Funny how his first trip by the compound had filled him with such longing for ranch life when now it filled him with dread.
He glanced at Cody, who sat silently in his booster seat staring ahead with wide eyes. Suddenly, his face lit up.
“Gramps is here!” He rolled down his window and called out to his grandfather.
Thomas’s face brightened with the same joy, and Gabe parked his truck beside the old rancher.
“Afternoon, Gabe.” Thomas leaned in the passenger-side window. “Cody, my boy, how was school?”
“Great!”
Gabe slid out of his pickup right as Tom stepped out of the arena, blinking against the brilliant spring sunlight. The tight-lipped, narrowed-eyed expression on the other man’s face instantly set Gabe on alert.
“We’re working the Belgians with the show wagon. Do you want to wat
