Edited ~
The cow bell rings, drawing my attention towards the door. Leaning back in my chair I see Ryan, the foreman of the hands. "How'd the doctor go?" Dropping my pen I watch as my father walks in behind both of them having been curious about the outcome.
"I have officially been told that I can start working again." My father snorts at this, raising his eyebrow as he drops into the chair in front of the desk.
"Do they know that you get your ass thrown for a living?" I shrug with a grin.
"I never said that I was a paper pusher, besides. It takes a wild child to link up with the core, if they haven't figured out that I don't play safe then it's their own fault. Besides I'm tired of watching the hands get schooled by horses. If we ain't careful we are gonna have to go old school on them." Having been sidelined I've had to chew on my tongue. It has been damn near unbearable to watch the ranch hands get on only to get chucked once more. What happened to people having a good seat in a saddle?
"It is sad, I thought the youngsters were supposed to be glued to them seats." Ryan laughs, shaking his head slightly.
"Old man, not everyone had their Papa to strap them into the saddle. She grew up doing this for a living, these kids still got time to learn." I grin at that, leaning back in my chair and kicking up my feet covered in my work cowboy boots. And yes I do have work ones and fancy ones.
"Well hell if they signed up for the job then their asses better be able to ride like my girl. She has more balls than some of them." Shaking my head with a lopsided grin, Papa has been one of my biggest supporters even if my mother hasn't. She always wanted a pretty little girl, all prim and proper. Then I came out, nothing like she had been praying for. I sometimes wonder if she left my father because I pissed her off one too many times.
"You can't raise the bar too high for them, don't want to hit their ego's too much." I shake my head, keeping the lopsided grin on my face.
"Speaking of ego, where's Kevin? Has he gotten too pretty to hang out around here?"
"Fuck if I know, Kevin has been acting strange lately. Says it's just nerves, I don't know though." I shake my head thinking about it. Something about Kevin has changed, I'm not sure what his issue is. But if he keeps it up, I'll call the wedding. I'd rather disappoint everyone with calling the wedding off than getting a migraine over a divorce.
"Girl, not all guys have backs of steel. Maybe he is just getting wedding jitters. How long has he been acting like this?" Pinching my brows together I shift in my chair getting off of the knife I have stuck in my pocket.
"For sometime now, at least ever since I got back home from the hospital. It hasn't been as noticeable as it is now." Ryan looks at me, kicking a boot covered foot up onto his knee. Folding his hands behind his head he moves the toothpick around in his mouth.
"Whenever I see him in town he tucks tail quicker than a rabbit. The man can barely meet my eyes anymore." I turn my head at him humming in thought, I don't like hearing that. My father interjects before I can ask Ryan some more questions.
"Kota, you are probably just overthinking. You're gonna be getting married soon, I'm sure your head's not on all the way right now. No use in over-thinking shit." I shrug hearing my father's words, while it's true that ain't how I roll.
"Papa, you know that ain't my gig. I like to have all bases covered." Grunting I drop my feet, sitting up in my chair, adjusting my position. "Maybe it's time we have a talk, get shit off our chests. I'd rather cancel a wedding than pay for a divorce." Looking up at the clock I sigh, I guess it's time to pull my head outta paperwork and get some real shit done.
"Now don't do something that you'll regret." Papa speaks up standing, I follow him with my head and nod in understanding.
"Don't worry Papa I won't."
"That's my girl." With that comment he heads out of my office, closing the door behind him, leaving me and Ryan to sit in silence for a moment longer. Turning to look at him I see him already watching me, leaning forward I rest my elbows on the desk.
"What do you think about it all?" Ryan shrugs with a sigh.
"Hell Dakota, I can't judge that for ya. All that I know is that he's changed, I guess we all change as people."
"I don't think someone can change that much, I don't like the fact that he can't look at you. Kevin barely can bring his ass out here anymore, that doesn't sit right with me. How the hell am I supposed to live with a man who refuses to come home?" He chuckles with a grin.
"Then I guess you'll be making some booty calls into town." Laughing, I shake my head standing up.
"Nah, if he wants some ass then he'll be putting the work in."
"It ain't worth it if he doesn't work for it." Shrugging with a smirk I shut down my computer, standing up in the process. Opening my drawer, I pull out my sig sauer, clipping it into my holster.
"Amen, what's on your plate for the day? I have some plans that I need you taking care of. I gotta brief you and some other hands. I'll let you take the first pick." I let Ryan leave the office first, shutting off the fan and locking it all up. Clipping my keys to my belt loop and making my way down the steps.
"The usual, I gotta make sure we count the pregnant cattle. Sam is coming to pull ultrasounds, Scotty was gonna be helping her. I was just gonna supervise. What did you need?" Looking over the farm I drop my shades covering my eyes.
"Security for the ranch. There's a lotta land to cover, I'll need a select group for security runs. I want to keep this shit as low key as we can. I don't want every hand knowing the precautions." Ryan nods, both of us turn as we hear a car driving down the driveway. I raise an eyebrow at the prius, looks like Kevin's ears were burning hot today.
"I'll start scouting for that. We can drag this conversation back up after you're done throwing down with spiffy over there." Smirking I chuckle, shaking my head at that statement, he ain't wrong with how dressy Kevin is.
"We'll swing back around after grub." He gives a nod walking away his chaps waving in the wind, his broad shoulders filling his long sleeve shirt nicely. His denim jeans sculpt to his body nicely, if I hadn't grown up with the man I might be willing to jump his bones. I focus my attention on Kevin as he steps out of his car, buttoning up his suit jacket.
"Hey baby, do you have a minute?" I shrug with a slight smile, shoving my hands in my jean pockets. I look at him, watching as his sturdy figure makes his way to me.
"Yeah, I have a few minutes. What's up?" Tilting my head up I wait for a kiss, earning one with ease. Pulling away I lick my lips, pausing. "Have you started wearing chapstick?" Kevin looks down at me with a raised eyebrow. He's never worn cherry chapstick and neither have I.
"No. Listen, I wanted to go over guest lists." I sigh, rubbing my forehead and turning towards my office, I might as well have this chat outta everyone's hearing. "Were you about to go do something out in the pasture?" Glancing down over my shoulder at him, I raise an eyebrow. Waiting for him to continue, he points at my gun. "You're carrying."
"It's a habit at this point, I'm always carrying the damn thing. What did you want to go over about the guest list? I thought we had that squared away." Kevin is once more worried about the guest list, I already told him who I wanted there and who I didn't. It's not rocket science. Unlocking my door I walk in, letting Kevin shut the door. Not bothering to turn the fan on, I drop into my chair kicking my feet up onto the desk.
"Well for starters what about your mother?" Rolling my eyes, I fold my hands behind my head.
"If I do invite her, it'll be tense, if I don't invite her I won't hear the end of her nagging. It's a lose lose situation either fucking way, I don't give a damn. Did you want to invite her?" I ask feeling the need to be polite.
"I think she needs to come baby. We'll just make sure that she doesn't have a reason to be tense over. I know she wants you to wear her dress at our wedding, why not wear that?" Raising an eyebrow, I scoff at him shaking my head.
"Because I don't want to wear a damn princess dress. I already have mine picked out if either of y'all don't like it then eat shit." This day is starting to surround him more than our relationship.
"Baby, I just want our day to be nice, not to have to worry about anything besides getting to our honeymoon. Have we decided on our honeymoon?" Looking up at the ceiling, sweat rolls down my forehead into my hairline.
"I don't know, I was just hoping to go out to the hunting cabin on the land." Shrugging I look back at him, watching as his nose crinkles.
"As much as I love this place, I thought it would be nice to get away from this all. Maybe go to the beach, hell maybe even some tropical resort. That could be fun, don't you think?" Sighing, yeah it could be fun if you are into that thing. I don't do the beach, I don't like digging sand outta places it shouldn't be. Not to mention the cliche tourist bullshit, yeah I think I'll pass that hardcore.
"We can go back to the drawing board on that one. You know I can't leave here until the herd's have been moved and dealt with." It's his turn to sigh as he leans back in the chair, keeping his feet planted.
"Baby, you can't keep putting this place first. It isn't going to be something that can love you like I can. I don't like being pushed away." Glaring at him I drop my feet, slamming them onto the floor, drawing closer to the desk.
"Honey, with all due respect, shut the fuck up. This place has the blood, sweat, and tears of the O'Kane's and the fact that you want me to not give this place my full attention pisses me off. I told you, the day you asked me out, that you better keep your ego in check. This place is my livelihood, this place pays the bills. So don't attempt to guilt trip me with some bullshit. I gotta get to work." Growling I stand, forcing myself to shove my chair under my desk.
"Baby listen I didn't-" I cut him off pointing out the door.
"Kevin, you need to leave before I throw some hands at you. I'm not in the mood to deal with this."
"Dakota, I just want you to be happy. This place will only make you happy for so long." Narrowing my eyes, I feel my nostrils flare in agitation. He takes the hint and walks past me kissing my cheek in an attempt to say sorry. Slamming the door I lock it, listening to the cow bell jingle.