Embracing Hope (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #5)

Chapter Eleven

She didn’t wake up until her alarm sounded at eight.

And her bedmate was gone.

Grabbing her phone, she clicked a button that stopped the alarm and closed her eyes again. She grabbed the pillow Isaac had slept on and dragged it closer, hugging it like it was him. His scent lingered on the pillowcase.

The sunlight spilled into the room as a reminder that she needed to get her day started.

With a moan, she pushed herself up and out of bed. Her pajamas were scattered all over the floor, and her sore inner thighs were a reminder of what she and Isaac had shared.

Seeing her reflection in the mirror, she gasped. She paused to inspect the bruises on her shoulder. She looked like she’d been in a fight.

After a quick shower, she dressed and headed outside with her first cup of coffee of the day. Something told her she’d need a few more to get through until sundown.

The sun was warm, and last night's rain had evaporated. As she headed to the barn, she inhaled the fresh morning air, not letting the ache in her bottom and hips deter her chirpy mood. Hope has always cherished mornings. The aromas, the crisp air, and the dew on the grass all contributed to the new beginning.

The ranch bustled in activity.

Several hands were in the pasture working with the horses.

One on a tractor hauled a trailer of hay and feed.

Another was dumping food in the long metal troughs for the cattle.

She had some things on her to-do list, including speaking to Isaac.

Did he regret what they’d shared?

She walked inside the barn, stretching her gaze from wall to wall and not finding him.

However, she did see Wheeler. When he saw her coming his direction, he turned his cheek and lowered his hat, working feverishly to change the tractor's flat tire.

“Morning, Wheeler,” she said when she approached him.

“Mornin’, ma’am.”

So now he was calling her ma’am?

“Don’t hide your face. I already know what happened.”

He dropped the tool he was using and stood, readjusting his hat as he faced her. His face looked a lot worse than Isaac’s knuckles had last night. He had a mean-looking bruise that covered most of his cheek and nose.

“Am I fired?” He wouldn’t meet her gaze and kicked up a pebble with the toe of his boot.

“Fired?” Maybe there was more to the story than she knew. “Why would I do that?”

“Marcum didn’t tell you?” Several expressions flitted over his face ending with shock.

“I’d like to hear your side of things.”

He shifted his dirty boots, his complexion turning grey. “I let my mouth get carried away, ma’am. I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to find out if the rumors were true.”

“What rumors are you curious about?”

“The forced marriages. Sorry. It really ain’t none of my business.” He swiped off his hat and held it against his chest. “I take full responsibility. Marcum had every right to do what he did. I would have done it myself if one of the boys allowed their mouths to work past their brains.”

Something made her doubt his statement. Although she didn’t know Wheeler very well, she didn’t like a man who couldn’t make eye contact, especially when he tried apologizing.

“Will it happen again?” She had no clue what had happened, but she was clever enough to figure it out. Isaac had been defending her honor.

“No, ma’am. That’s a fact.” He shoved his hat back down on his head.

“I’ll take your word for it. By chance, have you seen Isaac this morning?”

“No.” His jaw clicked.

Leaving Wheeler to finish his work, she exited the barn and scanned the pastures to the mountain peaks in the distance.

Could it be possible that Isaac was dodging her?

In the stables, she strolled to the last stall, unlocked the gate, and stroked her horse, Sabrina, on the nose. The friendly mare rubbed her head against Hope’s palm. “You want to go for a ride, girl?”

As if the horse understood, she made a low sound.

Taking the young mare out of the stall and outside, Hope outfitted her in tack and climbed into the saddle Daddy had made for her. He had saddles customized for each of his daughters. Hope’s saddle, crafted from buttery-soft leather, featured delicate sage green embroidery and her initials embossed in the material.

Despite feeling a bit sore from last night’s incident with the intruder and sex with Isaac, she found comfort in the saddle. It was her sanctuary—her therapy.

She led Sabrina toward the pasture and waved at Billy, who acted like he didn’t see her. They were all afraid to look at her after the episode between Isaac and Wheeler. Well, Isaac could no longer stay in the bunkhouse. She couldn’t have him punching all the workers.

The wind caught her hair as she gave the mare a little gesture that sent her galloping. Hope tightened her thighs around the saddle and tautened her hold on the reins as she encouraged Sabrina to pick up speed.

The combination of the sun beating down on her shoulders and the wind caressing her skin made her feel alive. She loved riding at this time of morning. She and her sisters could ride before they could walk. Although Hope had done some barrel racing through the years, she’d never taken to the sport like Honor and Liberty did. They were well known for their skills, and their awards were proudly displayed on a shelf in Daddy’s office. Hope had won first place in the science fair four years in a row, and her awards were placed along with the other prestigious trophies.

Tears filled her eyes.

He was spending more time in the Catskills at the family cabin. She wasn’t sure if he wanted to enjoy the lavish cabin where he’d planned to return one day or if he didn’t want his daughters to see him losing his battle with cancer. A tear slid down her cheek as she pondered the idea that he’d never retire and spend his days fishing, hunting, drinking bourbon, and smoking cigars in front of the fireplace as he’d always talked about.

She didn’t want to disappoint him.

Although she thought his demand for his daughters to marry was high-handed, in a way, she could understand what the strong, stubborn patriarch was trying to do. He didn’t want his girls to be alone, even if that meant forcing them into marriage. On a more selfish level, he also believed that the sisters needed men to help them run the place.

Hope sighed. The man might be onto something because her sisters were very happy with their husbands. Hope guessed even independent women needed companionship.

Time was running out. Soon, the deadline would come, and she’d be written out of the will, and the ranch would be lost to her. She wanted to believe her father wouldn’t be so stubborn and inflexible, but anyone who knew Sam Rose would never question that once he made his mind up the boundaries were in concrete.

Her mind wandered to Isaac. He knew about the forced marriages, and he wasn’t running.

He wasn’t gravitating toward her either. Or was he?

She slowed Sabrina to a gentle trot.

The sunshine felt nice and the scenery could only be described as breathtaking.

Once they reached the lake, she slid out of the saddle and hooked the reins to a limb. “Stay put, girl.” She gave Sabrina a scratch on her head before Hope headed down the narrow path toward the water. Recently, the area had been marred with the death of Rigs Fletcher. He’d pulled the wool over all their eyes. He’d been a convicted felon. A dangerous criminal who had been stalking Freedom for months and stealing private documents from their daddy’s office.

She wouldn’t let the disaster of that day keep her from one of her favorite places on the ranch.

At the water’s edge, she toed off her boots, shimmied out of her jeans and top, and slowly ascended into the calm water that remained cool because the sunlight hadn’t warmed it yet.

She swam out further, enjoying the weightless feel of floating.

Her mind automatically journeyed to last night’s events. There was something about the intruder that felt…familiar.

What was it, though?

She couldn’t figure out what it was but felt she knew him.

As she swam back to the bank, she gasped when she saw a man standing in the clearing—a man she wanted despite their differences. His chiseled features were harsh, and he had a deep scowl. His fists were at his sides. Had he come to watch her or pick a fight?

Hope walked out of the water, keeping her gaze connected with his. She realized the thin bra and panties she wore revealed her body, but she wouldn’t allow him to think he bothered her. She shoved her dripping hair over one shoulder.

“You’re not supposed to leave the house,” he said in a dangerous voice.

“Excuse me?” She tilted her chin.

“You heard me. Until we know who broke in you need protection. I do not completely agree that we didn’t file a report with the sheriff’s department.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Then I’ll be by your side.”

Her chest tightened. He was serious. “Look, thanks for the concern, but I don’t need a protector,” she said firmly. She picked up her shirt and dragged it over her head, little good it did. She knew when his gaze dropped to her breasts that the material had become see-through. Her heart skipped a beat or two.

“I didn’t ask.” He stomped toward her, stopping inches from her. She had to look up, way up, to see his face.

“Neither did I,” she smirked.

“This isn’t up for debate.”

“Is this what sex does to you? Triggers your testosterone into overdrive.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you deserve a good spanking?”

“No one has ever been brave enough to attempt it,” she wouldn’t let him intimidate her. “Did you also take an alpha-male supplement?”

He reached out and wrapped his warm fingers around her elbow. Goosebumps scattered over her skin. “I’m not joking, Hope.”

“Neither am I. If you’re expecting me to stay jailed in my house because some psycho broke into the house, you have another thing coming. I’m not afraid. There are hands everywhere.”

He released her arm, swiped off his hat and tore his hand through his hair. “Have you thought that it could be one of the hands?”

“That’s ridiculous.” She laughed.

“Rigs Fletcher,” he said in a low, husky tone.

He had a point. “It’s not one of the hands,” she waved a hand through the air and reached down for her jeans.

“And how do you know?” he said through tight lips.

“I just do. There was something familiar about him that I can’t seem to shake.” She stepped into the legs of her jeans and pulled them up her hips.

“You said you only caught a flash. Not enough to determine who it could have been.”

“Not one of the crew,” she said firmly. “They’re a bit unpolished but they’re good men.”

“Have you ever spent any time in the bunkhouse with them?” He cocked a brow.

“No, but I’m sure they’re just being men.” She tangled her fingers through her wet hair, trying to make sense of the mess.

“Men who are horny and get their rocks off from watching you.”

She raised her chin to meet his gaze. “What did you do to instill fear in Wheeler and the others? They wouldn’t even glance in my direction this morning.” She wrung more water from her hair.

“They understood that what happened to Wheeler could easily happen to any of them who crossed a line. When this merger happens, I’ll expect respect.”

“When and not if?”

“I’m leaning more toward when.”

“Again, I don’t need a protector,” she said confidently.

“It’s in my blood to protect. Can’t be changed.”

“We’re having sex. We’re not attached at the hip. You’re not relationship material, remember?” She didn’t like that she said the words, but had that changed?

“I explained myself. I’m not changing my mind.”

“Is that what that was? An explanation or a demand?” She strode past him to stuff her feet into her socks and boots.

*****

Isaac had just finished a call when he watched Hope ride by atop a horse. A combination of anger and annoyance spiraled through him. Last night, she’d been hurt by an intruder, and today, she acted like nothing happened. He sometimes found her stubbornness humorous, but this wasn’t one of those moments. Isaac didn’t trust any of the hands further than he could throw them. After his altercation with Wheeler last night, he knew the men didn’t have respect for Hope.

So whether she thought she needed his protection or not, she would have to deal with it.

He’d been on a horse taking a look at the property, so when she passed he finished up his call with his brother and followed her.

Seeing her come out of the water partially nude, the skimpy bra and panties might as well have been nonexistent because they left nothing to the imagination. Something told him she knew exactly how much she turned him on. After what they’d shared last night, something was shifting between them. It was something he couldn’t fully grasp.

He believed she’d be secure inside the house with Dolly, but he worried about her being outside on the property where anything could occur.

Now, she sashayed right past him, and he tailed her.

His chest hummed with adrenaline. He had half a mind to drag her over his knee and spank the sassiness out of her.

“We’re not through talking,” he said to her back.

“One of us is.” She kept walking.

He shook his head in irritation. “I’m going to be your shadow today.”

“Like hell you are,” she flung back at him and picked up her pace.

He almost found it comical that she thought she could outpace him. “Don’t be so complicated.”

She stopped and swung around to face him. “I’m the one being difficult?”

“Yes.”

With a frustrated sigh, she stomped toward her horse and climbed into the saddle. He mounted his borrowed horse and caught up to her. He looked over at her profile. He’d never met a more independent woman.

His chest welled with the need to protect her…but he also grappled with a need to rip her clothes off and show her how much he wanted her, even after last night.

“Why is it so hard for you to accept someone’s help?” he said as he absorbed the scenery around him.

“I haven’t asked for your help.” She rode ahead.

His eyes targeted her firm bottom bouncing in the saddle. Looking back, he had no idea how he’d resisted the temptation for so long. He didn’t have the strength in his tank to resist her again.

Isaac had to shift in the saddle because his cock had a mind of its own. He swelled against the zipper, and a pain shot through his pulsing balls. He’d always had a clear head on his shoulders. Logic reigned over desire, but that got all twisted when Hope looked at him. Her eyes were like hypnotic pools.

He stayed a few paces behind her horse, appreciating the sight of her and the landscape. From his vantage point, Isaac noticed that Sam aimed to update the ranch's policies and procedures to push operations into modern times. Jinx had told him they were using a drone to watch over the ranch and livestock, but they were still ironing out some issues. Isaac inquired about the security cameras and learned they were installed throughout the property. Jinx pointed out that the system had weaknesses like glitching during storms because lack of network service. The downfall of living in remote towns. Although they had a state-of-the-art security setup, no one monitored the footage unless an incident occurred.

Isaac found it suspicious that the security system was disabled the same night the intruder broke in. This made Isaac suspect that the intruder could be someone who knew the ranch's layout, where the security cameras were located—possibly one of the hands. Throwing around that accusation without proof wouldn’t be appropriate, but he’d keep his eyes open.

Although there were many great things about the ranch, Isaac also saw some things that could use change. Most of the crew were hard workers, but there were a couple of the men whom Isaac would get rid of quicker than a turd flowing downstream. At Marcum Livestock, he and his brother ran a tight ship. There was no such thing as second chances. Fuck up once, and they’re gone.

Something else didn’t settle well with Isaac.

Sagebrush Rose experienced financial losses due to the extensive time spent training, breeding, and showcasing horses, while cattle generated profits almost immediately. Horses, however, did not yield high returns. After removing two of their top breeding sires from their lineup, they incurred losses amounting to hundreds of thousands and were still recovering.

Despite this, they continued to invest more in sires.

This indicated to Isaac that Sam indulged his daughters, as the elderly man wasn’t investing in horses for profit.

He noticed that Hope had veered off the straight path toward the barns.

“Where are you going?” he muttered to her back.

“Wherever I want.” She shot him a grin over her shoulder and continued westward.

“We should get back to the ranch,” he said, wasting his breath.

“Go ahead and go back. No one’s forcing you to come along.”

The path led into a pasture and beyond through a thick row of trees, into the most fantastic view Isaac had ever seen. He pulled in a lungful of sweet, clean mountain air as he peered over the ridge onto the sun-drenched valley and upward at the icy tops of mountains in the distance. Birds sang happily and deer grazed the lush grass. They lifted their heads to see who had interrupted their peace but quickly returned to munching their breakfast.

“Well, I do declare. The cowboy is silenced,” she said in a country girl accent. “Don’t they have these views out there in Texas?”

“They do, but this is a sight to behold.”

She slid out of the saddle and Isaac decided not to argue. His boots hit the ground and he offered her a smile. As much as she irked him, she also made him feel things he never thought would be possible.

They left their horses, who were trained enough to stay put, and they walked to the edge of the ridge to get a better look. Remnants of an old tree house, a rope hanging from a limb, and a bucket of smashed pop cans gave a peek into what her childhood was like here on the ranch.

“I always thought I’d build a house right here.” She stomped her foot as if to push home the thought.

“So you’re going to marry someone?”

Where did that lightning bolt to his chest come from?

“That’s the question of the hour,” she said softly. “Is it too late for Husbands-R-Us?”

“Is there such a place?” He cocked a brow.

“Only in my mind.” She plucked a wild purple flower and hooked it behind her ear. “I received a publishing date from my editor. I have six months to live before my father kills me.” Her smile inferred that she joked, but worry filled her gaze.

“He won’t kill you. I think Sam is a bit more soft-hearted than you give him credit for. He loves you and your sisters. That’s obvious.”

“Oh?”

“Don’t act like you can’t believe that. You haven’t been told the word “No” since you were eight, about the same time you learned how to use that smile and innocent stare to get your way.” He hooked his thumbs into his front pockets. He’d been in the damn special forces, tough as nails, and when it came to the feisty blonde, he felt like a teenager anticipating his first kiss.

“He might have spoiled us but he certainly taught us to stand on our own two feet.”

“Even an independent woman needs a superhero sometimes.” He didn’t realize he’d said the words aloud until she looked up at him.

“I agree, but around these parts, superheroes can turn out to be super duds.”

“The dating pool has been peed in.” He chuckled. “Maybe the problem is you’re looking too close to home. Hell, these hands are great men, at least most of them, but they wouldn’t know how to handle a woman like you with an instruction manual and a YouTube tutorial. No offense, but I’ve seen the men eat. They don’t pick up after themselves, and some don’t even know how to flush the toilet.”

“And here you’ve been bunking with them. Poor you.” Although her words could have been taken as sarcasm, he caught the truth in her tone.

“Not tonight, and probably not tomorrow night. I’ll be wherever you are unless you want to come down and share my twin bed with me. Nothing like a couple of springs in the back and ass to make a man appreciate his creature comforts back home.”

She tried to hide her smile. “You said you wanted to know what things were like around here. You were given an up-close and personal viewpoint.”

“Just the smart-ass remark I’d expect coming from you.”

“I hate to poke fun but it is funny.”

“If I had half a mind…” he growled.

“You’d do what?” She held his gaze in the comforting hug of her baby blues.

“I’m not sure yet. There are two options I could choose from. Turn you over my knee and spank the sass out of you or kiss the hell out of you. Something tells me you wouldn’t mind either option”

She tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear, showing off a stacked row of diamond studs in her ear. The sparkle almost matched the shine in her eyes. “I know a cowboy who’s all talk when I see one.”

The woman would be the death of him.

“Be careful what you ask for,” he was fully aware that his voice held all the octaves of an internal conflict.

“No, you should be careful what you let slip past your lips.” She started to pass by him, but he caught her, wrapping his fingers around her wrist. Her chin came up. A gasp fell from her slightly parted lips.

“I think you like teasing me.”

“I think you enjoy my teasing you,” she said steadily, but her eyes spoke about her turmoil.

“How did you get this?” He brushed his finger along the white scar on her cheek.

“Actually, I got hurt when I fell out of the treehouse. Or rather, my sister, Honor, dared me to jump. The landing was a bit off. I’ve never been good at turning down a challenge.” There was something in her eyes that told him once she gave herself to someone she’d forever be connected.

“I’ve learned that about you. You seem to always get what you want.”

She tilted her chin. “I’m glad you’re finally seeing things my way.”

The last thread of his patience unraveled. He pulled her hard against his chest, lowering his face within an inch of hers and said, “Just remember, I warned you. You’re chipping away at my heart.”

“This is a lot like jumping from the tree. It was a bit scary. A little exhilarating. The drop came with some scars and learning curves but the result was worth it. I proved my bravery to my sisters, whom I always admired. Some situations are worth the leap.”

He slammed his mouth to hers in a forceful kiss that parted her lips wide to allow him access. Their tongues met in a warm embrace as he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her onto her toes.

A moan escaped her throat, and he felt a stab of appreciation in his balls. He threaded his fingers through her hair, knocking his hat to the ground while pressing her back against an ancient oak with years of embedded initials carved into its bark. There, he continued to kiss her until he needed more of her to satiate his desire.

He slipped his hand under her shirt and clasped one breast, kneading the firm flesh under his palm until she arched against him, a feral moan falling from her like a gentle breeze. His fingers dove behind the lace trim of the bra, and he gently pinched her thick, erect nipple, gliding his fingers over the nub until she moaned. He'd learned from their first night together how sensitive her tits were, and it turned him on. After giving the other breast his undivided attention, he moved his fingers downward on her flat stomach to the waist of her jeans, sliding his fingers over the damp crotch of her panties. She was excited, which only made his dick stiffer.

Did she have to be so fucking sexy? Irresistible?

A woman he wanted to make his. Permanently.

Ah, shit.

His mind went there. What happened to not being relationship material? It took someone like Hope to change his beliefs. The fear of never seeing her again outweighed the overwhelming fear of being attached to someone.

Her fingers gripped his hard cock through the denim, and he sucked in air. The spark of need twisted and turned inside him.

He rubbed her clit, and it swelled, and if possible, she became creamier. He bent his mouth to kiss her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of woman and vanilla. God, he’d never get enough of that fragrance.

Or her damp pussy that he sunk his fingers knuckle deep inside.

“Take your shirt off, cowboy. I want to touch that torso,” she whispered.

“Here?” he groaned.

“We’re safe.”

Without a millisecond of hesitation, he shrugged out of the chambray and tossed it over a low-hanging limb on the tree.

Her eyes shone like raw diamonds as she stared at his chest, using her finger as a stylus to trace the tattoo and the pitted white scars that held a deeper story. She kissed each one, delivering a powerful sensation rocking through him. She lifted her chin, and her stark glare buried emotion in the center of his bones. She’d found a place inside him he didn’t know existed. A place of an overwhelming need to make her happy and all her dreams come true. Logic blurred in exchange for desire. He was experiencing something he’d never felt before. He never thought it would be in the cards for him.

He couldn’t wait to slide his cock inside her…

But the low moaning of something, or someone, through the patch of woods alarmed him. At first, it sounded like a wounded animal, but then he realized it was a human’s cry for help.

“So we both heard that, right?” she whispered.

“Yeah, we did.” Dragging his hand free of her jeans, he groaned in annoyance. He’d strangle someone if there wasn’t an emergency. “We better go investigate.”

They both shot from the ridge and toward the pasture, searching the tall reeds of grass swaying in the gentle breeze. They saw nothing but the grazing cattle that seemed unaffected.

“I don’t see anyone,” he said.

“There,” she pointed to a cluster of trees.

Isaac dashed through the tall grass, and as he got closer, he recognized the cowboy as Billy. He was leaning against the tree and holding his stomach. His hat obscured much of his face, and his dirty T-shirt had a large red stain.

Isaac crouched down to get a better look at the man. He had a severe wound and blood was seeping from his side. “Billy? Can you hear me?”

He gave a low, throaty response.

“What happened?” Hope said as she finally ran up to the scene, her breaths coming in ragged pants.

“No clue. Billy, stay awake for me.” Isaac checked for a pulse. The man had one but it was racing. “Wake up, Billy!” Isaac rubbed the younger cowboy firmly on the chest.

Billy’s eyes fluttered open. It took him a moment to register where he was. “Knocked in the head. Masked man,” he mumbled. “Then knife to the gut.”

“He’s been stabbed,” Isaac said after lifting Billy’s shirt and seeing the two-inch slice three inches from his belly button. “Looks like it missed any vital organs, but he’s bleeding heavily. Got your phone?” he asked Hope. She nodded. “How do you all do things around here when a hand is down?”

“I’ll contact Keller and ask him to come, and I’ll also reach out to Doc Laferty.” Without waiting for his reply, she quickly took out her phone and began making the calls.

Billy’s eyelids flapped rapidly. A ragged, painful moan bubbled up in his chest. “Peeper. In woods.”

“Peeper?” Right now, Isaac needed to get the man’s injury to stop bleeding. Isaac didn’t have his shirt on so he tore off part of Billy’s shirt and pressed the fabric firmly against the oozing wound. “Stay with me, buddy. Just hang on.”

Isaac wasn’t a stranger to injuries of all severity. On special ops missions, he’d witnessed more trauma than he could count and saved more lives than anyone knew. He’d also lost a few good soldiers too. Billy wouldn’t die on Isaac’s watch.

He worked automatically to staunch the blood flow that now covered his skin.

“Is it bad?” Billy seemed more alert, which counted in his favor.

“Not bad enough that you’re going to die. A few stitches and you’ll be like new,” Isaac said supportively.

“Keller and Doc are on their way,” Hope said.

Within a few minutes, they heard the thudding of the truck tires speeding through the pasture.

Keller, along with several hands, jumped out of the truck and took over Isaac’s position.

He watched as the men worked quickly to help their crew member.

Just as fast, the men loaded Billy into the back of the truck and took off through the pasture.

“Here. I thought you might want this.” Hope handed him his shirt.

Billy’s blood was starting to dry on Isaac’s hands as he dragged on his shirt. His adrenaline was rushing so fast through his veins that he couldn’t seem to get his fingers to work to push the buttons through the holes. “Damn,” he muttered.

“I’ll do that for you.” Hope stepped forward and buttoned his shirt. “You saved his life.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but the blood…” He shook his head. He’d always hated the sight of blood.

Hope did something then that lifted the hairs on his neck. She stood on tiptoes and hugged him. He exhaled a long breath and buried his face into her shoulder, soaking in the amazing feeling of her arms wrapped around him. He didn’t want to get her bloody, but having her concern made him nearly shed a tear. He might be as tough and rough as a rusty nail, but it was humbling to know that he had it in him to feel this type of emotion. It was liberating. He felt like a lock had been freed from within him.