Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Jake wasn’t with them?”
“He was at school,” I reply, remembering that day clearly. I worked the scene all fucking day in below-zero temps.
“He doesn’t have any other family?”
“None that we’ve found. He’s in a foster placement.”
Ryan nods slowly and sips his beer. “Okay, well, we’ll see how this goes, then. The kid has a hell of an attitude on him.”
“Yeah, well, I think I would, too, if I were in his shoes. Thanks for taking him on, man. He’s not a bad kid; he’s just been dealt a shitty hand.”
Ryan nods again, and then there’s loud laughter, and we look over in time to see Will stand, holding his hands up like he’s holding an imaginary football and he’s going to make a pass.
“I knew he was open,” Will says loudly. “And I was going to land that pass, but suddenly, a fucking elephant plowed me down, and I saw stars.”
“You lost me fifty bucks on that game,” someone yells out, and Will laughs. “Yeah, well, I’m sure you’re not alone there.”
“Is it fucking crazy that Rem’s father-in-law is a goddamn Hall of Fame football player?” Ryan asks me.
“A little bit. But it’s also fucking crazy that you’ve managed to make a billion dollars before you’re thirty-five.”
“I’m telling you, let me help you with your investments, and I’ll make you a rich man.”
“I don’t need to be rich.” I shrug, and Ryan snorts.
“Come on, man.”
“I don’t. I do just fine.”
“If you change your mind…”
“I’ll let you know. Yeah, I get it. I’m not trying to be an asshole when I turn you down. I love you, and I’m damn proud of what you’ve built. I just don’t need the same things.”
He nods, thinking it over. “Yeah, I get it. I don’t think you’re trying to be an ass, Chase. It’s not really about the money for me.”
I lift my eyebrow at him and take a sip of my beer.
“Okay, the money is part of it. I like the wealth. I also give a shit ton of money away.”
“I know.” Ryan donates more money than any of us will ever know.
“It’s the game of it. The puzzle. It’s exhilarating, and I do really well at it. I know it’s a far cry from this life here on the ranch, but that doesn’t mean that it was wrong of me to go after it.”
I glance over at Remington, who’s chatting with Brooks and smiling.
“Rem doesn’t think it was wrong.”
“Yeah, he does.” Ryan swallows the last of his beer and shakes his head. “I worked fucking hard to make a name for myself in the world of business, and now that I have, I can be here in Bitterroot Valley. I can work from home, and I do, sometimes eighteen hours a day.”
“Technology is a beautiful thing.”
“You said it.”
“But are you happy here, Ry?”
“Yeah. I am.” He looks over at me, his gaze serious. “Happier than anywhere else in the world, and I’ve been just about everywhere.”
“Then that’s all that matters.” I slap him on the shoulder and stand. “Now, let’s go tell some of our stories after all and embarrass the fuck out of Rem.”
Ryan smiles slyly. “Fuck yeah, let’s do it.”
“I can still outshoot you,” Remington says with a satisfied grin as we both take off our ear and eye protection. All the guys stayed out on the ranch today to hike, have target practice, or just hang, taking in the fresh air.
“Maybe I’m drunk.” I smirk at him.
“You haven’t had a drink all day,” he reminds me.
“Maybe I let you win since it’s your party.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Rem pats me on the shoulder as we walk away, making room for some of the others to take their turn shooting their rifles at the targets.
“Come on, little brother,” Brooks says to his brother, Beckett. “I’ll show you how it’s done.”
“Whatever, old man.”
Rem and I grin at each other and wander over to the food table, where we both grab a bottle of water out of the ice.
“It’s nice to be able to trust the people we invite out here,” Rem says with a contented sigh. “Everyone knows and understands that this is an active shooting range, and they respect it. I don’t have to worry about anyone being stupid or showboating and getting anyone hurt or killed.”
“If it were any other way, we wouldn’t have offered this up to everyone today,” I reply with a nod, and we watch silently as both Brooks and Beckett shoot their rifles at the targets. Their family has also been around for a long while, although they’re still considered move-ins because they’ve only lived in the valley for roughly thirty years or so. Their family owns the Double B Ranch.
“What’s Summer up to this weekend?” Rem asks.
“Working. She has weddings back-to-back, pretty much through the middle of September.”