RIVAL: An Enemies to Lovers Why Choose Country Romance

Chapter 5

Why won’t she stay away?

I observe my meddlesome neighbor from the shadows of the trees as she inches her way toward my barn, cupping something close to her stomach.

What in the fuck is she doin’? Bringing somethin’ to fuck with my farm?

Her daddy would. I wouldn’t be surprised if he set her to do his dirty work, although it has been a few years since he’s done more than call the city on me. Not that I haven’t returned the favor. The shit he’s got stacked up on his lot is an eyesore, and probably hazardous with all the fluids and shit seeping into the ground.

The wind whips up abruptly and I glance at the sky, noting a storm about to roll in. I’m upwind from her, so she doesn’t hear me as I step out of the trees and head toward her, but I certainly hear the tiny, high pitched mewl coming from her stomach. I pause and cock my head, narrowing my eyes.

Deciding to give her a moment, my curiosity is piqued. If she is doing something nefarious, I’ll be able to catch her red-handed and drag her ass to the house. Keep her waiting until I get the police out here and charge her with trespassing. My lips curl in a sneer, excitement washing over me at that prospect. Bet her daddy would just love that.

Walking more slowly now, I tuck my hands in my pockets and stroll lazily in her direction. With where she’s standing, the straight line winds swirl harshly around the corner, the bottom of her dress slamming against her legs and she fights to keep it from lifting up to her waist.

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head at the ridiculousness of wearing a dress out on a farm. Dropping my gaze lower, I notice her worn boots caked in mud and worn soles, but it’s the way she hunkers over to protect whatever she’s holding at her stomach which keeps my interest.

She jogs to the entrance and tries the handle, but it won’t budge. My fingers grip my keys in my pocket and finally my anger at her trespassing again surpasses this brief moment of wondering what the hell she’s up to.

I’m only a few feet behind her when I snap. “Wanna explain why the hell you’re tryin’ to break into my barn?”

The way she screams from being startled brings me a small ounce of joy, but her cry quickly shifts to one of pain as her arms fly around her. Is this damn woman possessed? Jesus fuckin’ Christ!

A blur of fur has me tipping my hat up as I watch her wrestle with the mangiest looking kitten I think I’ve ever seen in my life. Edith doesn’t answer my initial question; instead, she pleads with the kitten. “Ssh, ssh. Just wait, baby! It’s okay, it’s okay! I got you. J-Just—” Hissing when the tiny ball crawls its way up her neck and clings to her exposed skin, she winces as she carefully removes his claws. “Just calm a bit for me.”

“That thing’s probably got fleas. You ought to put it down.” I wrinkle my nose as she continues her fight to calm it, pushing her hair from her face as the wind whips it around her cheeks.

Finding my eyes, she gives me a sheepish smile. “I can’t. I’m trying to return him to his momma. Your barn is the only place nearby that probably has some barn cats, so I came to see if maybe his family was here.”

“I don’t have barn cats,” I state, crossing my arms across my chest. “That still doesn’t excuse you for trespassin’… for the third time within a week.”

The girl is good, I’ll give her that. She seems embarrassed at being caught. Dropping her head, she looks away from my glare. “I did try the door, but no one answered. I wasn’t trying to be sneaky; I swear it.”

“My parents are out. That doesn’t give you the right—”

I’m shocked when she interrupts me. “I know I shouldn’t have come back. But—” She fights off the kitten again as it tries to crawl onto her other shoulder and nestle its way under her hair. “But I didn’t know what else to do. He’s just a baby. I thought he would’ve found his momma by now, but he keeps coming round. His crying was breaking my heart.”

Closing my eyes when hers fill with tears, I groan loudly and tip my head back. “Look, I don’t know what to tell you. There aren’t any cats in there, so I know he doesn’t belong in my barn. Why don’t you just keep him at your place? He looks old enough to be on his own by now. Probably weaned from his mom already.”

“I can’t,” she whispers. Glancing in the direction of her home, she begins her explanation, but lets her voice trail off at the end. “My father… he…” Shoving her hair from her face again, she straightens her spine. “Could he please stay in your barn? I bet he’d be real good at catching any mice that might be making a home in there. I’ll even come by every day and feed him.”

“He’s gonna spray when he gets older.”

She shakes her head quickly. “I’ll save up and have him neutered as soon as I’ve got enough. Please Mas—” I raise my brow when she uses my name, causing her to quickly correct herself. “Mr. Cooper. I’ll even help out around here if you want me to as payment.”

Without a trace of humor, I laugh at her. “You’re wantin’ to work for me as payment to keep a flea covered kitten in my barn? And feed him? Are you out of your mind?”

“No.”

Her answer is simple and filled with truth. I study her more closely, trying to decide if this is some farce, attempting to get one over on me. “You aren’t workin’ here for free. That’s a lawsuit if I ever saw one, especially considerin’ who your daddy is. He’d have me in court faster that I could blink.”

She shakes her head wildly, with her brown eyes wide and staring up at me. “I don’t want him to know I’m over here. He, uhh, he told me I wasn’t allowed to be on your property.”

“You should listen to your daddy,” I snarl. A tiny bit of regret from my tone hits me when she winces, but I shove it away. “About time he did somethin’ right.”

She chews on her lip, staring down at the kitten who’s now much calmer in her arms. Refusing to respond to my scolding, Edith tries once more with me. “Please, Mr. Cooper. I’ll help feed the animals, clean up after them if you want me to. Anything you’d need.” Her eyes lift, and I inhale noisily through my nose with the way she’s trying to let me see everything she’s feeling. “I can be useful. I want to be useful.”

Rain starts to fall slowly, so I pull my keys from my pocket and unlock the barn before it turns to a downpour. I’m not anxious to get soaked while my neighbor refuses to see reason. Shoving the door open, I hold it wide and jerk my chin toward the inside. “Get in before you look just as drowned as that cat you’re holdin’.”

Edith scurries in, ducking her head under my arm. Yanking the door shut behind us, I move around her and flick on the lights. This barn isn’t used for animals, just storage for equipment and hay. Thankfully, I saw the weather and got the cows out of pasture, and I’m doubly thankful I’m done when a low rumble of thunder sounds off in the distance.

I move further inside, taking my hat off to bang against my leg, shedding it free from water. “Do you even have any experience on a ranch?” My eyes roam over her body, then I huff in displeasure. She’s a lovely girl, but she doesn’t have any meat on her. I doubt she can handle actual hard work. “You don’t look like you could lift a bale of hay if your life depended on it.”

She allows the kitten to jump from her arms, and I just know I’m now the proud owner of a fucking cat. “I’m stronger than I look.” Peering around the space, she adds, “And I’ve got some experience, but I won’t lie to you, Mr. Cooper. I’ve never had a job outside of helping down at the church. My father has a horse, and I know how to care for him. Well, the basics. I’ve never saddled or ridden him before because he’s not my horse, but I can brush him down, handle feed and water, and muck his stall.”

I pause and turn toward her. More surprised than anything, I ask, “You don’t know how to saddle a horse? You’ve ridden one. Right?”

“No. I can learn, though. I’m a quick learner. Just last year, I was part of the volunteer team to help put on the addition at the church. I was there every day until it got done. And I’m helping with a barn raising starting tomorrow, too.” She steps closer to me. “I’m a hard worker. I could come over after I get my chores done at the house first thing in the morning when my father is out. I’ll even get started on them today if you can use me.”

Her offer to let me use her plays around in my head. I’m certain she’ll be more of a hinderance than a help here, but if she wants to come break her back for me, maybe she’ll fuck up enough that I can let it hang over her daddy’s head.

Biting back a smile when that idea pops up, I do my best to give her my most serious look. “We’ll do a trial. You need to show up by seven in the mornin’ the moment your chores are done or do them after you’re done here. I’m not gonna pay you for the first two weeks until I know you can handle the work. Then I’ll cut you a check.”

“Cash,” she blurts out. Her face erupts in a massive blush, but she doesn’t take it back. “And I’ve got that barn raising I’m helping with, so I’ll be sure to get up early. I’m signed up for the midafternoon group there. It’ll work out perfectly.”

Nodding once, I hold out my hand for her to shake. “Fine. Cash. But the moment you fuck up or don’t show up, the deal is off. And that cat is gone too, you hear me?”

Her chilled fingers slip along my callused palm, but she grips it more firmly than I’d have expected. “I promise. I’ll work hard for you, Mr. Cooper. Thank you so much. I’ll try to be here extra early so I can make sure the kitten is fed and settled, too.”

“This is my livelihood, Miss Hughes. You fuck me over, you’ll regret it.” I hope she takes my warning to heart, but she’s either a fabulous actress or na?ve because she simply smiles broadly at me before dropping my hand.

Squatting down quickly, she clicks her tongue to call the kitten to her. He comes bounding out of a straw pile, completely covered already. Picking the pieces from his fur, she plants kisses on his head before whispering directions to behave like the good boy she knows he is. There’s no stopping my eye roll this time.

As soon as she releases him, he bounds off, and she stands before me once more. “Thank you again, Mr. Cooper. I’ll be here tomorrow!”

With that, she spins happily, then hunches over as soon as she jerks the door open to sprint out into the now pouring rain. Another crack of thunder rattles the rafters in the barn, and I look down at my boots just in time to see the little kitten she’s left me with.

Staring up at me with wide eyes, I grunt when he sits on his ass and releases the most God-awful, high-pitched meow I’ve ever heard.

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, shoving my fingers through my hair in irritation. I gently poke at him with my toe. Another mewl escapes him and I groan. “You’re gonna get my barn infested with fleas, aren’t ya?”

I swear, this thing rolls his eyes at me before sauntering off, disappearing in the shadows for good this time. Eyeing the door Edith escaped through, I already regret my decision to allow her to come back tomorrow. I’m only setting myself up for a disaster, but hopefully it’ll piss off her daddy in the end. That fucker needs to be taken down a peg, in my opinion. Fuck Clayborn Hughes and his daughter, who’s way too pretty to have ever come from his gene pool.

Once she fucks up badly enough, I’ll be able to drag her ass back to her home and demand reparations for my damages and insist he keep his daughter off my property for good.