Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
LANDEN
Mario’s being a little shit this morning. He’s one of our newer stallions and tends to rear when I lead him out to the pasture. Usually, I can redirect and settle him down, but he’s being extra feisty.
Pretty sure I’ll have a black eye tomorrow from his head lashing around and smacking into mine when I didn’t get out of his way fast enough. But since I’m leaving for the Franklin Rodeo in a few hours, he’ll be one of the other ranch hands’ problems. At least until I get back.
“Save that energy for the mares, bud.” I unclick the lead rope once he’s securely inside and then lock the gate behind me.
“Rough day?” Tripp rides up on Denver, one of our family horses, and smirks after I flip him my middle finger.
“Just another stud actin’ up as usual. What’re you doin’?”
“Dad asked me to move the goats to the east retreat pasture before we all head out, so I’m lookin’ for ’em.”
“You lost the goats?” I muse, crossing my arms and leaning against the fence.
“No. They’re…somewhere.”
I chuckle, pushing to my feet. “Good luck with that. I once found a few up in the hay loft.”
“Shit,” he mutters.
As I walk to the barn to grab the next mare for Mario, my phone vibrates with a text.
Cecilia
What’s a girl gotta do for a good night kiss around here?
I smile as soon as I read her text. After our back-to-back fair dates last weekend, I still hadn’t kissed her, and then we had an ice cream date last night. Since I worked late, I couldn’t hang out long, but when we went our separate ways, I hugged her goodbye and kissed her cheek.
We haven’t made any new plans since I’m leaving for the Franklin Rodeo this afternoon, but we’ve been texting every day since we met.
Landen
You ever heard of a Southern gentleman? I’m trying to be respectful and take things slow.
Although I love how blunt and forward she is, I’d rather not jump right into bed before getting to know each other better.
Something I’ve never considered before, but if I’m truly attempting to move on, then I want to be sure there’s a real connection between us.
Cecilia
Afraid a little tongue will turn you into a sex addict?
If only she knew it’s been a long time since I’ve been with someone.
Landen
Pretty sure you’re the one who won’t be able to keep your hands off me.
Cecilia
Come to my place for breakfast and find out.
There’s no reason I couldn’t. Yeah, we’re leaving at noon, but that’s never stopped me from getting laid before.
But there’s this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me I’ll regret it if we move too fast.
Landen
Wish I could, but I have to finish eight hours of work in three.
Cecilia
You sure I can’t change your mind, cowboy? Maybe a little visual incentive…
A moment later, she sends a mirror selfie of her only wearing a black see-through lacy teddy with a red bow between her breasts.
God help me.
Lifting my cap, I scrub a hand through my hair and contemplate my next move.
Landen
Fuck. You play dirty. Can I take a rain check for the minute I’m back in town?
The next photo she sends is her turned around, looking over her shoulder in the mirror, and showing off the matching thong and stockings.
Cecilia
Not sure I can wait that long…
I should be tripping over my boots to get into my truck and speeding to her place. The old me wouldn’t have to think twice about it. Chicks sending me nudes or enticing me to sleep with them used to be the norm, and I’d welcome it.
But now, I’m way too old to be acting like a careless, horny frat boy. It’s one thing to put myself out there again, but I’m not looking to go back to my old self where I had unattached sex for the sake of feeling something.
Landen
I’m sorry. I gotta get back to work. I’ll text you later.
Yeah, I’m sure that’s going to deflate her ego or piss her off, but it’d be irresponsible for me to bail when I haven’t even finished packing.
I started two nights ago but then ended up on the phone with Warren again to go over our letters to the parole board. He’s still dealing with Maisie randomly showing up and needed a distraction.
Although it was a little emotional to talk about Tucker and Talia, I’m glad I didn’t have to be alone while figuring out how to put into words that Angela deserves to continue staring at prison walls until her entire sentence has been served.
I’m relieved I got it written and sent out.
Now we just hope for the best outcome possible.
“Hey, Dad,” I call out when I see him on the four-wheeler outside the stud farm barn. “Whatcha doing?”
“Hey, son. Just ridin’ around to make sure everything’s ready before we go.”
“Yep, I got the stalls mucked and the horses fed. Then I wrote out a list for the ranch hands. Everything’s stocked and good for the next few days.”
“Great. Lookin’ forward to takin’ a few days off?”
I shrug, smirking. “Yeah, I’m not mad about it.”
He chuckles. “Ellie on her way there now?”
“Left yesterday.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I got somethin’ for you and your siblings. Don’t tell your mom.” He pulls out an envelope from his front pocket and hands it over.
Inside are tickets to the VIP Corral. It includes all-inclusive food and beverages for the duration of the rodeo.
“What’re these for?” I ask suspiciously. He’s never done this in all the years we’ve gone.
He shrugs modestly. “I know how hard you and your siblings work, especially training Ellie to get her this far, so I figured y’all deserve the best spot in the arena to support her.”
Wrapping my arms around him, I thank him for all of us. They’re gonna love it.
Plus, it’ll give us a front-row seat to watch Ellie up close.
The drive to Franklin consists of four heavy-duty trucks each towing campers. For three nights, I’ll be bunking with Wilder and Waylon. God help me.
But I’m looking forward to the break from daily manual labor, hanging out with my siblings again like old times, and hopefully watching Ellie win Friday and Saturday.
Once we’re set up on our lot, I check on Tripp and Magnolia’s camper, and then Noah and Fisher’s to see if they need anything while I run into town for bottled water and some beer. The shit they serve at the event is overpriced, so we keep extra at our campsite when we’re not inside.
“Actually, yeah. Can you grab a pack of wipes? I thought I grabbed extra, but I must’ve forgotten,” Noah asks.
“Like…Lysol wipes?” I ask, opening a note in my phone to write this down.
“Like…for your niece’s butt.”
Fisher’s gaze meets mine when he realizes I’m still confused. “Baby wipes,” he confirms.
I nod, typing it out. “Got it. Any particular kind or flavor?”
“Oh my God.” Noah’s tone tells me that was a dumb question.
“I’ll just get the first ones I find,” I confirm.
“Hey, you goin’ on a grocery run?” Magnolia asks, climbing into the trailer.
“Depends. Whaddya need?”
“Use small words,” Noah warns.
“Sorry for not havin’ a baby and knowin’ about that stuff,” I deadpan.
“Oh God, what’d you do?” Tripp chimes in.
“Nothing. Now what do y’all need?” I wave my phone around so she knows I’m impatiently waiting.
“Condoms, extra-large. Lube. Water-based. The strawberry kind.”
The ease of how fast she lists them off has me second-guessing if she’s messing with me or not.
“Had me there for a minute, but I knew you were lyin’ with the extra-large.”
Tripp throws me a dirty look, and I chuckle.
“I’m serious! His parents are keepin’ Willow overnight, and I didn’t come prepared.”
“I mean…would knockin’ you up be the worst thing?” Tripp smirks.
Magnolia’s eyes widen as she shoves him. “She’s not even one year old.”
Tripp shrugs, then points at me. “Then you better add it to your list.”
“No way, man. I draw the line with flavored lube.”
“Don’t knock it till ya try it,” Magnolia teases, licking her lips. “Mixed with the man’s natural scent it’s—”
“I’m gonna take Poppy and see how your parents are comin’ along…” Fisher grabs her from Noah’s arms and then excuses himself.
As soon as the door shuts, Magnolia and I burst out laughing.
“You two are embarrassin’.” Noah scowls.
“You’d think he’d be used to it by now being in the family for the past three years,” I say.
“I’m in this family, and I don’t wanna hear about my brother’s sex life.” Noah shuffles her suitcase around, trying to find room for all the baby shit they brought along. “Plus, y’all are his son’s age. It probably weirds him out.”
I lean against the fridge. “You mean more weird than you sleepin’ with his son before y’all met?”
“Alright, get out. All of y’all. I need to set up Poppy’s pack ’n play.” Noah points toward the door.
Tripp holds Willow as they exit, and I follow behind.
“Okay, for real. Do you need anything from the store before I go?”
“Beer and water?” Tripp asks.
“Already on it.”
He tips his hat. “Then we’re good.”
Going to the grocery store was a bad idea. It was like the wild, wild west.
And because I wanted to be the cooler brother, I grabbed a box of condoms anyway. But no lube. They can deal with it.
When I return to the campsite, everyone’s gone, go figure. They probably went to find food or knowing the twins, some unsuspecting women to pick up.
I drop off Tripp’s condoms and Noah’s baby wipes before putting the beer and water in my trailer. But when I open the door, a half-naked Cecilia greets me.
“Holy fuck.” I stumble down the steps, nearly falling on my ass. “Jesus.”
“Surprise…” She stands, wearing the same lingerie she had on in the pictures she sent earlier.
I set the water and beer down, trying to collect myself and calm the heart attack she just gave me.
“Uhh, yeah. Wh-what’re you doing here? How? When?”
“When I couldn’t get you to come over, I decided I’d come to you. So I left about an hour after you texted that you were on the road, and when I got here, I just looked for your truck.”
I brush a hand through my hair, trying to decide what to do. I’m sharing a two-bed camper with my brothers. This isn’t exactly an ideal situation to be in right now.
“Is it okay that I’m here? I don’t wanna keep you from your family or—”
“No, it’s fine.” I step closer. “You just shocked the shit outta me, is all.”
“So I can stay?” she asks sweetly.
I smile in return. “Yes, of course you can stay.”