the guy wants to get it done as soon as possible, and I can’t be away for that long at this time of year. Neither can Jackson.”
Yeah, that was all Ben needed—a reminder that he wasn’t as vital to the operation of his family ranch as everyone else....
“What about your military buddies?”
For the first time, BB hesitated. “It has to be someone I trust one hundred percent. The father wants the whole thing kept under the radar so she doesn’t have to worry about the press or any of that crap.”
“He thinks they’d follow her here to Morgan Valley?” It was Ben’s turn to smile. “Who is it? Meryl Streep?”
“There’s more to it than that, but I need to see if you’re on board before I tell you the rest.” BB set his mug down on the table. “He’s offering four times the normal rate if we can guarantee her privacy.”
“Four times?” Ben whistled. Even after the Morgan Ranch took its cut, he’d be rolling in dough, and he needed something different to do to sort his head out. “Okay, I’m in. What’s the catch?”
BB’s grin was wicked. “Well . . .”
* * *
When Ben got home, his head was still buzzing with all the stuff BB had dropped on him—stuff that he couldn’t tell anyone without losing the contract. He went into the now-quiet dark kitchen and helped himself to a cup of coffee from the metal pot on the stove his father still preferred while everyone else used the one-cup machine.
“You okay?”
He spun around to see Adam sitting at the table in the dark.
“Jeez, you stalking me or something?” Ben inquired as he got his breath back.
“I just wanted to make sure that you don’t want me to talk to Dad.”
Ben walked over and took the seat opposite his older brother. “Can you just drop it?”
Adam stared at him, his gaze measuring. “You’re the one who seems to be struggling to let it go.”
“I need to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.” Ben paused. “Do you still want me working here?”
“Of course I do. What a stupid thing to ask!” Adam said. “You’re my goddam rock.”
“But you’re the boss now. You have the power to hire and fire anyone.”
“Like Dad’s going to roll over and let that happen?” Adam raised an eyebrow. “He might have decided to leave me the place, but he’s not going to stop trying to run it just the way he wants.”
Ben took a long slug of coffee. “Maybe he’ll move to New York to be near Mom.”
“Are you kidding, Ben? Dad in New York? He’d hate every second of it.” Adam set his cup down on the table. “I figure it’s more likely that Leanne will move back here, don’t you?”
Ben tried to imagine the mother who’d left them over twenty years ago coming back for good and couldn’t get his head around it. She was definitely getting on with their dad, and apparently they’d talked things through and forgiven each other—something Ben found unbelievable, knowing his father’s legendary ability to hold a grudge. He didn’t like all the changes happening around him; he didn’t feel settled anymore. It reminded him way too much of his late teens, and he never wanted to feel like that again.
“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
