Page 15 of Buck Me (Kingridge Ranch #5)
One Day After the Podcast
“Hey, thanks for your help, man. I’m going to take these beds out to the park by the elementary school this afternoon,” Danner nods as we load the wood frames into the back of his truck.
“This is Bloom Room Garden number four. I can’t believe it. They’ll be all over Sagebrush Creek by next spring.” Becca Kingridge, formerly Bellcourt, claps her hands.
Between her and Danner, they’re making this garden thing their whole personality. But I’ve learned to just roll with it.
“Cool, yeah, no problem.”
I was worried at first because Becca seemed so uptight. She’s weird for sure, but he is too. As far as sister-in-laws go, she isn’t so bad. Hell, I like her better than I like Danner. But I’ll admit, even he’s grown on me.
What I can’t get used to is the increased presence of the media out here at the ranch. Reporters. Bloggers. Lifestyle influencers with tripods and fake cowboy boots. We’re doing all kinds of shit that don’t have anything to do with ranching, if you ask me.
This week will be our third sustainability workshop for local kids and teens. The Bloom Room’s taken on a life of its own. It’s some terrible combination of a learning center, event space, and living Pinterest board.
And it’s loud.
We’ve got groups coming in for pop-up photo shoots, and I’ve heard talk of goat yoga. Goat yoga . Thrusty’s going to thrust someone into early retirement. I don’t like any of it. But it ain’t up to me.
I close Danner’s tailgate. “Is that it?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Danner asks.
“Nothing, just trying to get back to some actual work.”
“You heard that podcast this morning, and I did too.” Danner reaches across the split rail and squeezes my forearm.
I rip my hand away. “Dude, what the hell. Yeah, I heard it, I ain’t paying it no mind. Just go do your garden thing. Damn.”
When Danner doesn’t move a muscle, I roll my eyes. “The more we let people in, the more we end up on that damn podcast. I already knew she cheated. We weren’t that serious to begin with, didn’t need everyone in town knowing, is all.”
“People will forget. There’ll be some other salacious piece of gossip coming, and everyone will move on.”
“Thanks,” I mumble.
But for once, I know Danner is right. There will be big news coming. Whoever’s behind that Boots and Bitching podcast has been running this town’s narrative long enough. I’m ready to unmask them.
“No problem. You will be amazed at how much lighter you feel when you talk through things instead of keeping them bottled up.” Danner’s still looking at me like I’m a puppy at the dog shelter.
I cut my eyes at him, but the ghost of a smile plays on my lips.
“Damn Danner, give it a rest. You show up here making people talk about feelings and shit. I’ve just gotten over the fact that you're staying on the ranch forever, let’s call it good.
You don’t have any more secret Kingridge brothers running around California, do you? Because I don’t think I can take it.”
“No,” Danner chuckles. “Just my sister Eliza, and she’s planning on making a trip out here for Christmas, so you’ve got some time to mentally prepare.”