Part 15 (2/2)

”Let's put out the hay,” Kenny said.

Marshall and Kenny disappeared in the snow to load up one of the trucks with hay to put out for the herd.

”They look like they're doing okay. I think bringing them up close to the house was the best idea. Soon as this is over with, we'll go look for the others. Kenny's right, they're probably over on the government land. You get a strong enough cow it might lead a few others off with him.”

The truck backed up to the gate, and Kenny jumped out with Marshall to pitch the hay over the fence. Jeb and Drew stood and watched them for a few seconds.

”I'm going to check the horses,” Drew yelled.

”I'll go with you. Don't want you by yourself at all, Drew. I mean it.”

Jeb grabbed the rope, and they followed it to the barn. It took Jeb a few seconds to get the door opened since the snow had piled up against it. Once inside, they stomped off the snow and began to check the horses.

”We're going to need to do some shoveling,” Jeb said.

Drew added hay to each of the horse's stalls and made sure the water wasn't frozen before turning back to where Jeb was standing.

”Shovels are on the back porch. We can each take a turn keeping the path open. I'll shovel first.”

”Like h.e.l.l, you will.” Jeb frowned at her. ”There are enough of us to handle the harder work. You're not shoveling snow. I mean it, Drew.”

”I was shoveling before you got here, Jeb. I'll be shoveling when you leave.” She stuck her hands on her hips and glared at him.

”But you're not shoveling while I am here. Get over it.” He stomped to the door and threw it open. Snow and wind poured in.

Drew cursed and followed him out so he could close the door. They walked back over to the fence line to see that Marshall and Kenny had finished with the hay and were gone. They followed the rope back to the porch and ran into them shoveling the snow.

”I'll be back out in a minute to help you guys. I need to have a talk with Drew.” Jeb opened the kitchen door and all but shoved Drew inside.

”Stop pus.h.i.+ng me around,” she said with a growl.

”Don't argue with me about everything. You are not going to shovel snow or anything else on this ranch that you don't have to do. Not while Marshall and I are here to help you. If you want to go back to doing that c.r.a.p when we're gone, then that's up to you.”

”I don't like being told what I can and can't do on my own ranch.” Drew stood toe-to-toe with him.

”Get used to it. As long as I'm the foreman, I call the shots.”

Drew was so mad she almost told him to get his s.h.i.+t together and leave, but she knew better than to speak in haste. She swallowed and let out a long breath.

”This is still my ranch.” She turned around and walked out of the kitchen before she said something she would regret.

Chapter Fifteen.

”What in the h.e.l.l were you and Drew fighting about? I could hear you outside.” Marshall stomped off his boots as he walked inside. Kenny was right behind him with a thoughtful look on his face.

”She wanted to shovel snow, and I told her as long as I was the foreman she wasn't doing any of that sort of stuff. That's what she has us for.”

”Aw, h.e.l.l, Jeb. Do we still have jobs?”

Jeb sighed. ”Yeah, for now anyway.”

”She's proud of her ranch, man. I wouldn't call her on it too much. It's about all she has to her name. That ranch, and Robert, and me.” Kenny hung his coat on the rack and walked out of the kitchen.

”d.a.m.n it, Marshall. She shouldn't have to do the heavy or dangerous stuff while we're here. Otherwise, what's the use of us helping her?”

”You have to remember that this is her ranch. Like Kenny said. She doesn't own anything but this place. You said we were going to leave when we have enough money for our own place. Then what will she have?”

Jeb sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Marshall was right, but so was he. He didn't want anything to happen to her, and he was afraid something would. It had scared him to death when he'd seen her lying with her head bleeding.

”We're not leaving until we find out who's bothering her and put a stop to it.”

”d.a.m.n straight we're not.” Marshall huffed out a breath. ”You better go make up with her. Otherwise you're going to be sleeping alone in the other room in the cold.”

Jeb grinned. He supposed he had some groveling to do, but he wasn't backing down on her shoveling snow. She could stand out there and watch if she wanted to, but he didn't want her doing the heavy work.

He walked through the living room to the closed door of her office and knocked. There was no answer, so he knocked again.

”What do you want?” He heard her call out in a m.u.f.fled voice.

”Can I come in? I want to talk.”

”I think we've done all the talking we can afford to do right now, Jeb.”

”I need to apologize for stepping out of bounds, Drew. Let me in.”

There was a shuffling sound, and then he heard the lock click and the door open a few inches. He waited, and when it didn't open any farther, he pushed it open and walked in. Drew sat behind her desk with reddened eyes and a blotchy face. She was wiping her face with a tissue, and he felt like a total heel.

”I'm sorry I yelled at you, Drew. I had no right.”

”Fine.” She didn't look at him.

”I know the ranch is yours, and you have every right to do whatever you want to on it. I care about you, Drew, and don't like that you've had to do some of the things you've had to do. I want to take care of you while I'm here. Marshall and I both do.”

She looked up and Jeb saw so much in her face, pain, worry, and a very deep sadness. Had he put all that there?

”It's okay, Jeb. I know.” She stood up and walked around the desk.

When she got to him, he enfolded her in his arms and hugged her. She held on to him as if she thought he was going to disappear. When she finally let go, she smiled and laid her head against his chest.

”I'm tired, Jeb. I'm going to bed now.”

”Want me to tuck you in?”

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