Austin’s headache ran deep, and the four painkillers he’d taken with breakfast hadn’t touched the pounding behind his temples. If it wasn’t for his scratchy throat, he’d just take more pills, drink more caffeine, and find some sugar and hope for the best.

But as he climbed up to the seat of the tractor, he knew he was getting sick. He hated getting sick more than anything else. He dashed off a quick text to his mother, who had a couple dozen home remedies for sore throats and headaches, and he waited for her response before rumbling out to the fields.

His phone vibrated, but it wasn’t Austin’s mother.

He hissed out a sigh, but his eyes had already caught on his father’s message. What about Christmas Eve here in San Antonio?

Austin wanted to throw his phone as far as his muscles could get it, and he stabbed at his phone as he formed his response.

No thanks.

He had a whole lot more to say, including how exhausted this game made him, but he hoped he could get his meaning across with fewer words.

He sent the message, and this time his father called. Austin could’ve just ignored him, but he wanted to get things out and over and done. “Hey, Dad.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on with you, Austin.” No hello. No how are you? No nothing. Just a needling, half-whining voice on the other end of the line.

“No, I’m sure you don’t.” And he’d never cared before. His dad hadn’t cared, because Austin had always done what his father wanted. He’d driven to San Antonio when Shane and Dylan wouldn’t. He’d tried to get them to come. He responded to the family texts.

He’d been caught between two worlds for long enough, and he was tired enough trying to keep up with the life he was living. He couldn’t keep one foot in a life with his father, because his dad only wanted him there when it was convenient for him.

“San Antonio is a short drive,” he said. “You could come for an early dinner on Christmas Eve and be back to the ranch in plenty of time.”

“You’re probably right.” Austin stared straight ahead, sifting through the angry things he could say to his father. In the past year, they’d surged to the surface, made him clench his teeth and hang up before he blurted them all out.

But now, he felt…annoyed, sure. But he didn’t feel like he was about to go nuclear, and that was a huge improvement.

“I know you said Shane and Dylan won’t come, and Joanna is fine with that. We just want you to come. You’ve always been so much fun, Austin.”

Austin pressed his eyes closed, the seething fury roaring to life with just a few simple words. He felt like he was being ripped in half. His loyalty to his father and his family had always run through his blood. He’d trusted his father explicitly growing up. Had enjoyed working the ranch at his side, learning what he needed to know, telling jokes, laughing, and sweating under the sun.

He hadn’t realized his father’s betrayal when he was only sixteen. He’d been confused, everything happening so fast, that he’d actually been upset with his mother and his brothers for losing the ranch.

“I’m not coming,” he said, his voice this freaky calm tone he barely recognized. It was the complete opposite of how his nerves rattled inside him.

“Austin—”

“Dad, please just stop. I’m tired of being manipulated.”

“I’m not manipulating you.”

“You are. You have for years. And I’ve let you. And I’m done.” His phone beeped, and he seized onto it as an excuse. “I have to go. Mom’s calling.” He hung up, the urge to throw his phone still strong.

He managed to look at it and see that his mother had recommended tea and honey for his throat and more rest for his headache.

“More rest.” Austin chuckled, wondering if his mother somehow had eyes here at the ranch that would know Austin hadn’t been sleeping more than five or six hours a night in weeks. Of course she does, he thought. She had Dylan, Shane, and Robin. Probably some of the ranch hands too.

He thanked her and shoved his phone in his back pocket where he wouldn’t feel it vibrated because the seat would be bouncing around too much. Then he got to work, wishing he’d brought headphones with him so he didn’t only have his poisonous thoughts about his father to keep him company.

In an attempt to distract himself, he began to sing. He didn’t have a wonderful voice, but there wasn’t anyone out here to judge him, so he let the lyrics to his favorite country songs lift into the air. When he’d gone through all the songs he knew, he switched to hymns.

When he pulled back into the equipment shed and jumped down from the tractor, Shay walked toward him, a beautiful smile on her face. “Hey there, cowboy.” She stopped and cocked her hip. “Heard you singin’ out in the fields.”

Embarrassment seeped into him, heating his chest and neck. “You heard that?”

“Pretty voice.”

“Just what every man wants to hear.” He gestured for her to come closer, and she practically skipped into his arms, giggling. He loved this happy, flirty version of Shay, and he swung her around.

“How was your night?” He gazed down at her, brushing back her hair and leaning down for a kiss before she could answer. He would never tire of her lips, and a twinge of electricity traveled down both his legs. Joy skipped through his system, and he pulled back before he got too carried away.

“Are we too tired to go out tonight?” he asked, half-hoping she’d say yes. His head still pounded and he didn’t even know how to make tea.

“I’m not.” She traced her fingertips down the side of his face, sending a shiver through his bones. “But you look a little worse for the wear.” She wore concern in her eyes.

“I have a headache,” he admitted. “And my mother said the best remedy for a sore throat is tea with a lot of honey. I don’t suppose you know how to make tea?”

Shay bent back and laughed, both hands pressing against his chest as she straightened again. “Yeah, I can make tea. C’mon, let’s go back to my cabin.”

Austin held her hand as they walked down the spoke of the crossroads that led back to the epicenter of the ranch, then they continued toward Shay’s house. Austin climbed her steps with her, and said, “My dad called.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound good.” Shay opened her front door and a rush of heat met Austin as he followed her inside.

“He wanted me to come to Christmas Eve dinner,” he said, his mood darkening. “Claimed that he didn’t care if Shane or Dylan came, that he just wanted to see me, that I’m the fun one.”

Shay filled a teapot with water and set it on the stove. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him to stop manipulating me. Stop lying to me.”

She pressed her mouth into a tight line and spun away from him. Several moments passed and then she said, “Good for you, Austin.”

He approached her and slipped his arms around her waist, glad when she leaned back into his chest. “He makes me so…angry.”

“I know he does,” she murmured.

“I don’t understand how a person can lie to someone they’re supposed to love.”

Shay tensed and stepped out of his arms, opening two cupboards before pulling down a large honey bear filled with golden liquid. The teapot began to whistle, and she worked in the kitchen, placing a delicate cup of tea with loads of honey in front of him a minute later. She got out a bottle of pills and slid it toward him too.

He sipped and swallowed, comfortable in this cabin of Shay’s, with it’s muted colors, and easy-going furniture, and those two dogs lying on the couch a few feet away.

“I want a juicy hamburger tonight,” she said.

Austin glanced at her. “Is that right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. So sip faster, let’s turn on the lights, and then get into town.”

“Where can we find the best burgers in Grape Seed Falls?” He sipped, the hot tea scalding the back of his throat. Somehow, he didn’t think that was what his mom had in mind when she’d recommended it.

Austin thought she’d say Sotheby’s, which was the ritziest restaurant in town. Or maybe Gray’s, the hip, local joint that was packed at every meal.

But she said, “Burger Barn,” with a totally straight face.

Austin nearly spat out his tea. “Burger Barn?” He shook his head. “I don’t believe you.” He chuckled and sipped some more. “First Soup Kitchen and now Burger Barn. I’m beginning to think you don’t know what good food is.”

“Hey, you said you liked the Soup Kitchen.”

“I did. The chili was fantastic. I’m just saying the names aren’t all that inspiring.”

“Burger Barn has a California bacon burger that will blow your mind.” She set her mostly full teacup in the sink. “Plus, they have sweet potato fries, and I’m dying for some of those.” She batted her beautiful eyelashes at him, and Austin had zero defense against her.

“Fine.” He gulped the last of his tea, the glob of honey at the bottom of the cup almost making him gag. But he forced it down so he could report truthfully to his mother that he’d followed her advice. “Let’s go, then. Today’s not a good day to die.”