Reece (Stud Ranch 4)

“Jer, you need to sleep too,” Reece said.

“I’ll sleep after I get the cows fed.”

“Jesus, Xavier didn’t just send you down here. We’re equal partners,” Reece said. He stood up, leaving half his breakfast uneaten. It was probably wrong that I eyed the food covetously. I was already stuffed and if I ate anymore, I’d probably feel sick. Jeff had just monitored everything I ate so strictly, it felt ridiculously liberating to eat whatever the hell I wanted for once. No one here gave a damn.

And the thought struck me—no one would give a damn what I ate for the rest of my life. I could have ice cream for dinner if I wanted to.

I was startled out of my thoughts by the continuing drama between the brothers.

“You don’t know how to work the tractor or the bailer,” Jeremiah said. “There’s nine hundred cows to feed. This is different than the fifty head back at Mel’s.”

Reece looked frustrated, but then his tired-looking twin put a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Plus, someone needs to keep an eye on the heifers and cows. And there’s the calf that needs feeding. This ranch needs the both of us.”

Reece nodded. “I’ll go feed the calf and check on the ladies to see if there’s any progress with them. Then I can make a list of all we’ll need to fix up the bunkhouse and stable.”

Jeremiah smiled tiredly. “Good man.”

“Okay, but after you do the morning feed, then you’ll at least take a damn nap?” Reece asked.

Jeremiah shrugged and Reece rolled his eyes.

“It’s the first day on the job. I’m not gonna sleep through it.”

“All I’m asking for is a power nap somewhere along the way. The place survived whatever the hell piss poor management was happening before we got here. It can last another couple hours while you catch some shut-eye.”

Jeremiah cocked an eyebrow. “Since when did you become big brother? I’m the one who looks out for you, remember, little brother?”

“Seven minutes does not make you my big brother.”

“You lost that argument a hell of a long time ago, little brother.” Jeremiah grabbed Reece in a headlock and I could only watch on in a sort of astonished joy at seeing the obvious love and camaraderie between them. Holy crap, was this what real family looked like?

Reece fought his way out of the hold and shoved his brother, but they both had smiles on their faces and then Jeremiah was all serious again. “Okay, okay, back to business.” Jeremiah reached for his worn and dirty cowboy hat that was on a peg beside where his coat had been.

He looked my way. “Nice to meet you, Charlotte,” he said with a nod. Then he was out the door.

Leaving me and Reece in the kitchen, which felt a lot smaller all of a sudden with me and the big man in it.

Our eyes met and locked for a moment, then I jerked my gaze away as I felt my cheeks heat. I started gathering up dishes, if only for something to do with my hands.

I expected Reece to head out the door after his brother, but instead he surprised me by saying, “Those can wait. Want to come with me to see how Bessie is doing this morning?”

I looked up. “Bessie?”

He grinned, and he looked both rakish and endearingly boyish in the morning light, a mixture that hit me straight in the belly. “That’s what I named the baby calf.”

I laughed and put down the stack of plates I’d gathered. “Of course I want to see her.”

He waved an arm. “Come on, then. Let’s get her her morning bottle.”

“Um.” I looked around at the mess from breakfast. But he was right, it could wait. I wasn’t sure why I even thought it was my responsibility to clean it up. Because I’d cooked and they’d given me free room and board for the night? Because cleaning and making things pristine was always what I’d done and it was now my instinctual go to?

“Yeah, that sounds amazing.”

“Here, I’m sure Ruth won’t mind you borrowing her coat.” He pointed towards Ruth’s coat.

I raised my eyebrows. “Considering how she reacted to me borrowing her bed…”

He waved. “That was just a misunderstanding.” He grabbed the coat and held it out to me. “It’s cold as a steer’s balls out there. Come on.”

I smiled, how could I not, and took the coat. It had been cold when we’d gone out earlier.

When we stepped out, I was greeted by the sight of the ranch in its full glory by the light of the morning sun.

I hadn’t really had the chance to take it in earlier when we’d all piled out to deal with Trent the Asshole.

But I took it in now. It was cold and quiet, but not still. There was a wind that moved the grass on the surrounding hills that seemed to fold into themselves all around us. There were a few trees on the property and their bare winter branches were alive and dancing in the morning breeze. The same breeze that cut through my thin jeans and had me zipping up Ruth’s coat and shoving my hands in the pockets as Reece led the way back to the barn.