When I make my way to the barn, I see Payton pushing a wheelbarrow full of manure. Sure, the goats can be cute, but they’re shady assholes most of the time and shit a lot. I’d almost rather clean up after the horses.

“Glad to see ya.” Payton shoots me a knowing grin. He’s worked with Ethan for a couple of years now and is also good friends with my sister, Kaitlyn. Though he’s more of a keep to himself type, he’s a nice guy. He’s not a Bishop and didn’t grow up in Eldorado, but we treat him like family.

“You’re the first person to say that to me all day,” I admit, walking inside and grabbing a pair of extra gloves.

He shakes his head. “Didn’t think you’d be here after your wild night out with Hadleigh.”

I tilt my head at him with a smirk. “How’d you know about that?”

“Are you kidding me? It was the talk of the breakfast table this morning. Everyone on the ranch, and when I say everyone, I mean even your grandma knows.”

I shrug. “Oh well. I have nothing to hide. She won me at the auction. We went out on a date that she paid for,” I say those words as if they’re an excuse for how the evening ended.

“Whatever ya say. Anyway, I started on the stalls on the left-hand side, so you can do the right.”

“Sounds good.” I grab a rake and get to work. I pick up the soiled hay and scrape what I can into a pile so I can dump it in the back.

“Ethan said we need to lay out some fresh bedding,” I tell him.

“Yeah, we might have to load some more bales. There are about five stored up in the loft,” he says, and I shake my head in annoyance.

“Whoever worked here last should’ve done that.”

He gives me a pointed look. “Yeah, well, tell that to your brother.”

“Figures,” I grunt, then get back to work.

After two hours of cleaning stalls, Payton and I take a quick break before we attach the lowboy so we can go to the storage area and load it with more hay.

As we stand outside the barn, a truck hauling ass down the gravel road kicks up dust as it speeds toward us.

Payton looks puzzled. “Is that Kane?”

I take off my hat and smooth my hair down as my brother pulls up and heads right for me.

“This is gonna be bad,” Payton mutters, “and awkward.”

Kane jumps out of the truck and rushes over. Just by the look on his face, I can tell he’s livid.

As I open my mouth to speak, he rears back his fist and decks me right in the face.