Chapter 2

After his fiancé left him for the banker, Wyatt went to back to school because they had the money then. He spent four years getting a degree in business and put it to use. Before the ranch didn’t make money until the oil money came along, but Wyatt changed that. He made some wicked investments and this year the ranch was in the black, no debts.

Logan finished high school but didn’t carry on his education. He’d learned enough from his father and Wyatt that he figured he could carry on the family tradition. That didn’t mean he wasn’t smart, he was, but he wanted to be a rancher and nothing else. He’d already purchased some land adjoining theirs and wanted to build a house on it. The only problem was that his mother didn’t want them to leave home quite yet. Whenever either one of them brought it up she’d slap them with some sort of guilt trip of how their father is getting old and can’t run everything on his own.

Wyatt never said much to that affect, but did what he always did, worked hard.

Logan had other aspirations. He wanted to branch out and have his own place soon. He was twenty five and saved up enough to build the house he wanted on the land he owned. He even had enough money to purchase good breeding stock. Yet he knew that his father and mother would have a problem with it. They knew that he was irresponsible in some ways and it most likely was warranted, but he worked hard too, maybe not as hard as Wyatt, but not many people had the stealth of a well oiled machine.

It was obvious that Wyatt was going to inherit the Strickland ranch when their parents died, and he didn’t mind. He just wanted a place to call his own. Somewhere close to his brother, his family. Wyatt knew that he’d purchased a section off theirs, but their parents didn’t. Wyatt wouldn’t say a word to them either, he didn’t talk much to begin with, but he certainly didn’t betray confidence. Actually he was hoping to count on Wyatt to help him build the house he wanted there.

When they came out with the last few bags, Natalie wasn’t on the porch anymore. There were several more vehicles in the yard so she was probably inside tending to the store. Because it was the only store in the vicinity, it usually became really busy around mid morning and she was the only employee until the afternoon when her father arrived to take over.

Everyone knew that her father was a drinker and didn’t show his face until later in the day, so she normally did just about everything until then. Although he didn’t seem abusive toward her and she seemed to genuinely have affection for him, but in a way, it was a sad case. He supposed she felt a sense of duty there in looking after things while he slept it off, but she was a prisoner of sorts also.

Logan actually liked visiting with her when they went to get supplies. She was sweet and despite the way she looked, not the least bit conceited. She also didn’t flirt with him and he could be himself around her. It was a first for him with a woman actually, and he found himself caring about her in a friendship sense, and he didn’t have women friends so that said a lot about her personality. She was really likable.

“Come on Logan.” Wyatt said patting his shoulder as he walked by. Logan didn’t realize that he was standing there looking at the storefront. “Pa’s going to start bellowing again if we’re not ready to go when he comes out.” He added, keeping his long steady stride.

Logan grinned, “When doesn’t he bellow?” Their father wasn’t at the truck when they came out with the last four sacks. Most likely he was in the store paying his tab.

“When you work.” Wyatt answered with amusement walking around the side of the truck with Logan behind him.

“I work, just not like you. I need my play time too.” He returned feeling a little defensive.

“Play time with Missy Barnett is going to get you in trouble.” Wyatt suddenly said turning to him. His tone was no longer amusing. He’d become quite serious as he centered his dark brown eyes on him.

That was the first time Wyatt ever voiced an opinion about his love life. “How’d you know about that?” He’d actually never taken Missy out in public and thought it was an undiscovered secret. It was no secret that he was a playboy but he didn’t like to be gossiped about at all.

“Everyone knows about that. You may be subtle, but a woman like Missy isn’t.”

“Jesus—everyone?” he couldn’t believe that Missy would tell people about their indiscretions. Women did gossip a bit, and he knew a few of his past acquaintances that did, but it never came back to his family before.

“Yes.” He said opening the door of the truck.

“It hasn’t been going on that long.” He said feeling the need to explain.

“So what does that tell you about that kind of woman?” he added with a knowing look. “Ask me how they work.”

Logan knew exactly what he was referring to. Wyatt had experience with a woman who didn’t care about her reputation as long as she got her claws into a man that had status.

“Does ma know?” If his mother did find out, more than likely she’d tear a strip off of him before he went over and put Missy in her place for disrespecting herself.

“I don’t think so, but it’s only a matter of time.” Wyatt answered. “That girl has no social graces.”

“Ah Hell.” He got in the truck ahead of Wyatt just as their father exited the store from paying his bill. It was a shame really because she was a fantastic lay and he’d have to stop seeing Missy now. He certainly didn’t want to deal with what Wyatt went through. Emotionally there was no damage, but his reputation meant something to him. Further, he’d like to get married and settle down with kids. Well, not in the next year, but several years down the road after he’d gotten his house built and his stock established, and what decent girl would date a man like him with a reputation like that?

Lee Strickland got in the truck and started it after a brief glance at his sons. He may seem like a hard man with strict rules, but he had made sacrifices to make them into the men they were today. When Wyatt was tossed from a horse at the age of four, he ached to embrace him and wipe his tears, but instead he put him back in the saddle. The next time he got tossed, Wyatt got on by himself. No tears were shed. It was then that he knew he made the right decision. Both boys grew into solid, honest, trustworthy men.

Yet he was worried about the youngest for quite some time now. Logan seemed restless and his wife had told him that she feared he wanted to leave home. Lee knew that they’d have to face that some day and despite how hard he was on his boys, he wanted his family close to him. If he’d realized it sooner, he would have bought that section next to his ranch for Logan when it came up for sale, but it sold quickly. At least if he left, he’d be a short drive away. He loved those two boys more than his own life but not once did he tell them that. He needed them to be sturdy hardworking men, and they turned out all right. Not only that, he wasn’t an emotional man that gushed his feelings. He was sure they knew how he felt despite how abrupt he was with them because they respected him and their mother. They had manners and a good heads on their shoulders.

When the ranch struck it rich several years back he never gave them a cent that they didn’t earn, and Wyatt put his to use by going to college. He and Dolly were extremely proud of that. He didn’t want the boys to be reliant on an inheritance because money doesn’t make the man. “I ordered some lumber for that branding coral.” He said bluntly, “Natalie is going to try and deliver it after church tomorrow. You boys get those ranch hands to help you fix those broken posts when we get back.”

“Yes sir.” Logan said respectfully.

“Tomorrow we’ll finish it.” Lee continued.

Wyatt never said anything but Logan knew he heard his father as clear as day. Then out of the blue he did say something.

“Sending that young girl out with a load of lumber is unreasonable.” Wyatt said evenly as if he was discussing the weather.

Lee silently agreed with that. “She’s all Hunter has.” He said not making excuses but stating a fact, “The boy that works the lumber yard only works on weekends and after school. He’s too young to drive.”

“Her father makes enough money to hire more help.” Wyatt countered casting a glance at his father, “She should be going to school.”

“She graduated.” Logan said.

Wyatt’s brows lifted as he redirected his attention to Logan.

“Several years ago.” Logan continued seeing his older brother’s unspoken question. Actually now that Wyatt mentioned it Logan could see why he thought she was around eighteen. She never wore makeup and her fashion wasn’t something a woman of twenty wore. Her clothing usually consisted of shapeless one piece dresses unless she was out in the yard, then she’d slip on a pair of denim overalls. Also her hair was always in some sort of a braid. He bet that if she let it loose around her shoulders she’d look the age she was.

“Then she should be in college, not looking after her ham-fisted parent.” Wyatt added.

“True.” His father agreed, “But not all kids have had the privilege you two have.’

Logan coughed causing his father to glare at him. “I give you discipline boy, it builds character—a good man.”

Wyatt chuckled and turned back to the scenery outside the window. Logan always pushed the old man’s buttons.

“I swear to god I didn’t whip your hide enough. I should start doing that again.”

“You’re too damn old to catch me now.” Logan dared say with a wide smile.

“I can still shoot straight.” His father added with a sideways warning lacking complete amusement. Logan clamped his mouth shut.

Wyatt just grinned.