Chapter 15
CASSIDY
With his nostrils flared, the stallion Briar had stolen and brought for me to train watched me, calmly and peacefully. His hooves plodded gently across the dirt to the center of the round pen, cautious, but he was giving me something. I stood still as he approached and then licked his lips. Chewing on the spit in his mouth, his ribs flared with a deep breath as I reached my hand forward.
“Good boy,” I whispered and ran my palm down his face. As I brushed my fingers through his forelock, he dipped his head toward the ground and stepped against my chest. “Good boy,” I repeated while scratching along his neck.
Five days, that’s all it had been. This guy was way too trusting for everything he’d been through, yet here I was, able to halter him without him flinching away, lead him, pick up his hooves, everything that made for a safe horse—mostly.
Now that he was good and sweaty, it was time to see how he reacted to any sort of rope laying across his back. Soft and gentle at first, but I couldn’t lie that I was a bit apprehensive. This was either going to reset all of my progress with him, or stay the same.
Burying my nose in his mane, I wanted one more moment where all there was, was him and I. A horse and man. A horse and me. It’d been too long since this was my sole focus day in and day out. I think Weston knew, somewhat, that I enjoyed this, since he let me work the new horses he brought in. But I’d never told a soul that the only reason I finished my welding schooling was because the man I was learning to weld from was also the same man teaching me how to train horses.
The horse inhaled deeply, matching the sigh that filled my lungs. Everything felt suspended, waiting for the next thing to occur. The excitement and buzz amongst the hands concerning the dead calf and cow made our return pretty much unnoticed. Livestock agents and the local sheriff’s office were already here, talking to anyone and everyone. Then they were off to see the mess left behind by the group of trespassers, who had caused more mayhem than needed. And, we were still waiting for anything useful to help lead us to these illegal hunters or poachers.
Weston and Cash had simply remained in charge despite our arrival back to the ranch. No one bothered to even ask Briar or myself what happened outside of the authorities.
Briar… Five days had passed where we’d barely spoken more than a brief “hello” or short conversations in passing. She was living in my house, yet it seemed like she was a ghost there. It was mostly unintentional on my end, wrapped up in busying myself with training this horse as I promised her. But this accidental space from her, not talking about what happened, was difficult for me. Especially considering the fact that I wanted to stick like glue to her side until she figured her thoughts out. More often than I cared to admit, I had caught her zoned out during the chores that had been assigned to her. She would be watching me, instead, as the stallion and I worked together, which kept me hoping that her avoidance of me would eventually subside and she’d have answers to whatever we weren’t doing.
Too often I would get lost in her gaze, which swirled with as much uncertainty and confusion as she’d held when arriving at the ranch over two weeks ago. The fear was nearly absent, so I knew the unsettled river that roared behind her eyes had less to do with her original reason for coming to Montana and much more to do with what was no longer acknowledged between us.
My bones ached to pursue her, and part of me didn’t really care if she was purposefully avoiding me or not. The moment she even gave me an inch of wiggle room, I would take a mile. I was not one to let awkwardness fester—although, this was more annoying than awkward for me. Maybe she was confused about how I felt about her considering the space. I knew what I wanted, however; my feelings were clear to me.
I was grateful that Weston hadn’t come to scold me for spending too much time with this horse, because once he did, that meant I would have to take over as Briar’s boss again. If she really wanted to avoid me, then that might cause her to take the stallion and leave before things became clear to her.
“When do ya think Weston will tell me playtime is over, and I have to get back to being foreman?” I muttered into the stud’s mane and then pulled my face away, glancing at his onyx eye. Part of me knew that Weston was diving this headstrong into work, taking over most of my responsibilities, because of how stressed he was. Tenley was now three days past her due date and still showing no signs of labor.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I grumbled, knowing that the longer I stood here, the further I pushed my luck. “Alright, buddy. Let’s try this.” Stepping away from the horse, I slid my fingers down the soft, cotton rope. With my left shoulder to him, I lifted the end of the rope that dragged in the dirt as the muffled roar of a diesel engine permeated the all-too-familiar sounds of the ranch.
I paused and glanced over toward the entrance of the ranch. The high-pitched whine and groan of gears shifting inched closer and closer, bringing with it a plume of black smoke that curled above the treetops.
“Cassidy!” Briar’s voice shot through the air. “Cassidy!” she shouted again, and I turned toward her as she crashed around the corner of the barn. “I think Rooney is here!” Her chest heaved, gasps of excited air shallowly filling her body.
The sound of her voice saying my name was like honey and milk soothing a sore throat. It was the unintentional key that unlocked the beast I’d kept tamed for five days. That blasted distance from her had finally come to an end, regardless of what conclusions she may or may not have come to.
She’d voluntarily come and found me. Okay, maybe it had more to do with the fact that Rooney was here with the dead cattle and that was something of mutual interest between Briar and me, but she was here. As beautiful as ever. I couldn’t look away as she leaned up against the railing of the round pen, her cheeks rosy.
“Cassidy?” she said again and tipped her head. Her ashy blonde hair swayed behind her, a shadow from her hat hiding her gentle face from the harsh summer sun. Her oversized T-shirt clung to her body, sticky with sweat, and there was some cow manure splattered on her men’s jeans.
I couldn’t place a time I’d seen a woman look more incredible than she did right now. Unless you could count when we’d been all alone on that cattle-drive-gone-crazy and—
“Cassidy Duke! Wipe that look off your face,” she suddenly hissed, snapping me out of the trance.
“What look?” I managed to utter, shaking my head.
And we both looked down toward the entrance of the ranch as a massive, ugly burnt-orange eighteen-wheeler blared around the bend with a heave of the engine. The stallion beside me whipped his head upright, his ears darting forward, and tension pulled his features tight. I brought up a gentle hand and brushed it down his neck, quickly slipping the halter from around his head just in case.
With his nerves on high alert by the strange vehicle crawling this way, now was not the time to try anything new with this boy. As casually as possible, I walked to the edge of the round pen, looped his halter over a pole, and slipped through the railing.
Despite the time spent not speaking, there wasn’t tension in the air between us. Merely time that had passed with unusual circumstances surrounding it. Though, I really wanted to discuss the fact that we hadn’t said much. I wanted to know if that was what she’d wanted, because I didn’t like it, and I was about to go all in again like I had on that cattle drive, I could feel it.
Ugh. Why was chasing a woman so different than being pursued?
“Well, let’s go say hi,” I teased, winking at Briar as I left her behind.
“Rude,” she called out, the quick sounds of her footsteps arriving close behind me.
“Pretty sure you ignoring me all week was rude, Goldie, not that,” I bantered as she slowed beside me. That was not how I had wanted the conversation about us not really speaking to go, but here we were.
“You’ve been ignoring me, too, I’ll have you know,” she quipped back.
“Hmmmm, that doesn’t sound like me.” She raised her brows and brushed some dirt off her pants. “Weston’s keeping you busy?” I added.
“Is he always this overbearing?” she asked as we neared the eighteen-wheeler.
“He’s just nervous about Tenley,” I answered as the cab rattled and the door opened. My stomach flipped. A man I hadn’t seen or really spoken to in over twelve years was climbing out of the truck, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
Slowing my pace, Briar walked ahead of me as Rooney rounded the front of his truck. It was as if I’d stepped back in time. He looked no different than I remembered with only maybe a few more wrinkles around his leathery, weathered skin. Tall and thin, his overalls worn and faded with that signature checkered shirt beneath, a grin spread across his face. His beady eyes crinkled as Briar picked up her pace and crashed into his outstretched arms.
My feet stopped moving, locking into place. He was never one to give any sort of physical expression showing that he cared, but here he was wrapping that beautiful blonde up in his arms. Raising his right hand with the missing fingers, he adjusted the greasy ball cap covering his gray hair as Briar slowly stepped back.
“I’m so glad you made it safely,” she said, and he patted her arm.
“I loaded them during the night when Wayde was as drunk as could be. Some of them are in pretty rough shape, but at least six or so should still give you some answers,” he replied, and his bushy, coarse brows rose, drifting over Briar’s shoulders.
Amber eyes that roared like a fire locked onto mine.
His face went completely still, all emotion erased from him, and he did not move.
Then a smile spread upon his face. “Cassidy Duke,” Rooney muttered, running a hand over his clean-shaven chin.
“Rooney McCallister,” I answered. I was a grown man, thirty-two years old, and seeing the person who stepped up as a father to me when I was away from home definitely made me feel anything but.
Swallowing stiffly, I shook my head and then marched right over to him. His smile widened, and he tugged me into him, clapping me on my back. Smelling just as he had last time I saw him—cheap beer and cigarette smoke; I didn’t realize how much I missed that until this moment.
Choking down the tears, I buried my face into his shoulder. “My boy,” he whispered quietly. So quiet, I barely heard him.
And I felt like an immediate disappointment. “I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I’m sorry.”
He patted me firmly and shook his head as I tightened my hold on the man. “For what? Seems to me you’ve turned into a wonderful man.”
“I–I–I—” But I couldn’t get out what I really wanted to say. By now, I should’ve done exactly what I knew he wanted for me, but there was more than one debt I owed, more than one favor to repay than just to him.
“Just because you’re taking the scenic route, don’t mean you won’t get there eventually,” he answered, somehow knowing exactly what I was trying to say. Clearing my throat, I pulled away, and he let go of me, clamping a hand on my shoulder. His eyes met mine once more, and he nodded, just a single time.
“I promise,” I said. “And I still owe you.”
“Nah, your debt with me is repaid. You know that.” He shook his head, staying close to me, keeping this private conversation between just us two.
“Not like this. I have other reasons I’m doing this,” I answered. Rooney lifted a brow and tipped his head.
He studied me for a moment, like he used to always do, and then grinned.
“Alrighty, if you insist.” He winked.
“Rooney,” I chided, though he wasn’t wrong that I was doing this simply because I cared for her. But he merely chuckled as the door to the main house swung open. Rooney let go of my shoulder and turned around along with Briar as my parents walked out onto the porch, followed by none other than Tenley’s mom.
A plump lady who had helped calm my own mother’s meddling down over the past couple of years. She always smelled like freshly baked bread and looked so similar to Tenley, just more mature. Soft, rosy cheeks deepened as she neared Rooney.
He removed his ball cap and ran a hand through his hair, which was so gray, it was nearly white. She smoothed out a few curls in her short, thin, brown hair and blushed even more.
I shared a quick glance with Briar. She pulled her lips between her teeth and widened her eyes, noticing the same brief interaction that I had. As the three new folks came to stand by us, I pointed at my father first, who looked more like Weston with the mustache and everything, while my mom looked much more like me.
“Rooney, meet my parents, Jeb and Nancy Duke,” I introduced, and he reached forward, shaking each of their hands. “And that beautiful woman,” I paused and pointed at Tenley’s mom, “is my sister-in-law’s mother, Rosemary.”
No one moved or spoke as Rooney and Rosemary stared at each other. Her smile turned a little bashful, and Briar sidled up next to me as Rooney finally tipped his head. “Hello there,” he drawled. “Cassidy, always the smooth talker,” he added and winked.
She pulled her lips briefly between her teeth and then extended a dainty hand. He took it and gently shook, letting his palm linger in hers. Rosemary brought her left hand up and patted her red cheeks.
Warm breath danced against my neck, and I leaned toward Briar, not wanting to miss a single moment of this old-people flirting. “She did that to make sure Rooney saw she doesn’t have a wedding ring on,” Briar whispered.
I smirked, her explanation confirming what I was suspicious about. “So, how long do you think it’ll be before she makes Rooney take her on a date?” I replied under my breath.
Briar bumped me with her shoulder. “Who says Rooney won’t ask before Rosemary steps in?”
“You don’t know Rosemary like I do.” I winked at Briar as she rolled her eyes. My mother’s piercing gaze stole my attention away from Rooney staring at Rosemary. She lifted a brow and tipped her head.
Leave it to my mother to pick on something that I wasn’t even sure Briar wanted. Then she focused back on Rooney. “I can’t believe it took us this long to be introduced. But that eighteen-wheeler behind you makes me think that you being here is more than just to visit,” my mother said.
“Straight to the point,” I muttered under my breath.
“Shush,” Briar answered and gently slapped my arm. As I shot a teasing glare in her direction, Rooney’s voice pulled me back.
“Got a trailer full of dead cattle that are in desperate need of a necropsy. Sooner rather than later,” Rooney answered and then glanced at Rosemary. “Sorry, sweetheart, if that was a bit gruesome. This ol’ boy ain’t been around a woman as pretty as yourself in a long time; sometimes my mouth gets away from me.”
I don’t know who was more shocked by the blatant flirting—Briar or myself. My jaw hit the dirt at the same time as hers, cracking upon contact. Rosemary blushed and waved her hand. “My daughter is a veterinarian and lives here since she’s married to Weston. I’ve heard plenty,” she answered, and a light giggle escaped her lips.
“Close your mouths. Now!” my mother mouthed silently at me and Briar. I snapped my teeth together and glanced at Briar, tapping her hip with my hand. She slowly raised her eyes to me, as if moving through sludge, and I reached toward her, pushing her jaw shut with gentle force. It was a really good thing that their backs were to us.
“Say something,” my mom quickly added without a word and subtly nodded at Rooney and Rosemary.
“Oh, uh,” I cleared my throat, and Rooney briefly glanced at me before looking back at Rosemary. “Look, I can take care of the semi. I’ll park it out of the way and give Doc a call, if you’d like a tour of the place? Rosemary’s just waiting for Tenley to go into labor; I doubt she’d mind taking you?”
Rosemary dipped her chin, glancing to the ground, and then clasped her hands in front of her.
Rooney took a step toward Rosemary. “Your daughter’s having a baby?” he asked, and she nodded.
“Yes. Not my first grandkid, but Tenley’s first baby,” she answered, her voice higher pitched. I took a slow step backward, grabbing Briar’s arm.
“Well, Cassidy talked about this place the entire time he lived with me. I’d love a look around,” Rooney answered.
Rosemary giggled. “Oh, wonderful.” She reached forward and slipped her arm into Rooney’s elbow that he offered, and then they walked off toward the main house without looking at the rest of us.
“Alright,” my mother suddenly said, snapping my attention to her. “What’s this about dead cattle needing necropsies?”
“It’s a long story, and they’ve already been dead for over a week or two at least. The truck’s refrigerated, but like Rooney said, I gotta get Doc started on these necropsies as soon as possible,” I quickly answered and let go of Briar.
My mom narrowed her eyes and glanced at the beautiful blonde beside me and then back at me. “Is this related to the illegal hunters or whatever that were here earlier?”
Briar pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and I saw a hint of worry cross her effortlessly beautiful features.
So, I quickly shook my head. “Nah. Can’t be.” Running my hand across the back of my neck, I glanced at my dad, silently asking him to step in for me here.
“Nancy, my love, Cassidy and Miss Briar here have got some work to do; we can talk with them later. Let’s let them be for now,” my dad said and slipped a loving arm around his wife’s waist.
She kept her steely gaze locked on me a little longer. “Fine. Be smart; you have young eyes watching you,” she quickly admonished.
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered, wrapped my hand around Briar’s arm, and dragged her away from my parents to the other side of the eighteen-wheeler.
“Let me call Doc. He’s got a lot of work to get started on,” I said to her and let go of her.
“Cassidy,” she whispered under her breath as my gaze locked onto her beautiful face. A face full of worry, fright, even bordering on terror.
“What’s wrong, Goldie?” I tenderly asked. My body begged for me to reach forward and cup her cheeks. Everything screamed for me to cradle her into my body, reassure her that everything was going to be okay, even though I had no idea what she was so afraid of.
“What if he doesn’t find anything?” She stepped toward me, nearly bumping her chest against mine. My brows furrowed, drawing together as I swam in her swirling irises.
“I think you’re more afraid he will find something,” I answered, and a tear slid down her cheek.
All restraints unlocked at that moment, and I reached forward, sweeping a thumb across the wet trail. Her lip trembled as her gray eyes clouded with tears. “Then everyone involved is in a lot of danger, Cassidy.” She collapsed against my chest. Wrapping her as tightly within my arms as possible, squeezing with every unspoken soothing thing possible, my fingers threaded through her hair.
Her body trembled. “What have I done?” she cried out.
“Nothin’ that we can’t handle, Goldie.” Lifting my hand from the back of her hair, I gently slid her hat off and rested my chin against the top of her head. As I cradled her, the warmth from her body lit a fire in my belly.
There was the confession that I think she’d had since the moment that she showed up here. And I was determined to make sure I kept good on my word.
“I promise,” I added.