No Strings Attached (Last Hope Ranch Book 1) Read Free Page B

the Army.
    “Okay, these bits ought to work better at getting those cabinets out.” Rein walked in the back door, his cheeks red from the brisk half-block walk to the hardware store. That, too, had been part of Sally Andersen’s past. Her dad had opened the store after moving to End of the Line. He’d thought a number of times of asking Rein about Sally—but the way gossip spread in this little town, he feared that given how things were between them, it would likely only make matters worse. Besides, he had no idea how long he’d stay around. Working at the ranch, helping Michael with the horses, even helping Rein with odd jobs like this wasn’t bad—for now. But he didn’t want to end up here for the rest of his life. Hell, he’d had plans to go pro in college. He had been the star quarterback. A twinge of a muscle in his thigh caught him off-guard and he gritted his teeth against the sudden pain.
    “You okay, man? Do you need to sit down?”
    “Stop it.”
    “Hey, I’d say that to anyone.”
    Clay held up his hand, holding in the darkness curling inside his brain. Some days, anger was too easy of a response. “It’ll pass. I’m getting used to this—he paused— “new leg.”
    Rein eyed him. “Okay, well, I’m going to get started. I’d like to have the cabinets torn out by evening. With any luck, Tyler will have that new sink he ordered in by day after tomorrow.” He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. “Damn, I forgot to tell Sally we’re going to have to shut off her water for a couple of days to reroute the pipes.” He sighed. I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. She’s got enough on her plate right now.”
    Not to mention seems a might tightly wrapped. He mentally added, knowing it sounded ironic coming from him.
    He worked most of the day carrying the cabinets out to the one-car garage, stacking them neatly as Sally had ordered. She apparently never threw anything away. He stopped to survey the clutter that prevented the woman from actually using her garage. Boxes of old National Geographic magazines lined the shelves, along with stacks of yellowed Readers Digests. It was a junker’s dream. Parts of old lamps hung from the rafters. Dusty old board games were stacked on the shelves, shoved in at all angles. A variety of old tires and hubcaps sat in the corner, teetering like some forgotten sculpture. He spied an old Victrola—seemed in fair condition from what he could see through the thick layer of dust.
    “Here’s the last of them.”
    The voice startled him and he turned to find Tyler Janzen. He stood at the garage entry balancing a cabinet in his arms.
    “Hey, Tyler.” He tossed him a smile as he started to leave. Tyler was the only guy he knew that spoke less than him.
    “Sal keeps everything. Says they remind her of moments in her life.” Tyler set the wall cabinet atop the others that Rein had brought in. He brushed his hands together, looking around as he spoke, though he hadn’t looked to see if Clay had even stayed.
    Clay waited politely at the door, his curiosity to hear what Tyler knew about Sally piqued.
    “Her dad was the same way. Pack rat. Lord, you should have seen the basement of the hardware store when he sold it.” He chuckled.
    It was odd that Tyler should be so chatty and especially with him. Since coming to the ranch, Clay had done little to socialize with anyone. He enjoyed the physical labor the ranch offered him. He’d learned a great deal from working with the horses, finding empathy that they’d managed to survive their own brutal nightmares. It’d been enough for Clay. “That so?” he replied, hoping Tyler would go on. He glanced at the man. Nice enough guy, a little on the lanky side, but hard-working and honest from what Clay had noticed. Sally could do worse. He glanced away, slapping himself mentally for thinking he’d have any damn idea about what a woman needed. It’d been a year since his fiancée had left him. After that,