Mossy Glenn Ranch 3 -Saddles and Memories (5 page)

“He’s not my guy,” Salt muttered, but he sure was feeling warm and fluttery on the inside. “We just hooked up for the night.”

Rocky gave him a doubtful look. “Uh-huh. I think there was more than a one-night stand’s worth of sexual tension between you two.”

Salt didn’t really have a reply for that, because, truth be told, he hadn’t got enough of Andy.

“I’m going to go see to the pastures, take the newbies out and show them what’s what. Why don’t you—”

“I’m not hanging around here waiting to see if Andy shows up,” Salt said, cutting Rocky off. Even if he did want to do just that, he wouldn’t. “I got a job to do, Rocky. Mooning about like some lovesick fool for a guy I just got off with and don’t really know? That’s ridiculous.” Plus, he’d probably come off as a stalker or something. “I’ll take that one new guy, Ramsey, and have him check the horses in the North pasture with me. Who’s in the barns?”

They worked out who would be where and doing what, then Salt found Ramsey and got on with doing his job. If he thought more often about Andy than he was comfortable with, well, he told himself it was just because it’d been so long since he’d been with anyone else. It had nothing to do with that longing he’d just acknowledged, or the way he kept seeing Andy’s smile in his mind.

* * * *

Waking up alone wasn’t unexpected, but for some reason, it sent Andy’s mood plummeting. He’d known Salt had to get back to the ranch, but he guessed he’d been hoping maybe Salt would head back later.

It wasn’t just because Andy had wanted to fuck him, either. That realisation was almost enough to send Andy running for home. He wasn’t sure what was going on with him, but it was unusual.

Then he found the short note written by Salt. The man had surprisingly elegant handwriting, almost artistic, really. Andy carefully lifted the note from the rest of the pad. He carried it over to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress while he read Salt’s words.

There was nothing special about them, really, and yet hope and something very much like joy bubbled up inside Andy. He wanted to see this man again, talk to Salt, touch him. They’d had a good time. Andy knew it wasn’t just him. Salt had laughed and they’d talked more than anything else. It’d been different, and Andy wanted more of it.

That didn’t mean strings and a commitment. Salt probably didn’t want either of those things any more than Andy did. Yet when he told himself that, Andy’s gut went tight and that budding joy kind of just snuffled itself right out.

Andy groaned and rubbed his forehead with one hand, still holding the note with the other. What was wrong with him? It’d been a rough decade or so. Longer, even, but he’d thought he was okay. Living his life the way he wanted to now, finally.

Except he was beginning to suspect that wasn’t the case.

His cell phone rang and his heart raced. Andy scooted up the bed until he could snatch his phone off the nightstand. He saw the local area code and his heart just about beat right out of his chest. There was something like hope burning in there.

“Hello?” he said after answering the call. He sounded a little breathless, but Andy put that down to moving so quick to grab the phone.

When he heard the drawling voice over the line, he knew instantly it wasn’t Salt. His good mood shot downhill like a rollercoaster on that first steep drop. Good hell, he was going to have to get on some medication if his moods kept swinging all over the place.

But he listened and after a few minutes, he was back to feeling almost cheery again. He had an appointment at the Mossy Glenn in two hours to meet with the foreman and try to convince him to buy Organic Feeds’ line of products. Carlos had sounded like a no-nonsense kind of man, so Andy firmly told himself not to bullshit him.

Some customers liked being fed a line, pandered to. They expected to be haggled with and for Andy to be kind of…smarmy. He hated playing the part, but experience had taught him to mould himself into whatever the customer wanted. The sale was all that mattered to the other company investors.

Lately, that kind of acting had begun to eat away at his conscience. He had moments where he doubted whether success was worth sacrificing his integrity. Oh, it wasn’t that the product wasn’t the best on the market—it was. Just sometimes he would like to be himself, and not put on a false front. There were days where potential customers were rude as hell, and Andy would have gladly told them where they could stick their business. He wouldn’t, though, but he was beginning to think sales really wasn’t his career calling.

In fact, he had a lot of moments where he asked himself why he bothered anymore. It wasn’t like he had Destry or Ty depending on him now.

Andy stopped his thoughts from going any further in that direction. It would send him into a frame of mind that sure wasn’t conducive for sales.

Besides, there was a chance of seeing Salt again, without having to break down and call the man. It’d been forever and a day since Andy had done anything like that. For years it’d just been ‘wham bam’ and ‘see ya later’. It’d had to be. He wasn’t sure he actually had the balls to call Salt, and was glad he might not have to.

Surely if we see each other, lust’ll carry us past any awkward shit.
He was fairly certain Salt was still into him, otherwise why even leave a note?

Andy’s optimism kicked in and he whistled while got ready to head out. The note he tucked carefully into his wallet before he showered. Salt’s scent still lingered on him, and he kind of hated to wash it off, which was silly and romantic and not like him at all. Andy scrubbed twice, hard enough to leave his skin red, as if punishing it for trying to hang onto Salt’s aroma.

Good hell, he was a mess sometimes. Andy huffed and turned off the shower. He dried off with the towel he took down from the bar. The towel was thin and not soft at all like the ones he had back at his apartment in Helena. Not very big, either. Andy dropped the towel on the side of the tub then went about making himself presentable.

He’d managed to kill a half hour by the time he was dressed. Andy packed up his few items and left the motel room. He debated checking out, then decided to go ahead and do so. If there was any reason for him to stay another night, he’d just book a room again. It wasn’t like the motel was crowded.

Breakfast consisted of McDonald’s coffee and the healthy breakfast bars he’d brought with him. Last night he’d splurged with pizza and beer. Usually he was more particular—God knew he loved pizza and beer, though. Sometimes a man just had to indulge.

Eating while driving wasn’t Andy’s favourite thing to do either. He parked at the side of McDonald’s. As much as he wanted to head to the ranch, he made himself wait until he’d finished his food. Andy wadded up the trash and stuffed it into a small container he kept in the truck for garbage.

There was no use in trying to pretend like he wasn’t eager to get to the Mossy Glenn. Andy programmed the address into the GPS and saw that it’d take him about half an hour or so to reach the place. He’d get there early, but maybe if he drove slower, looked around and took in the sights, he’d stretch the drive out to about forty-five minutes.

Satisfied he wouldn’t be showing up to the Mossy Glenn embarrassingly early, Andy backed out of the parking space. The GPS started rattling off directions and he grimaced. He loved the GPS as much as he hated it. When it worked right, it was great, but sometimes it just spazzed out on him and sent him driving around in circles.

This time, it worked just right. Andy grinned when he saw the gate for the Mossy Glenn. It was open, but above it on a metal arch hung a gorgeous sign for the place. Along with the name of it, there was the iconic shadowed scene of a cowboy on his mount, carrying a calf. The sun was setting over a mountain in the background.

Andy pulled through the gate and began the drive down the long, winding dirt drive. After a few miles, he parked beside a truck in front of the big ranch house. There were several buildings on the land, barns, bunkhouses, equipment sheds, feed storage—all of them looked old but well-maintained with coats of fresh paint. The fencing had been in good shape, too, he’d noted as he drove along.

He unbuckled and got out his briefcase. Inside he had scientific proof of why his company’s formulas were the best. He had years of research to back it up, and Andy truly believed in his products. Hell, he’d spent most of his adult life working on them. He wouldn’t have done so had he not thought they were the best option and something direly needed.

There were too many chemicals in animals’ food today, and it was crossing over into human food, too. Like there wasn’t already enough chemicals and shit in what most people ate.
Pick up just about anything from the store and read the ingredients. More chemicals and shit than actual food in it.

Assured he had everything together, including his wits in case he did see Salt, Andy got out of the truck. He shut the door and spotted a tall, older man standing on the porch to the ranch house. He knew at a glance it wasn’t Salt, but there were some similarities. Both men were older, with dark hair and that stern cowboy look to them.

Andy cleared his throat and headed for the porch, letting an easy smile slide into place. He’d always loved ranches, cowboys… If things had been different, he might have tried to buy a place of his own, but shit had happened and there was no changing it.

Andy took the three steps up to the porch easily. He held out his hand. “I’m Andy, but you likely figured that.”

“Carlos.” Carlos shook his hand. “Come on in. I run this place for my bosses back in Texas, but they’ll listen to what I say. Might even be interested in buying your feed for a ranch down there if you can get it to them.
If
your shit’s worth buying.”

“It is.” Andy kept his tone light but firm. He didn’t take any offence, and the prospect of being able to sell Organic Feeds products in Texas? That was a win he definitely wanted. “I can get feed to any place in the U.S. Why don’t you let me show you why you should give my company a chance. Ask any questions you want, and I won’t push you to make a decision.” He could tell Carlos was a hard target, but one who’d be a loyal customer if Andy convinced him that Organic Feeds was the best for his ranch.

Carlos wouldn’t tolerate any bullshit, either. Andy was relieved to be able to just share his enthusiasm for his products.

“All right, let’s head to the office. Troy and Will should be joining us shortly.”

“Troy and Will?” Andy repeated, then asked quickly, “Are they ranch hands or—”

“Partners. That’s all you need to know about them,” Carlos said in a clipped voice.

Andy didn’t get the attitude, but whatever. He followed Carlos inside. The house was painted white on the outside, but inside it was an explosion of colour. At least, that was how Andy thought of it. The interior was painted a warm yellow-gold, but there were bright colours everywhere. The hallway had pictures and paintings hanging up, each framed in some colour of the rainbow. There was a small table and mirror done in a dark red in the hall too, then he saw the living room.

Yellow leather couch and love seat, burgundy recliner, and bright bits of pottery on the end tables. More framed pictures and paintings made the place look very homey and comfortable.

Carlos gestured to the left. “Let me grab us a couple cups of coffee.”

“That’d be great,” Andy told him, though his bladder was beginning to twinge a bit.

The kitchen was the same, but the short guy at the stove didn’t seem quite as friendly as the interior of the house looked. Actually, he was cute enough, but he seemed skittish.

“Drake, this here is Andy Calder, and he’s here to tell me why he thinks we should switch to his feed for the horses.”

“And the pups,” Andy said, bending to scratch a happy, bouncy puppy bounding his way.

“Buddy—” Drake began.

Andy squatted and got an armful of puppy and a face-full of licks. “It’s okay with me. I love all animals.”

Drake chewed on his bottom lip then nodded. “Okay, but he needs to learn some manners.”

Andy thought the pup was just being a pup, but it wasn’t his place to speak out. He set his briefcase on the floor and used both hands to love on the squirmy beast for a minute or two.

“Okay, that’s enough, Buddy.” Drake came over and looped a finger through Buddy’s collar. “Come on, time for you to go outside anyway.” Drake hesitated, and Andy could see the indecision on his face. He couldn’t push Drake, though. The man would probably run off if he did.

Finally Drake met his gaze. “What’s special about your pet food?”

Andy smiled and stood up, bringing his briefcase with him. “Well, are you the cook here?” It was a pretty easy guess, considering Drake had been cooking something that smelt incredible when they came into the kitchen.

“Yeah, I am.” Drake glanced back at the pot on the stove. “I have to put Buddy out. It’s his potty time.”

Andy nodded. “Speaking of which, may I use your restroom? Preferably inside,” he added, winking at Drake.

Drake turned red and Carlos grunted. “He’s taken.”

Andy turned to Carlos. “I wasn’t flirting. I’m about to bust.”

Carlos pointed down the hall. “Second door on the right. I’ll meet you in the office right across from it. You want cream or sugar?”

Andy shook his head. “Black’s fine, thank you.” He looked at Drake. “I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable. I tend to be the friendly sort, but not
that
friendly.”

“It’s fine.” Drake hustled away with Buddy in his arms.

Andy sighed and headed for the restroom. He needed to try harder not to piss off or offend anyone here.

After relieving his bladder and washing his hands, Andy met Carlos in the office. Well, not just Carlos. Andy instantly picked up on the connection between Carlos and the other two men. He revised his definition of ‘partners’ as Carlos had used it earlier. Obviously, he’d meant it as more than just a working term.

“Andy, this is Will.” Carlos nodded to the shorter, pretty man with the hazel-green eyes. “And this one here is Troy.” Troy was big, broad and bald. He looked like a bouncer, and not someone to mess around with.