Chapter 25
Verge
As she lays in my arms, I savor the feel of her wrapped around me.
I meant it when I told her I wasn’t living until she came into my life.
I was just going through the motions, simply trying to survive.
The moment the ranch was ripped away from me, I had nothing left, not even my fucking dog.
I couldn’t even afford to get my own mother a headstone.
A bottle and a gun were looking real friendly around that time.
I was sitting in front of my truck outside my property with whiskey in one hand and a revolver in the other.
The only things I had left were my clothes, rodeo gear, a box of buckles with a few photos, and my mothers ring.
As I let a tear slide down my cheek, my phone rang and Aunt Kate called asking me to come stay with them.
I was too stubborn to ask for help, and she knew it.
The next morning, when I sobered up, I headed that way acting as if I was fine, and here I am now trying to put the pieces of my life back together.
If it wasn’t for Shiloh, I’d still just be going through the motions, giving zero fucks if I lived or died.
I put my mouth on her head as she sleeps, letting my lips linger there. “I think I love you,” I whisper.
I know she’s asleep, but I’m honestly still too worried to tell her yet. Is it too soon? If she keeps kissing me and looking at me the way she does, I don’t think I can hold it in much longer.
I close my eyes and finally drift off to sleep.
The next morning, I wake up and she’s gone.
I look over to her side of the bed, putting my hand on the mattress, looking around.
I then hear the fire alarm go off and jump from the bed, opening the door to find her in the kitchen scurrying around.
The stove is smoking, and the toast is on the counter, burnt to a crisp.
She turns the burner off, waving a dish towel over the pan as the alarm still sounds like crazy.
“Shit, fuck, damnit,” she whines, and I can’t help but laugh, walking to the counter, grabbing a pot holder and waving it over the alarm until it finally ceases.
She looks over at me and her shoulders sag. “I was trying to cook you breakfast, but,” She waves her hand around, gesturing to the burnt toast, the eggs that look way past hard scrambled, and the bacon that is black as night before she says, “I obviously suck at cooking.”
“One second, I’ll throw some clothes on and you can go to the house and change, and we can go grab breakfast. If you want, ask everyone if they want to come with,” I say, and she smiles as she throws away the toast and the bacon and starts cleaning up.
I turn to the bedroom and go through my bag, finding a fresh pair of jeans and a hoodie, and grab my ball cap and my phone and head back out to the kitchen. I walk up behind her, hugging her, and kiss her on the cheek, saying, “If you want to walk up to the house, I’ll clean up here, baby.”
“You sure? I totally didn’t make this mess expecting you to clean it up for me,” she asks, turning to me, kissing my jaw.
“I know you, my sweet heifer, and breakfast is your favorite. I'm sure. Go get dressed,” I smile.
She slaps my chest playfully. “Quit calling me heifer.”
“You said it first,” I joke and slap her on the ass as she heads for the door.
I clean up the kitchen, laughing as I go because she really did make a disaster.
Once I’m done wiping the countertops, I grab my smokes and lighter from the counter along with my keys and walk down the stairs.
As I step out of the barn, the cool air hits me and I shiver a bit.
Damn, it’s getting chilly. As I grab my cigarettes out of my back pocket, I hear the door to Tyler’s trailer open, and I turn around to see them walking out together hand in hand.
“Morning, sunshine,” Cross says with that wide grin on his face that is always painted there.
Tyler smiles, waving, and I blow my smoke the opposite direction before I say, “Morning.”
“So, Shiloh burnt breakfast, huh?” He laughs, rubbing Tyler’s shoulders trying to warm her up.
I shrug, scrunch up my nose, and laugh. “Yeah. It was cute though.”
“Fair warning, don’t ever let her cook. She's awful, she even burnt my cookies in her easy bake oven when we were 8.” He laughs, and I can’t help but laugh with him and Tyler.
As much as his constant touch with Shi in the beginning raked on my nerves, I can't help but appreciate the role he played in her life. I’ve never had a friend like that. Beau and I are close, but not on the level of Shi and Cross or Shi and Cash, for that matter.
I haven’t quite figured Cash out. He’s nice enough, and I can tell by the way he carries himself he is a good man and he would do anything for Shi, but his eyes seem haunted by something in his past that I can’t get a read on.
I’m sure seeing his dad killed did a number on him, but that’s not it; there is something deeper there.
The way he observes more than he speaks and the war raging in his eyes whenever he sees a pretty girl has me curious, but it’s not my place, so I don’t ask.
I keep my shit locked down tight for a reason, and I’m sure he does too.
As I finish my smoke, I bring it to the trash can and discard it and look up to see Shiloh walking out of the house.
Jeans and a hoodie on with a cute Carhartt beanie to go along with it.
I loved that dress last night. Don't get me wrong, Tyler definitely dolled her up and she looked beautiful, but this is my favorite look on her because, well, it’s her.
“Ready?” She asks, looking at all of us.
“Cash coming?” I ask.
She shrugs before she says, “He said he’s going to stick around here and help mom feed the steers and work out some of the other horses we have.”
“Alright, where to?” I ask.
Cross walks over to Shi, putting her in a headlock, and says, “Ask this hungry hungry hippo.”
Shi pushes him away, and Tyler and I laugh at their exchange, looking at each other. “They crack me up, their little childhood bond makes me smile,” she laughs, and I nod in agreement.
“Shut up, Cross,” Shi scolds.
“Oh, come on, we know you wanna choose,” Cross teases.
I smile, looking at her as she rolls her eyes. I guess the cat’s out of the bag that she’s a breakfast fanatic.
“Fine, let's go to One Stop. They have the best biscuits and gravy,” she says, and I swing my arm around her, kissing her head. We all nod and head to the truck, and I see Cash walking out of the front door with a coffee in hand. I raise my hand, waving, and he nods back, and I ask, “Sure you don’t wanna come with, man?”
“Yeah, I gotta get some shit done around here with mom. I already ate. You all go ahead, see yall later,” he replies, taking a sip of his coffee before he raises his hand and says, “Also, it’s Wednesday.
Uncle Tuff called and asked if you still want to practice.
I guess he forgot to get your number and figured that asshat would forget to ask you.
” He gestures to Cross, who throws his hands up in defense.
“I mean, I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached, so you’re not wrong.” He laughs, climbing into the truck, and I shake my head, laughing. There isn’t much that will set him off or offend him.
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me. I’ll be there,” I tell him.
He nods, walking past us to the barn, saying over his shoulder, “He said be there around 1:00.”
“Sounds good,” I say, getting in the front seat, and we head out to breakfast.
After breakfast, we made our way back to the ranch, and as we pull in, Cash and Liz are in the arena riding horses.
Jake is laying on the front porch and sits up as the truck makes its way to a stop.
Once I hop out, Jake is at my side rubbing my leg, and I lean down to pet him.
Damn, I miss my dog Blue. He was a heeler and, honestly, my best damn friend.
Mom got him for me when I was 13. He was the best dog. The day before Aunt Kate called me, someone fucking ran him over when I wasn’t home and was dealing with bank shit. On my drive home, right before I got to my driveway, I saw him laying there lifeless right by my damn mailbox.
Another reason why I was sitting at my mom’s makeshift grave in my truck with whiskey and a revolver. I was at rock fucking bottom.
Shi comes around the truck, hugging me and leaning down to pet Jake as well, before she says, “He seems to have taken a liking to you.”
“I miss my dog, so, it’s nice to have one to show some attention to,” I admit.
“Hell, come take our last puppy,” Cross says, jumping out of the back with Tyler.
“I’d love to, but I couldn’t do that,” I reply. It is one thing for Liz to offer me the loft, it's another thing for me to just assume she’s okay with an animal living up there with me.
“Why?” He asks, shrugging.
“Beacuse, I can’t bring a dog into someone else’s property. That would be rude. I’ve legit only stayed one night here.” I laugh.
“Ah, Aunt Liz won't care. She loves animals. Have you seen how many animals are around here?” He says, waving his arm around all the land, and we all laugh.
Shi hugs me and says, “He’s right, you know? She wouldn’t care.”
“Look, when you come over to practice, I’ll show you the girl we have left. She was the runt, so we’ve been having a time getting rid of her, but she's sweet and no charge.” Cross insists.
I purse my lips together, considering it as I pull my smokes out of my pocket, feeling anxious about this. On one hand, I would love a dog. On the other, I still worry as much as they are trying to assure me it’s fine, that it’s overstepping.
“I’ll think about it,” I say as we walk toward the barn.
“Think about what,” Liz says from behind, riding up on her paint horse, hopping off.
“Aunt Liz, tell Verge here he can have himself a puppy and you won't care,” Cross says.
She takes the horse's reins in her hands and he follows before she says, “As long as you take responsibility for it, I don’t care.”
“See, she has her shots and is spayed too, so literally free, man,” Cross insists.
“And why are you trying so hard to get rid of this pup?” I ask with an eyebrow raised. He’s pushing hard, and it makes me wonder if this dog is a total spaz or something.
“Because we have 5 already, we have too many dogs.” He laughs.
“Okay, I’ll take a look when I come over this evening, okay?” I say, pulling my cigarette from my mouth.
Cash walks up on his horse, asking, “You all packed? We are leaving tomorrow.”
“I don’t have to pack. I bring my home with me.” Tyler smiles.
Cash looks down at her, “Touche, what about you three?”
He asks, looking at Shi and Cross. Cross makes a face and says, “I gotta head home and get some more stuff, and I’ll be ready. I’m gonna just stay with Tyler.”
Cash then shifts his gaze to me and Shi, and she says, “After practice, I’ll go in and pack, and Verge is pretty much still packed, so yes, we are all good.”
“What about Beau?” Cash asks, and I shrug.
“I can call him and see,” I say.
“Okay, tell him to just stay here. He can stay in the guest room again. That way we can all load up and leave without waiting on his ass.” He jokes. He’s not wrong, though, Beau is always late.
I pull my phone out, calling him, and he picks up. “Hey, I know I’m late. I’m on the way,” Beau says on the other end of the line.
“Not why I’m calling, make sure you have all your shit. Cash says to stay here tonight so you aren’t late tomorrow,” I reply.
“I know, that’s why I’m running late now. I almost forgot to pack, but I figured he’d want me to just stay there. I’m about 2 minutes away.”
“Roger that,” I say, hanging up.
Cross and Tyler go to walk off, and Shi looks at me. “You wanna ride today or are you gonna head over to practice at Uncle Tuffs?”
I look at my watch to see it’s 12:00 P.M. I swing my arm around her, kissing her head, before I say, “I reckon I better get my things together and head out soon, unlike Beau. I hate being late, I’d rather be early.” I wink.
She nods, and Cross hollers at me over his shoulder, “Hey, wait for me. I’ll ride with you and pack while you practice and ride back with you if that’s okay?”
“That’s fine,” I holler back, and he nods as him and Tyler walk into the barn together.
Shi walks into the barn, and I follow her as she pulls Riot out of his stall.
I lean against the wall as everyone else pulls out their horses besides me and Cross.
I guess he figures he doesn’t have the time right now, given we are about to leave here soon.
I then hear gravel crunching and look out to the drive way to see Beau pulling up.
“Bout damn time,” Cash groans, and I laugh.
“What time was he supposed to be here?” I ask.
“11:30,” Cash says, walking past me with his horse.
I laugh, and Beau gets out of the truck. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, you say that every time,” Cash says to him.
I laugh, looking back at Shi, who is laughing, and Cross asks, “Tyler, can you heel for Shiloh while I’m gone? I’d say ride Havoc, but she's not fond of new riders.”
“Sure, do you think I can pull some barrels out later and work Venom out?” She asks Shi, then continues, “I figured I’d work Midnight out after I worked Venom.”
Midnight is her black mare she breakaway ropes on. Both of her horses are black as fucking night, so much that they almost look blue. They are stunning.
“Of course, if you want, do that first. I think my mom already has the barrels out there, and Cash and I can go get the steers,” she replies, and they both put their horses in the cross ties and start saddling.
Cross makes his way over to me, putting his hand on my shoulder, and says, “You ready to head out?”
“I reckon,” I reply, walking over to Shi, putting my hand in the small over her back.
She turns around, looking up at me, smiling, and says, “See you later.”
“Bye, baby.” I lean down and kiss her.
Cross walks up behind Tyler, hugging her, and mocks me, saying, “Bye, baby.” Tyler bursts into laughter, and so does Shi.
As we walk out of the barn, I push him and he laughs his ass off.
This guy, like I said, is growing on me.
He makes me laugh, and I don’t get a lot of that.
We both get in the truck and head over to his place to see this so-called dog he is insisting on me getting and practicing before we head out tomorrow.