Earth and Sky

with Hunter was just a memory, one he fervently hoped he’d get to repeat, but his hopes were dashed by the fact that Hunter never seemed to run out of excuses to avoid him. While at first Grant had blamed Hugh for standing between him and Hunter, now that Hugh was gone, Grant had to find a better reason. He had to admit that Hunter didn’t want to see him.

    He tried not to pine too much. After all, Hunter was his boss, and since Grant was just here to work and make some money, sleeping with the boss was a bad idea anyway.

    The work was the one thing that went well for him. Although Blue River was a well-run ranch, it was clear that maintaining the infrastructure—from stables to fences and gates to parts of the houses—hadn’t been a priority for a long time. When Grant had started working there, Hugh had told him they sometimes paid a carpenter from town to do some of the mending, but that the man was usually too busy to come for the small stuff, like replacing a leaky gutter or a step up to a porch. Feeling like the fifth wheel on the wagon around the wranglers anyway, Grant had stepped up and volunteered his expertise. Now it seemed like everyone brought their wood jobs to him to fix. Grant didn’t mind. It brought him a lot of respect, not in the least from the women around the ranch, and he still got plenty of time in the saddle, which he wouldn’t give up for the world. In fact, it was the perfect balance, and Grant was starting to feel at home on the ranch.

    Hunter still hadn’t picked a new foreman, but Grant and Izzie pretty much shared the extra duties Hugh had always taken on. Izzie had a casual way of seeking Grant out whenever she had something to discuss or if she wanted his advice, and they still understood each other with half a sentence or a sideways glance. The consequence was that gossip was going around that Grant had replaced Delco in Izzie’s bed, but neither commented on it. Grant had always assumed Izzie knew how his cards were stacked, and that was at least part of the reason they got along so well.

    “Want to saddle a horse and race me around some of the outer fences?” Izzie asked, dashing around the corner of the woodshed just as Grant was taking his toolbox inside.

    “Sure,” Grant answered. “Give me five minutes.”

    It took him about twenty in the end, since he’d found Davenport looking a little lost in the herd of working horses standing in the near paddock and decided he wanted to test his theory to see whether he could whip the stubborn steed into shape.

    Izzie gave him a teasing smirk as she watched him ride over to her. “You’re a glutton for punishment, just like Hunter,” she snorted, turning her own eager bay around and looking behind her in a gesture that was pure provocation.

    Grant spurred Davenport on, and to his surprise, the horse seemed in the mood to give his rider a good chance at catching up with Izzie. Izzie didn’t give in easily, though. As soon as Grant caught up with her, she kicked her heels into her gelding’s flank and sped off, leaving him to chase after her. After he spent about twenty minutes following her, jumping where the fences were low, Izzie pulled on the reins and turned her horse around. She was panting but seemed elated.

    “Wow, I don’t think I’ve done this in at least three years! Hunter and I used to race from time to time, but he’s no fun anymore and, well, the other guys just aren’t the same.”

    Grant grinned. “But I’m good enough?”

    “You look like you could use some fun too,” Izzie answered smugly. “Never thought Davenport had it in him, but I guess Hugh was right. You have a way with that bastard of a horse.”

    “He’s just stubborn and not at all compatible with Hunter, I think.”

    Izzie shot a teasing look at Grant. “Hunter doesn’t seem compatible with anyone these days. For a while there, I thought you and him were hitting it off, but I rarely see you together anymore. He’s back to being his cantankerous self.” Izzie dismounted and let her horse graze a bit. “Did you two have a fight?”

    Although he was a little startled by her question, Grant followed suit, walking toward her with a surprisingly complacent Davenport trailing him. “Why do you think that?” he asked her, testing the waters.

    “Oh, I dunno. For a while there you didn’t seem to get along, then after that little altercation at the bar and Hugh leaving, you and he were doing everything together,