Page 21 of The Earl’s Wrangler (Cowboy Nobility #3)

Sawyer shook his head. “No. I’m not going to pay my useless father’s debts, and I can’t let someone else do it either.

His bad behavior and irresponsibility are his own.

They aren’t yours or mine. Let them take their debt out of his hide.

Someone has to make him suffer the consequences of his actions.

If I pay it off, he’ll just go back to his old ways.

In fact, I would be surprised if he isn’t off gambling somewhere else with money he doesn’t have. ”

“Okay. Then what do you want to do?” Randall asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. You’re going home this weekend, and after that I’ll have to see what options are open to me. It may be time for me to move on. That way I won’t be putting anyone else here in danger.”

“Just yourself,” Randall told him. “You’re going to be on your own and vulnerable. As long as you’re here….”

“Then Mrs. J, Chip, and the rest of the hands are in the line of fire. George and Alan will be gone as well, and these people are too good for me to put them in danger. To let my father do that.”

“But you’d also be letting your father upend your life,” Randall said, and all Sawyer could do was shrug.

His father had done that more than once, and he hated the thought of him doing it again, but there was nothing he could do about it.

His father was his cross to bear, and he wasn’t going to let his life and family affect the others around him.

“We should get back to work.” He really didn’t want to keep talking about this. It was like his family business had been opened up and put out for the entire world to examine, and he hated it.

“Fine. But we will talk about this again. You can’t put me off that easily.” Randall got busy, and Sawyer watched him for a minute, wondering why that notion made his belly warm.

“WHAT CAN we do for you, Sheriff?” Sawyer heard Alan ask from outside. He groaned because he knew that this visit was all about him and the mess his father had made.

“It’s okay,” Randall said from near him. “Alan is a big boy, and he can certainly handle anything.”

“You know, if this affects anyone here, then it affects me and my family as well,” Alan said flatly.

“It’s best if I speak directly with Sawyer, but you all should hear what I have to say,” he added as Sawyer joined them in the yard, Randall behind him. Somehow he knew that he’d be there without Sawyer having to ask.

“What’s going on? Is there any change with your guest?”

The sheriff shook his head. “Other than his lawyer showing up, making a ton of demands, and getting them shot down by the judge as fast as he could make them. That man is not going anywhere, and they’re pissing up the wrong pole if they think otherwise.

” It was good to see the sheriff so worked up. It gave him some hope.

“I assume that isn’t the reason you came all the way out here,” Sawyer said. “You may as well give us the bad news.” He steadied himself.

“Well… I was able to get information on a Vincent Calderone, and he is nothing but bad news. He was part owner of a pair of casinos in the south but was forced out because of his spurious business connections. But apparently he still has his hand on the back door, and it seems your father borrowed money from him or one of his men. Vincent is connected, in a big way, and he isn’t going to just walk away from any debt.

It would make him look weak, and that is something he could never allow. ”

“Great. So what do I do?”

Randall cleared his throat. “Come home with me. There’s plenty of space, and you’ll be out of the country.

He can look for you all he wants, but he isn’t going to get his hands on you there.

His people aren’t even going to be able to get into the country.

If they have any sort of record, they’ll be denied entry. You’ll be out of their reach.”

“Mom can tell anyone who asks that you quit and left. You’ll be safe, and so will everyone here.”

“It’s a good idea,” the sheriff agreed. “There are plenty of ways to reinforce the idea, and once the threat has passed, you can come back. It’s not like you did anything wrong.” He seemed pleased, which pissed Sawyer off. Like he was letting everyone else do his job for him.

“I’d love for you to come,” Randall said.

Sawyer shook his head. “I’m not going to run from this. I’m not some coward.” He hated that the others thought that, and he couldn’t face them at the moment. He went back into the barn, pulling the door closed after him, hoping to all hell that everyone would just leave him alone.

He worked for hours, cleaning every stall, sweeping, and dusting down the tack room.

He also hosed down the concrete in the center of the barn and swept away any dirt.

The place was as spotless as a barn could get by the time he was through.

He had so much angry energy, and he just had to wear it off.

Eventually the barn door slid open and Randall clomped down the aisle in his new boots. He got some tack and saddled the horse he’d ridden before. He also saddled Sawyer’s horse and led them both out of the barn.

“Where are you going with those?” Sawyer snapped, still on edge.

“We’re going riding,” Randall told him. “Well, I am. You can either come along or put this guy here back in his stall.” He seemed angry, and Sawyer sighed and put his tools away. “It’s your choice.”

Sawyer found Randall in the yard, holding the reins of both horses. He passed the one set to him and then mounted his horse, waiting for Sawyer.

“Sometimes you are the pushiest person on earth.”

“And sometimes you are the biggest pain in the ass. Now get on. We’re going.” He nudged his horse forward, leaving Sawyer standing alone. The bastard didn’t even look back.

Sawyer mounted and hurried to catch up. “You think you won something?”

“Yeah, the booby prize—your prickly company for the next hour.” Randall seemed upset, and Sawyer didn’t know why.

He was the one who everyone wanted to hurry away with his tail between his legs.

It was one thing when leaving was his choice.

But he had decided to stay, and now everyone, including Randall, had suddenly changed their tune and wanted him out of here.

God, this whole situation sucked, and he really needed to get his head around it.

Most of the time it felt like he was revving his engine but only spinning his wheels.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” Randall said. “You’re angry because we all suggested you leave.” He picked up the pace, and Sawyer did the same just to keep up. “You’ve thought about it. I know you have. So why get all upset?”

“You just don’t understand,” Sawyer said, wishing he had the words to explain.

Randall chuckled. “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. But you’ll never know until you talk to me.”

“Smartass,” Sawyer retorted.

“Fine.” Randall took off, and Sawyer groaned before following him, his horse flying over the range land, his hair blowing in the wind.

There was nothing as invigorating or mind-clearing as the wind around him and a horse galloping under him.

The connection between the two of them was astounding, and it always made Sawyer’s heart soar.

As they reached the tree line that indicated the creek that was the water source for the ranch, they slowed and pulled up. Randall dismounted and tied up his horse, waiting for him. Sawyer did the same, then followed Randall under the trees. “Is this some kind of forced march?”

Randall stopped at the edge of the creek, the water gurgling over the stones as it went on its way. “No. It’s an effort to get you to pull your head out of your ass. Is it working?” he barked.

“You want me to run away too.”

Randall shook his head. “What I want you to do is come back with me. I’ve seen your world, and I can show you mine.

It’s so different from this. It’s green, really green, because it rains a lot.

There are expansive lawns and paddocks. I have a few horses for riding—nothing like what they have here.

But it’s my home and where I grew up.” Randall tugged him close, so they were chest to chest. “I want you to come. I don’t want to go back and just say goodbye.

” He leaned slightly forward, his heated gaze boring into Sawyer’s.

“I want to see if what we have is some sort of fluke or if it’s real. ”

“Then stay,” Sawyer said.

“I can’t. You made me see that I need to be a better version of myself, and to do that I have to be there. There are changes I need to make, and dammit, I could use your help to do that. You’d be helping me, and you’d be safe.” Randall’s voice cracked, and Sawyer found himself nodding.

Randall kissed him hard enough to nearly buckle his knees, only backing away when they needed to come up for air. Then he kissed him again, his hands roaming down Sawyer’s back, then holding his ass hard and firm until Sawyer groaned deeply against his lips.

“Okay,” he growled. “I’ll go back with you since you asked so fucking nicely.”

“Good. Now how about we get on to the fucking?” Randall pressed Sawyer down onto the grass, kissing him nearly senseless as he opened his belt and popped the buttons on his jeans.