Chapter Thirteen #3
Case moved against her, his body hard and demanding, the only sounds in the room were their gasps, moans, and groans. Skin on skin. Mouths on mouths. Tongues tangling in a desperate dance.
“I’m not going to last, baby,” he grunted, his hand moving between them, his fingers finding her clitoris. She inhaled sharply, her body tensing, then cried out when she came, her body convulsing around him.
Case moved harder and faster against her, his body chasing its own release, then groaned when he came. He kissed her lips, rolled off her, his body slick with sweat, and pulled her against him, his lips pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll never get enough of you, Sydney,” he murmured, his voice soft and sated.
“I feel the same,” she whispered, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest.
He rolled to his side, cupping her cheek, making her look at him, and stared into her eyes, his own filled with an emotion he could no longer contain.
“I’m in love with you,” he said, his voice steady and sure. He panicked when he saw her eyes quickly blink, trying to keep tears from falling. “Sydney—”
“I love you too, Caysen. So very much.”
“Shit. You scared the hell out of me,” he admitted, his hand pressing against his chest, feeling his heart race.
Sydney laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
“I thought you were going to cry because you didn’t love me.”
“No, I almost cried because I was so happy.”
A grin spread across his face, slow and easy. “I’m happy too. Let’s get up, order the pizza then just relax. You wore me out.”
“Excuse me? You’re the one who wanted to do it again,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Baby, I always want to... do it with you,” he teased back, his laughter filling the room as she playfully punched his arm.
Then she looked into his eyes. “I need to tell you about a past relationship.”
“Why? I have no need to hear about it. I love you and you love me; we don’t need to dig up the past. Unless you’re still in love with him.”
“No. I stopped loving him the first time he hit me.”
Case clenched his jaw. “I’d like to kick his ass.”
“He’s dead. He died in a car accident right after I got the nerve up to break up with him.”
“It’s a damn good thing because if he wasn’t dead already, he would be if he got a hold of him.”
****
After the pizza arrived, they sat on the sofa, watching a movie. Sydney bit into her slice and pulled it away from her mouth, making the cheese a long string, then she wrapped it around her finger and put it in her mouth.
“So, who decides on where they do community service?”
“The judge will or take my suggestions. Why?”
“Well, I was thinking that one of them could work here. I always need help.”
“I can talk to Judge Crawford. I’m sure he’d go along with it.”
“Okay. Since Billy and Ezra are up there in age, they can’t do as much, so either Tillman or Gibbs could work with them.”
“I appreciate that, Sydney. I’m sure they’d do their jobs.”
“I’m sure too. Just let the judge know for me. ”
“Yes, ma’am.” Caysen lifted another slice of pizza and bit into it.
As the night went on, Sydney couldn’t stop yawning. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Are you tired?” he asked.
“I’m exhausted. It’s been a long day. I worked in the barns today and that always wears me out.”
“That wears anyone out. I have a couple men who work for me, but I do my part too.”
“Let’s go to bed. If you want to continue watching TV, you can do it in the bedroom.”
“Okay. I’m not ready for bed yet, so that’s what I’ll do. It won’t keep you awake, will it?”
“Please. You know I’m dead to the world when I sleep.”
Caysen chuckled. “Alright.”
They retired to the bedroom, where Caysen watched TV and Sydney fell asleep.
****
The following morning, Case stood in the kitchen drinking coffee. He gazed out the window, smiling when he saw the dogs chasing each other in the yard.
Hearing a noise behind him, he turned to see Sydney enter the room. She pushed him aside with her hip so she could get a K-cup for the coffee machine.
“Well, excuse me,” he said.
“I’m too sleepy to talk right now.”
“You just did.”
“Well, until I get my coffee, I’m not talking.”
Case grinned. “You just did again.”
Sydney turned to face him with narrowed eyes, making him chuckle .
“You’re usually more chipper in the mornings. What’s up?”
“I woke up a few times last night. I keep thinking about Rachel. How can I get her at my ranch?”
“Just call her and ask if she’d like to go horseback riding with you.”
“Oh, I could do that. I’d tell her she could ride Satin, well Whisper since that’s what she named her.”
“I wonder if she got the papers for the horse from Ryder.”
“You know, I bet she didn’t. Because then she’d know how much that horse was worth.”
“I think I’ll ride out there to talk with him.”
“I thought you already did?”
“I did, but I didn’t ask about the papers. If he has them, I’ll get them for her.”
“Sounds good.” Sydney lifted her cup of coffee, sipped it, and sighed. “That’s so good.”
Case grinned. “I’m going to shave. Anything in particular you want to do today?”
“Besides you? No.” She laughed.
“Do you want to go with me to Ryder’s?”
“I’d love to. Let me finish my coffee first, then I’ll get dressed.” She looked out the window. “It looks nice out.”
“It’s a little cool at thirty, but I think it’s supposed to warm up. Welcome to Montana.”
“Right? You go shave. I should be ready by the time you finish.”
“Alright. I’ll meet you back here.” Case leaned down and kissed her lips then headed for the bathroom.
A few minutes later, they were in Case’s truck on the way to Ryder Wolfe’s ranch.
“I haven’t seen Kelsey in ages,” Sydney said .
“I saw her the last time I was here. I don’t think she leaves the ranch very often. She’d rather stay home and take care of RJ.”
“That little boy is so adorable. He’s the image of Ryder.”
Case chuckled. “Yes, he is.”
Slowing the truck, he pulled into the driveway and up to the back door. He shut the truck off, opened the door and stepped out. Sydney did the same.
“I’ll try the house first. I don’t think Ryder works weekends.” Case walked up the porch steps and knocked on the door.
When it opened, he saw Ryder standing there and Case grinned.
“Just the man I’m looking for,” Case said as they shook hands.
“Is that right? Well, come inside.” Ryder’s eyes shifted to Sydney. “Hi, Sydney.”
“Hey, Ryder. How are you?”
“Great, thank you.”
Case waited for Sydney to climb the steps, then they entered the house. Case saw Kelsey enter the kitchen, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Hey, Case,” she said as she hugged him, then she spotted Sydney. “Oh, my God! Sydney, I haven’t seen you in a long time. Let’s go to the living room. Anyone want coffee?”
“I don’t.” Case looked at Sydney.
“No, thanks, Kelsey. Where’s RJ?”
“I just put him down for a nap. Come on.”
They followed her to the living room and sat on the sofa while Kelsey walked to one of the recliners, then sat. Ryder sat in the other one.
“What can I do for you, Case?”
“That Paint that you sold to Rachel Norton, do you still have her papers?”
“Sure. Since Ms. Norton didn’t ask for them, I just filed them.” He stood. “I’ll get them from my office. I’ll be right back.”
“Is there something wrong with the horse?” Kelsey asked.
“No, not at all. I just want to have the papers on the mare.”
“She was such a sweet young woman. Ryder and I knew how much she wanted a horse, and she fell in love with the one she bought. It was like they were destined to be together. That horse loved her right away too. Rachel would stand by the stall gate, and the horse would put her head on Rachel’s shoulder. ”
Case glanced at Sydney to see her blinking back tears. He knew it had to be hard on her to hear about the connection Rachel and the mare had.
“Here you go,” Ryder said as he came back into the room and handed the paper to Sydney.
Case took it from her and looked at it. “Long lineage.”
“Yes, she came from great stock.”
“And yet, you sold the horse for a thousand dollars,” Case said with a smirk.
Ryder chuckled. “You would have done the same thing if you’d seen her with that horse.”
"She just broke my heart when she said she'd have to make payments and would Ryder do that.
Her eyes were so big and hopeful, like she was afraid to breathe until we answered.
Of course, we agreed to it. We've seen hundreds of horse lovers walk through those barn doors over the years, their faces lighting up at the smell of hay and leather, but that girl, the way she looked at that Paint mare, running her small fingers through its mane like it was spun gold, she was special. I felt physically ill when you told us, Case, that the horse had been surrendered, then to have it get adopted and stolen. No offense to you, Sydney, you didn’t know, but that stepmother had absolutely no right surrendering an animal that clearly meant the world to that young woman. "
“I stopped at the Norton ranch a few days after she paid the last payment. She was so happy. Her father told me she’d sleep in the barn if she could.” Ryder sighed. “It’s a real shame.”
“Yes, it is. I just wanted to get this paper from you. I appreciate it, Ryder.” Case looked at the paper.
“She told me she named her Careless Whisper because it was her mother’s favorite song,” Sydney said.
“She told me that’s what she would name her. I think she just called her Whisper.”
“Yes, that’s what she told me,” Sydney said.
“Well, we’ll head out. I can’t thank you enough for this.” Case said as he shook Ryder’s hand, then hugged Kelsey.
Sydney hugged them both, then walked from the living room. Case knew she was too emotional to stay, so he followed her out and climbed into his truck. He looked at her, but she kept her face toward the side window.
He was sorry she was so upset, and he wished he knew what he could do to take away her pain.