Page 43 of Last Chance Cowboy
She made it sound like he was being selfish or a dick on purpose, which he didn’t particularly like. Maybe that was what made him answer.
He let out a hard breath. “I’m just not a people person.”
“Like since… forever?”
“Pretty much,” he said.
“Always?”
“Mostly always.”
“Then why don’t you live on a mountain top somewhere, instead of living on a ranch with a whole lot of people who want to be friends with you?”
He huffed to laugh. “I don’t know. That’s a good question. Except that you know, as good as I am in survival situations, I don’t always want to have to rely on my own skills to save me. Nice to have some other people around sometimes for that.”
“Fair,” she said.
“The military is a brotherhood,” he said, even as he wondered why he was telling her this. Maybe because she was the first person to ever ask.
“Right.”
“The rodeo is, too, to an extent. I guess I found myself in those situations, and it made a certain kind of sense to me. It’s easier to be around people when you have a common mission.”
“And this ranch is a little bit like that.”
“Yeah. Plus, I got to know Cody at the rodeo. It meant I didn’t have to get to know anybody new to come do this.”
“But you also have your own property. Are you going to work at Painted Ridge forever, or do you have other plans?”
He hadn’t talked to anybody about his plans, not even Cody.
“I have some plans,” he said. “Someday, maybe it’ll be the right time to implement them. But I’m not in a hurry.”
“Well, what are your plans?”
“I don’t know. Not important.”
“Well, that’s a lie. Obviously, they’re important, or you wouldn’t have them.”
“I just mean, they’re not that interesting. If you’re not into ranching.”
“Who says I’m not into ranching?”
“You don’t even like being outside very much.”
“I’m learning,” she said. “Anyway. Maybe I just haven’t had the chance to be very interested in ranching. Maybe this will be the first thing that really interestsme.”
“Horses,” he said.
“Oh. You’re right. I don’t like horses.”
“I told you. You’re a stubborn little cuss, and you don’t listen to me or anybody.”
“Well, that’s just rude,” she said.
“I’m a little bit rude,” he said.
“Okay, that isn’t fair. It’s just that I got bit by a horse.”
