Sixteen
It was only a quarter to five when Shane turned off the highway onto the Northstar Mountains Scenic Byway, but he found himself fending off yawns and fond thoughts of his bed. After four days of ranch work on top of his duties for the Forest Service, he was wiped, and today’s dull meetings about the management of upcoming timber sales had tested him. More than once, he’d almost dozed off. He’d decided to take tomorrow off from his regular job and give himself a few hours to recuperate. Besides, Jim’s surgery was tomorrow, and he wanted to be available to Becky because she would undoubtedly fret about him.
He didn’t mind the work, especially not helping out on the ranch because it meant he got to spend more time with Becky than he usually did during the week, and it wasn’t actuall
