CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Haden
“I’ll get my boys over here and we’ll take that horse to Randall’s.
” Asher mentions the local equine vet taking on livestock to cremate today.
With the storm, there have been a few that didn’t make it.
Cole and I both stop shoveling as we listen to Asher as he talks; he somehow seems even more imposing in his fire department gear.
Not many people see him like I do. Sure, he’s scary as hell on the outside, but I’ve always known there’s more to him than meets the eye.
He’s always helping out at the bar, fixing things here and there.
He also has a construction background, which is why it’s great he stopped in here today to help his volunteers with pulling down the damaged roof and checking on the horses.
“I’ve got two guys picking up from Caso Ranch this afternoon then we’ll swing back here after and pick him up?” Asher nods to where the horse’s remains are, near the barn. Cole keeps shoveling, knowing that’s my question to answer.
I look over at Penny, her face sullen. I know how much losing even one horse will affect her.
I nod to Asher. “We can swing by with a trailer and bring him ourselves. Thanks, man.”
Penny looks out at the damaged barn. There is pain etched across her face and I know she’s playing the blame game right now.
That roof has been rotted for a long time and has a shit pitch.
Something like this was bound to happen, and we figure there could’ve been up to a hundred pounds of snow sitting on the corner that caved in.
Asher clears his throat. “They’re burning them together so you won’t get ashes back. Though they’re offering the service at a low price for the community after the storm.”
“That’s real good of them to do that,” I offer as I lean over and pat Penny on the back. Thankfully she only lost one horse last night. But she was still heartbroken when Cole and I told her this morning.
“My guys will have the first half of that roof down by the end of the day. We’ll come back over the next few to give you a hand with the rest,” Asher says.
“I have to pop into the station and make sure Wayne is okay this morning.” Cole mentions the new deputy chief sheriff he hired last fall. “Nash is on the way and Wade should be back from Florida later this afternoon. He’ll come straight over. Then I can come back to help if you need me to.”
Cole is on his own while Ginger stays at home with Mabel. All the schools are closed, and for kids this snow is like an all-out party.
Penny nods sadly. “Well, thank you all. I don’t have much, and I really appreciate your help.”
“It’s no problem. These guys live to serve,” Asher tells her as he puts his helmet back on and points to the barn. “Better to get that part down so it doesn’t cave in on the other side. I have to go make my rounds. But then I can come back too, and get this falling-down fence dug out for you.”
“Wait. At least let me get you a coffee to go. And all of your guys need some cookies,” Penny says to Asher.
He grins at her. “Thank you, ma’am. I’ve had my limit of coffee today. But I’ll never say no to a cookie or two though.”
“He’ll be banging down your door for more, Pen, once he tries them,” I tell her. Hands down, she makes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies.
Penny smiles wide and I make a note to thank Asher later. She really doesn’t have anything to offer him financially, so accepting something as simple as some cookies from her will go a long way.
I glance over at Cassie as she talks to one of Asher’s guys from the fire department.
Her nose is rosy as she shovels a pathway to the barn and she looks like a little snow bunny in her big puffy white coat, matching hat and pink mittens.
She laughs at something Asher’s guy says and I grit my molars.
I’ve seen him around, though I can’t remember his name.
Most recently I saw him in the Horse and Barrel bathroom stall with one of the regulars when Cole and I were having a beer.
He didn’t even bother to shut the stall door and they were both wasted.
Which means I don’t love the googly eyes he’s making at Cassie right now.
“Got some cuffs in the truck if you want to go slap them on her wrist,” Cole chuckles from beside me.
“I’m just not sure why this chump thinks cleaning up from a storm is the time and place to hit on a woman just because she’s here and pretty,” I bite back.
Cole’s eyebrows shoot up. “I was fucking kidding, but seems like I hit a nerve.”
I grunt. Cole laughs even harder and tosses his latest shovel of snow as we get closer and closer to Cassie and Firebuddy.
“Have you got some kind of ownership where your temporary neighbor is concerned?” he asks.
“We spent the night together last night,” I blurt out. And she’s leaving. I try to drill it into my head for the hundredth time.
“Oh shit,” Cole says in surprise. “Again? Christ, she’s only been here a couple weeks. What’s Wade gonna think about that?”
“I’m hoping he doesn’t find out,” I retort. “It was one night.”
Cole watches Cassie as we close in on them, shoveling as we go and scraping a clean edge beside where they’ve already moved the snow.
“Keep looking at Dirk like that and the moment Wade gets here, he’ll know.”
That’s it. Dirk. Dirk the Jerk.
“This side needs to be cleared out a little more,” Cole says, pointing to the area across from where Cassie and Dirk are still talking.
Cassie is working hard and Dirk is doing everything he can to keep her attention.
I’ve followed Cole, shoveling with a little more vigor, when I hear Dirk ask Cassie how long she’s in town and if she’s ever been to the Horse and Barrel for karaoke night.
Before I can think rationally, I get myself a big, hefty shovel’s worth of fluffy snow and launch it over my shoulder. Wouldn’t you know, it hits Dirk the Jerk right in the chest, and the wet slop from the bottom splatters onto his face.
“Shit,” he mutters, pushing the snow off his coat and chin.
“Fuck! Sorry, bro. I didn’t see you there,” I tell him over my shoulder as I keep moving to catch up with Cole. He’s already almost at the entrance of the first barn.
I turn back and grin at the scene behind me: Dirk still trying to get snow off him and Cassie heading to the house to help Penny bring out the coffee and cookies.
“Nice work,” Cole laughs when I face him.
I shrug like I don’t know what he’s talking about. My phone buzzes in my pocket a few seconds later.
PRINCESS
Subtle.
I didn’t know he was taking a break. I guess it would’ve helped him to actually be a moving target.
PRINCESS
Especially a moving target that isn’t asking me on a date.
He was asking you on a date?
PRINCESS
Yep. But he’s not really my type.
That so?
PRINCESS
Tis.
I need a date who can put up with the fact that I have a tendency to stalk when I get nervous. A real gentleman.
I smirk down at my phone and my chest heats. I can almost see the flirty expression she’ll be wearing right now.
You don’t strike me as the type who wants to be coddled by a gentleman. And I’d never want to let you down, Princess.
PRINCESS
What’s all this talk about going down?
Subtle.
I stop reading the messages as Cole coughs. “So this ‘just one night’ thing …?”
“Yep” is all I offer him, stuffing my phone back in my pocket.
“You know you aren’t fooling anyone with that, right?” he asks.
I don’t answer. I just offer him another charming grunt as I shovel before tossing a little snow in his direction. He grins and throws some back at me. A heap goes down the neck of my shirt. Oh, it’s on.
Lucky for him, Cole is faster than me and my next shot just misses as he darts over to hide behind Penny. Cole whistles a carefree tune while grabbing a cookie in the process from the plate Penny’s holding. He takes a big bite as he stares me down. I laugh.
“Pussy,” I mutter under my breath. He nods at me like the smug fucker he is; Cole knows I won’t throw snow anywhere near Penny.
“I’ll catch you later,” I tell him,
“And I got my eye on you,” he replies, nodding at Cassie who’s coming toward me holding two cookies.
Her eyes meet mine as she hands them to me. With the snow still falling in the background and the pines behind her, she looks like a Christmas card. A goddamn Christmas card? Cole’s right. I’m definitely fucked.