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.“Be five years next month.” Ray rubbed his neck.“I was his marketing professor.I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t stay away from him.When the university found out, they fired me.Imagine how surprised I was when Brent decided to drop out and follow me to Kansas City.He’s since graduated from a school here in the city, but it took him a while to get motivated.” Ray leant forward.“Trust fund baby.He could have anyone in the world and for some reason he chose me.”“I imagine he knows a good man when he sees one,” Sidney commented.“So, what about you and Nash?”“Twenty-four years, and almost all of them fabulous,” Sidney joked.Ray whistled.“I’m impressed.”Sidney knocked on the scarred wooden table.“God willing, we’ll have at least another twenty together.”* * * *“We’re here,” Nash proclaimed as they drove under the Running E ranch sign.“Yep,” Sidney agreed.Nash reached over and brushed Sidney’s cheek with his thumb.“It’ll be fun.” He picked up his black Stetson from the seat console between them and settled it on his head.Sidney rolled his eyes.The moment Nash hit Reno County, the cowboy in him came out to play.Sidney tried to seem enthusiastic about their visit to his family’s ranch, but he hated spending time with the memories of his past.Although the ranch could never be sold, Sidney wouldn’t mind if he never stepped foot on the place again, but Nash loved it.“Does Tommy know we’re coming?” It had been close to two years since Sidney had talked to the man who leased the place.Nash usually handled all the issues that came up.Nash glanced at the dashboard clock of the rented SUV.“I told him we’d roll in around two and it’s ten after.” He bypassed the house and continued down the drive.“Speak of the devil,” Nash said as Tommy stepped out of the barn.Nash wasted no time putting the SUV in park and turning off the engine.He was out of the truck before Sidney had a chance to get his shoes on.Sidney watched the two men embrace.Tommy thumped Nash on the back several times, breaking apart with a shared laugh.It had been a while since Nash had been to the ranch and damn did the country look good on him.The two men spoke for a few minutes before Nash gestured to the SUV.Tommy waved and Sidney held up his hand.It didn’t matter how old he was, he would always feel like an awkward kid on the Running E.Sidney pulled his sneakers on and grabbed his phone as he got out of the vehicle.“Hi, Tommy.” Tommy had worked on the ranch since Sidney was a boy.“How’re you doin’, son?” Tommy greeted.“Good.” Sidney stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked out over the pasture.“How’s Brynn?” he asked, groping for something to say.“Good.She’s in Wichita visiting the grandkids.” Tommy resettled his hat.“Got something you might like to see,” he told Sidney.“Okay.” It wasn’t like Sidney had anything else to do.“Is that Bob Peterson?” Nash pointed towards the machine shed.“Yep, he came to work for me last summer.”“Bob Peterson? Why do I know that name?” Sidney squinted, trying to get a better look at the man Nash seemed so excited to see.“He was the mechanics teacher at the high school.Taught me everything I know.” Nash headed towards the shed.“I’ll be back.”“Whatever,” Sidney mumbled and followed Tommy inside the barn.He wrinkled his nose at the smell, remembering a time when he couldn’t even walk inside the big wooden building without his allergies getting the best of him.Of course, that hadn’t stopped his dad from making him muck horse stalls every day.Shit.There I go again.Sidney tried to push the memories aside.“What do you think?” Tommy asked, presenting a white yearling mare.“Oh, Tommy, she’s gorgeous.”.“Brynn bought her for me for my birthday this year.” Tommy pulled a chunk of carrot out of his shirt pocket and fed it to the horse.“What’s her name?”Tommy chuckled.“Well, that’s kind of a sore subject.I told my youngest granddaughter she could name this one, and she chose Hannah Montana.” Tommy shook his head.“I just call her Montana.”Sidney reached out and rubbed the horse between her eyes.“Horses were always my favourite part of the ranch.I’d be perfectly content to never see another chicken or cow, unless they were on my plate.Oh, and the snakes.” Sidney shivered, remembering how much he hated those slithering bastards.Leaning one elbow on the top of the stall, Tommy seemed to study Sidney for a few minutes.“How’s Nash?”“All things considered, he’s doing pretty good.I think it’s really helped that he quit trading stocks.”“I know I’ve got no room to talk, but he’s looking old, walking old, too.”Sidney wasn’t sure what to say.“I think he looks damn good for a man who’s had two heart attacks.”Tommy rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head.“When’d that happen?”“The first one was twelve years ago.He did so well we started to think it was a fluke, then he had another in June.”“I didn’t know any of that,” Tommy said.“Sorry.I guess I should’ve called.I just figured he’d already told you.” Afraid he’d already said too much, Sidney patted Montana on the neck.“Speaking of Nash, I’d better go see what he’s up to.”“I know you don’t like to go into town, so I stocked the fridge for you.”“Thanks.” Sidney left the barn.He found Nash still talking to Bob Peterson.“Hi, Mr Peterson.You won’t remember me, I didn’t take your class, but I wanted to thank you for teaching Nash how to change my oil.”Bob laughed.“Nash was one of my best students.But, you’re wrong, I do remember you.”Confused, Sidney crossed his arms.“How’s that?”Bob shook his head.“It’s not important.”“It is to me
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