Wild Trail (Clean Slate Ranch #1)(16)
And then Wes’s career had been in shambles; he’d run home with his tail between his legs, and now his career was dinner theater.
I fucked up so bad. Ugh.
“Hey.” Sophie gently elbowed him in the ribs. “You okay?”
“Got lost in the past for a bit,” Wes replied. “Thinking about Quick Draw. Drake. That whole mess.”
“Why on earth are you wasting thoughts on that asshole?”
“Ranch kind of reminded me of it all.”
“Oh shit.” Sophie tugged him off the trail, away from the group. “I am so sorry, Wes, I didn’t even think what coming to a dude ranch would mean for you. I am so selfish.”
“No, you’re not.” Wes pulled his baby sister into a firm hug, desperate to get that devastated look off of her face. “This is what you wanted, and I was more than happy to oblige. I’m the one who can’t let go of the past.”
She looped her arms around his waist. “That asshole hurt you, and I still owe him a swift kick to the nuts.”
“You and me both.”
“At least we can live in the joy that since the show got cancelled, he’s been stuck in made-for-TV movie hell, right?”
“Yup.” He squeezed her again, then stepped back. “In case you were wondering, yes, I’m having fun and no, I’m not spending the entire week moping about Drake. Over and done. It’s too pretty here to get down over him anymore.”
“Good. You deserve someone who’ll make you happy and won’t shove you back into the closet.”
“Don’t I know it, sis. Don’t I know it.”
They scrambled to catch up with the group, which had moved farther down the trail. Bert was nattering on about some type of bird that regularly nested nearby. Sophie’s familiar words turned over in his mind. Yes, he did deserve someone who’d love him openly and make him happy. And while he had absolutely no illusions that the person to make him happy was his favorite grumpy cowboy, he was not opposed to using Mack for a little bit of consensual fun.
As pretty as the land was, the nearby town was dying and offered no real prospects. No, Wes’s life and future was in San Francisco, not the wild countryside of Northern California. No matter how hot he looked in jeans and cowboy boots.
Chapter Five
The Sunday night barbecue was a tradition at the ranch, and over the years Mack had learned how to be a gracious host in order to get in on the piles of ribs, steaks and sausage that Arthur and Patrice cooked on an open brick grill behind the guesthouse. The rear yard had multiple wood picnic tables surrounded by lit oil lantern stakes, which helped create a festive atmosphere. A table near the grill was loaded down with side dishes: cold salads, fresh fruit and Patrice’s famous baked beans. Hot rolls and butter. A variety of cold drinks.
Hot dogs and potato chips had been provided for the two youngest guests, upon request.
The barbecue was a chance for all of the ranch employees to mingle with the guests, meet the people they’d be interacting with for the rest of the week. Colt was in his element, chatting away with anyone who seemed open, while Mack and Reyes did their personal bests to be polite and answer questions.
Mack was also doing his goddamn best to avoid Wes, who was sitting at one of the picnic tables looking so distant and unhappy that he was working the last of Mack’s restraint. Wes had been vibrant during the riding lessons, teasing Mack from afar, but he’d shown up for dinner a different person. The generally subdued Miles looked positively joyful next to Wes.
Arthur rang the dinner bell, which stole everyone’s attention. He stood by the grill with Patrice and Judson, all of them smiling. Mack braced for the coming speech.
“Good evening, friends new and old!” Arthur said. “This here barbecue is a tradition at the ranch. Gives us all a chance to get to know each other. Now, this might seem a little silly, and it’s not a requirement, but I hope some of you fine folks joining us this week will tell us who you are, where you’re from, maybe a bit about yourself and why you’re visiting us.”
This seemed right up Wes’s alley, but he stayed put, glancing around the table as if bored.
One of the Reynolds moms stood. “Hi, everyone, I’m Dianne, and this is my wife, Suzy,” she said. “We’re here with our two boys, Joey and Andy, and we’re from Reno, Nevada. We’re all here as a special family celebration.” Dianne paused, coughed. “This week, our youngest Joey celebrates his first year in remission from childhood leukemia, and this was his wish. A cowboy experience.”
Something thick settled in Mack’s throat. Dianne rubbed at her eyes, clearly emotional over the milestone. Mack studied the little boy who’d so enthusiastically ridden on Tude with him that afternoon, amazed that he’d overcome something so awful at such a young age. The love in Suzy’s gaze as she looked up at her wife didn’t help dislodge that clog in his throat, either. He’d had that once. Not the kids, but the love.
He glanced at Wes, who was watching the women with rapt attention, his eyes suspiciously bright. Jesus, if Wes started to cry Mack would be done for. Nothing would stop him from marching across the yard to comfort him.
The two college guys went next. Miller and Liam were frat brothers from the University of San Francisco, an announcement at which Wes rolled his eyes and whispered something to Miles. The Chamberlains were on their second honeymoon. The trio of girls were best friends spending the summer together.