Wyatt assured him.
Cole hooked a thumb into the top edge of his belt. “Any other big happenings?”
“Cattle drives.”
“Drives? As in plural?”
Ashley, Miranda’s chief minion, piped in then. “The drives are very popular, so we’re going to be doing several.”
Cole frowned at her. “How…?”
“We’ll drive them to the high pasture with one group of guests, then drive them back to the ranch with another.”
“You’re kidding.”
“It only makes sense,” Ashley said.
“Not if you’re a cow. They’ll lose weight if you push them all summer long.”
“Miranda is sending the calves to a feed lot once they’re weaned.”
“What?”
“Also,” Ashley said, “I’ll email you the schedule of events here on the working ranch. It’s very full this year, and you might want to plan your visits around them.”
Visits? To his own place?
Taylor put a hand on his arm. He didn’t look at her. He was about to speak when Ashley gave him a sympathetic smile. “You had to know when you left that things would change.”
He pressed his lips together, glanced down at Taylor. “Let’s take care of what we came here for.”
She nodded, and they turned as one and headed for the house.
“Why did we come?” she asked after Cole unlocked the door and they went inside.
“Because I didn’t hear from Miranda after Jancey’s encounter, so I figured something was up. I hadn’t expected to find out what the deal was so easily.”
“Good that it worked out.”
“Yes.” He stepped to the window and studied the nimrods making plans for his land. Son of a bitch.
“How wise is it to hold on to this place, Cole?”
“What do you mean?”
She drew in a breath. “I mean,” she said slowly, “that you could sell for a decent amount and buy something new. Something that doesn’t come with built-in heartaches and a lot of issues to contend with.”
He wasn’t selling. The thought made his jaw go tight. Totally the wrong move.
Before he could say anything, Taylor continued. “And don’t tell me that she’ll win. She’s winning now.”
“Thanks.”
“Cole.” He shot her a look. “You know it’s true. And sometimes, despite your best efforts, the sanest thing to do is to walk away instead of beating your head on a wall.”
He turned toward Taylor. “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing?”
Her cheeks flushed. “It might look that way, but job hunting is different. Eventually something shifts.”
He decided to ask the question. Even though he was fairly certain of the answer, and just as certain that Taylor would eventually fill him in, he wanted to know now. Get his pain all at once. “Has something shifted for you?”
“Do you want to discuss this here?” She gestured as if to remind him of where they were and what his current source of stress was.
“Just got a kick to the nuts. May as well get another.”
She let out a sigh. “I think I’ve landed a job in Seattle. I interviewed yesterday via Skype. It’s with an old associate. It’s temporary but may work into full time.”
“Congratulations.”
Her mouth tightened. “I hope you mean that.”
“I do.”
He looked back out the window. The dynamic duo were climbing onto their ATVs. He propped his palms on the windowsill and for one brief moment let his chin drop to his chest. Things were stacking up faster than he could deal with them.
“Cole?”
“I’m good.” He straightened back up, pulled in a deep breath. “I always knew you were leaving.” She nodded. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“How on earth would we ever mesh our lives?”
Good question. “Compromise?”
Her shoulders stiffened. “How?”
“Hell if I know.”
“I have a career to build, Cole.”
“A career only gives you so much.”
“But I need what it gives me.”
“I know.” He spoke softly. Admitting the truth wasn’t easy. She wanted him, but she didn’t necessarily need him. She needed her career. “I have to get some stuff, just in case the place accidentally catches fire during a lightning storm or something.”
Taylor followed his meaning. “You think she’d do that?”
“At this point, I wouldn’t put much of anything past her.”
* * *
CHUCKY DANCED INTO the laundry room as Taylor started folding the clothes she’d pulled out of the dryer. Jancey followed him into the room, a laundry basket on one hip.
“Here, I’m done,” Taylor said. “Small load.”
“Cool.”
Jancey opened the lid to the washer and dumped the entire basket in—whites, jeans, a red T-shirt. When she glanced up and saw Taylor’s expression of horror, she gave a small shrug. “I know, but this is easier.”
“Did someone do your laundry on the ranch?”
“No. That was all me.” She gave Taylor a frowning look. “Cole won’t tell me what went on at the ranch.”
Then it wasn’t her place to fill his sister in. “I’m not sure what happened.”
Jancey frowned at her. “Did you sit in the truck or something?”
“I thought it was best to let Cole handle things.”
The nonanswer worked. Jancey snorted and then poured soap directly into the washer, ignoring the dispenser tray. Taylor wouldn’t have been surprised had she added a few glugs of straight bleach, but she closed the lid.
“I don’t want Cole all stressed out. I shouldn’t have threatened Miranda.”
