The Rancher Takes a Family by Paula Altenburg

Author:Paula Altenburg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781949707090
Publisher: The Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2018-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Jake tucked the phone in his pocket, unsure how to read what had just happened. She sounded fine. She said she understood.

But the last time they’d held a similar conversation, with him assuming they were on the same page, she’d gone out with someone else.

Mac came tearing out of the house and across the yard with Luke trailing behind.

Jake studied his brother. Something wasn’t quite right with Luke. At first Jake had figured he was taking the loss of their parents and Liz harder than Jake and Zack, but he didn’t think that was it. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

It was one more thing for him to worry about.

He frowned at Mac. “Where are the sleeping bags and the cooler?”

“Relax,” Luke said. “Stop glaring at him like that. Zack and Finn have everything under control.”

He followed Mac over to the stall to admire the new foal, which was nosing around in the corners, checking out its new digs. Jake rubbed the back of his head. Thunder. Of all the clichéd names Mac could have come up with, he’d gone with the best.

Then, Luke impaled Jake with the exact same glare he’d accused him of using on Mac. “I thought you had plans this evening?”

“I changed them,” Jake said.

“Change them back.” Luke’s jaw settled in a stubborn manner Jake recognized well. It usually ended in blows between them, because he could be stubborn, too. “Get out and have some fun for a change. I’ve explained to Mac that not only do I know a few things about horses, I also know how to use a cell phone. We’ll call you if we need you. But unless we call, we don’t want to see you again until tomorrow at lunch. You’re too young to be such an old man.”

Under the majority of circumstances, Jake wouldn’t take orders from his younger brother, but in this particular instance, he was willing to concede.

He had a game of tag to continue.

“Are you sure you don’t mind if I bail on you?” he asked Mac.

Mac’s head popped up from the other side of the stall door. He had a piece of hay stuck in his hair. “Uncle Luke promised to set up his laptop so we can watch movies with Thunder.”

“That was all it took for him to throw me over in favor of you?” Jake asked Luke.

Luke shrugged. “He’d have thrown you over for the cinnamon buns Zack’s packing for bedtime, too. So get lost. Go have fun. Or ruin someone else’s, because that sounds more your style.”

Jake hesitated for all of two seconds. Mac was content. Luke was being an ass. Which meant they’d both be fine without him.

He thought about giving Lacey a call to let her know plans had changed again, but decided against it. He’d go grab a shower, then show up at her door, surprise her, and find out exactly what her frame of mind was by the reception he got.

*

Lacey sliced up the last of the chicken, slipped it into freezer bags, and tucked it into the fridge.

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