Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
It had always taken me a second to hammer things out in my brain. I was built to react, like a coiled snake. Thinking everything through happened later.
Mac telling me he was bi made me recognize that truth. For better or worse, Mac spanned the gap between Rand and me and allowed me to open up and not be so defensive. And that ease with Rand had me giving Zach another chance, so really, the nexus of everything was Mac. I could have fit Maclain Gentry into my world, but he already had a place at the Red Diamond. We could all coexist if I would stop being so defensive and angry and just breathe. Not that Mac and I would ever be anything more than passing acquaintances, but still, there could be a ceasefire. It all started with me—I was the one carrying the banner into battle, so I had to be the one to call the truce. It was what Stef had wanted all along, for bridges to be built and crossed. Communication had to start somewhere.
Walking around the camp, I checked the tents, since I knew Rand wasn’t about to be a sardine in a can in one of the cabins, and finally found the one he and Zach were in. Slipping inside, I moved over to Rand’s bunk and knelt down beside his head. Beau was sleeping under the cot, but he didn’t stir even when I had my knee down next to his nose. I shook Rand gently, and his eyes fluttered open.
“Hey,” I said, smiling down at him.
He squinted a second and then jerked under my hand. “What time is it? What’s the matter? Are you all right? Is your side hurtin’ you or—”
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” I soothed. “I just wanted to say I was sorry for being a dick when the drive first started, and to thank you for taking care of me when I got hurt.”
He stared at me for a moment. “Am I awake?”
I snorted out a soft laugh. “Just accept the damn apology, will you?”
“Yeah, all right,” he agreed, smiling sleepily up at me. “And just so you know, I wanted you on the drive, Glenn. You make it easy for me.”
“No, I don’t. The opposite is true and we both know it.”
He shook his head. “No, sir. I didn’t worry one time yesterday until I knew you were hurt, and having you with the wagon afterward and today was great.”
It was a nice thing to say. “This just ain’t me no more.”
“I know it,” he said, studying my face. “But that don’t mean you got no home on the Red. Working it and living on it are two different things. You go on and ask Stef if that ain’t the God’s truth.”
I nodded.
He reached up and patted me gently on the cheek. “Just visit more, for crissakes, will you, please? It ain’t like seeing you pains me or nothin’.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” I promised as I got up. “And again, thanks for taking care of me.”
“I know you won’t see a doctor, but will you lie and say you will?”
I grinned down at him. “You bet.”
He shook his head, and I headed for the tent flap.
“It wouldn’t kill you to come out and see me,” my brother muttered behind me.
“We’re all busy, Zachariah,” I said, turning toward the sound of his voice, unable to see him. “But since you get Sundays off, maybe you can find it in your schedule to go fishin’ with me or watch a game. I’ll even drive out and fetch you.”
He cleared his throat. “I’d like that. Call me, would you?”
I would definitely make an effort because it was now or never with the bridge building. If I wanted him in my life, I had to make an effort. And so did he, but I’d been the one hurt and so had the ax to grind. They all responded to me, to my anger and hurt; they weren’t carrying it around for anyone else.
Outside, I took a deep breath and felt better than I had all day, even with the twinge of pain in my side. Since I needed to talk to Mac as well, I went looking for his tent, and when I came around the corner of the encampment, nearly collided with Robin Brady.
“Shit,” he gasped, flustered, as he grabbed at me to steady himself. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
“’Course not. No way you could have,” I said gently, lowering my voice in hopes he’d follow my example. It was very early in the morning, and he was loud.
“I was just—” He stopped, and his eyes searched my face as he let go of me. “May I ask what you’re doing out here so late?”
“I was looking for Mac’s tent.”