“I was thinking that maybe I’d look around the valley and see if anyone needs a ranch manager,” Ben said, studying his mug as though it held the secrets to the universe.
Silence met his words and eventually he had to look up at his brother, who was sitting back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the table, his expression unreadable.
“What?” Ben asked, all innocence.
Adam shrugged. “I’m not going to stop you if you really want to leave.”
“Good to know,” Ben said, even as he wished his brother had put up more of a fight. “In the meantime, I’m going to be working at Morgan Ranch for a couple of weeks doing a trail ride.”
“Right now?” For the first time Adam frowned. “What about all the new calves?”
“I’m sure you’ll manage without me. It’s not the first time I’ve been away.”
“Yeah, we’ll manage. Danny’s not going to like it much, but he’ll come through.” Adam abruptly stood and shoved in his chair. “Never thought you’d be the one to let me down, bro.”
Ben was aware that he was being unfair, but he needed to get away and sort his head out before he did or said something stupid. Adam had recently found the new love of his life, their father was rekindling some kind of weird relationship with their mother, Leanne, and Ben wasn’t dealing well with any of it. Did he want to be the guy who was miserable when everyone else was so fricking cheerful? He was usually the happiest guy on the planet.
When Ben didn’t reply, Adam turned on his heel and left the kitchen. Ben considered going after him and apologizing, but what was there left to say? Adam would do fine without him, and Ben needed a break.
He grimaced and rubbed his face in his hands. He had to go through with BB Morgan’s plan now. He had nothing left to lose.
“What are you doing upsetting your brother like that?”
“God, not you as well.” Ben groaned as his father came storming into the kitchen.
“And what’s this about you skipping out on us during calving season?”
“I’ll be gone for a maximum of ten days, and I’ll be right next door,” Ben said. “You can get a hold of me if there’s a real emergency.”
“Maybe I can, but where’s your loyalty to this family, eh? We need you here for calving,” Jeff said. “Why are you sucking up to the Morgans?”
Ben leaned his chair on its back legs so that he could really glare up at his father. “Because they pay me better?”
“I pay you,” Jeff growled. “My dad never gave me a cent!”
Ben had heard that more times than he’d drawn breath and didn’t feel the need to respond.
“It’s not like you to be difficult, son. I expect that from Kaiden or Danny, but you’ve always stuck things out and not complained.”
“Then maybe it’s my turn to stick my neck out and do something for myself? I’ve been doing these trail rides for a year now, Dad. Why is this one any different, and why are you making such a fuss about nothing?”
Jeff glowered at him. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
“Jealous of what?”
“People being happy. I thought Adam was bad enough, but you take the cake. Maybe if you spent less time moping around the ranch and went out to meet some nice women you’d stop sulking and get a life.”
“Gee, Dad, you’re such a motivational speaker, you should have your own talk show.” Ben stood and faced his father. “I’ll be working for BB Morgan for ten days, and then I’ll come back, and you can yell at me all you want, okay?”
“Perhaps I won’t have a job for you,” Jeff snapped. “I let you come back twelve years ago, and maybe once was enough.”
“Fine by me.” Ben walked past his father. “Have a great week.”
He kept walking until he reached the end of the long hall and took a right into his bedroom where he very carefully didn’t slam the door. There were enough drama queens at the ranch without him adding to it. The force of his father’s last words hit him hard and he sank down on the side of the bed. Had his dad meant it?
If he had ... what the hell was Ben going to be doing in two weeks’ time?
Chapter Two
Silver exited the hired Jeep and stared out over the lush green fields toward the towering bulk of the Sierra Nevada and let out her breath. It looked so empty out here and the sky was enormous. To her right there was the cutest little ranch house, and to the left a big wooden barn just like the one some enterprising kid in a musical would use to hold a show.
“This place has been here for over a hundred and fifty years,” her dad said coming to stand beside her. “Run by the same family as well.”
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Silver replied.
A dog barked somewhere, and a guy in a cowboy hat came out of the barn and walked toward them, his spurs jiggling like an old-fashioned gunslinger.
Silver’s dad stepped forward. “Hi! I’m Phil Meadows. Are you BB Morgan?”
“Yup.” The man shook her dad’s hand and then hers. He had such piercing blue eyes Silver wondered if he wore contacts. “Glad you found the place okay.” He gestured at the ranch house. “Come on in and meet my family.”
“I can’t stay long,” her dad said. “I’m leaving the Jeep here in case Silver needs it, and I’ve got a car picking me up in an hour to take me to the local airport.”
Silver frowned. “You didn’t tell me that you were going back tonight.”
“I had no choice, my love. Your sister’s got an audition tomorrow, and I promised to take her.”
Her dad sounded way too jovial, but Silver didn’t want to have an argument with him in front of the Morgan family. The fact that he was willing to leave her by herself for the first time in two years was amazing, and she wasn’t willing to sacrifice her freedom over something petty.
When she’d floated the idea of coming out to a ranch to do some research for the indie picture role, she’d expected him to immediately veto the idea like he had all her other attempts to regain her independence. When he’d agreed, on the proviso that he got to approve the place, she’d been thrilled, but suspicious.
It was her first chance to show him that she was more than capable of living her own life and picking acting roles that were serious and required her total commitment. If she got through this, she’d move on to phase two of her campaign to get her life back.
Silver paused at the door of the kitchen and surveyed the huge pine table and the elderly woman cooking at the stove.
“This is my grandma, Ruth Morgan,” BB said. “She runs the ranch and feeds the family.”
Ruth was as small-boned as Silver, and about the same height. She had the same bright blue eyes as BB and a very welcoming smile.
“My, you’re a little bitty thing, aren’t you?” She pointed at the table. “Now, sit yourself down and I’ll get you something to eat.”
“Just coffee for me, thanks,” her dad piped up. “I’ve got to go soon.”
Ruth Morgan placed mugs, cream, and sugar on the table while BB wrangled the coffeepot.
“Silver’s really looking forward to her adventure.” Her dad sipped