Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jeb walked toward the house, stilling with a frown as he saw that Frost was out of the stables.
What was he doing? He should be tucked up inside by now. Surely Wyatt wouldn’t have let him out? Frost was one of their older horses. He was gentle and good with children. He was Wyatt’s favorite horse.
“Come on, Frost,” he said to the horse. “Follow me back.”
Sometimes he swore the horse could understand what he said. He didn’t even need a bridle as Jeb led him back inside. But he stopped at the open door to Frost’s stall.
What the fuck?
Casey was crouched over, covering something in a corner of the stall. Was that Wyatt?
“Casey? What are you doing?” he snapped.
“Papa! Papa, you need to help Casey. She’s gone all strange.”
“What do you mean?” He rushed into the stall and crouched behind Casey. “Casey, get up. Let Wyatt go.”
“Keep Wyatt safe.”
“That’s all she’ll say. She thinks Frost is gonna hurt me. I think she’s scared of horses, Papa.”
“Then what is she doing here? Why are you here?” he snapped.
He knew that wasn’t important right now, but he was worried about Casey and how to help her.
“I was mad and ran out to be with Frost. She followed me and then she started acting all weird.”
“You were mad?” he asked.
“Because she’s leaving and I want her to stay.”
“What? Wyatt, you’ve always known she’s leaving.”
“Yeah, but everyone said she was your girlfriend, so I thought she was going to stay.”
Casey whimpered and Jeb shook his head. “All right, we’ll talk about that later. Right now, let’s get her inside. Casey, listen to me. I need you to let go of Wyatt.”
She shook her head. “Not safe.”
“He is safe. You’re both safe. I’m here. Nothing is going to happen to either of you while I’m here. But you need to let go so I can get you inside. It’s dark and cold now. And Wyatt needs to eat and go to bed. So let go, baby. Trust me and let go.”
Trust him?
Let go?
Could she do those things?
You know Jeb will keep you safe.
“Let me help you,” Jeb whispered. “Good girl. That’s it.”
She felt him move her into his arms and she let out a small cry of protest. “Wyatt!”
“I’m right here, Casey. I’ll hold your hand. I don’t get it, Papa. Frost isn’t scary.”
“But Casey doesn’t know that,” Jeb said.
“Did something bad happen to her?” Wyatt asked.
“I don’t know, son.”
It wasn’t until they were in the house that she realized how cold she was. Shivers ran through her as Jeb wrapped her up tight in a blanket, sitting on the sofa with her in his arms.
Gradually, she started to warm up, the fear dissipating, leaving her drained and exhausted.
Casey stared up at Jeb, then over at Wyatt who sat next to his father on the couch.
Both of them gave her concerned looks.
Crap. She’d just made a complete ass of herself.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Jeb told her firmly. “How are you feeling?”
“Really tired. Foolish. Embarrassed.”
“You don’t need to be embarrassed either,” Jeb told her.
“Why’d you freak out, Casey?” Wyatt asked.
“Wyatt, that’s not a nice word to use,” Jeb told him.
“Accurate, though,” she said with a grimace.
“I . . . I grew up on a horse farm. Lots of horses coming and going. My father expected all of us to help out. But there was this one horse . . . he was mean. He didn’t like me.
The only person he liked was my father. My dad .
. . he . . . I was twelve when he told me to get that horse out and put the saddle on him. ”
“Even knowing you were scared of him?” Jeb asked.
“Yeah.”
“Jesus. Fucking bastard.”
Wyatt stared at his dad with wide eyes.
“For a start he was really calm and I let my guard down. I went behind him. It was so stupid. He kicked me, broke three of my ribs.” She let out a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
“Jesus, baby,” Jeb said.
“My father said it was my own fault for going behind him.”
“Your father is a poopface,” Wyatt declared.
“He sure is. Now, I’ve got a fear of all horses. I know not all of them are like that horse. But I just . . . it’s irrational.”
“Frost is a good horse,” Jeb told her. “Calm and steady. But you didn’t know that. And it’s not your fault you reacted that way.”
“It’s your dad’s,” Wyatt told her.
“Yeah. It is.” She let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry you’re mad at me, Wyatt.”
Wyatt stared at his shoes. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have run off like that. I was just upset because everyone was saying you were Papa’s girlfriend and I thought you were gonna stay. I want you to stay.”
God.
Her heart was hurting right now.
The thing was . . . she wanted to stay. She wanted to belong to this man and boy.
More than anything.
“It’s not that I want to leave,” she said. “But this was never meant to be permanent. I have a job in Santa Barbara. My best friend is waiting for me.”
“Who told you that Casey was my girlfriend?” Jeb asked Wyatt.
“Billy did. He’s been saying it since we went back to school. I think he was saying it to upset me, but I was happy. Because I love Casey.”
Oh god.
Tears dripped down her face. “I love you too, sugar.” She held out her arms and he climbed into her lap as she sat on Jeb’s.
Jeb held them both, supporting them.
“Why would Billy think that?” Jeb asked.
“His dad,” Casey said. “Apparently there have been some rumors about us being at the motel together.”
“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered. “We were there to drop you off. We didn’t even get out of the truck.”
“I know. But you know how rumors are.” She leaned her head against his chest.
“So when you guys got home, Wyatt ran off? And you followed?”
“I ran off in town too,” Wyatt said miserably. “I know I’m not supposed to, but Megan was being mean.”
“Megan was being mean?” Jeb asked. “What does Megan have to do with anything?”
“She approached us while we were eating ice cream. Man, I didn’t get to finish that ice cream,” Casey said sadly.
“Sorry, Casey,” Wyatt said.
“Not your fault, sugar,” she said. “There will be more ice cream. There’s only one Wyatt.”
He gave her a small smile.
“Someone tell me what Megan said,” Jeb ordered. “Now.”
Oops. Boss man had spoken.
Jeb was fast running out of patience. He didn’t like that his son had been upset by those rumors. And he also didn’t like that his woman had just been terrified. He hated the way he’d found her and he wanted to make sure it would never happen again.
How are you going to do that when she moves away?
Well, that was simple. She just wouldn’t be allowed to move away.
The thought settled something inside him. He hadn’t realized how upset he was about the fact that she was moving away. That she was leaving.
Not happening.
She was his. Theirs.
And she was going to stay that way.
Decision made, he wanted to claim her immediately. But she might need some persuasion and it wouldn’t be fair to do any of that in front of Wyatt.
“Um, she came into the ice-cream parlor as we were talking about the rumors,” Casey said. “And she said that I wouldn’t be staying so I couldn’t be your girlfriend. That I was going to leave soon.”
“In front of Wyatt?” he asked in a low voice.
“Yes.”
That bitch.
“And she made fun of me for thinking Casey was gonna stay,” Wyatt added.
“Don’t worry, I’ll deal with Megan. Wyatt, can you go wash up? I’ll put together something quick for dinner after I talk to Casey.”
“Sure, Papa.” Wyatt gave her another hug before climbing off her lap.
“I’m so sorry, Jeb,” Casey said quickly.
He turned her in his lap so he could look down at her. But her gaze was lowered, her shoulders hunched.
Grasping hold of her chin, he tilted her head back. “Hey, what’s all this? Why are you saying sorry?”
“Because I didn’t protect Wyatt. From the rumors. From Megan. He ran off on me twice. And I didn’t text that we were on our way home.”
“Look at me. Properly,” he said firmly.
She stared into his eyes.
“Do I look like I’m upset?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“All right. I am. But not with you or Wyatt. I’m angry at Billy’s dad for spreading rumors. And at Megan for being a bitch. I’ll take care of them both. I’m also fucking furious at your father.”
“But not at me?” she asked.
Moving his hand around to the back of her neck, he held her still as he kissed her. “Not at you, baby. When I saw you huddled over my son, protecting him, even though you were terrified, that’s when I knew.”
“Knew what?” she whispered.
“That I’m not letting you go, Casey Reynolds. Not now. Not ever.”
“W-what?”
“I was trying to keep some distance between us. To deny my feelings for you because I was scared of getting hurt again. Of losing you. But the truth is, if I let you leave I’d be fucking miserable for the rest of my life.
Because you’re it for me, baby. My girl.
Stay? Turn my life into chaos and sunshine for the rest of my life? ”
A sob escaped her and she buried her face into his chest.
“You weren’t supposed to get upset. Is that yes or no?”
She leaned back, her cheeks wet with tears. “You’re sure?”
“Do I ever say anything I don’t mean?”
She shook her head. “No, you don’t. And my answer is yes!”
“What’s going on?” Wyatt asked, walking in. “Why is Casey crying?”
“Come here, son.” Jeb gestured at Wyatt who moved closer, watching them warily. “You want Casey to stay? To be ours?”
“Yes, but Megan said she’s gonna leave,” Wyatt said.
Casey snorted. “Megan doesn’t tell me what to do.”
Wyatt’s eyes widened. “You’re staying?”
Casey grinned. “Try to make me leave.” Her grin faded. “Are you sure you’re all right with this, though, Wyatt? With me living here for good? Being your papa’s girlfriend?”
“Okay with it? Nope.” He shook his head. “I love it! I love you!”
“Love you too, sugar,” she said. “And you as well, Jeb Wilder.”
“Just like I love you, Casey Reynolds.”