“I’ve missed having time like this with you,” Luke said. “I really am glad you’re back. No matter how busy things get, we’re going to take time for this kind of shit, yes?”
Tucker didn’t have the heart to draw it out and tease. He agreed whole-heartedly. “Yes, we will do the shit. As much as our— Your wife and our jobs will allow.”
Luke grew quiet for a while. They packaged up a bag of fish to drop off for Tamara, and a bag for Ashton, as well as one for each of them to take home.
Then Luke shocked Tucker by pulling him in for a hug. He pounded him on the back briefly before tilting his head toward the skidoo. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”
“Sounds good.”
Tucker slipped into his trailer and grabbed what he needed. Then he sent a message to Ginny to meet him in the old hayloft in half an hour.
He waited for her return message, which thankfully came only minutes later.
Ginny: What are you up to?
Tucker: Come to the barn, and you’ll find out.
15
She’d seen the fishing tent out on the water earlier but had deliberately stayed away. Not only was it good for Tucker to have time away from work with his guys, fishing was not one of her favourite activities.
Figuring out what Tucker was up to now? That hit all of her interest buttons.
She grabbed a couple of important contributions to their meeting and headed out the door, striding through the crisp snow toward her destination.
She passed her brother Caleb headed the opposite way and waved a greeting. “Say hi to Tamara for me.”
“Why don’t you come and join us for dinner?” Caleb asked, pausing in the path.
She thought quickly. “Nope. Thank you for the invite, but I don’t want to stop in too often.”
He chuckled softly. “Ginny, you’re family. You live five minutes away, so stopping in on a regular basis is kind of expected.”
“Good thing I like to do the unexpected then,” she teased. “Seriously, thanks for the invite, and I will have you and everyone over to my place sometime. But not tonight.”
He dipped his chin, began to turn away then paused. “Where are you going?”
“To the barn.”
He frowned. “Ginny.”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“What are you doing in the barn that you don’t want me to know?” He said it in the same tone of voice he had used back when he took over for the family. Back then it intimidated the hell out of her, but now she was less cowed. “I am doing something that a grownup Ginny is allowed to do without further explaining herself to her brother.”
A snort escaped him. “Fine. Tell me to mind my own business.”
“Mind your own business,” she said obediently.
He downright snickered.
“I have to say, your sense of ha-ha has really improved since Tamara came on the scene.”
He mock-glared. “Go do whatever it is you don’t want to tell me you’re doing. I have dinner to get ready for.”
“I love you, big brother.” Impulsively, she threw her arms around him and planted a big kiss on his cheek.
He patted her back. “I love you too, brat. Get.”
“Getting.”
Inside the barn were familiar scents and warm contentment. She took her time walking the long line of stalls toward the old central building. Kelli was ahead of her, sweet talking one of the horses and petting its nose.
Ginny paused beside her. “You’re usually done by this time of day.”
Kelli glanced up. “Hey. Yeah, my grandpa called earlier, and I ended up talking with him for over an hour. Figured I should make up the time now, especially since Luke was out fishing with Tucker.”
“Still blows my mind that you’ve got a grandpa in the picture.” Ginny dipped her chin. “He’s a good one, too. I approve.”
Kelli snickered. “Good for Grandpa Timothy, because if you didn’t approve, I’m pretty sure he’d have boot prints on his butt right now.”
“Darn tootin’,” Ginny said, raising a hand and waiting for Kelli to give her a high-five. “You and Luke heading out dancing this Friday?”
Kelli nodded. “Tansy will be there as well. Rose might have to do something with their little sister. Driving her to Calgary for a prosthetic fitting or something.”
“We should suggest Dustin give her a ride,” Ginny said innocently. “You know, so Rose can come out dancing.”
Her sister-in-law looked confused for a moment. “Why would Dustin want to give Fern a ride? I mean I know they’re friends, but he’s busy hanging— Oh. I see what you’re doing.” Her eyes flashed. “If Dustin is driving, it’s pretty sure Shim will come along, is that what you’re thinking?”
Ginny blinked innocently. “Heaven forbid I interfere in someone’s driving schedule, but maybe it’s an option.”
They looked at each other for a moment then burst out laughing. “You know, I’ll mention it,” Kelli offered. “We’ll let Tansy and Rose decide if they want to meddle in their little sister’s love life.”
Ginny sashayed past and left Kelli to her tasks, slowing as she moved into the oldest sections of the barn.
She had memories tied up in every inch of this place. The worn wood, the hooks on the walls. The scents and the sounds and the dust motes dancing in the overhead lights. All of it as familiar as breathing.
Lost in a daydream, Ginny rounded the corner too quickly and bumped full on into one of the ranch hands.
“Jeez, sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” she admitted, grateful he’d reacted fast enough and caught hold of her before they both bounced to the ground.
The man was tall and solid, with dark scruff neatly trimmed into a beard, but when he held onto her a little longer than necessary, Ginny stepped back, forcefully swinging an arm to knock his hand away.
“No need to get feisty.” He looked her up and down, lingering on her chest too long for politeness.
Ginny had had guys staring at her boobs ever since she started to blossom at age thirteen. He wasn’t the first man to try and hold a conversation with her chest, and he probably wouldn’t be the last.
But she didn’t have to like it.
“Hey.” She clapped her hands then pointed upward. “My face is up here.”
“Not admiring your face, darlin’,” he drawled far too confidently.
And when he took the longest time to actually lift his gaze, Ginny was pretty sure she had daggers shooting out of her eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Jim Allen.” He took a small step closer, towering over her as he once again slid his gaze over her body. “And I hear you’re one smooth, cool drink of gin.”
“Lovely. Did you also hear that I’m one of your bosses?” She stepped back, because as much as she wanted to make a point, she wasn’t stupid enough to think about physically challenging the bastard. “Mind your manners. I’m sorry for running into you. Now, get back to work.”
He lifted a hand and saucily tipped his hat. “Yes, ma’am.”
She kept an eye on him as he turned and wandered off, heading out the door and toward the bunk houses.