chatting them up, playing hostess so I didn’t have to, one of the reasons I loved my best friend. I was glad when my phone rang, needing the distraction.
“Boyle.”
“Kate, it’s Swick,” he said quietly. I figured he didn’t want anyone to hear him. “Just got a call from the doc, he finished the autopsy. Your gramp died of natural causes. He’s going to release the body tomorrow, so you can call the funeral home and set up the rest of the arrangements.”
“Well that’s a relief at least,” I said, pausing. “There’s something else I wanted to tell you too.” I explained what I had said to Nate, about getting some backup and why.
“I think it’s smart,” he replied when I was done. “I appreciate you letting me know.”
“I told you I trust you and I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“Still, I appreciate it. Better get back to it, looks like we’re almost done,” he said, hanging up. I liked the Sheriff, but that man needed to learn some phone manners. I waved Jamie over so I could ask her something in private.
“Hey, can I ask you to do something for me?” I said. “Can you get everyone’s name and address—”
“Of who brought food, who’s here, and who’s outside helping,” she finished for me. “Yep, I’m already on it. Sue’s helping me. I like her, she’s pretty much an older version of me.”
“Thanks, Jamie,” I said, faking a smile. “What would I do without you?”
“Let’s never find out, okay?” she said softly, rubbing my shoulder.
“I have no inclination to, but why you put up with me, I’ll never know,” I snickered, rubbing my temples.
“You’re not so bad,” she teased, trying to make light of it. “I’ll get your migraine medicine.”
“How did you know?”
“You’re rubbing your temples, sweetie.”
“Right. Fuck, I’m out of it.” I shook my head, disgusted with myself. Before she could say anything, my phone beeped with a text message.
Forgot to tell you I talked to the Acker brothers. They’ll be here in the morning to interview for ranch hand positions. I filled them in on the story, and I’d trust them with my life. More importantly, I’d trust them with yours. I’m going to introduce myself to Nick, get a feel for him. ~Nate
“Well at least some things are looking up,” Jamie said when I showed her the text.
“Yeah, I guess. Not happy that I need the backup.” Just because I was smart enough to know when to ask didn’t mean I was a fan of the situation.
“I’m kinda surprised you asked for it,” Jamie said softly.
“I’m in over my head with the funeral and taking over the ranch. I know that. Add in Sean and now Kyle’s outburst and threats, and I’ll miss way too many things on my own. I’m a pain in the ass, but I know my limits.” I tried to smile, but I knew it was lame and probably worried her more. “When everyone else leaves, there are some things I need to talk to you and Nate about. Don’t let me forget, okay?”
“No problem, Kate.” She headed back towards the kitchen, letting me stare out the bay windows in the living room alone in my thoughts. She came back a few minutes later, handing me my migraine medicine and a glass of juice. I knew without a doubt she’d find me in an hour to make me take something for my stomach. The migraine medicine did a number on my stomach, but I couldn’t take them together. Jamie always thought of things like that, she had such a loving heart.
After she walked away, I found myself heading out to the porch swing. I loved that swing. Silly as it seemed, after my parents died and I came to the ranch, Gramp used to find me on it all the time. He wouldn’t say a word, just come and sit by me. I loved both my grandparents, and I didn’t have a favorite. But Gramp just got me. I always knew without a doubt he didn’t love me because I was his granddaughter. He really, truly loved me because of who I was, and he really saw me.
I realized someone was sitting down
“Boyle.”
“Kate, it’s Swick,” he said quietly. I figured he didn’t want anyone to hear him. “Just got a call from the doc, he finished the autopsy. Your gramp died of natural causes. He’s going to release the body tomorrow, so you can call the funeral home and set up the rest of the arrangements.”
“Well that’s a relief at least,” I said, pausing. “There’s something else I wanted to tell you too.” I explained what I had said to Nate, about getting some backup and why.
“I think it’s smart,” he replied when I was done. “I appreciate you letting me know.”
“I told you I trust you and I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“Still, I appreciate it. Better get back to it, looks like we’re almost done,” he said, hanging up. I liked the Sheriff, but that man needed to learn some phone manners. I waved Jamie over so I could ask her something in private.
“Hey, can I ask you to do something for me?” I said. “Can you get everyone’s name and address—”
“Of who brought food, who’s here, and who’s outside helping,” she finished for me. “Yep, I’m already on it. Sue’s helping me. I like her, she’s pretty much an older version of me.”
“Thanks, Jamie,” I said, faking a smile. “What would I do without you?”
“Let’s never find out, okay?” she said softly, rubbing my shoulder.
“I have no inclination to, but why you put up with me, I’ll never know,” I snickered, rubbing my temples.
“You’re not so bad,” she teased, trying to make light of it. “I’ll get your migraine medicine.”
“How did you know?”
“You’re rubbing your temples, sweetie.”
“Right. Fuck, I’m out of it.” I shook my head, disgusted with myself. Before she could say anything, my phone beeped with a text message.
Forgot to tell you I talked to the Acker brothers. They’ll be here in the morning to interview for ranch hand positions. I filled them in on the story, and I’d trust them with my life. More importantly, I’d trust them with yours. I’m going to introduce myself to Nick, get a feel for him. ~Nate
“Well at least some things are looking up,” Jamie said when I showed her the text.
“Yeah, I guess. Not happy that I need the backup.” Just because I was smart enough to know when to ask didn’t mean I was a fan of the situation.
“I’m kinda surprised you asked for it,” Jamie said softly.
“I’m in over my head with the funeral and taking over the ranch. I know that. Add in Sean and now Kyle’s outburst and threats, and I’ll miss way too many things on my own. I’m a pain in the ass, but I know my limits.” I tried to smile, but I knew it was lame and probably worried her more. “When everyone else leaves, there are some things I need to talk to you and Nate about. Don’t let me forget, okay?”
“No problem, Kate.” She headed back towards the kitchen, letting me stare out the bay windows in the living room alone in my thoughts. She came back a few minutes later, handing me my migraine medicine and a glass of juice. I knew without a doubt she’d find me in an hour to make me take something for my stomach. The migraine medicine did a number on my stomach, but I couldn’t take them together. Jamie always thought of things like that, she had such a loving heart.
After she walked away, I found myself heading out to the porch swing. I loved that swing. Silly as it seemed, after my parents died and I came to the ranch, Gramp used to find me on it all the time. He wouldn’t say a word, just come and sit by me. I loved both my grandparents, and I didn’t have a favorite. But Gramp just got me. I always knew without a doubt he didn’t love me because I was his granddaughter. He really, truly loved me because of who I was, and he really saw me.
I realized someone was sitting down
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