Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 51744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51744 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
She hasn’t worked at the ranch for long, so her depth of experience on this topic is pretty shallow. The same goes for all of them. Only Louisa knows how grumpy I’ve been. For years.
I sigh and take a drink of hot coffee. “Nothing to tell.”
“You’re full of it, bro.” Austin rises. “I’m going into town with Carly to pick up a package at the post office.”
“Antibiotics,” Carly adds. “For one of the pups. We’re running low so Lexie ordered some more and she asked me to get them this morning.”
“Good enough,” I tell her and then turn to Austin. “But why do you need to go? There’s work to be done around here.”
“I want to accompany my lady into town.” Austin takes Carly’s hands and pulls her out of her chair. “We’ll be back in an hour.”
I roll my eyes because ’he knows she can make it to town and back on her own just fine. Still, he wants to be with her. I can’t say I blame him. “Fine. But if you’re set on getting that billion, you need to do your share around here.”
“Got it, General”—he salutes—”but have you forgotten that today is the day I’m making arrangements for my mom’s rehab in Billings?”
“Shit.” That’s right. Austin’s mom, after much argument, is moving here. With her recent accident and her MS, she needs to be near family. She and Austin decided that it was best with her closer. In Billings, Austin can visit. When she’s released, she can come here. Their business is in Seattle, but her health comes first. “Sorry. So you get the day off, I guess.” I look to Miles, and a strange feeling of benevolence comes over me. “You know what? You take the day off too.”
Miles’s jaw drops and he looks to the ceiling. “Just checking to see if any pigs are flying overhead.”
Sadie gives him a playful swat.
“Hey, a mere minute ago he wanted us swabbing latrines, and now I get the day off? It’s got to be some kind of miracle. Or magical pussy.” Miles rises and motions to Sadie. “Let’s go before he changes his mind.”
“He won’t change his mind.” Sadie smiles. “He’s in love.”
They leave, and I finish my breakfast in peace.
With that same damned smile on my face.
After a shower, I text my foreman to find out where he needs extra help today. While it’s my ranch and I’m in charge, he runs the place. I couldn’t do it without him. Before he responds, my phone rings.
It’s Shankle. These days, I’m not sure if he’s going to share good or bad news.
“Chance Bridger,” I say into the phone.
“Hey, Chance. Tom Shankle. You got a minute?”
“Only about a minute.” I don’t want him fucking with my mood. “What’s up?”
“I need a file from your father’s office.”
“Then come on over and get it. You know I don’t go in there.”
Not the old man’s office. That was where he doled out whatever punishment he thought I deserved for whatever stupid shit he decided I’d done. Never mind that he was wrong most of the time. I need to clean that space out, exorcise it so it’s just a room. The house is mine now. Mine and my brothers’. Jonathan Bridger’s dead.
“I know, but I need your help. If you won’t go in, get one of your brothers.”
I inhale slowly. I’m being ridiculous. I’m a grown man, and I can go into that stupid office.
“Never mind.” I rise to my feet and carry my plate to the sink. Louisa’s there and I hand it off with a whispered thanks. “I have to face the place sooner or later. What do you need?”
“Jonathan kept hard copies of all documents concerning his outside businesses in the large oak file cabinet.”
I make my way through the hallways of the large ranch house to my father’s den. The door is shut, but it’s unlocked. I turn the knob. “I’m pretty sure he keeps that file cabinet locked.”
When I was young, I saw him lock that sucker up. I’m not sure if it was to keep me out or to keep the papers in.
“Not anymore,” Shankle counters. “I keep it unlocked now so I can get what I need. I’m looking for some missing documents concerning Racehorse Hauling.”
I raise my eyebrows as I slowly enter the office. “What kind of missing documents?”
Shankle coughs and then clears his throat. “Excuse me. My partner in the white-collar crime division of our firm is working with the EPA and the DOJ, and some key documents seem to be missing from some of your father’s filings. We can’t find them online.”
I roll my eyes. “Shocking.”
Another throat clear. “Get into the cabinet and look for anything marked Racehorse Hauling.”
I have no idea why he didn’t empty the files and take them to his office.