I never understood that urge for infidelity. Maybe it’s that my parents had a rock-solid marriage that makes me think how disgusting this shit show is. “Hurry the fuck up before I use my gun.”
My phone rings at the same time, and I really don’t need this mess. My head’s pounding at my temples, so I step out of the room and take the call from Big John Morrison, my foreman.
“Hey, Tobias. We have a problem.” I never like the sound of that, although I’m hard-pressed to find anyone wanting additional problems after a full day of grueling work.
“What now?” I grumble, running my hand through my hair and staring at my bedroom door, waiting for these assholes to leave. Suddenly the bastard inside is barking at her about being a whore. I laugh at the sheer audacity of it.
“The labor’s breach. The vet’s pulling up now.” Shit. I had a feeling my cow was taking too long to deliver. Damn, I hope she doesn’t die. I’d hate to lose another cow. Surprisingly, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s a loss that we have to eat.
“Son of a bitch. Okay. I’ll be down there soon. I’ve got a matter to deal with in the house,” I grit out, rubbing my jaw.
“Oh no. Firing another damn housekeeper?” I might have a bad fucking habit that he’s well aware of. My temper’s short, and I don’t suffer fools. I’d just been complaining that Nina was on her last chance with me and anything would land her on the unemployment line, but this left her without any civility from me.
“And Ruiz,” I spit out, disgust dripping from my lips.
“What?” he exclaims. I’m sure he’ll have a thousand questions. I don’t keep him in suspense for long.
“The bastard was fucking her in my bed—in my fucking bed.” Just as the words come out of my mouth, she comes running out and down the stairs while Ruiz goes after her. I frankly don’t care about it, but I can’t in good conscience allow him to hurt her.
“In your bed?” He knows about my mother’s request because he’d been there the day she died. He’s been with the family for two decades. He’s like a big brother to me. He’s only five years older than me. We’re close, so much so that I was his best man when he married Louisa.
“Yes. Out of all the places in the house. I bet they thought they’d get a fucking kick out of it,” I grouse, making my way back down the stairs to check on the two assholes.
I’m not a virgin, but my mom wanted this to be a family home—one where I made her grandbabies. I’d have to have sex for that, and it’s been so long that I can’t even remember it. Since I retired from the NFL, I’ve been too busy to look for a date. Maybe that’s why I’m in a shit mood.
When I step out onto the porch, Ruiz and Nina are gone. I could pretend to care, but I don’t because I’m too keyed up with concern for my animals to worry about them. “They left.”
“Good. You don’t need that right now.” Damn right. There’s enough on my plate without dealing with some terrible employees.
“Yeah. Fuck it.” Not my problem anymore. “I’m on my way.” I end the call and tuck my phone in my back pocket. Stopping back inside for another drink, I take the water bottle and then lock up the house because I don’t want her ass sneaking back inside. I’ll have one of the crew pack up her suitcase and leave it for her on the porch. As soon as the house is secured, I hurry down to the barn to deal with the breached birth.
“Man, my life has changed,” I mutter. Taking over the ranch when my father died four years ago forced me to return to my roots. Not that I had much of a life, but I had a career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears as a tight end, making millions a year and playing a sport I used to love while living in a major city and not worried about livestock.
It’s not that I don’t love my family heritage or the ranching lifestyle, but it’s just me still standing in this large home with no family nearby. My only sister lives in Chicago with her husband and kids. After following me out there to go to school, she met Landon and attending college didn’t last long because they were expecting their first kid before we knew it.
“You look like shit,” John says as soon as I enter the stall. Not that he looks much better after the day we both had, but he loves to bust my chops.
“Thanks. I’m tired and hungry on top of being pissed the fuck off.” Seeing her on my bed made me livid. Ruiz was lucky that I didn’t find him on my bed or I would have shot him on the spot.