Knocked up by the Mountain Man (Silver Ridge Mountain Men)

2. Beau

2

BEAU

T hree and a half years later…

“This is the life, isn’t it?” Wyatt declares with a laugh as he pats me on the shoulder. “Partying in the city is so different from partying in freaking Silver Ridge. The girls here are hot as all hell, aren’t they? And crazy too.”

I glance around the room, trying to feel the same excitement as Wyatt, but as always, I just can’t make it happen. He’s always been the party animal, much more than me, always the one starting the drinking games and the stupidity.

For the last three days, I’ve been in Billington, sorting out business related to the ranch, but it will soon be time for us to return to Silver Ridge. The city lights and noise are a stark contrast to the quiet, open spaces of home, but neither place really feels like it fits me anymore. Not in the same way it always has.

I feel a coldness creeping in, a numbness that has settled over the years.

Living my life according to my father’s wishes has hardened me. Three years of doing what he wants, trying to meet his impossible standards, just to secure my inheritance. My father is controlling and expects a lot from me, and that’s slowly turned me into someone I barely recognize.

“Crazy, yeah,” I mutter, not really caring about the girls or the party. My mind is on the ranch, on the responsibilities waiting for me back at Silver Ridge.

Wyatt nudges me, trying to draw me out of my thoughts. “Come on, Beau, lighten up! We’ve got a few more hours here. Let’s make the most of it.”

I force a smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. “Sure, okay. You’re right. Let’s get another drink in us quick.”

We make our way to the bar, and Wyatt orders us another round. As I take a sip, I notice a couple of women eyeing me from across the room. They’re whispering and giggling, clearly interested. One of them, a tall brunette with striking green eyes, makes her way over and leans against the bar next to me.

“Hey there,” she purrs, her voice smooth and inviting. “Haven’t seen you around here before.”

I give her a polite smile, but I can already tell that I don’t have the effort for this. “Just visiting,” I reply, taking another sip of my drink.

She bats her long lashes and leans in closer, her perfume mingling with the scent of alcohol in the air. “Oh, where from?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Silver Ridge,” I answer, keeping my tone neutral. I’d move on, but I can already see that Wyatt is in his element with her friend. He’ll kill me if I don’t play along for his benefit.

“Silver Ridge? Never heard of it. Must be pretty small, huh?” She giggles, trying to keep the conversation light and playful.

“Yeah, pretty small.”

“So, what brings you to Billington?” she asks, leaning in a bit closer. “Business or pleasure?”

“Business, we’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Well if you’re only here for this one night, I hope you find some time for pleasure too,” she says, her fingers lightly brushing my arm. “What do you do for work?”

“Ranching,” I reply, my voice flat.

I know I usually relish this sort of thing. I love it when I don’t even have to do the chasing, but tonight my head is miles away, at home. I can’t help it.

“Ranching? That sounds... interesting,” she says, clearly searching for something to latch onto. “Like a cowboy?”

“Something like that,” I say, offering a half hearted smile.

Her enthusiasm is almost contagious, but not quite.

“Wow, a real life cowboy,” she says, leaning in even closer. “I didn’t know they still existed.”

“Yeah, we’re still around,” I reply, trying to sound a bit more engaged, but the effort feels forced.

She giggles again, a high, tinkling sound that grates on my nerves. “Well, I think that’s pretty cool. Do you do the whole rodeo thing too?”

“No, just the ranch,” I say, my patience wearing thin. “Mostly cattle.”

“That sounds tough,” she says, her eyes wide with feigned admiration. “But also kind of sexy, don’t you think?”

“Depends on who you ask,” I say, my smile tightening.

I glance over at Wyatt, who is now fully immersed in the party, his laughter echoing through the room. He catches my eye and gives me a thumbs up, clearly enjoying himself.

The brunette leans so close, her hot breath tickles my ear. “So, how about we get out of here and you can tell me all about it, somewhere quieter?”

The implication behind her words is clear. I could… I suppose. But I just couldn’t be bothered.

“I can’t. Early morning, traveling home.”

“You have no time at all?”

I shake my head. “Nah, sorry.”

She pouts, clearly disappointed. “Your loss, cowboy.”

I can’t do this anymore. I need to get out of here.

I down the rest of my drink before I tap Wyatt on the shoulder. “I’m gonna head back to the hotel, man.”

He looks at me, concern flashing in his eyes. “You sure? We can leave together.”

“Nah, you stay. Enjoy yourself,” I say, forcing another smile. “I’ll see you in the morning. Then back to Silver Ridge it is.”

Wyatt hesitates but finally nods. “Alright, take it easy. And don’t worry too much about the ranch. We’ll handle everything.”

I leave the party and step out into the cool night air, the noise of the bar fading behind me. My heart feels heavy as I walk through the bustling streets, the city’s vibrant energy contrasting sharply with the emptiness I feel inside. The liveliness is fine, but I have to admit, I miss what I’m used to as well.

The walk to the hotel is short, but it feels like a journey. I’m dizzy, with the booze, but also with the weight of what’s resting on me back home. The bright city lights blur into a haze, and I find myself longing for the quiet, open spaces of Silver Ridge. I guess I really am a homeboy after all…

Bleep, bleep, bleep.

The alarm blares far too early, piercing through my hangover induced haze. I groan, rubbing my temples as I force myself to sit up. The hotel room is quiet, the city’s noise muffled by thick walls and heavy curtains. I glance over at the other bed where Wyatt is sprawled out, snoring softly.

So, he did make it back last night. That’s good, I guess.

But now I have to wake him up.

“Time to get up, Wyatt,” I mutter, throwing a pillow at him, trying not to vomit as I do.

He stirs, blinking blearily at me. “Already?” he grumbles, rubbing his eyes.

“Yeah, we’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” I reply, already pulling on my jeans and boots. “Remember?”

I don’t even know what that noise he’s making is, it sounds like a a succession of groans and moans, interspersed with a few curse words. Despite the grumblings, we manage to pack up and check out of the hotel without much fuss, though the bright morning light feels like daggers in my eyes.

I’m kinda in a daze, and I think Wyatt is too because the drive back to Silver Ridge is silent at first, both of us nursing our hangovers and lost in our thoughts. But as the city view gives way to open fields and rolling hills, I start to feel a bit more like myself.

“How are you holding up?” Wyatt asks after a while, glancing over at me.

“I’ll survive,” I say with a faint smile. “Just ready to get back to work.”

Wyatt nods, “Yeah, me too. The city’s fun, but it’s not home.”

We arrive at the ranch by mid afternoon, the familiar sight of the barn and the sprawling fields bringing a sense of relief. Despite my exhaustion, I feel a surge of energy as I step out of the truck and take in the fresh mountain air. There’s something healing about Silver Ridge, I’m sure of it.

“Alright, let’s get to it,” I say, heading toward the barn.

Wyatt follows, and we spend the next few hours checking on the cattle, repairing fences, and handling the myriad of tasks that come with running a ranch. The work is hard, but it’s a welcome distraction from the thoughts that have been weighing on me. As the sun begins to set, bringing the hard day to an end, I take a moment to appreciate the peacefulness of Silver Ridge. The distant mountains are bathed in orange and pink hues, while the sounds of the ranch, cows lowing, horses whinnying, and the chirping of the crickets…all create a soothing symphony that is worlds away from the chaos of the city.

I much prefer it here.

I can’t help myself.

But the tranquility is short lived.

I hear a commotion from the stables and hurry over, my heart sinking as I see one of the stable masters, Carl, struggling to calm a panicked horse.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Daisy,” Carl explains, his face etched with worry. “She’s sick and getting worse. I don’t know what else to do. She’s kinda freaking out now.”

I edge closer, my eyes scanning Daisy’s trembling form. She’s sweating profusely, her eyes are wide with fear and pain. I feel a knot tighten in my stomach. We’ve been treating her with the medications prescribed by the local vet, but nothing seems to be helping.

“Did my father recommend anything else?” I ask, trying to find a solution to this mounting problem.

Carl shrugs, looking defeated. “He said to carry on as we are. Keep giving her the meds and hope for the best.”

Frustration bubbles up inside me. It’s clear the current treatment isn’t working, and Daisy is suffering. Why doesn’t Dad see that too?

“That’s not good enough,” I mutter under my breath. “We need to do something more.”

Why is my dad like this at the moment? It seems like the older he gets, the harder his personality becomes, and the more irrational his decisions become. At least in my mind.

I turn to Carl. “What do you think we should do?”

Carl scratches his head, deep in thought. “Honestly, Beau, I think we need a specialist. Someone who has dealt with these kinds of issues before. Our regular vet is good, but this seems beyond his expertise.”

I nod, considering his suggestion.

“You’re right. We need someone with more experience, someone who can figure out what’s really going on. Especially since a couple of the horses don’t seem to be doing well. I’m hoping it’s not the same thing, but just in case.”

“I can make some calls,” Carl offers. “See if there’s a specialist who can come out here quickly. If that’s what you recommend, then I can get it organized…”

“Do it,” I agree without hesitation. “The sooner, the better. Daisy and the other animals can’t wait much longer.”

Carl pulls out his phone and starts dialing, while I stay with Daisy, stroking her neck and trying to keep her calm.

It feels like an eternity, but finally, Carl approaches me with a hopeful look.

“I got in touch with a Doctor Hammond from Lewistown,” Carl says. “He’s one of the best equine specialists around and agreed to send someone to help. Someone with the same expertise as him. One of his employees. Someone he trained himself.”

It’s no guarantee, I suppose, but it’s something. It gives our animals a chance. I just hope it all works out in the end.

“Good. I’ll let Wyatt know about it,” I murmur. “I don’t know if he’s still working. He’s hungover, so he might be in the guest house already, sleeping it off.”

I glance over to the building. The light is on.

Yeah, he’s back home and no good to me until the morning.

I sigh to myself. Wyatt is great, and one of the best friends I’ve ever had, so I’m not about to get mad at him. Especially when I know he’s been through a lot, but at some point we’re going to have to get on the same page. Eventually, I’ll be the one running run this place and there will be an adjustment. Whenever my father finally deems me good enough to be in charge.

If he ever decides that.

Sometimes, I’m not so convinced that he will. Sometimes I fear this is all a game to him.

One that I can’t win.