The Tin Star (21 page)

Jamie collapsed on Ethan, knowing his cowboy could take his weight, spreading Ethan’s come between them.

Ethan’s breath tickled his ear, and he kissed Jamie’s cheek, making him smile. “Gonna keep you, Blue Eyes. Ought to brand your ass, like the cattle, so you always get brought back to me.”

Jamie chuckled. “Not going anywhere, cowboy. You’re stuck with me.” He got another kiss to the cheek, then Ethan’s tongue flicked inside his ear. He shivered and nipped Ethan’s chest.

“Gonna hold you to that. That means no fucking getting poisoned and dying on me, either.”

He lifted up, looking down at Ethan. Their eyes met and held for a minute. It was an intense moment; they didn’t say a word, didn’t have to. Jamie knew both of them were well aware how the other felt.

Ethan finally broke the silence. “I hate to ruin the moment, but I have come dripping down my sides.”

Jamie laughed and slid off of his cowboy. “Hold still, I’ll bring you a towel.” He got off the bed and headed to the bathroom. He heard a moan and looked back to find Ethan staring at his ass.

“Hmm, maybe branding your ass isn’t a bad idea, after all.”

Jamie grinned and wiggled his butt. “Yeah? You think the Tin Star brand would look good on my ass?”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah, but
Property of Ethan Whitehall
would look even better.”

They ended up showering together.

* * * * *

Later that day, after working out in the south pasture, Jamie came in to find Bill sound asleep on the couch, his foot on a pillow and an ice pack on his foot.

“He got caught in the fence rung trying to climb over the corral gate. Ankle swelled up. I took him into the clinic in town to have it X-rayed. It’s just a bad sprain.” Ethan was lounging against the kitchen door with a glass of tea in hand.

Jamie whistled. “Ouch!”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah, I think it hurt his pride more than anything. Damned old fool. Can’t seem to get it through his head that he can’t do the shit he used to do.”

“Climbing over the fence shouldn’t be that big a deal.”

“It is when you have a saddle slung over your shoulder.”

“Ah!”

“How are you feeling? You want some tea?”

Jamie walked to him, grabbed the glass and took a swig. “Thanks.”

Ethan snatched it back with a grin. “This is mine! I meant that I’d get you one.”

Jamie chuckled and snatched it back, “No, I want this one!”

Ethan gave him a quick kiss, then shook his head and walked into the kitchen. “Spoiled brat!”

“Yeah, but what can you do?” He sat down at the table while Ethan made himself another glass of tea.

Fred was lying on the kitchen floor on her back and completely surrounded by her toys. Jamie chuckled. “So that’s where she went. She was with me all day, then about an hour ago she split.”

Ethan pulled a chair out and sat down. “Yeah, she came to the back door asking to be let in. When I did, she gathered every one of her toys. Should have seen her trying to put them in her mouth all at once. Crazy dog.” He reached down to stroke Fred’s belly.

Jamie took a sip of tea and watched Ethan. Damn, the man was gorgeous. And he loved the smile Ethan always wore when he talked about Fred.

“Listen, Jamie, I’ve been thinking. I think you should take over Bill’s job.”

“What? Damn, Ethan, the man just got hurt, he’s not incompetent. Besides, Ed and Hayden have been here longer than I have.”

“Just listen. Bill and I discussed this before, and after today ... I think this will work out better for everyone.”

Yeah, right! What was Ethan up to? “All right, I’m listening.”

“Bill is going to take over some of my work -- God knows I’m tired of sitting in front of a computer so much -- and the work around the house. He’ll still putter with the machinery, but you can take over the cattle and other livestock, the usual foreman responsibilities. Ed and Hayden will answer directly to you and you can hire some more hands. Hell, with Bill doing some of my paperwork, I’ll be able to get more done, too. We’ll probably move him in the house, ’cause eventually we’ll need more room in the bunkhouse as well.”

Jamie opened his mouth to protest, but Ethan continued. “I want to buy a couple more head of cattle, and I’ve been thinking about breeding horses. I want to expand the operation. Been wanting to for years, but Bill wasn’t up to it. You are. Bill isn’t going to be able to handle that many longhorns. And he damn sure can’t break horses anymore ... not without killing himself.”

“Bill is okay with this? He’s becoming, like, what? A glorified housekeeper?”

Ethan snorted. “Good lord, don’t let him hear you say that! Yes, he’s fine with it. He said he’d even take up the cooking if you want. He’s going to basically trade jobs with you, except you’ll still be doing all the stuff outside. You just won’t have to do any of the housework or cooking.”

Jamie groaned. “Do you really think this is going to work? I’m picky about how my food is cooked and how my house is cleaned. Do you honestly think I’m going to be happy with someone else doing it?” Not to mention he was scared to death to make things truly his, run things like he wanted to run them.

Ethan gave him a sharp look, almost like he’d seen that thought in his face. Then sighed and leaned forward. “Jamie, if you are going to get on with your life, this is the next step. You can train Bill to do everything to your liking.”

“So what is this? Therapy?”

“No, that’s not what this is about. You fucking work too hard! You already do Bill’s job, and you do all the house stuff, too. I’m just asking you to let Bill help out with the house. He said he trusts your judgment and that you’d make a fine foreman.”

Jamie shook his head. “I just can’t believe Bill would be willing to give up working outside.”

“He’s not going to. He’s just going to let you call the shots and make the major decisions. He’s tired, Jamie. He’s sixty-two years old and has lived a hard life. He wants to take it easy, but he can’t just retire. Says he’s worse than useless if he doesn’t do something. You can handle this, more than handle it, and help me build this place up like I’ve always wanted to do.”

“But what about Ed and Hayden? They’ve got seniority. It’s hardly fair for me to take over Bill’s job.”

“They won’t have a problem with it. Bill suggested you. He says you know more than they do, and you are definitely better at running things and taking charge.”

“What happened to you not wanting me too far away from the house?”

“You won’t be, not until we get this shit straightened out and find out who the hell is trying to hurt your fine ass. That’s one of the reasons we’re hiring more hands.”

Jamie sighed. “Great!” He put as much sarcasm into the word as possible. “So it amounts to Jamie not doing shit, too!”

“No, it doesn’t! I’ve been wanting to expand the Tin Star for a long time. With you managing things and taking over for Bill, I can finally do that.”

“They’ll -- Hayden and Ed -- they’ll think I landed the job ’cause I’m fuckin’ the boss!”

Ethan laughed. “You are fucking me. Is that what’s bothering you?”

“They know.”

“They do?”

“Yeah.”

Ethan shrugged. “Well, there you go! They will
know
you got the job by fuckin’ the boss!” Ethan’s lips twitched.

Jamie rolled his eyes and stood up. “Ha ha!” He walked out of the kitchen. He needed to think about this. It smacked of a handout! Of Ethan trying to fix things for him, make him feel better. What the hell could Bill possibly be gaining from this? Damn it!

He wasn’t ready for this responsibility. He was afraid to let the Tin Star mean something to him. To actually make it his, or leastways partly his. What if Ethan decided he didn’t want him anymore? Not that he’d give up Ethan that easily, but the ranch wasn’t his, it was Ethan’s.

Bill sat up on the couch as he walked through the living room. “Hey, kid! Where you going in such a hellfire hurry?”

Jamie stopped. “Oh, hey, Bill! How’s the ankle?”

“Not too bad, considering. Ethan tell you what happened?” Bill looked kind of pink in the cheeks.

“Yeah.” He sat down in the chair across from the couch. “You really wanting to hang out here at the house, doing chores and such?”

Bill chuckled. “So that’s what’s botherin’ ya. Told Ethan it would. Actually, kid, I think it’d be nice. Besides, it’s time I did something else. Been a cowboy for damned near forty years.”

Jamie shook his head. “I’m not buying it, Bill.”

Bill sighed. “I’m getting too damn old to do the things I used to. I know that. Don’t like to admit it, but I know it. With Ethan buying more stock ...” He shook his head. “It’s a job better suited to you than me. Frankly, kid, I don’t want the headaches. Not that I’d admit that to too many people, but you ain’t just anybody.”

Jamie took his hat off and tossed it onto the coffee table and ran his hands through his hair. “Why me?”

“Why not? Son, you were born to this job and you do it well. You’re better at giving orders than I ever was. Hell, I was impressed as shit when you realized that Betty Lou was foundering. I’d’ve never picked up on it that soon. And I’ve never been able to make cowboys work as hard as you do! There is just something about you that makes ’em want to do their best for ya. Don’t sell yerself short, Jamie. Hank trained you well. Ya might have gotten the job over at the Quad J ’cause you’re family, but ya kept it for as long as ya did ’cause yer good at it.”

Jamie tried not to blush, but holy shit! It was nice to be appreciated. “What about the other two? Won’t it just chap their hides that I got the job over them?”

Bill smiled and shook his head. “They ain’t either one like that and you know it. They’re good men. And they are sure as hell impressed with you. They’ve both informed me of yer finer qualities. They got a lot of respect for you, kid. And they ain’t the only ones.” Bill gave a sharp nod.

Jamie almost felt like someone knocked the wind out of him. “Thanks, Bill. That means a lot to me.”

“Yer welcome. Besides, the place is yer home now, too. Yer gonna be here long after I’m gone, kid.”

God, I hope so.

Chapter Fifteen

It was Thanksgiving morning and things were shaping up to be a pretty darn good day. Jamie had gotten the turkey into the oven and gotten Bill to work on the other fixin’s. Despite all the problems over the last couple of months, Jamie had a whole lot to be thankful for.

Bill was getting quite adept in the kitchen, and he wasn’t shaping up too badly on housework, either. In fact, he and Bill were both settling into their new jobs nicely. Ethan had bought four new horses, and they were set to go to a big cattle auction in a couple of weeks, so he was staying busy with ranch work. He had been interviewing for more ranch hands all week and was thinking he’d finally found one. Slowly, but surely, the Tin Star was becoming his, too, and it felt ... right. It was still a little scary, but right.

There hadn’t been any more acts of vandalism. The sheriff wasn’t any closer to finding out who had done it, but at least there weren’t any new incidents. His dad hadn’t called or carried out his threats ... yet. Ethan still had his lawyers checking into the money situation, but he really didn’t care too much. It wasn’t money he was really counting on other than to buy into the steakhouse deal, but Ethan was fronting him the money and had said he could pay it back from the profits they made.

Nope, his life wasn’t bad at all. He had just about everything he could want: a great job, food in his stomach, a better relationship than he’d ever dreamed possible and a family -- one he really fit into.
Yup, pretty damned good.

“What are you smilin’ at, boy?”

Jamie started and looked at Bill. “Just thinking I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”

Bill smiled. “We all do. Have ya heard from Margaret this mornin’? Did she say what time she was gonna come over and help with supper?”

Jamie laughed. “Oh, lord! You’ve got it bad! You old dog!”

Bill clutched the batter-covered spoon he was using to stir the cornbread mix to his chest. “Me? An old dog?”

“Yes, you! You might fool Ethan, but I know darned well you have something going with Margie.”

Bill’s face went blank.

“Bill, I think it’s great. I adore Margie, and I want her to be happy. I’ve seen how you two look at each other. Go for it, is all I’m saying.”

The old man’s face lit up, then he cocked a brow. “What’s Ethan say?”

Jamie quirked a brow back. “Does it matter?”

“Yup, it does.”

“Ethan says it’s just my wishful thinking. He’s fine with it, just thinks I’m seeing things that aren’t there. I’m not, am I?”

Bill shook his head. “Nah, you’re seein’ right. Just like I know ’m seein’ right, even though Margaret won’ confirm it.”

Uh oh! Yeah, Jamie had suspected the old ranch hand knew about him and Ethan, just like the other men, but how did he feel about it? And why did it matter to him? It shouldn’t, but it did. He liked Bill. And there was the fact that Bill was sort of a father figure for Ethan. “Confirm what?”

Bill laughed. “Turned da tables on you, didn’ I, boy? I mean you and Ethan, of course. Don’t play dense.”

“Why not? You played dense when I mentioned you and Margie.”

“Oho! Gettin’ sassy, are ya?” Bill wasn’t able to hide the grin tugging at his lips.

He laughed at the mock sternness Bill was trying to pull off, but in all honesty, he was slightly nervous about what Bill thought.

Finally, Bill smiled, not trying to hide it. “Relax. ’M glad Ethan found ya. I always did like you. Always thought you’d be a good match for m’ boy.”

“What?”

“Don’t act so surprised. I’ve always known. Hell, how could I help but know? I helped raise ’im from the time he was four. I’m pretty sure his daddy knew, too. We never discussed it, but, well ...” Bill nodded, decisively. “He knew. And he didn’t give a damn! Unlike that bastard that sired ya.” Bill turned back to stirring the batter.

When he spoke again it was soft, apologetic. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I’ll never understand how a man like that managed to bring up three such fine children.” He shook his head. “I think you and Ethan’ll do all right.”