“Okay. Well, I’m sure she’ll be here later, with them.”
“Uh, yeah. Not sure.”
Blythe looked at him with a puzzled expression. He wasn’t sure, because he hadn’t asked. She probably would be, but that didn’t have anything to do with him. She’d be here because that’s where her family would be.
Tucker rubbed his chest and grimaced.
“What’s wrong? Got indigestion from my cooking?” she teased.
“Not this time,” he answered right before she slugged him.
“Got a minute?” he said to Jace.
“Got nothin’ but,” Jace answered.
“Good. Follow me, I need your help with something. Don’t take your jacket off.”
Jace followed Tucker out the back door, to the barn he’d heard Tuck had built, but hadn’t seen yet.
“That was quick.”
“Doesn’t take long to raise a barn,” Tucker answered. “Especially when Billy Patterson is involved.” They walked inside where almost every stall was full. “Gotta get some of these buckers to Crested Butte after the holidays.”
They were still working out the best way to organize how many bulls and broncs they would keep at each ranch.
“Bullet’s got a spreadsheet, organized by rank. I don’t know how he ranks ’em, or what it all means.”
Once again, Bullet’s organizational skills and what appeared to be inherent insight into rough stock amazed Jace. Same with Billy. He had a knack for reading animals like Jace had never seen in another human being.
“So tell me, brother, what’s with the heartache?”
“Nothin’. It’ll pass.”
Tucker put his hand on Jace’s arm. “No, it won’t. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Hi,” Blythe said when Bree walked in the kitchen. “I didn’t expect you so soon, but I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Hi,” Bree answered, returning Blythe’s hug. “Have you seen Jace?”
“I’m fine, thanks. How are you?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll catch up with you later. I really need to talk to Jace. He’s here, isn’t he?”
“He and Tucker walked out to the new barn—”
Bree was out the back door before Blythe finished her sentence.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said when she walked in the side door of the barn. “Actually, that isn’t true. I’m not sorry at all. Jace, can I talk to you?”
Tucker stopped and hugged her on his way out. “He’s all yours,” he smirked.
“I don’t know what the hell all that was about, earlier, but I have a few things to say to you, Jace Rice.”
He sat down on a bale of hay, pulling out a piece to chew on. She hated the smug look on his face, as though he knew what she was about to say and was simply tolerating her saying it.
“You’re such an asshole,” she began.
“I am that,” he smirked.