West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(11)

Another thing my mother taught us.

“Yes, sir.”

I sit, wishing I never did in the first place.

“I think you should get your head out of your ass. Let her ride the damn horse, because I know that’s what she’s upset about, and while you’re at it, find a girlfriend and get laid. Maybe then you’d be a little nicer.”

I sit here stunned. Seriously. The last part really has me. I expected the opinion on horses—he’s never hidden that—but…what the hell?

Before I can say anything, there’s a loud banging on the door.

“Infinity Ridge Police. Open up, Tristan, I have a few questions.”

My father turns to me. “What the hell did you do this time?”





“And are you responsible for taking the horses or know who might have?” Officer Langston asks for the third time, tapping his pen on the kitchen table.

“No.”

This is absolutely ridiculous. For all we know, the Gatlins are doing this shit themselves and calling the cops to harass us.

Jimmy—whom I’ve known since we were six, who was my best man in my wedding, and who is Sadie’s godfather—sighs heavily. “Tristan, every week I’m out here because of this feud.”

“I’m aware.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “You act like I don’t know about the beef between your families. Who the hell else is doing this crap?”

“Ask them. Or better yet, you’re the investigator…investigate.”

Jimmy shakes his head and grabs his hat, which makes him look fucking ridiculous. “You know, if you just admit this, I’m sure they’d let it go.”

Fat chance of that. “If I were to admit to doing something I didn’t do”—I stress that part—“I would be an idiot, and they’d press charges, you’d arrest me, and then I’d have to kill you.”

“Considering I’ve seen you fight, I’ll take my chances.”

“You forget sixth grade,” I say, bringing up the one time I got a good one in on him. He had a black eye for a week.

“You forget high school.”

I don’t, but that wasn’t really my shining moment, so it’s not worth me mentioning. He beat the shit out of me at football practice because I made some stupid comment about his mother. It was a dick move, and I deserved everything I got. Jimmy and I are equal in height, both over six feet, but he’s got a good fifty pounds on me. Even back then, he did.

“Anyway, my point is, we’re not doing any of these things to the Gatlins. I have a ranch to run, a twelve-year-old who is driving me insane, and three sisters who are enough to drive a man to drink. Honest to God, Jimmy, when do you think I have the time to go over and move horses to another field?”

Both of his hands come up and drop as he paces in the kitchen. “Fuck if I know, but you can’t say the pieces don’t fit.”

“What do I have to gain from any of it?”

That’s the burning question I ask each time, which in the last six months has been damn near every week. I literally have nothing to win by fucking with them. Other than maybe the satisfaction of pissing them off, but honestly, I don’t care. I just don’t fucking care.

I have a million other things to worry about more than causing stupid issues for a family I would rather pretend doesn’t exist.

“I have no idea. Joy?”

“I have no joy.”

He laughs. “Do you mind if I talk to your sisters and father?”

“Have at it. In fact, detain them all. It would make my night peaceful.”

Jimmy has five sisters and two brothers. I’m pretty sure he can more than understand that statement.

“Are you coming to play cards tomorrow?” he asks as we walk outside to the barn closest to the house where Harper’s office is. When we get outside, he claps his hand on my shoulder, and I give him a look that clearly shows my disdain for him. “Sorry. I have to do my job.”

I know he does, but it doesn’t mean I like it. We enter the barn and head to the office where I really can’t wait to watch my sister’s reaction when she sees him. There is no love lost between those two.

“I’m a maybe for playing cards. I need to do some work here beforehand.”

“You can take a break, Tris.”

I wish that was the case, but each day, this farm racks up more things to do than I get done. It’s a never-ending list that I can’t make a dent in. We have over four hundred acres of land, fifteen pastures, four barns, the chicken coop, and the goats, not to mention the two hundred head of horses that fund the whole operation.

I shrug. “I’ll text you.”

My phone pings at that exact moment, and we both look down. Freaky.

I pull it out, expecting something from Sadie since that’s her typical reaction to when we fight. She sulks, then texts, and then we hug it out.

Not the healthiest way, but it’s working for us at this point.

Only it’s not Sadie.

Lark





I swear, I didn’t call the cops. I didn’t even know Ryan did this time. However, if you did do it…stop.





I didn’t.