Chapter Two

Craig stumbled out of the whorehouse two mornings later. His head was pounding, his stomach churned and the sun felt like daggers in his eyes.

He'd spent the last two nights drinking, gambling and whoring the hours away. Craig had thought he would feel better after spending some time letting loose, but he didn't.

If anything Craig felt worse—emptier—than he had before. And he was worried about his job as well, and what kind of hell he was going to catch. He was supposed to already be at the ranch hard at work today. He should have gone back last night.

Why did he always seem to be his own worst enemy?

Craig tried to stick to the shadows as he headed toward the livery. He stepped in to fetch his horse and became suddenly aware of a large presence behind him.

"Did you have fun?"

Craig winced, both at the volume of the voice and the knowledge of who it belonged to.

"Bunches."

Ezekiel came around him and glared down at Craig with those judgmental dark eyes. Once again, Craig was left feeling somehow small and overwhelmed. He attempted to take a step back but Ezekiel moved with him.

"The boss realized you were gone and sent me to fetch you."

Craig forced a cheerful smile. "You make a real nice errand boy."

Ezekiel simply pointed toward Craig's horse. "Get it saddled and come on. The boss wants to have a word with you."

Craig's shoulders slumped in defeat. For nearly the first time in his life he felt too sick to come up with any witty to say.

***

As Ezekiel led Craig up the back stairs to the boss's office, Craig couldn't help but feel like a sheepish boy about to be scolded by his father. And Ezekiel was the damn tattle tale hell bent on smugly observing Craig's punishment.

Ezekiel knocked once and Edison Bentley called for them to enter. The aging but still straight-backed and broad shouldered man stood behind his desk. "Sit down, both of you." He gave the order with a friendly smile.

Craig threw himself down in the chair and slumped low. If they were going to insist on treating him like a child, then Craig was going to act like one. If his behavior had any effect on Edison, the man gave no sign.

"Craig, when Ezekiel first came to me and told me I should hire you, it took some work on his part to convince me. There is no shortage of men out here with ranch experience looking for a job. I couldn't see hiring someone so overwhelmed by his vices.

"But Ezekiel saw something in you and he convinced me. And I was pleasantly surprised. You've been a good, dependable worker—until now."

"Is this a one chance and done ranch?" Craig mumbled.

Edison merely shook his head sadly. "I know who you are, Craig. I used to be a lot like you. You're a man who has lost his purpose."

Craig's brow shot up. "Huh?"

"You've lost your purpose. You used to have something or someone that you had built your life around and whatever that was must have been taken from you. You work hard to keep yourself busy because the minute you slow down, you lose yourself to your uselessness—your lack of purpose."

"Uselessness?" Craig snorted. He wasn't useless. What the hell was that old man rambling on about purpose for? He had a purpose! Drinking, gambling, whoring, having a good time.... Those things could definitely be called a purpose.

"Yeah, uselessness. When you're sloppy drunk and losing all your money to poker and whores, you're useless."

Craig turned his gaze to Ezekiel. "No one asked you. I'm about sick and damn tired of you acting so high and damn mighty! Leave me the hell alone."

"That might be difficult," Edison intervened as he filled a glass with whiskey from a decanter on his desk. "You see, I have an idea."

Craig didn't like the sound of that. "What idea?"

"I want to keep you on the ranch, Craig. I believe you deserve another chance. I don't think you are the man you seem to think you are."

Craig shifted in his chair. He didn't like this. He didn't like feeling so exposed. Who did Edison think he was?

Edison took a sip of his whiskey, grinned as if he were quite pleased with himself and continued, "If you choose to stay here, you're going to be under Ezekiel's supervision. He'll be responsible for your whereabouts and your actions...."

"I didn't agree to that," Ezekiel spoke up.

Edison shrugged. "I'm the boss."

Craig sat up a bit straighter. "Let me get this straight. If I want to remain here working, I have to have a nursemaid?" Craig glanced over at Ezekiel. "That nursemaid?"

Edison clicked his tongue. "That's what I said. Or you can go back into town and drown yourself a bit longer. But, eventually, you'll wind up looking in a mirror and you won't recognize who you are any longer, Craig. Trust me, I know."

Craig tapped his fingers on his knee, wishing his head wasn't hurting quite so badly. "And how will staying here keep me happy with my reflection—which I am, by the way. I was blessed with a nice reflection."

He heard Ezekiel snort but ignored him. Craig had seen the way Ezekiel had looked at him in the barn. He thought his reflection was nice too.

Edison leaned forward, his blue eyes serious. "I have no doubt that if you stay here, you work hard, you learn to live without all those distractions—you will find your purpose."

Craig was quiet a moment as all that sunk in and then he began to laugh. "My purpose? To stay here, work on your ranch and make you money?"

Edison seemed tickled by Craig's amusement. "Does that mean you'll stay?"

Craig was convinced the old man was crazy. This entire conversation seemed ridiculous. But he did like working on the ranch—aside from the sore muscles and aching back. And the pay was better than any ranch he'd ever been on before.

And Craig had a trump card over nursemaid Ezekiel. He knew Ezekiel wanted him—that could be a powerful weapon to get the man to back off and give him space.

"Sure, Mr. Bentley. I'd like to keep my job."

"And find your purpose," Edison added.

Craig shifted once again. Damn that man and his purpose talk. "Sure."

Seeming satisfied with the discussion, Edison dismissed them both and they walked down the back steps and into the midday sun.

"That man's a full bubble off plumb," Craig chuckled.

Ezekiel shook his head. "That man is one of the best I know. He's giving you a chance, Craig. It's more than most would do. Stop wasting your damn life and figure yourself out."

Craig snorted. "Why does everyone around here act like they know me? You have no idea who I am, where I'm from or what I've been through so your pretentious ass can kiss mine."

Ezekiel's full lips twitched. "Gladly."

Craig felt a shiver wash over him, but it was a good shiver, more of a tremble really. Oh hell.......What was wrong with him? He'd always been attracted to women. He loved women. He loved bedding women.

His mind was just a mess because of the damn boss, that's all. He needed some space and some work to do and he'd be just fine.

"I'll be a real good boy from now on, daddy, I swear," Craig muttered.

Ezekiel moved in closer, causing Craig to swallow hard and take a quick step back. "I know you will be. You don't leave my side, just like Edison said. And don't start thinking you'll use anything against me. I don't have any secrets from Edison and I'm not a child who's going to fall for tricks."

Craig opened his mouth to defend himself but Ezekiel silenced him by pressing a calloused finger against his lips. "If I decide I want you, you won't stop me...." He smiled, the expression somehow predatory. "You won't want to."