Darling

2. spies in the making

"Why the hell did I see Rip standing on your roof this morning?" Lloyd asked, loud enough to make Spencer look back and forth to make sure no one was there.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Lloyd."

"Bullshit. What's going on Buck?"

"Nothing! Look I gotta prep the horses." Lloyd gave Spencer a knowing look. "I promise Lloyd, you know you're the first person I'd tell, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," he waved a hand at the girl before shaking his head. He didn't really believe Spencer, but he knew when to just let something go. Which was something Spencer loved about the older man, but she knew he'd be back sooner rather than later to poke some more.

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Spencer almost laughed when the group of older women arrived, watching their faces drop momentarily when they found out Spencer was a girl. Just like she had expected. But she promised them all the boys would be coming in before the end of their lesson, and they looked much better then. That seemed to encourage the ladies to do their best.

As the session was winding to an end, the ranch hands slowly began to come back across to the barn, smiling and waving at the wolf whistles from the women. Lee even had his horse trot around in spins, showing off per usual. Spencer rolled her eyes but laughed at her brother's antics. She went to start packing up the saddles and tacks, but the sound of her phone ringing caught her attention.

"To what do I owe pleasure Big Brother?" Spencer laughed as she greeted Kayce with her question. He had never let her live down that he was three minutes older when they were kids, she decided to carry it forward into their adult years.

"Do you have a minute to talk?"

"Course. What's wrong?" Kayce never called during the day unless something was wrong.

Kayce paused on the other end of the line, Spencer hearing him mutter for a minute before speaking. "Dad stopped by this morning, all bent outta shape since we won't let him see Tate. Has he said anything to you?"

"No, but we both know that Daddy isn't getting any younger," Spencer noted, Kayce laughing at her words. "I don't think it would be bad for anyone to have Tate around. And I'm sure Tate would have fun. I know it's something for you and Mon to talk about, but for whatever worth my word has, I think you should bring him around."

"He wanted nothing to do with Tate before," Kayce reminded his sister.

Spencer scoffed, "I know this may come as a shock to you Kayce, but people change. You can embrace that and bring Tate or keep hiding out on the reservation. That choice is yours though."

Spencer hung up, slightly irritated with her brother. Kayce had been the one who could become one-track minded very quickly, narrowing in on one aspect of the big picture. Spencer was different, looking at everything as a whole, making the twins argue quite a lot growing up. But she paid for his mistakes just like he paid for hers, and it seemed he still hadn't grown up.

"Spence you done?" Rip asked as he walked over from behind the girl, chuckling when she jumped a little.

Once Spencer turned to see Rip she nodded, following after him to one of the trucks. The brand was sitting in the front seat, and Spencer gulped. That was never a good sign.

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Spencer and Rip had gotten to Jimmy Hurdstrom's shithole of a trailer within the hour. Rip stepped aside, letting Spencer go first, a tactic they had developed over the years. Most people the pair dealt with seemed to relax more at the sight of a pretty girl than Rip's cold stare. This time was no different, as Jimmy smiled lazily at the girl once he opened the door at her knock.