High Stakes Hideout

Chapter Seven-Oliver

I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy getting Ivy all riled up. She was cute when she was mad, though of course I couldn't tell her that. I didn't think that sentiment would be welcomed by her, and especially not now. Though the winter chill was overstaying its welcome this year, we were heading toward calving season and I didn't have the focus to spare that babysitting her out on the ranch would require. Haden was trusting me to keep things going while they were gone, and I wasn't going to let him down. Him and Ally had been so helpful to me in taking me in when I got out of the service. It was a debt that I could never repay, though they would never ask me to ante up.

I looked up as I heard footsteps hitting the barn floor where I was saddling my favorite horse Mabel. I looked up and smiled as I saw Gentry walking in. The older man was one of my favorite ranch workers, and also happened to have been the foreman before I came along. He had worked this ranch with Haden's family for most of Haden's life and was ready to slowly phase out and spend more time with his grandchildren. He was instrumental in my education on ranching, and I still sought him out any time I needed guidance on anything. He was a faithful Christian man, and I would trust him with my life. I had wondered if I could trust him with Ivy's. I was tempted to tell him that she was here, but something held me back. It wasn't that I thought he would tell anyone. It was just I felt keeping those who knew she was here to a minimum was probably best for everyone involved. Plus, Gentry had a wife, kids, and grandkids. I didn't want to put more people at risk than I had to in order to keep her safe.

"How's it going kid," Gentry asked, reaching out to lift the saddle from my hands.

Oh, how to answer that question. How was it going? "It's going," I answered. That about summed it up I guessed.

"Business seems to be going good at least," he commented, securing the saddle and giving Mabel a pat.

I nodded. "Sure looks like it. Haden should be happy with the profit. Hopefully calving season this year will prove just as good. Though, I think we may need some more help with the increased herd."

Gentry scratched at the stubble on his chin and I could tell he was turning over what he wanted to say before saying it. "Is that why you hired the rookie?"

That got my attention. I hadn't hired anyone recently. And I wouldn't without Haden being here to be in on the interview. "I didn't hire anyone new," I said, puzzled.

"Huh, maybe it's someone Haden did a phone interview with," he suggested. I shrugged. It was possible. Haden had hired a couple of workers in the past sight unseen when we were desperate for help. Neither of those employees lasted more than a couple of months, so I wasn't holding out high hopes for whoever this was. "Well, regardless, there's a new hand out in the pasture. I suppose you'll run into him if you're headed out that way."

"Looks like it," I agreed. "Was there anything else you needed before I head that way?"

"Nope, not that I can think of boss." He smiled as he answered, knowing I hated it when they called me boss.

"Once again, Gentry, I'm not the boss. I'm just filling in until Haden gets back." I put my foot in the stirrup and lifted myself into the saddle.

"Whatever you say kid," Gentry laughed. I wasn't sure if "kid" was much better. "You know as well as I do that Haden never wanted the ranch. As soon as he can, he plans to move the missus somewhere warmer."

I didn't doubt that. Ally had always been what one might call a snowbird. As soon as the temperatures turned colder she was pestering Haden to take a vacation to Florida. I had also heard rumblings among the ranch workers that Haden was planning to hand the ranch over to me. I wasn't sure, if that were true, if I would take it. I didn't think I was cut out to the be the leader of anything. I respected him so much, though, that I wasn't sure of a way out of it if he did offer it to me. I knew he would be disappointed if I said no. He had let slip one time that his old man had asked that he keep the ranch in the family before he passed away. I supposed since he was married to my sister he felt that "in the family" included me now. Maybe I could convince him that I would just watch it until my nephew was old enough to take the reins.