Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
HUDSON
I have never been happier to see the homestead come into view as I am now. On the home stretch, and what a week it has been. Addy rides beside me on Sergeant. She insisted. Saying that she wouldn’t be a burden or a flake. Strongest fucking woman I have ever met. I think she is worried what Harry thinks, but I wish she wouldn’t. Harry can go take a flying leap if you ask me. Not that anyone has.
Things have been oddly quiet in the Rawlins’ camp since Addy was stuck on Sergeant and he had to go to ground for me to lift her off. I know Ma is quietly pleased that I finally stood up to the old man. But I can’t help feeling that I have overstepped. And I am fully prepared for an ear chewing when we make it home and the dusts settles.
“What are you thinking, Huddy?”
God, when she calls me Huddy, I feel like a stupid teenager, all giddy and shit. Not a grown-ass man who will be thirty-five in a matter of months. Not a man running a ranch and building a house. A needy pup that hangs on her words, on every look she gives me. “Nothing much. Possibly the ass chewing Harry’s gonna give me when we’re back.”
She laughs, throwing her head back.
I raise a brow. “How is that funny?”
“I would be more worried for Harry than you. Honestly, you were brilliant this week. Thoroughly impressed, cowboy.” She smiles, big and wide, and so fucking beautiful.
“Huh . . . You did pretty good yourself.”
“I really loved this. Being in the mountains and all. It was hard going but so satisfying. I understand why you love it here so much.”
“Yeah.”
That’s all I can say. I have to bite my tongue. ’Cause what I want to say is that I wish she would stay if she likes it... loves it. But that is selfish, and not what she wants. So I return my focus to the homestead and dream about what a hot shower is gonna feel like after a week in the outdoors.
One bath in seven days doesn’t cut it. Better than nothing, I guess. It was Addy’s saving grace after her rough dismount. And I am glad Ma had it organized. God knows what we would have done without it.
The herd is noisy, funneling into the yards by the homestead. A few nights here and some work through the pound and they will be set out into the fields between here and my place. Close, so we can keep tabs on them during calving. Every beast counts. Harry’s motto since the beginning of time, I suspect.
The men ride around the stragglers. Addy rides beside Ned, waving her arm and calling out sweet hup hups as she steers the last of the cattle through the double gates, her seat rising and falling back into the saddle as she paces along with Sergeant. She’s a fucking natural at this. And, well, that burns a little.
When the last of the herd is safe inside the main yard, I ride through the herd, taking a last look. I check for any signs of injury. When none seem distressed, I walk Rocket to where Addy is chatting to Mick.
“Good-looking herd this year, Hudson,” Harry says, trotting up to me.
“All accounted for.”
“Are my eyes on the fritz, or is Addy actually getting conversation out of old Mick?”
I huff a laugh. “Has been for a few days now. You should give her a break, Harry. She more than earned her keep this week.”
“I’ve never had a problem with her work or work ethic, son. But you haven’t upheld my instructions where Addy’s concerned.”
I stare at him. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
I hear the familiar yapping before the small streak of white makes it halfway across the yard. Charlie flies through the cattle toward us. Ma leans on the rail on the other side of the yard, a huge smile on her face. She would have heard him whimpering and felt sorry for him and let him out. He scoots between two cows, and one spins on him. The other kicks out.
Snap.
Charlie cries out, sliding on his side in the dirt in the center of the yard.
Fuck.
Sergeant lopes past me, with a distraught Addy. She reins the gelding to a sliding stop and the cattle scatter. She jumps down and hovers over Charlie. I swing out of the saddle and run to where she is kneeling between the herd of cattle, heads down, their sights on the dog. Mack trots over, ushering the mob away from us.
“He may have a broken leg,” she says as I drop to my knees on the other side of Charlie. He’s panting, whimpering every other breath. “Shhhh, little man. Stay here with him, will you, so I can grab some painkillers before we move him?”
I nod, and she takes everything in stride. A moment later, she is back in the dirt beside me, syringe in hand. She administers something into his skin by his shoulder and sweet-talks him. When she rocks back onto her heels and wipes her forehead, I can’t keep my eyes off her.
“He will be numb in a moment and then we can move him into your truck and into the clinic.”
“Sure thing.”
Her brows are stuck down tight. “He’ll need an X-ray, and then we’ll go from there.”
“Yup, tell me what you need me to do.”
When Charlie has settled, I lift him from the ground, and Addy leads Sergeant back to where Harry and Reed stand watching us. Harry takes Sergeant’s reins and walks the horses back to the barn. Addy pulls some gear from Mira, and we make our way to the truck. She holds the door open for me and I lay Charlie in the center on the bench seat. Addy hops in and I round the truck, jumping into the driver’s seat. I fire her up and we head into town. Addy is quiet.
“You alright?” I ask.
“Yeah.” But worry lines her face as she checks the pup every other minute.
“He’ll be okay. He has a brilliant doctor.”
Forcing a sad smile, she stares out the window.
The clinic is closed when we arrive, and Addy unlocks the doors as I carry in a very sleepy Charlie. She hits the lights, and we head to the X-ray room. She takes the picture while I wait outside.
When she walks back out, she holds up a tablet with Charlie’s images. “It’s not too bad, only a cast and painkillers, thankfully.”
“That’s great. Do you do that now?”
“Yes, if you can help hold him still?”
“Anything you need.”
Addy walks into a treatment room, and I follow her. Charlie is on the floor on a bulky blue blanket. Addy goes about pulling out supplies. She drops to her knees and clips away the hair on his injured leg before wrapping it up in a soft bandage. When the plaster comes out, she selects a navy color and gets to work. “Hold him still, Huddy.”
“Sure.”
When the cast is finished, she leans against the wall with a sigh. She looks exhausted. A week on a horse will do that to a person. Addy’s phone buzzes on her desk. She ignores it.
“Talk to me, Addy.”
She closes her eyes. “I’m just tired and really, really need a shower.”
Her phone buzzes, inching closer to the edge of the desk, and she snatches it up and slides a finger over the screen. She rolls her eyes, muttering something that sounds a lot like “leave me alone” before locking the screen and tossing her phone onto the desk. If someone is harassing her ...
“Addy, is everyth?—”
“Hello?” Pa’s voice comes from the waiting room.
Why is he here?
“Huddy?” Ma, too.
I push up and wander out to the waiting room. “What’s going on?”
“We wanted to make sure you two were okay.” Ma squeezes my arm.
“Addy back here?” Pa asks, already walking down the hall. I hear as she stands and says hello before explaining Charlie’s injury.
“Walk with me, Huddy.” Ma heads for the doors. What on earth?
I follow her out the doors and into the street lit with streetlights and shop fronts. She doesn’t say anything for a block.
“I hope Charlie will be okay, I feel bad for letting him out.”
“He’ll be fine, Ma. What’s with Harry?”
She smiles. “He has clinic stuff to talk about with Addy, that’s all.”
“Now?”
“Your father waits for no man, or woman, apparently.”
“Do I need to be in there? Aren’t I supposed to be taking over this sort of thing?”
“Let your father handle it; besides, both of you are exhausted.”
“Yeah well, having to prove your mettle to Harry Rawlins is no easy feat.”
She tilts her head, stopping on the sidewalk. I stop and meet her gaze.
“Who said you had to do that?”
“This roundup was supposed to be me showing Harry I could make decisions.”
She laughs a little. “Coming from the yes-man himself. His father was the same. Always going on about him taking the reins instead of doing only what he was told. Old habits die hard, even when you know better.”
“I would rather earn the ranch than have it handed to me, Ma.”
“It was always yours, but he was right that we needed to make this roundup count. We have business financing to take care of and two more properties in escrow. One for Reed and one for Mack. But that pressure isn’t yours, it’s ours. Your father’s and mine.”
I huff a small incredulous laugh. Ma always has it figured out. Right now, she lives up to her endearment of captain.
“You and Addy should get some rest tonight. We will see you both for lunch Sunday.”
“What about the herd?”
“Your brothers and your father have that under control. Take a moment for yourself—you earned it.” She squeezes both of my arms and her smile wobbles, but she releases me and crooks her arm like Reed does. I wrap mine through hers and escort her back to the clinic. She waits outside for Pa while I go inside. Harry and Addy are still talking shop when I find them in the treatment room.
Harry stops talking as I lean on the doorframe and Addy yawns. This girl is good and worn out. Time to go home. “You two done?”
“I think so. Addy, catch you Sunday,” Harry says and walks out of the clinic, the glass double doors swooshing behind him.
“Can I take you home?” I ask.
Addy closes the space between us and drops her forehead to my shoulder. “You can take both of us home. To your place, Huddy.”
My gut flips in the best way possible. And when she pushes away and heads for the double doors, I scoop up Charlie and follow her to the truck. Charlie sleeps most of the way home and Addy checks him every fifteen minutes. She’s a fucking awesome vet. Lewistown will be worse off without her. When we finally reach the house, I park and shut off the engine. Addy opens the door and slowly climbs out, as if her muscles are too sore to go any faster. My girl needs a hot shower. And a good rest.
I pick Charlie up and carry him inside, settling him by the fireplace. Addy appears by my side and smiles down at him. “He’s content there.”
“Don’t go gettin’ used to it, buddy. Once that leg is better, it’s back to being a ranch dog.”
“He’s all talk, Charlie. He’s really a big, big softie.”
“Only with you.” I wrap my arms around her waist and drag her backward. “Shower time, Doc.”
Spinning in my arms, she pushes me toward the hallway. “Absolutely. You are filthy, Hudson Rawlins.”
She plucks my buttons open as I walk backward to the shower. By the time we reach the bathroom, I’m naked, and she is still fully clothed. I cluck my tongue and she holds her arms above her head. I make quick work of her shirt, undershirt, and jeans and we slip into the steaming water.
Addy sighs as the water washes away a week’s worth of dirt, sweat, and grime. I take up the soap and lather it over her body. She tilts her neck to the side and moans when my hands rub over her hips. They must be sore. Dammit.
Next, I squirt shampoo into my hand and massage it over her head. The moan that she makes sends my cock rock hard. But we are both far too exhausted to bother with anything else right now. I tug the shower hose down and rinse out the shampoo, repeating the process with the conditioner. The fragrant apple scent that reminds me of her is the one I chose when I stocked the bathroom before Ma’s party.
When she is all washed and her hair is clean and hanging in tangled curls around her shoulders, she spins and takes the soap from the holder. Her hands glide over my tired muscles. My chest, arms, abs, legs, and then she moves and does my back. Her fingers crawl through my hair a moment later, lathering it with the apple shampoo. This time I groan. She giggles behind me, but it disappears into another long yawn.
Once she’s clean, dried, and comfy in one of my light blue t-shirts, I sweep Addy up and carry her to the bed. She doesn’t protest, only rests her head against my shoulder, eyes closed. I’m pretty sure she is asleep before I even make it to the bedroom. I lay her down and pull the blankets over us. I have barely wrapped an arm around her soft body before sleep drags me under like a raging torrent.
I roll over as my phone vibrates by the bed.
Dawn’s light splinters the dark outside.
It’s Ma.
I slide to answer.
Huddy, the mares. It’s started.