Page 82

“Squire,” he said. “I’m wondering…well, at the Fourth of July picnic out there, I remember hearing you say Finn was working for other ranches this summer. Could I get his number to talk to him about a job that’s come up suddenly?”

“Sure thing,” Squire said. “He’s done at Coyote Pass now, but I’m not real sure where he is today. He should answer, though.” He gave Ace the number, and he quickly opened a drawer to find a pen.

“Say it again.”

Squire did, and Ace got it this time. “Thanks so much. We’ll be out your way in a couple of hours, and if you have men with nothing to do, I could use their help today.” He chuckled and shook his head. “As if we ever just have men standing around.”

Squire laughed too. “I can send you some guys. Is Kevin selling his place?”

Ace turned away from the table and kept his voice low. “Yeah. There’s just no way he can do what it requires. We’re going to be cleaning it up in the next several weeks, so they can list it for sale.”

“How big is it?” he asked.

Another idea formed in Ace’s head. “You thinkin’ Three Rivers might absorb it?”

“Something like that,” he said vaguely.

“It’s, I don’t know.” He turned back to the table and took a few steps closer to it. “Hey, Kev, how big is your ranch?”

“One eighty-five,” he said.

“It’s a hundred and eighty-five acres,” Ace said to Squire as he turned again. “Might be great extra grazing or agriculture.”

“Might be,” Squire said, and Ace recognized a man who wasn’t going to say more.

“Okay,” Ace said. “Thanks for Finn’s number. I’ll give him a call.”

“Ace,” Holly Ann said again. He ended the call and bent his head over his phone to type in Finn’s number and then a message, requesting his help at Kevin’s ranch that day. We’ll pay whatever you say. I just need more hands, and your daddy says you’re the best.

“Ace.”

“I’m coming.” He sent the text, tucked his phone in his pocket, and rejoined his family at the breakfast table. “We can’t clean this place up ourselves, baby doll. I’m just trying to get help there today.”

“What happened to Ward and Mister?”

“Broken fence. Loose cattle.” Ace picked up the crustless quiche and took the last two pieces. He’d been gluten-free for years now, and he mostly didn’t miss things like crust and other gluten-filled products. Most of that was because of Holly Ann, an extraordinary chef who’d figured out how to make gluten-free things taste delicious.

In his back pocket, his phone vibrated, but Ace ignored it. He could take twenty minutes for breakfast and then text Finn back.

“Daddy, look at this dog,” Pearl Jo said, and Ace almost couldn’t repress the sigh.

“You guys,” he said. “We’re not getting a dog, okay? Momma’s busy with her catering. Y’all work around the house or ranch all the time, and just because you have more free time in the summer doesn’t mean you’ll be able to take care of the dog once school starts up again.”

“We will,” Ash said, his whining in full force again.

“Pearl Jo, you’re going out for swim this fall, right?” Ace took a bite of his bacon, already knowing the answer. “And Gun’s in high school and doin’ all those ROTC classes. He doesn’t have time for a dog.”

“I can do it, Daddy.” Ash wore such an earnest look on his face, but Ace knew his son.

“And someone’s been begging Uncle Mister for roping lessons.” Ace gave his son a pointed look. “Boys training for junior rodeo don’t have time for dogs, and Momma and I aren’t going to take care of a dog.”

“I could do it,” Mary Ann said at the same time Gun said, “Daddy’s right.” He flicked a look at Ashton and then Pearl Jo. “School starts in a week and a half. We’ll be busier than ever. No time for a dog.”

Ace waved his fork at his strong, stoic, quiet son. “Gun has spoken.” He grinned at the boy, and unlike Bear’s sons, none of his boys had nicknames. Gunnison was a pretty unusual name already, and Gun simply fit the boy.

“No time for a dog,” Holly Ann reiterated, and she got up with her empty plate. “Now, you kids clear this table and help me get the kitchen clean. Ace, can you get the coolers?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, though he wasn’t finished with breakfast yet. He kept eating while activity happened around him, and since almost everyone had gotten up from the table, he checked his phone.