Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Gabe called his name, but he didn’t stop until he heard someone else clear their throat. He stopped and turned, seeing an older man, probably in his mid-fifties. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and lips gave it away. His hair also had some white streaks running through it.
For some reason, Vinny just knew this was Annalise’s stepfather.
“I’m Raymond Davenport, I would like to talk to you about Annalise’s employment.” He removed his glasses and straight away, Vinny didn’t like him. There was something about this son of a bitch that rubbed him the wrong way. It wasn’t the expensive clothes or the designer watch. It was the man’s eyes—cruel and entitled. The bastard was smug, the kind of man he couldn’t stand.
“What about it?” Gabe asked.
Vinny moved closer, showing support, as did Archie. They were a team, a unit, even if he did want to shovel hay and imagine he was hitting Gabe with his fork over and over again.
“I would like you to terminate her employment.” He reached into his jacket pocket. “I am more than happy to compensate you for her time, and of course the money you have already paid her.”
“Why?” Gabe asked.
“Pardon me?”
“You expect me to fire a perfectly good employee just because you say so. Why?”
“It would be in your best interest to do so. Annalise is a troubled girl. I am only looking out for her.”
“Looking out for her?” Gabe asked. “Now, the last time I checked, when you force someone to fire another, remove them from their home, and genuinely make their life miserable, that is not looking out for someone.”
“Just give me a number of what it would take for you to get rid of her,” Raymond said.
“Nothing. No amount of money is going to get her away from us.” Gabe moved closer. “Annalise belongs to us.”
Vinny couldn’t see Gabe’s face, but whatever Raymond saw, it was enough for him to take a step back while also putting his checkbook away.
“I see. You should have taken the money. You’re making a huge mistake.”
“Get the fuck off my property, right now,” Gabe said.
“I’m assuming you don’t know who I am, but you will regret this,” Raymond said.
The man didn’t linger. He turned on his heel and walked right over to his overpriced SUV.
“What the hell was that all about?” Vinny asked.
“I know what the stepfather is trying to do,” Gabe said.
“What?” Archie asked.
“He’s trying to push Annalise into a situation where she has no choice but to beg him for help, and when she has nothing left to lose, the son of a bitch is going to strike. Raymond Davenport wants his stepdaughter,” Gabe said.
Chapter Six
Three weeks later
Archie backed up one of the livestock trailers up to the corral. With his arm propped out the window, he maneuvered the truck until he was close enough to lower the ramp. He cut the engine and hopped out, grabbing his Stetson before slamming the door shut.
Life on the farm had been tense lately.
He’d barely talked to his friends, and Annalise did her job without saying more than two words. How long could they all live in fucking silence? Vinny’s foursome fantasy, Gabe pissing off Annalise, and the stepfather appearing out of the woodwork were all creating a living nightmare. He wished they could go back in time and undo all this bullshit.
Today he had to load twenty sheep and goats, ten piglets, and an assortment of their so-called “cute and cuddly” herd for a local event. They rented out animals for events, fairs, and seasonal petting zoos. They were always looking to maximize their revenue on the ranch. Keeping all their eggs in one basket had gotten them flat broke a couple of times, so they’d learned from their mistakes. He’d never forget the year they lost almost everything during a drought when they’d put everything into cash crops. Every field had to be plowed over. It was a disaster.
“I thought you might want to take your lunch since you’ll be gone a while.”
He turned to find Annalise approaching him with a brown paper bag. There was no one else around at this end of the ranch.
“That’s for me?”
She nodded, outstretching her arm.
“Mighty thoughtful of you. Who told you I’d be gone?”
“Gabe mentioned it after breakfast.”
He hated that they said exactly what they needed to say and not a word more. How long would he be able to keep going on like this?
“I should be back by dinner, but these little fluffballs can be a real pain in the ass.” He set the paper bag on the fender and reached into one of the pens and pulled up one of their long-haired baby bunnies. Her eyes lit up and, for the first time in years, he didn’t resent the little fuckers.
He walked closer to her and handed her the bunny.