scoffed and said, “Jeff, you don’t even let me stay at home when she comes over, and you think you’re going to invite her here? How exactly is that going to work?”
He rolled his eyes. “Once she graduates in a few months, I’ll officially introduce her to y’all, but she is off-limits. You understand me, Hayes?”
Josh held up his hands in defense. “Dude, I wouldn’t touch your sister with a ten-foot pole; I don’t have a death wish on me.”
Jeff poked his head between Josh and me. “Why? You think my sister is not worthy of your ass? That she isn’t pretty enough for you?”
Josh’s mouth dropped open. “Do you hear yourself right now, dude? You literally just told me to stay away from her. Are you on something?”
I laughed and pulled through the gate once it was fully opened. “Trust me, Jeff, I’ve only ever seen Ellie from a few feet away, and from what I can tell, your sister is not lacking in the pretty department.”
Smacking me across the back of my head, Jeff growled. “Don’t talk about my sister like that, or I’ll twist your balls off and tie them around your neck.”
Josh and I both rubbed our necks.
“All I said was that she was pretty. You can’t hide her from us forever, Johnson.”
“Yes, I can, Gunner. I’ve done a damn good job the last three years.”
“Jeff, if you honestly think one of us would go after your sister, you clearly don’t know us,” Josh added. “I mean, that’s breaking the number one bro code. You don’t go after the sister . . . especially the baby sister.”
Leaning back in his seat, Jeff chuckled. “You I don’t even want looking at Ellie. Gunner, on the other hand, I think he would be okay. I would trust him around her . . . I think.”
Josh jerked his head to look at me and then back to Jeff. I couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that spread over my face.
“Gunner! Why would you trust Gunner with your sister and not me?”
I turned to Josh. “Do you really need him to answer that?” I asked as Jeff lost it laughing.
“Yes! I do need him to answer that.”
“Dude, you’re a manwhore. You were just fucking some girl you met last night and sneaking out of her bed.”