Chapter Ten
Everything was up in the air. His entire life was hanging by a thread. He should be more worried than he was, but in truth, in the back of his mind and in his heart, he knew that his father had ensured the safety of his future.
There was no doubt of his father’s love. There never had been. He’d been lucky enough to be raised by two people who loved one another and him. Unconditionally.
That love had been the foundation of his life, which had allowed him to grow into the man he was today.
Unlike his cousin, Nick had been raised to work for what he had. For as long as he could remember, he’d worked the ranch. Long hard days side by side with both of his parents.
When his mother had been alive, he’d split his time working with his dad or working with his mother. After his mother’s death, he’d taken over all the duties she’d done around the property. His father’s health had forced him to slide into both roles over the past few years.
Could his uncle Wilbert, his aunt Marge, and Willy ever fill those roles? Did they know just how much work went into running the hundred-acre place?
“You’re very quiet over there.” Kara’s voice broke into his thoughts.
He glanced over at her. They were walking the horses along a well-traveled path around her property line. The sun was shining on her face, turning her cheeks a shade of pink that flattered her very much. Her hair was tied in a long braid that lay over her shoulder.
She looked like a rancher. Strong. Healthy. Beautiful.
“Just thinking about the future,” he answered. “Have you ever wondered where you’ll be twenty years from now?”
She smiled. “Sure, I’ll be right here.” She motioned with her chin. “Why would I want to leave paradise?”
He smiled at her answer. “No big city dreams? You once mentioned wanting to move away. College in Denver, I believe it was.”
She laughed. “I was a child.” She rolled her eyes.
“Was?” he joked and had her laughing.
“What about you? Did you ever want to leave?” she asked.
He thought about it. “Travel, yes, but leave?” He shook his head. “I supposed after my injuries, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but here.” He motioned with his head towards his land.
She was quiet for a moment. “What will you do if…”
“I don’t know,” he said when she didn’t finish the question. “I guess I haven’t thought that far ahead. I still believe in my heart that my father wouldn’t leave me high and dry.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she agreed. “He loved you very much.” She reached across the space and touched his arm.
He felt so much lighter at her words. It was as if having her confirm his thoughts solidified them.
“What do you say we let these two get some real exercise?” He motioned towards the horses.
“A race?” Kara’s eyebrows rose.
“Sure,” he agreed.
“Are you going to bet me another date?” she teased.
He smiled. “This time, whoever wins gets to pick the place we go.”
She nodded, then glanced around and nodded. “To the old oak?”
“You’re on,” he agreed and then laughed when she kicked Bella’s sides and had the horse sprinting away, leaving him and Crash behind.
In the end, they were neck to neck when they stopped under the large oak tree. They walked for a while to let them rest as they talked about the town and what had happened the day before between Daryl and Willy.
He knew that Willy and Wilbert had always had a problem with Daryl. According to them, the man lived on the ranch rent-free and was nothing more than a squatter.
They, of course, didn’t see all the man did for the property. Daryl worked three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Sometimes ten to twelve hour shifts. All because he wanted to, not because he had to.
His father had tried to give Daryl vacations every year, but the man always spent his time off doing what he loved the best—working the land and helping the animals.
Nick didn’t know if Daryl had any family. He had at one point had an old dog named Scratch. When the dog had died, Daryl claimed it was too hard on him to get another to replace his best friend. Instead, he’d thrown himself into his work and had spent more time training horses with Nick.
His father had never charged Daryl a dime for rent, yet the man continued to drop a check off each month for the old ranch house he lived in. At this point, his father should have just given him the place and the land it sat on. The man had earned it.
“I never figured your uncle and cousin as racists,” Kara said as they reached the barn.
“They’re a lot of things,” he admitted as they turned the corner. Glancing towards his place, he noticed a truck in front of his house. “I’d better go see who that is.” He motioned to his home.
She frowned and followed his gaze. “Need help?”
“No. I’m sorry I won’t be able to help you out today around here.”
She waved him off. “Go. We’ll have time to talk later on our date,” she said with a smile. “I’ll pick where you’re taking me.”
He laughed, feeling better than he had in days. He kicked Crash into a trot heading home.
When he reached the gate that separated his property from Kara’s, he could see that the truck was a newer model. It still had temporary tags on it, and there was a horse trailer attached to the back.
Whoever it was had opened the barn door and was inside.
When he dismounted from Crash, Willy stepped out of the barn, holding the reins of Bolt, leading the horse out towards the trailer.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my horse?” he asked, tying Crash’s reins off before storming over to Willy.
“Just cleaning the place out,” Willy said, jerking the reins away from him. “Pa told me to have the place empty by the time he gets here.”
“I don’t give a fuck what your father said. This is my property. My horse.” Nick reached up and took Bolt’s reins back. The horse, now completely spooked, jerked his head several times.
He marched over and tied Bolt next to Crash, letting both horses settled down.
The meeting with his uncle had been pretty much what he’d thought it would be. His uncle demanding Nick move out of his property, even though the will hadn’t been read yet. In the end, he’d thought he’d convinced his uncle to leave everything alone until after the will had been read. His uncle had stormed out, and Nick had thought that was the end of it.
“You’re just putting off the inevitable,” Willy said, heading back into the barn.
Nick was on his heels and stopped him from opening Thunder’s stall door.
Willy spun on his heels and caught Nick off guard. The first punch to the jaw hadn’t hurt. The second one to the eye did. By the time Willy swung at him a third time, Nick was ready and easily ducked and swung back.
His first hit Willy in the jaw, hard enough that his cousin flew back against the stall door before sinking to the cement floor.
“You did it. My pa is going to have everything now,” Willy spewed. He spit blood as he started to get up.