“Why now? We have been discussing a lot of this for the last few years and you have always had a reason why it wasn’t an appropriate time and I didn’t hear any of the ideas you wanted to try up for discussion. The insemination was mine and Maddie is the first one that mentioned the riding program for the schools.” I can’t wait another minute before I ask some questions.

  “You are right. The one thing I do want to do is bailing the back acreage for hay. Since we won’t have as many horses grazing then we should have enough hay to share when our neighbors need it and some to sell.” Rye shifts in his chair. “I also am going to be turning the day to day operation of the ranch over to you. I want to take some time for myself.” Aunt Deb looks at Rye. “Some time for Rye and me. He’s asked me to be his ol’ lady and I have said yes.” I see Aunt Deb relax now that she has finally told me what she was dreading or what I am guessing she was dreading. Aunt Deb starts to go on, but I hold my hand up to let her know to stop.

  “I know this was weighing on you. I could see the stress it was causing you, but it will be alright, Aunt Deb. You more than deserve whatever time you take and if that is the rest of my life then you would still deserve more. You kept this ranch going when mom decided to go off on her own and you have been here every day since then. You have very seldom taken more than a couple of days of vacation unless it was something to do with us girls. I should have taken on more responsibility around here when I graduated.” Aunt Deb is up out of her chair and is hugging my shoulders before I know what’s happening. “Rye what in the hell have you done to my aunt?” Aunt Deb stands up straight and looks at me.

  “If you are not ready for this, we can do it gradually. I am always here for my girls.” I knew this is the way Aunt Deb would react to my words, but it isn’t the way this is going to work out. I look towards Rye and the old man’s eyes have a soft look in them as he looks at Aunt Deb.

  “No, please, go sit down Aunt Deb.” She does as I say. I wait until she is settled and now, I have both of their attention. “You will need time to adjust to being with a man and I am sure that Rye is going to need the same adjustment time. Your only focus needs to be on your relationship to give it the best shot at working.” I look from one to the other one and they both nod their heads. “Where do you plan to live?” The two look at each other and then back to me.

  “Oklahoma will be our home base but we would be here when needed or whenever Deb has the urge to be here. I won’t give up my club even though I am getting a little long in the tooth. Deb has her responsibilities to you and Maddie, and I have mine to Bourbon and the club.” I can understand that.

  “I will only be a phone call, text, or email away when I’m not here. We keep the ranch’s daily updates on the computer, so I can be on the same page as you are.” Aunt Deb won’t relax about her move this way. She’ll obsess about every little thing. I can’t let that happen. It would be an unpleasant situation for everyone involved.

  “Can you give me six months while we make the transfer of operations? I want you to understand that I have no right to ask for this amount of time since you have put in such arduous work on the ranch. I just need you to help me get my footing since there are going to be so many changes. I will take point on all the new ventures, but I want you to be able to run them all if anything ever happens to me. You can do most of this from your computer, so you can be in Oklahoma. We just need to sit down and discuss the particulars pertaining to budgets and expectations and troubleshoot anything that might pop up. I also need a list of studs that would be candidates for our investment. I already have a list that I want you to look at, and we need to discuss the number of studs we’ll need. I will get a quote on insurance on each one before we make an acquisition.” I take a breath and I see that I have confused Aunt Deb and Rye, so I sit back and wait for Aunt Deb to say something.

  “That was a lot of words for such a little woman,” Rye tells me.

  “You don’t want me here anymore? I thought this would be difficult for us to do but I never thought you would be glad I was leaving.” It’s my turn to laugh. I reach across the table and take Aunt Deb’s hand in mine.

  “I’m not glad you are leaving silly. I just know you deserve happiness with the person that makes you happy. This ranch has taken most of your energy and attention for years and what was left you gave to Maddie and me. I am happy for you and Rye, but I also know that if this is an indefinite thing where you try to help run the ranch by computer that you will drive everyone insane because you are a perfectionist. When you’re in Oklahoma you will obsess over the ranch and then when you’re here you will feel guilty for leaving Rye or making him come with you. That will only lead to you going crazy and that isn’t good for anyone. If you can just give me the time I ask for, then you can relax. I can do this but if I get into trouble, I will call you for backup. Besides that, if I know Maddie, she is going to want to be hands-on with the school project. She has talked about doing something similar in Colorado so we may be able to expand once we’re organized.” This just feels right. Like life has a new plan for all of us.

  “Micah, I don’t want you tying yourself to this ranch. You are young, and you need to be able to stretch your wings and experience life.” Aunt Deb is so serious. “This ranch can suck the life right of you if you let it. It consumes your time and every bit of energy that you have.” I have so many ideas popping into my head on how this can work and there isn’t a negative one in the bunch. Then a thought occurs to me.

  “No, it won’t. I know there is a lot of responsibility running the ranch day to day, but if you and Maddie agree to a few minor changes I think this can work out for all of us.” I tell the two of them.

  “What other changes do you want? A lot is being changed at once, are you sure you can adjust?” I hope I can, and I will give it my best shot.

  “All I want to add to our growing list is where I live.” Aunt Deb’s eyes get huge and I know she is going to go off on me. I brace myself.

  “Deb, she listened to you with an open mind so give the same respect back to Micah. The girl has a good head on her shoulders and she’s trying to make this easier on you.” Rye calms Aunt Deb some but I can still see the turmoil behind her eyes.

  “Aunt Deb this house will always be special to me and it is home but if I am going to be here on most days I need a place to make my own and I wouldn’t change a thing about the house I grew up in. But this place would never be mine and I want my space and to be fair, if Henry is going to be my right-hand man on the ranch until he retires he deserves his private space as well. If we aren’t going to need to hire the seasonal ranch hands, then we’re going to have two extra bunk houses and they both could be converted into decent sized houses. I would foot the bill for everything. I have more than enough money in my savings just from this year.” This can work.

  “Absolutely not. The ranch will absorb the cost. Henry is a worker for the ranch, and he is a personal friend to each one of us. It’s not right for you to foot the bill.” Aunt Deb is just speaking her mind and that is something her and I understand. Rye doesn’t seem upset in the least. I raise my hand to stop Aunt Deb.

  “You need to hear me out. I will pay for mine entirely and that is the last word that will be spoke about it. My mind is set. Now Henry’s, my idea is to give Henry the five acres around the south bunk house. This can be part of his retirement package.” I raise my hand again because I know Aunt Deb will argue with me. “If you want me to pay the ranch for the five acres then I will do that, but I am guessing that pasture is where you want to cut hay, so giving the five acres closest to the fences would hurt nothing. Henry has worked here for years and he deserves a house and five acres of land for all the demanding work and loyalty he has shown us. We can offer the acreage and house or a cash payout when he wants to retire. It’s the right thing to do. I know we need to confer with Maddie on all this, but it just feels right.” That’s all I have. I feel like my brain needs to take a rest for a while.

  “I know Henry deserves the land and a house, but he is a very proud man and I don’t want to injure his male pride. He doesn’t take handouts and I am afraid that he will see this as us trying to shove him into retirement and give him something for free and again the ranch will pay for it. What are your plans for our house if you are moving out?” Aunt Deb has a good point.

  “I hadn’t thought of it that way and I hope Henry is here for many more years. I think you, Maddie, and I can convince him to accept it. We just need team- work.” I think about this house for a second. “We could leave the house as it is. You and Rye can come in whenever you want, and you’ll have your room and the office here. You’ve always been the head of this house and it shouldn’t change. You grew up here just like Maddie and I did but you have so many memories here of Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa. Maddie, Dra, and the kids can come visit and they can convert my room into the children’s room. We still have two guest rooms in case you have guests with you. We can expand the office in the barn, so Henry and I will have a place to work. I can have someone come in once a week to keep things tidy and the kitchen stocked. You and Rye need to discuss this amongst yourselves and then we can talk again and approach Maddie.” I’m done with the hard thinking for today.

  “Do you think you can get all this set up in six weeks?” Rye asks me.

  “I think within six weeks we can have it worked out so Aunt Deb can be away whenever she wants to be and on a permanent bases if that is what she desires. I’m no pushover when it comes to business and I have had a very good teacher when it comes to running the ranch with a firm hand. So, to answer your question, yes, I do.” We all sit and look at each other. The pounding on the front door brings all three of us out of our thoughts.

  “Hummingbird I think you might want to get clothes on before we are intruded on. I’ll get the door.” I stand up and look at Rye.

  “I’ll get it. Time to get started on my new position around here.” Rye laughs at my joke. Like I haven’t been answering our front door since I was big enough to reach the door handle. I leave the two as they are making their way down the back hall to Aunt Deb’s room. I make it to the door and the pounding has gotten louder. I open the door and there stands the man that I didn’t want to see.

  10

  Sarge…

  I have been pounding on this door for a good ten minutes. Are these people deaf? I noticed Rye’s motorcycle is still here and Deb’s truck and I know neither of them have any hearing issues. I beat on the wooden door one more time and the door opens. Micah is standing there with her mouth open and I would be lying if I said I haven’t missed the woman that is a pain in my ass but damn standing there with here long blonde hair and those beautiful blue eyes makes me want to bend her over any available surface. My jeans are getting snug and my blood is boiling hot. I may have sworn off Micah but what’s the harm in a little fun? I have made it clear of what the score is between us. I know I might be giving mixed signals but right now I couldn’t care less. We both enjoy sex, hard and dirty. Our chemistry when it comes to our sexual appetites has always been one of mutual satisfaction.

  “Darlin’, I have missed your beautiful face and you need to shut that hanging mouth before I think of it as an invitation. I think we might need to have a private talk before I leave, you know, to hash some things out between us.” I give her my full panty-melting smile. She looks a little shocked and then some other look comes over her face and it’s not an expression I can figure out on her. I can usually read her like a book, but this is one I haven’t seen before and my smile doesn’t seem to do it for her today.

  “What do you want Sarge? We’re a bit busy today and if you came here for a booty call, I’m not interested,” Micah responds in a determined voice. I need to come at this from another angle. She’ll give in, she always does.

  “I’m here to speak to Deb, and I am not leaving until I get to speak to her. This is about your ranch and I want to give her fair warning. I have been leaving voicemails and sent her an email, but I want to make sure she received them.” Micah has a smile on her face.

  “If it has to do with the ranch then it’s me that you need to talk to. Things are changing around here, and we have all been busy.” I look at Micah closer, well I mean I look closer at her face and I see a determined look in her eyes.

  “Your aunt is the one that takes care of the day-to-day business at this ranch. You’re only here in between rodeos or whatever else is going on in your life. I need someone that can give me information.” Now I have pissed her off.

  “I think that is about enough boy. Micah is taking over the ranch now and she doesn’t need some snot-nosed asshole to try and undermine her. Get in the damn house and shut the door.” Rye is in his usual bad mood. Rye and I have never butted heads before but that might change real damn fast.

  “I’m not your boy and you have nothing to say about anything here so get Deb so I can talk to her.” I don’t even flinch at the intimidation Rye is trying to put out.

  “Okay boys settle down.” I see Deb enter the room. “We don’t need a pissing match.” Deb puts her hand on Rye’s back as if she’s trying to calm him down. I don’t know what the hell riled him up. “Micah, let Sarge in so you can shut the door. We don’t have neighbors close enough to hear but we don’t need to be putting on a show for the ranch hands. You know Henry will have some of the hands up here in no time.” Micah opens the door wider, so I can step in and she shuts the door. “Now Sarge, what brings you here this morning? We were in the middle of some family business decisions and this isn’t an appropriate time for a guest. If you have something to say, then get to it so we can get you gone and then we can finish our business.” I am used to this attitude from Deb, she is a no-nonsense type of woman and she doesn’t sit around talking things to death and that is why I like her. She sees a problem and takes care of it and then lets it go. She sees no reason to talk about it.

  “Why Is Micah taking over the ranch? You are in your gorgeous prime and this ranch runs like clock-work with you at the reins.” I want to know so I ask. It may step over a few lines, but I’m not a man that believes in living inside the lines.

  “Not your business. Let’s take this in my office so we can all sit down.” I see the glare that Rye is giving me, and Micah won’t even look at me. Deb leads the way into her office with Rye right behind her. I let Micah go in front of me. I notice that Deb starts to move a chair beside her desk, but Rye takes it from her hands.

  “Never thought I would see the day you were any woman’s lap dog. Rye, times are definitely changing.” I can’t keep from giving out another dig to Rye. He starts to get out of the chair he just took a seat in. Deb puts her hand on Rye’s shoulder. I laugh a full belly laugh.

  “Boy, mind your mouth or I will pull your ass outside and show you exactly how this lap dog can still kick your ass.” I wish Rye would swing on me. I have days of aggression I need to work out of me. I sit down in front of Deb’s desk, in a chair, I am sure she made a lot of men squirm in. Micah takes the other chair and moves it further away from me. I smile at her. Go ahead darlin’, keep trying to run.

  “Sarge, this is your last warning, stop the little barbs or leave. We’re all adults here so act like it.” Deb is letting me know to shut up and get to it. I start to do just that, but Deb goes on, “I am guessing this about all the messages you sent to me the last few days. I listened to them and I have gone over every acre of our property and there is nothing out of the ordinary here. I did call the university in Mt. Pleasant and they are sending out a man named,” Deb types something in her computer, “Hemric Preece to look into the man’s claim about the soil. It’s not like we would move on anything but if it becomes legal, we will have that option if we needed. Only a fool would not at least think about the options especially if we could help others that have a medical need.” I see the surprised look on Micah’s face, but Rye is not surprised at all. “Micah this was something else we needed to discuss today but since Sarge is here we can do it now to an extent. The other issues we can discuss when he leaves.” Deb is looking at Micah. “Since this is a new situation and I barely scratched the surface on it, Micah, you can take care of this one, so you will know what information we have to make the decisions that need to be made.” I guess Micah was telling the truth. “What Micah said earlier about her taking over is true and it is none of anyone’s business but ours. The paperwork will be filled out and filed and everything will be in order so start answering questions for her or say what you need to.” I know Micah can do this but that means she will need to give up the rodeo circuit and I can’t see her giving it up. She craves the adrenalin rush she gets from the competition. We are alike in that sense but mine is the rush of the hunt or the freedom of my bike.

  “I wish you the best then Deb and I know Micah can run this ranch just the way you have,” I tell Deb sincerely. “I just don’t know how you are going to pull it off with this old biker.” I nod toward Rye. Deb looks surprised I have her figured out, but Rye and Micah just give a nod of their heads.

  “I would almost give you a thank you, but you just insulted my man again and you are beginning to get on my last nerve so let’s move on. What have you got for us?” Deb asks but gives me no chance to answer. “I kept the card the man gave me and the letter introducing himself. I contacted the school and the college professor introducing the young men that came out. He says they were legit, but you explained why that was. I just don’t know what the men thought they would get out of pulling the wool over my eyes like they did. This property is paid for outright and has been for years. Our property taxes are payed every year ahead of time. We have no leans on the property and it will never be for sale, not while I am still alive. Do you know why these men would think knowing about the composition of our soil would in any way help them?”