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“Brandt and Jessie have their hands full right now, doncha think?”

“Yep But I’ up the slack around the ranch since Brandt is e on at the ranch isn’t my concern,” she said with a sniff

“That’s because Landon had been your only concern the past few years” Just like Luke was always your number one priority

Childish, probably, but accurate, and not the first tiht But it was the first time he’d voiced it to her

“Tell McKay That’s not true I thought you liked taking care of Landon”

“I do I love the kid But I hate that the only time I see hi before Landon will resent getting shuttled off to his bachelor uncle’s at the lastridiculous”

“That’saround like a da pause “Son Have you been drinking?”

He forced a laugh “Look, Moo I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

“You’re really saying no?”

“Yep, I really aood

An hour later Tell was thinking about a priue, when he heard someone at his door Doubtful it was his sooofy smile in place just in case as he snapped the last pearl button on his short-sleeved shirt and answered the door

But his brother Brandt stood on the front porch

“Hey, bro Is everything all right?”

“Not according to Mom” Brandt bulled his way inside

“Moh or so, so she sent me to check on you” Brandt squinted at hih? No”

“Pissed?”

Tell shrugged “Getting there, sincenaughty or pouting So maybe it’d be best if you skedaddled on hooin’ on? You never have words with Moe of words—except for the one word she didn’t wanna hear when I said no to drivin’ to Casper to take care of Landon tonight”

“She ot Tell’s back up big-time “Yeah? Then why don’t you hop in your truck and do it?”

“Because I have a wife and a kid to take care of”

“And because no one believes I have a life outside of ranch work, rabs? Ask Tell to make a three-hour trip, he won’tmind”

Brandt’sI’d be cracking jokes?”

“I guess I was”