Chapter 15 Iris
iris
The herd was moving steadily as we moved it down south.
I steered Snow White to the left to keep a few cows in with the herd as I looked ahead at Theo to see where we were going next.
He usually called it out on the walkies, but I liked to keep an eye out on him.
Colt and Theo lead the herd. Nash and I were on either side of the herd while Forest and Jude trailed.
Pride burst in my chest at how much growth Theo’s ranch has experienced in the last few years. I didn’t know what it had looked like when he had first gotten here, but I knew the last two years I had been here his herd had been thriving along with the family he had built.
We rode for most of the morning, stopping when the calves needed a milk break.
I took a ride around the herd to make sure we didn’t have stragglers, but really I didn’t know if I could go back to the group.
I had been attempting to stop myself from checking out Nash since it had been hard to keep my eyes to myself all morning.
He looked damn good on a horse and even better a little sweaty from herding the cows.
Even though he had been far away, I couldn’t help but keep looking out for him.
It had been a week since I had gotten better from the flu.
I hadn’t been that sick in years. Nash and Beau took care of me for two days before I finally felt good enough to take care of myself.
In those two days I found out things I didn’t want to know, didn’t want to feel and now I didn’t know how to act around Nash.
He told Beau so many things and I felt bad for listening.
I even thought maybe I had made some stuff up, but they would talk about it later, so I knew I hadn’t made it up.
Nash and I grew up with toxic parents who fucked us up. We were like two peas in a pod and as much as I didn’t want to, I knew where he was coming from. Our parents made us people who we weren’t proud of being. We had to deal with those consequences, hurting people we loved.
A loud whistle brought me out of my thoughts. “Girl, quit showing us up,” Forest said on the radio.
I laughed, making my way back to the guys.
“Seriously, quick sucking up to management,” Forest grumbled, as I stopped next to him.
“Don’t be mad that I take initiative,” I laughed.
“You’re their sister, you don’t got to do anything,” he said, grinning. “The baby of the family so you’re already spoiled and loved. Can do no wrong.”
I forced a chuckle, wishing that I could do no wrong.
“Iris has always loved riding,” Jude said, coming up to my right. “I remember she used to sneak out at night, so she could see the stars while she rode.”
“Then we’d have to bribe her to come back in, so we didn’t get in trouble,” Theo laughed. “I swear she would have lived outside in a tent if they'd let her.”
I blushed as I felt Nash’s gaze. “I loved the warm summer nights and the stars, it always felt like home.”
“Texas summer nights are awful,” Forest grimaced.
I chuckled, “You have a few months where it ain't so bad.”
“My brother and I would live in tents during the summer while we managed the herd,” Nash added. “If I wasn’t in the stables, we were always out with the cows.”
“I have too many sensory issues to be out in the heat all day and night,” Theo shuddered, looking grossed out.
“I love air conditioning too much,” Colt added, rubbing Theo’s back.
“Bunch of babies,” I laughed. “That’s what all the ponds and lakes are for, a quick dip and you’re good to go.”
Theo looked disturbed. “Iris, you don’t even know what’s in them.”
“Oh, calm down, it's not like there are alligators,” I grinned.
“Just Water Moccasins,” Nash added.
Theo’s eyes grew wide.
“Oh god, don’t give Theo a reason to be afraid of the ponds and lakes.” Colt rolled his eyes.
Nash and I laughed when we caught each other's gaze.
“Are those poi—”
“Do not finish that sentence!” Colt yelled.
We all yelled as he attempted to cover Theo’s ears.
It was cute that he was so protective of my brother.
My heart grew with love as I looked at the men who had captured the hearts of my brothers.
Jude and Forest were leaning against each other as Colt and Theo leaned their foreheads together. Oh god, love surrounded me.
Nash and I caught each other’s gaze. It was uncomfortable. Technically, we were all couples here. Oh god, this was stupid. I tore my gaze away only to find Jude looking between us. Fuck my life. I rolled my eyes, grabbing my canteen to give myself something to do.
After the break we finished moving the herd that was thankfully close to the barns.
I needed to get away, being this close to Nash was messing with me.
Theo and Colt went back to their house, and I didn’t want to stick around to hear what everyone else was doing.
I had a shift at the bar and a nap would do me good just in case I worked late.
“Iris.” Nash rode next to me.
“Nash,” I replied, keeping my gaze forward.
“Can we please talk?” he asked softly.
Something about his tone made me look at him. His face was solemn, nothing like the cocky cowboy who had rolled into town a few weeks ago. It tugged a little at my heartstrings, remembering the details he had told Beau.
“I guess I owe you for taking care of me,” I said, biting my lip.
“You don’t owe me anything,” he said looking ahead. “I did what anyone else would what have done.”
“Bullshit,” I said quickly. “Most people would have left the medicine at my doorstep and left.”
He shook his head as we made it to the barn.
“I don’t have much time, but we can talk,” I said, hopping off my horse.
He did the same, following me into the barn. “It will be quick. I have to go help Forest and Jude.”
“Ok,” I said, unsaddling Snow White.
Nash helped me brush her, checking her hooves and sprucing up her stall. The more time that passed that he didn’t talk, the more I worried it was going to be bad.
“I’m sorry,” he said, when he closed the door on Snow White’s stall. “I was an asshole to you, and you didn’t deserve my anger.”
I didn’t know what to say, this wasn’t what I thought he was going to say.
“Instead of fighting against you I should have talked to you, got to know you and maybe, I don’t know, we could have figured shit out together,” he sighed, taking his hat off, looking up at me with those baby blues, rendering me speechless.
“I think we might have found out that we weren’t each other’s enemy, but we might have been able to help each. ”
Everything he said wasn’t something I hadn’t thought of before, but the way he said it made me feel something different.
“I didn’t know my father or my family were keeping you away from the farm,” he said, walking up to me.
“I thought you had access to the farm entire time and until recently, I didn’t even know you lived in Sterling Ridge.
So now that my father needs something, I was thinking maybe this is the way you can get back on your family’s farm.
I don’t know what the hell my father is doing.
I’m not privy to that information, but I know he needs something from you and that means you have all the power. ”
I felt bad for not saying I heard his conversation. Should I tell him? Was it wrong not to?
“My family and I don’t have the best relationship, so whatever you need for your family farm, I’ll help you with,” he said.
“I heard that last piece of your conversation when you were talking with Beau,” I said, quickly looking down at my feet, embarrassment making my face red.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” he asked, tilting my face up.
“At first, I thought maybe I had dreamed it, but on the second day you talked about it some more and I realized it wasn’t a dream,” I said, as he stepped closer. “I didn’t mean to overhear but—”
“It’s ok, I think a part of me hoped you were listening,” he said, glancing down at my lips. “It was easier to talk to Beau about it than tell you everything.”
“Beau is a great listener,” I said, putting a hand on his chest, feeling a little unsteady with him so close.
“He looks great on his knees too,” he whispered, leaning down.
I groaned as our moment flashed through my mind. “Don’t remind me.”
“Did it feel good? He looked ravenous,” Nash said against my lips.
“I haven’t come that hard in a long time,” I said, but I didn’t know if it was a challenge or a statement.
“I’m sure I could do better,” he said, so sure of himself.
A taunt was at the tip of my tongue when he pressed his lips against mine. It was gentle and soft, nothing like the frantic kiss we had shared before. It unleashed butterflies in my chest like it was a first kiss.
The sounds of voices ended our kiss too soon. I licked my lips so I could savor his taste as we stared at each other. Nash swallowed audibly, running a hand over his face.
“My father needs to talk to you about some papers that were filed improperly,” he said, his voice a little hoarse. “He also mentioned some land that he needs the deed for.”
“Oh, ok,” I said, sobering up.
“I can be there for the call if you’d like,” he said. “For support and to make sure he isn’t being an asshole or…or anything else you might need.”
His voice trailed off at the last part of his sentence as a blush rose from his neck. I bit my lip to keep the goofy smile off my face.
“Let me see what he needs,” I said confidently. “He’s never been outwardly mean to me other than ignoring me.”
“Good, but if he is, tell me, ok?” His voice was low, full of protectiveness.
“I will,” I said as goosebumps peppered my skin.
“Alright, well, have a good shift tonight,” he said, leaning in, kissing my forehead softly with a tenderness I wouldn’t have expected from him.
I turned to watch him walk away in those jeans. How did we go from dodging each other to forehead kisses and promises of protection? I needed to keep a clear head around him, but a part of me wondered what if we tried to be husband and wife? What’s the worst that could happen?