“I want another drink,” he said, standing up.

“Am I your designated driver?” Caleb looked disgusted.

“If you have a problem with that... You should yell at Jacob for not coming.”

A smile tipped up the corner of Caleb’s mouth. “Yeah, I suppose so. Though we could also see if we can ferret him out to get him to play designated driver.”

“Now, that,” Gabe said, slapping his hand on the table, “is a good idea.”

There was a buzzing sound, and Caleb leaned back and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Dammit,” he said.

“What? Is there a fire you have to get out to?” Gabe asked.

“No,” he said. “That would come over the radio. It’s just Ellie. Amelia is sick,” he said. “Ellie was just wondering if I was able to go out and get some pain reliever.” He typed a response then waited a moment, shifting in his chair. “I’m just going to get her some.”

“We just got here,” Gabe said.

“I know,” Caleb said. “What exactly do you want Ellie to do? Drag Amelia out to the store when she isn’t feeling well? So that I can sit here and drink as late as I want? That would be an asshole move.”

Gabe sighed. “Yeah, okay, fair enough. I’ll hold that drink.”

“Sorry,” Caleb said. “But you know...she doesn’t have him. She should.”

“Don’t tell me you feel responsible for it, too,” Gabe said, shaking his head.

“No,” Caleb said, his voice rough. “I feel responsible for her.”

“All right, then. Let’s get going.”

They stood and Gabe settled the tab on the way out. And the whole way back to Caleb’s truck, Gabe wondered.

What it must be like to have such wholehearted dedication to something.

Jacob had his guilt. Caleb had Ellie.

Gabe was caught between a career he’d never loved and a ranch that he still didn’t control.

And that was starting to feel unacceptable.

CHAPTER FIVE

WHEN JAMIE ARRIVED at the barn the next morning, Gabe was nowhere to be seen. But there was a list of assignments left out for her. The first of which were easy enough. Take Gus and Lola and ride them around. Take Gus up on a trail ride and see how he fared.

Then there were a few ranch chores that she was a little bit less experienced with. One of which included replacing the motor on one of the automatic gates on the property. The part was next to the instructions, and she squared her shoulders.

“Just figure it out,” she said out loud to only herself.

He was treating her like a ranch hand, the way that she had asked to be treated. And Wyatt and Bennett and Grant were wrong.

People didn’t see her as a lost little girl.

Gabe wouldn’t have left a motor and minimal instruction for a lost little girl. He wouldn’t have even done that for a lady, she didn’t figure.

So whatever had happened yesterday with him opening the door and all that... It didn’t matter. It didn’t matter because he was wrong.