Chapter 6
Miranda
“What do you mean, Hayden is on his way?” I stomp around to the trailer and begin checking it over.
“I told you I was going to give Hayden a call. I don’t like you doing these runs alone. If something comes up and you end up off course or stranded, you’ll be all alone out there. And the weather is going to be shit,” my dad explains.
I don’t give a damn what he says. Last I checked, my dad hadn’t called Hayden.
If he didn’t trust me to do this, he should have said so from the beginning.
I’ve been working as a ranch hand and taking care of the horses at Boulder Ranch for years, not to mention I literally grew up around horses and tagged along with my mom as she gave lessons.
That should be more than enough to prove I’m capable of doing this one thing.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Dad. I’ve been working on ranches for as long as I can remember. I know how to handle horses. I can drive a truck hooked up to a trailer. Why are you doing this?”
My dad’s nostrils flare as he looks at me. “Like I said, it’s not safe to be on the road all alone. And the weather is supposed to be bad. If you want, Hayden can do the run instead…”
I’m surprised by how quickly the flash of anger hits me. Over my dead body will Hayden take over and haul the horses in place of me. Checking the lights, I mark everything down in my notebook as I do my best to ignore my father. He should have known I wouldn’t be okay with a babysitter.
The sound of tires crunching over the gravel shifts both of our attention to the truck slowly pulling in.
Hayden’s truck. It pisses me off when I feel butterflies instead of the anger I’d been expecting.
I take a deep breath to try and calm the unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach as I watch the truck door swing open.
My eyes remain glued to the spot even as his boots meet the ground.
“I’m sorry you wasted your time driving up here, but I’m good,” I say when Hayden joins me beside the rear of the trailer.
He folds his arms across his chest and laughs.
And as if that’s not infuriating enough, the sound sends a spark of awareness straight through me.
I return to my task, focusing on the rest of the safety check.
I need something to concentrate on that isn’t anger or the things my body insists on doing in response to Hayden’s nearness.
I finish the inspection, marking everything down before returning the notebook to the center console.
They don’t trust me to make a run to pick up horses, but I treat it like my job.
I do the same checks a truck driver would do before a long haul.
I know how to make sure the vehicle I’m driving is safe.
I know how to be aware of my surroundings and to avoid unsafe stops.
By the time I turn around to face Hayden and my dad, my anger is back at the forefront.
“Why are you both still here?” I ask, folding my arms to mirror them.
My dad meets my glare. “Because either you go together, or Hayden goes in your place. You’re picking up animals for this ranch. My ranch. So, the decision is mine.”
My face heats, and I’m not sure if it’s because of rage or embarrassment. This isn’t my first trip; I cannot believe my dad would act like this. Feeling like an errant child, I mumble some version of “fine” before climbing into the driver’s seat and slamming the door.
It doesn’t take long before the passenger door opens, and Hayden claims the seat beside me after tossing a duffel bag into the back.
My first thought is to ignore him, but I remind myself I’m not a teenager.
I give him a nod before I put the truck in reverse and slowly back up, careful to school my expression.
“You going to stay pissed at me the entire time?” Hayden asks in a low voice.
I wait until I’ve finished backing up and have the truck in drive before I respond. “Don’t know. Guess we’ll both find out.”
I chance a glance in his direction and find his lips curved into a crooked smile. He doesn’t say anything, but he’s making it hard for me to be angry with him. He’s smiling at me even though I’m being a complete bitch.
The sun is just beginning to rise into the clear sky by the time we get onto the main road.
I love being out before the roads get crowded.
It almost feels as though we’re the only people in the world.
Steam rises from the grass as the air around us begins to heat.
It’s nice. I can’t even seem to stay pissed off with the morning as perfect as it is.
“Still mad?” Hayden’s voice breaks the silence, causing my lips to tug into a small smile.
“Maybe.” I try and fail to keep my expression serious.
“Okay, fine. Why are you so pissed? I thought things were finally back to normal with us.”
My hands grip the steering wheel tight enough for my knuckles to turn white. “I never really said I was pissed at you.”
I can see his entire body move as he heaves a sigh. “Come on, Miranda. Like it or not, we’re stuck together the entire weekend. At least tell me why it seems like you’d rather be stuck with literally anyone else.”
Without turning my head, I sneak another glance at him. “Who says I-”
Hayden cuts me off. “Just stop. It’s too early in the morning for games. I’m going to read. Let me know if you get bored or want me to drive.”
I do my best to pretend the silence between us is comfortable.
Like his calling me out didn’t feel like he struck me.
In reality, I want to crawl out of my skin.
I started the day off by acting like the biggest bitch in Cole County, so I’m not sure how I can turn our interaction around.
It isn’t Hayden’s fault that my father was being unreasonable.
All I know is I’m going to need to figure things out if we’re spending the entire weekend together.
The first portion of the trip is highway driving.
I’m not complaining, because it gives me time to shut my brain off and just drive.
Hayden sticks to his word and appears to be reading a book on his phone.
A smile threatens after I sneak a few glances at him.
Gruff, rugged Hayden Scott is a bookworm.
Who would have thought? As I pull off the highway and onto the main rural route that we’ll travel most of the way, I can’t take it anymore.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my quiet voice breaking the silence in the truck.
At first, I think he either didn’t hear me, or he’s choosing to ignore me. But then he places his phone on the center console and shifts to face me. Having his undivided attention is a bit unsettling. I use driving as an excuse to avoid looking at him.
“There’s no need to apologize.”
I keep my eyes on the road, but I can feel the heat of his gaze. “I was a bitch. You didn’t deserve it.”
“Deserve what? For you to be human? If anything, I’m sorry for not giving you a head’s-up. I assumed you were aware I was coming with you since you asked if your dad called me. You were surprised, and you were pissed. I get it.”
Taking my eyes off the road, I look at him, certain I must not have heard him correctly.
I’ve always been quick to react to things, so having to crawl back with an apology after allowing my emotions to get out of control is basically par for the course.
But I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve gotten this response.
“I shouldn’t have been so rude.”
Hayden holds a hand up, stopping my words.
“Like I said, I get it. You didn’t fly off the handle and call me names or anything like that.
I own a ranch and have been a bronc rider since I was old enough to hold on.
I’m not going to hold you to a higher standard than the rowdy cowboys I work around all day long. We’re good.”
Forcing my eyes to remain on the road, I let his words sink in.
Working around men on a ranch, it isn’t uncommon to see someone get pissed off and throw something.
Or for men to get into screaming matches.
And while things may not be as strict as they are in the corporate world, women are still expected to be polite.
To be the calm around the ranch. It’s bullshit. He’s right.
My hands begin to relax on the steering wheel as I realize we’re okay. I got angry, expressed said anger, and everything is still okay. No groveling necessary. It’s a nice change from the way things usually go when I allow my feelings and emotions to slip out.