I give her a wave, then finally get up and head for the shower. Staying up late during the week isn’t something I like to do because of how early I have to get up in the mornings, but I want to spend as much time with Kenzie before she returns to school. I really can’t wait until she graduates in the spring and is home permanently. It’s just not the same here without her.

After I clean up, I take an hour nap and reset my brain before I begrudgingly go to the bar. Though I may not stay until close like Kenzie wants, I hope it makes them happy to know their peer pressure still works after all these years.

Chapter Two

GAVIN

Over the weekend, I moved all my shit into one of the spare ranch hand cabins. Though the new place is furnished, I still had a lot to pack and bring with me. I also couldn’t leave Houston without my favorite saddle and rope. I thought I could pack up and move in with little effort, but it took an entire day just to load my truck. Then it rained during the whole damn drive to Eldorado.

This morning, I woke up extra early for my first official day on the job. I’ve already taken a shower and drunk a cup of coffee, and I still have forty-five minutes before I have to meet with Alex Bishop, the ranch manager. Instead of waiting around and watching the clock, I decide to head out.

The directions Jackson, my new boss, gave me are comical. The map he emailed me does not have any named roads—just barns, curbs, and cactus patches—and it looks like a five-year-old drew it. It’s Southern directions at their finest. After I drive over nine cattle guards, I should see a metal building on the right.

Even though I live on the ranch, it’s so massive it takes me nearly fifteen minutes to arrive where I need to be. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but I’m grateful to see lights on in the shop and an old pickup outside. I park and enter, not sure what to expect.

Alex, who I met previously, is drinking a cup of coffee at a desk. He’s Jackson’s younger brother and about ten years older than me. Two guys in their mid-twenties give each other shit, and he watches them with a grin. After a moment, Alex notices me.

“Alright, if you ladies are done, Gavin’s here,” Alex interrupts them.

They both turn and size me up. By their expressions, I don’t think they knew a new employee was starting today.

“Gavin, this is my son, Riley.”

He didn’t have to tell me because they look nearly identical other than their age. I take Riley’s hand and shake it firmly.

“This is Diesel, he runs the cattle operation,” Alex continues.