9. Kennedy
CHAPTER 9
KENNEDY
“ H ey, Sammy.” Arthur steps up onto my porch, though he remains on the second step rather than coming up all the way.
I’m sitting in a rocking chair, enjoying the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I made for myself along with a mug of steaming hot elderberry tea. “Hey, have a good day?”
“Yeah. Not as good as you did.”
“What does that mean? We had the same day.” I take a bite.
“Yeah, sure.” He runs his hand over the back of his neck, expression frustrated. “Listen, if you didn’t want to go out with me, you could have just said so.”
“What are you talking about?” I set my sandwich down, defenses slipping into place now that I note his irritated tone in addition to the expression on his face.
“You told me that you didn’t want to date anyone, yet you were out last night with Bradyn Hunt. What is it, because he’s rich? The boss? You just jumped at that opportunity.”
I practically lunge out of my chair. “I don’t know what you think you saw last night, Arthur, but I was not on a date.”
“Yeah, okay, which is why he drove you home last night,” he scoffs. “Don’t lie to me, Sammy. It’s not attractive.”
“First of all.” I take a step closer, jabbing my finger out. “I don’t care whether or not you find me attractive. Second, even if I were seeing Bradyn Hunt, it would be none of your business.”
“Sure it wouldn’t. I’m just the guy whose feelings you jerked around.”
“Feelings? What? How did I jerk your feelings around?”
“You lied to me!”
The door to a cabin opens, and one of the other hands steps out. An older man with a handlebar mustache who’s worked here for over a decade. “Everything okay out here, Sammy?”
“It’s fine, James,” he snaps.
“I didn’t ask you,” James retorts. “Sammy?”
“I’m okay, James, thanks.” I offer him a smile, but he hesitates before retreating back into his cabin. As soon as he’s gone, I cross my arms. “Look, Arthur, I don’t owe you an explanation. You asked me out, I said no. End of story.”
“Why did you say no? I don’t have enough money for you?”
Fury envelops my blood, boiling it in my veins. I rip the jacket off of my chair and march past Arthur down the stairs, sandwich forgotten.
“Wait! Sammy, I’m sorry.” He jogs after me then grips my arm.
I swing, not even thinking before I do. My fist cracks into his nose, and blood spurts out. He stumbles backward onto the ground and screeches in pain. I just stand there, staring at him as he scrambles to his feet.
“You hit me! I think you broke my nose!”
“You grabbed me. I don’t like to be touched.”
“I can’t believe you hit me.” He takes a step away from me, likely afraid I’ll hit him again.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.”
Then he turns and rushes into his cabin, blood dripping from his hands. I remain where I am, unsure if I should go after him or not. Trouble. I just caused trouble. Does this mean I’ll be put out? Thrown off the ranch? It was in their contract that we don’t resort to physical violence with anyone here on the ranch.
What if they throw me out? I have nowhere to go. And I’m getting tired of running from place to place. Panic begins to creep up my spine, chilling the fury that had been in my veins only minutes ago. So, before Arthur can get to them and tell a different story, I start toward the main house.
I’m just reaching up to knock when the door opens, and Bradyn nearly walks right into me.
“Sammy, what are you—” His expression falters as his gaze lands on my raised fist. A fist that is red and has a smear of blood on it. “What happened?” He steps out of the way, and I move into the warm house.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it. He was just making me so angry and?—”
“Sammy, honey, good to see you,” Ruth greets.
Brayden cuts in, “Mom, can we use Dad’s office?”
Her face goes serious. “Of course, go on.”
“Come on.” Bradyn gestures down the hall, so I head past him, stopping at an open door that looks like it goes into an office. As soon as we’re inside, he shuts the door then moves around me to lean back against the desk. “What happened?”
“Arthur.”
“Kidress?”
I nod.
“What about him? Did he do something to you?” Bradyn’s face turns beet red, and his hands clench into fists at his sides.
“No. I punched him.”
Bradyn stops and leans back against the desk. “Why?”
“He was hurt and therefore saying all of these stupid things. Then when I tried to leave, he grabbed my arm. So I swung. I’m sorry, I know the ranch has a no-violence policy, but I’m not sure what happened. I just saw red. If you have to fire me, I understand, but please consider granting me a second chance.”
Bradyn studies me. “I’m not going to fire you, Sammy, but I need to know what Arthur did to provoke you. If it was a threat or you were worried he’d hurt you, I won’t allow him to remain here.”
“No, he didn’t threaten me. He was just angry, that’s all.”
“About what?”
How much to tell him? I decide to stick with all of it since it was likely overheard by James, anyway. “Arthur asked me out a couple of days ago. I said no because I’m not big on dating right now. He was fine until he saw me arrive home with you last night. He accused me of dating you because you’re wealthy then said a bunch of other things that angered me. I tried to walk away. When he grabbed my arm, I snapped.”
I expect Bradyn to be furious that Arthur made such an accusation. I expect him to laugh at the very idea of dating me. Instead, the handsome cowboy simply stands up and moves around me to open the door to the office. “Let’s get you some ice.”
“Ice? You’re not going to lecture me or write me up?”
“Why would I?”
“Because I probably broke his nose.”
Bradyn chuckles. “It sounds like he tried to make us both look like fools by accusing you of being after money and me being gullible enough to date someone after my money. And it sounds like you were simply defending yourself when he put his hands on you. I don’t see any reason to write you up.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He smiles. “Now, let’s get you some ice, and I’ll call Lani to swing by on her way home so she can check in on Arthur’s nose.”