Rough Stock by Dahlia West Page B

Rowan—”
    “Well, it sure as hell isn’t my fault!” Court insisted.
    “Oh, I don’t know. I’d be willing to bet that whatever it is, it’s probably Court’s fault.”
    Everyone turned to see Walker, who’d just come around the corner of the barn.
    Sawyer began to whistle the theme from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly .
    “ Knock it off ,” Seth growled.
    Walker took note of Sawyer and his soundtrack, and judging by the smile that faded from their oldest brother’s lips, Walker seemed to realize that whatever was going on wasn’t Court’s usual fare of traffic tickets and bar fights.
    “So what is it now?” Walker demanded, eyeing the three of them.
    No one answered for a moment.
    “Seth.”
    Just the sound of his name was an order plain as day. And though Seth was younger, he could stand up to Walker, certain times, certain places, but this wasn’t one of those times. There was no point in trying. Half the town would be talking about it by now. Walker was bound to get another phone call before dark.
    Seth let go of Court’s arm. “Court got Rowan Archer pregnant,” he replied.
    Walker rolled his eyes and snorted. “You move fast. You just rolled back into town two months ago. Now you’re offering stud fees in Star Valley?”
    Court scowled and said nothing.
    “Not now,” Seth replied for him. “A while ago. Years ago. The little girl is about four, maybe five.”
    Walker’s eyes narrowed sharply at Court. “And you didn’t know? Or did you walk away from them, too? Are you ever going to grow up, become a real man?”
    Court looked positively stricken, like Walker had landed an actual blow. “I didn’t know!” he cried. “But you can be damn sure I’m going to take care of it now!”
    “Let up, Walker,” Seth warned.
    Walker only smirked. “I’ll let up when he stops letting everyone else down.”
    “That’s not fair,” Seth argued before Court could. “Dad never asked for help. You know that.”
    Walker wasn’t placated. “And somehow he couldn’t see that we were losing heads, letting go of ranch hands? No, he knew.” Walker half-turned and glared at Sawyer. “ You both knew. ” He turned back to Court. “I’m not giving you another dime. Not a single penny other than what’s already in your paycheck every week. You screwed the pooch on this one…or the prom date, I guess,” Walker amended. “You clean it up. If you can. ”
    The gauntlet had been thrown down, and so Walker turned to leave.
    Seth probably wouldn’t have been as harsh about it, but Walker was right. It was time for Court to grow up, become a man, a father. Seth doubted that Rowan would have anything do with Court, but Seth believed what he’d told the man just moments ago—it wasn’t about Rowan or Court’s relationship with her that mattered. It was about that little girl.
    If Seth had a little girl, he’d move the Tetons themselves to give her everything she ever needed.
    “Come on,” he told Court. “Let’s get in the truck. I’ll drive.”
    “I don’t need a babysitter,” Court snapped.
    “Then stop acting like a baby,” Sawyer replied for Seth.
    The two of them got in Seth’s truck and headed down the highway toward the Archer farm. It was probably a good opportunity for a lecture on responsibility and setting a good example, now that Court was Seth’s captive audience, but they rode in silence instead, with only Court muttering the occasional Unbelievable under his breath.
    Seth hoped the silence would help the man calm down.
    He knew where the Archer place was even though he never been there himself. The spread was nice, a large, old farmhouse with a one-story barn adjacent. Seth didn’t know much about raising sheep, but he supposed it was like cattle ranching: feed, breed, and then to market.
    He couldn’t say how well the Archers were doing financially, but by his quick count they had two hundred head and the lights were still on. That was something, at least, in these