“You still performed your job.”

“Only because I had to.”

“I understood then that you had no choice, and admired you for doing what you had to do. Now I’d like you to extend me the same courtesy. This ranch isn’t just my livelihood. I have people who depend on me to keep the place operating in the black, and now I also have a family who will inherit the operation when I die. I owe it to my son and his kids to make this place as profitable as it can be.”

“I understand that.”

“You may understand, but you don’t see my expenses. My employee health and accident insurance is already sky-high, because ranching can be dangerous work. People get sick, of course. There’s no way for me to mitigate that situation. Anyone who is injured while on the clock is also covered. I absorb the cost of that, and I know my premiums will go up even higher when there’s an accident, which is inevitable. But there is a way to mitigate that situation. Employees who don’t follow our safety rules are booted off my payroll. It helps to keep my insurance costs down. I can’t make an exception for you. You aren’t listening to sound advice. You’re so bent on excelling that you’re taking stupid chances. If you don’t change your approach to the job, I told Wyatt to let you go.”

Erin’s throat had gone so tight that she could barely speak. “So I heard. From a second party. I would have appreciated hearing it straight from you.”

Slade raked his fingers through his hair, ruffling the dark strands in such a way that the silver ones caught more of the light. “I know telling Wyatt to threaten you with termination was a chickenshit thing for me to do. I feel bad about that.” He smiled slightly. “The night Vickie started that brawl at the bar, you performed your job and arrested me yourself. Instead of doing you the same favor, I sent Wyatt to do the dirty work. I guess I just love you too much. I couldn’t do it myself.” He released a shaky sigh. “You have more courage than I do. I’ll give credit where it’s due. But your never-say-die approach to your job here is not what I’m looking for in a ranch hand.”

“I saw my therapist tonight. I’m trying, Uncle Slade.”

“You’ll always have a home here as long as I draw breath. I love you, and you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like. But that doesn’t mean I’ll keep you in my employ when you’re taking stupid chances.”

He turned and left the kitchen. Erin glanced at the cookies, but her appetite for them was gone. She no longer even felt hungry. As she climbed the stairs to her room, she had only one consolation. Her legs were no longer as sore as they had been. Her body was beginning to adjust to the demands of the work.