The Bequest
Chapter 44—Amanda

I thought things would be simpler, easier, once the ranch hands returned. I was, apparently, wrong.

"It's just that, you literally have to make hay while the sun shines," Abby says.

"I have never understood that phrase. You don't make hay at all," I say. "It just grows."

"We're growing two kinds of hay," Ethan says. "Alfalfa, which is a higher protein content and is good for cows and horses-it's the stuff with the purple flowers. I'm sure you've seen it. We can get two rounds of that grown and baled each summer, if we cut the first right now. Only the second round is really good for horses-it's less rich."

"Horses can't eat rich alfalfa?"

"It gives them terrible diarrhea, apparently. The cows will eat this first round later, and we'll save the second round for the pickier horses."

"You just have a field or two to cut?" I ask.

"Of alfalfa? Yeah, just four of eighteen meadows. But a few of the fields of plain grass hay that got more water are ready to be cut now. Both of them have to be cut when it's dry, and then left to dry for a few days before you can bale them. Weather says we have at least four more dry days ahead, so we're making hay."

"While the sun is shining," Abby says. "See?"

"But why?" I ask. "Why can't you cut it and bundle it up at the same time?"

"It'll mold, I think," Abby says. "And that'll make the cows sick, and it can kill horses. They can't throw up, so they do something called colicking, which is basically where their stomach, like, explodes."

I wish I hadn't asked.

"But surely Kevin and Jeff-"

"Would do what they could if we weren't here," Abby says. "But since we are, we're going to try and learn what to do."

It's like the work literally never ends. I worried all day when they went to check on the cows-which they apparently had a little trouble replaceing and then they got lost on their way back. Even Abby looked a little chagrined for not asking for Steve's help. And with the animals, the rain made things harder. Then the second it's dried out, and Jeff and Kevin return, everyone has to leave for long stretches to cut hay, and then bale it, and then cover it.

I don't get why anyone would want to run a ranch.

Then again, I make my money from creating photos that highlight products that people might want to buy. So manual labor revolving around animals isn't exactly part of my wheelhouse.

"Well, at least there's a great possibility of things getting horribly dirty, right?"

"Do grass stains count?" Ethan asks. "Because I could probably bring back some impressive stuff if so."

I check the label on the Tide stain treatment. "Yes! That's on here. So, when you get home, especially if you have some really surprising ones-wait." He should wear some of the Lololime stuff that Heather sent for Eddy. I doubt I'll get up the nerve to ask him to wear it, seeing as he doesn't even know what my job is yet. Ethan's cute. I think it could work. I duck into my room and come back with two shirts and a pair of khakis.

"What's that?" He frowns.

"If you wear these "

Ethan laughs. "I'm not going to church or to an office job. I'm going to work in a field all day."

I put one hand on my hip. "Listen here. I'm not making you pay for these, so stop complaining." I hand them to him.

"These are larges," he says. "I'm not really-"

"Just go put them on."

Ethan throws his hands up in the air, but he does take the clothes and disappear. For all his whining, when he returns, he doesn't look that bad. And with boots and a hat, it'll even look suitable for his task, albeit a little more formal than necessary. "Who are these supposed to be for?" He quirks one eyebrow. "Someone a little bigger than me..." His eyes widen. "Dr. Dutton?"

I look around to see whether anyone else is paying attention, and luckily, it doesn't look like it. "Shut your mouth, Ethan Brooks."

"Oh, it's a secret now? Because he's been splashed all over your insta account. I'm shocked it took me this long to figure that out. It must be all the sunshine. It's frying my brain."

"That is why Heather sent it, but-"

"Don't you think she'll be disappointed when it's me wearing it instead?"

"No, I don't. You're quite handsome, and the ladies will love seeing you, too."

"I think they're more interested in hearing and seeing someone else's exciting love life than seeing a good-looking guy." He shrugs. "Which is too bad for me." His cocky smile returns, and I wonder whether he's right.

"It's not like I mind," he says. "Free clothes are free clothes, but I think you should tell Dr. Dog Dreamy what you need and give the people what they want."

"Dog Dreamy?"

Ethan shrugs. "Some show called people Dr. Mac Steamy and Dr. Dreamy and all kinds of stuff. This guy's not a doctor, but he's a dog doctor, right?" "Vets are most certainly doctors."

Abby has come back into the room, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. "Are we talking about Dutton? Because I think he likes you."

I'm done talking about this. "You two are ridiculous."

Ethan stuffs a few things in a bag and heads for the door.

"I'll catch up," Abby says. "I've got to send an email."

Ethan nods and then he's gone.

"Hello, email," Abby says.

"Wait, are you calling me email?" I roll my eyes. "You can just go. I don't need..."

She sits down and pats the table in front of the chair next to her. "Go ahead. Have a seat and tell me how you don't need the super foxy vet who's hot for widow."

"I am not "

"You seem like exactly the kind of person who would be all about having a fun, cowboy fling." She grins. "Yeehaw. I can see the hashtags now." She leans toward me. "Oh, wait. I already have."

I lower my voice. "Says the woman who's actually going on a date with one."

Abby's mouth drops open and she blinks in a very satisfying way. "How do you know about that?"

I shrug.

"Amanda Brooks."

"I might have overheard you on the phone last night."

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "What?"

"You were on the home line, since your cell still doesn't work great on the WiFi sometimes, and I picked it up to call-doesn't matter. And you were talking about how Steve was going to be in the rodeo most of the day. You told him, 'I actually like watching you ride.' I did drop the receiver like it was a hot iron, but I'd already put two and two together and come up with four."

She breaths a heavy sigh of relief. "So the kids don't know?"

"I think they might figure it out," I say. "I can't believe that the queen of 'talk to your kids' hasn't told them already."

"I'm going to sit down and ask them about it," she says. "I just haven't had time."

"It's not a democracy. They don't get to decide whether you let the hot doc take you out."

"If it makes them sad or uncomfortable or anxious "

"Then you'll talk until they're sick of it, and they'll get over it on their own timetable."

If she doesn't stop looking at me in that condescending way, I'm going to stop being supportive.

"You should call Eddy and ask him to go with you to the Fourth of July dinner and dance. I hear it's quite the event for this area."

"Which is exactly why he won't want to go. I'm pretty sure he's the local ladies' man, which is probably hard to do in a town this size. I mean, I imagine he's dated girls from three counties at least."

"Who cares?" Abby shrugs. "You're not looking to marry him."

Definitely not, clearly. "That's true."

"Take him, get some killer photos, and then post one of those bad boys to announce you're dating a hottie-everyman, and then when you breakup, think of the condolences and commiserations you'll get from all your followers. Everyone loves to hate the hot guy when he's broken the heroine's heart." Abby stands up. "Well, I've done my good deed for the day. Now it's time for a little manual labor. Wish me luck."

It's not that I don't wish her luck, but Abby doesn't really seem to need it. She's tanner, fitter, and more energetic right now than she was a few weeks ago, and her kids love it here. For me, on the other hand, I haven't worked out in weeks, one of my girls is flying high and the other is...not. And I'm still just waiting to replace out whether all this soul-crushing (to Maren) time in the country is even going to pay off.

The closer I get to the beginning of July, the more nervous I become.

I've done some digging.