Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(17)

The TV blared behind him as Casper flipped between twenty-four hour news channels. At least the noise cut the tension in the room.


How long did they have to stay?


The respiratory therapist came in and Casper made that frantic motion that he wanted them out.


The three of them wound up in the reception area. Listening to the constant ding ding that indicated a resident needed assistance. The phone at the receptionist’s desk rang constantly. A couple of people in wheelchairs parked outside the reception area stared at them with vacant eyes. One guy waited by the door, intent on making a break for it.


The sights, sounds and smells overwhelmed him, but didn’t seem to bother his brothers at all.


Tell flipped through a newspaper. He read interesting tidbits out loud. Then he said, “Whoa, check this out.”


“What?” Brandt said.


“Remember last year when the legislature revised that law about elk farms?” Tell asked.


“Elk farms aren’t allowed in Wyoming,” Dalton said.


“True, but they passed a bill that allowed for privatization of a few elk farms on a trial basis. That last brucellosis outbreak with the Yellowstone herd f*cked up the brucellosis-free status for cattleman too. Which pissed off the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association. They demanded policy changes with the state’s wildlife management plan, but I know this ain’t what they had in mind. There’d been talk of privatization, but no one really believed it’d happen. No one wanted it to happen, but now it has happened. They’re takin’ applications. Only four permits will be issued.”


“What areas are included on the list?”


“Everywhere in Wyoming with the exception of the two areas where the state is already feeding wildlife—in Yellowstone and the Tetons.”


Years ago when he and Tell had discussed putting in a livestock feedlot adjacent to the land Gavin Daniels owned, Dalton had researched the wildlife end of it as an alternative, mostly thinking they could get into the buffalo business if the feedlot idea didn’t pan out.


When the feedlot hadn’t looked feasible, he’d gone so far as to check out privatized wildlife farms in Colorado and South Dakota to check the topography and containment and find out what type of acreage was needed for how many head.


Dalton hadn’t bothered checking the regulations for elk farms because they weren’t allowed in Wyoming. But now…this changed everything.


He needed something to do and a way to prove to Rory he intended to stick around. The section of land he owned might be a perfect fit for the program. Chances were slim his brothers had done improvements. After he checked the regulations and determined whether his land fit the criteria, he’d send in an application. No one would have to know until the applicant’s names were made public. Then he could offer Rory proof that he’d applied right away so she knew he was serious about staying in Sundance since she’d chosen to settle back here. He’d deal with any fallout with his family after the fact.


“Dalton? You okay?” Tell asked.


He glanced up. “I’m fine. Why?”


“You’re wearing an evil smile.”


“Because I’m planning ways to escape this hell.” He rested his elbows on his knees. “How long we stayin’ here?”


“Why? You got someplace else to be?” Brandt asked.


Anyplace besides here. “Casper don’t want us around. And I’ve grown past sticking around someplace where I’m not wanted.”


Tell and Brandt exchanged a look.


“What?”


“Do you really need us to point out how selfish and unsupportive that statement is?” Tell asked and tossed the newspaper on the table.


“But you didn’t dispute the truth of it. Look, maybe you guys have had reconciliation time with him. I haven’t. I haven’t seen the man in three years and I sure as f*ck didn’t miss him.”


Brandt’s gaze sharpened. “Why’re you bein’ so hostile about this?”


Two f*cking days back here and Dalton was slipping into old patterns. Be enough to make him roar with outrage if he hadn’t gotten a handle on that former tendency too. “I’m not hostile. I’d like to know why it was so all-fired important for me to be here when it’s obvious he doesn’t want me here.”


“You wondering why he don’t want you here?”


No. I already know.


Brandt blew out a frustrated breath. “Look, he’s mentioned over the years he don’t think it’s right that you just up and left your ranch responsibilities to us.”


Dalton shoved his anger down, way down deep. After the mean bastard had all but chased him out of town, he had the f*cking balls to talk smack about him to Brandt and Tell?


You’re surprised? He always tried to get you and your brothers to turn on each other.


Pointless. All of it. And he wouldn’t get sucked into an unproductive fight with his brothers because Casper had orchestrated it. He stood and gathered up the newspaper. “You’re right. My hostility, veiled as it may be, is causing problems. So I’ll go. I wouldn’t want to impede Casper’s recovery process.”