Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Cassidy
“ L ynda, stop pecking at Lila, you know she don’t like it,” Cassidy gently reprimanded while continuing through the large barn, collecting eggs and listening to his ladies' chatter and squawk at him.
He understood that they’d be a little unnerved by his scent. Could anyone wash off a mating scent?
Stop being silly. Our mate’s scent, his blood, is part of us now.
Yes, but does it mean I’ll smell like him all the time? I haven’t had a chance to shower because you wanted five more minutes to cuddle with Trey before we had to leave.
You wanted to make up for the cuddles we’ve missed, so stop making out it’s just me.
Cassidy chuckled at being called out. Yes, he had wanted to linger. Was it wrong? It was so new, but as dawn broke, he had reluctantly slipped out of Trey’s bed, his mind circling around how it was going to work. To Cassidy’s way of thinking, things had started out great.
His mate, it turned out, was a big cuddler. Although was it cuddling when he starfished the bed and therefore lay sprawled over Cassidy at the same time? He didn’t care, because waking that way was something he hoped to get used to.
That would require you to actually hang around to speak to our mate.
I have to work.
They had this argument all the way to the ranch and, it seemed, through all his morning chores. Pail in hand, he bent to run his hand down Luna’s feathers when she pecked at his leg, looking for a little attention.
Then the squawking started in earnest as she rubbed her beak up and under his jeans to his ankle. “What’s this all ‘bout, my sweet girl?”
He placed the pail down and scooped her up in his palm, bringing her up to his face. Her speckled feathers fluffed, and he grinned at the pretty show she was putting on for him.
Luna was a sweet girl who liked lots of attention. He had hand reared her after finding her struggling to get out of her shell. Smaller than the other chicks, she’d failed to thrive alone. Cassidy didn’t like to intervene with nature, but would never neglect a chick who needed a little helping hand.
“Can you scent my mate?” he murmured as he met her gaze. The noises she was making got louder.
Many thought chicks didn’t have a great sense of smell, but they’d be wrong. “It’s alright, you’re still gonna be my favorite girl.”
That seemed to calm Luna, who rested her beak on top of his thumb, giving him what he’d describe as a flirty look. No one would convince him otherwise. He knew his chicks; they were all flirts, in the worst way.
He kissed her beak, giving her what she wanted.
“Do they like that?” asked a quiet voice from his right.
He glanced over at the man watching him. For such a big man, the guy sure was able to move around unnoticed.
Cassidy recalled Bowie had chosen not to come to Ranch-Down the night before when most everyone else had. The team building retreat was most definitely divided into two camps. Those loving it and those who hated ranch life. Bowie appeared to be in the first camp.
“Mornin’ Bowie. My girls love the attention,” he glanced down at the chick, who was quietly watching the exchange. “Don’t you, sweetheart?”
She puffed out her feathers and Bowie giggled, stepping closer, being careful not to trample on any of the other girls running around at their feet. Cassidy liked the guy for that. Some weren’t as careful with their booted feet in the large barn.
“She’s real pretty.” Bowie lifted a finger and gently put it in front of Luna’s beak, then grinned at Cassidy when she nipped at it.
“What are you doing hiding out here?”
Both Cassidy and Bowie looked at the man standing by the doorway. Tall and blond, the guy looked a little out of place in the messy barn in his crisp shirt and pressed jeans. The cowboy hat did little to suggest Kari fitted in on the ranch, unlike Silas.
Last night, Cassidy had gotten to socialize with almost all the visitors. Kari certainly was the calmer of the twins. His brother Kodi had a more volatile nature. Cassidy wasn’t one to judge others, but he had noticed how Kari used his influence to help defuse his twin's short fuse. The rest of the brothers, Booker, Rue, Laken, and Taylin, had attempted to get the most out of the experience. Jupiter would never be a rancher, that was for sure, despite his affinity with the animals.
Booker and Taylin were the two who appeared to enjoy what the ranch had to offer the most, along with their mates. Frey was Booker’s mate and Cassidy found he really liked the cheeky fox. Taylin was mated with Hollis, who was a little more buttoned up than Cassidy was used to. The guy wore a serious expression most of the time. He had hoped to get to know Hollis a little better the previous evening, then Jupiter…
Gave Trey a little incentive.
Is that what happened?
He worked to shut down his train of thought and answered for Bowie, when he didn’t appear to know how to reply. “My harem were just sayin’ ‘hi’ to Bowie.”
Deep laughter got the chicks scattering and Bowie blushing. Luna didn’t so much as move a feather, her contentment clear.
“Is that so?” A playful smile appeared as Kari threaded his way towards them, also being careful.
“Do you need a hand in here? I’m sure Bowie and I could be helpful. The others are heading out for a ride.”
Something passed between the two men, and Cassidy felt a little like an intruder. “Don’t you wanna go? I’m fine here.”
“No, Bowie isn’t keen on riding a horse.”
Cassidy nodded at Bowie, giving him a reassuring smile. “Being on a horse can be a little scary. The ground can seem a way aways from you, for sure.”
He placed Luna down and petted her before nudging her towards the tray of feed he had put out when he’d first arrived.
“I’m happy to stay here and help,” Bowie murmured, not looking at either Cassidy or Kari, his cheeks a bright pink. “Do I get to help put their cute little outfits on?”
“If ya wanna,” Cassidy said with a wink. “My girls do love to look pretty for visitors. But first we gotta finish collecting eggs, then muck out.”
Cassidy enjoyed his morning with Bowie and Kari. Once Bowie got over his initial shyness, he was an enthusiastic helper. It had been fun watching him dress the girls in their sweaters to go outside. Kari had helped, but mainly he’d watched Bowie, which was cute.
Although Cassidy’s morning was busy and he’d missed grabbing something mid-morning to eat, he felt satisfied he had explained the workings of the ranch to Bowie. It turned out the guy had endless questions when the other PAs weren’t there to vie for attention. By the time he left with Kari to go get lunch, Cassidy’s girls had trailed after Bowie, much as they did to him.
Sweaty and more than a little grimy after mucking out the stables, hunger drove Cassidy up to the main bunkhouse despite it being long past lunchtime. Here, the workers could find hot food at any time of the day and, if they wanted, company. Too occupied with how his stomach clenched with the need for food to consider going back to his cabin, Cassidy had one boot inside the bunkhouse when he realized that he should have given his situation—that he hadn’t showered after leaving Trey’s and his newly mated smell—some thought.
Inside the overly warm, busy bunkhouse, it was too late to leave as his nose wrinkled while he sniffed, trying to scent himself. Was it just him that could smell Trey on him?
“Holy cowboys, what is that smell?” Ande, a horse shifter farrier, called out with a laugh.
“Cassidy,” replied Brook, who was sitting closest to the door. Suddenly, those who'd been busy eating and minding their own business seemed a lot more interested.
Cassidy had long since given up thinking about what folks thought about him, he just didn’t want them gossiping about his Trey situation.
Mates, not a situation. He’s our mate. We are mated. Mated to Trey.
How many ways do you have to say it?
As many as it takes for you to go strut your stuff and show off in front of this lot.
Cassidy’s amusement grew as he shook his head and strode up to the array of heavenly smelling dishes laid out on the counter that separated the room from the kitchen where Petey and Orion spent their day. The two men were mates and loved to wind up the ranch hands for fun. Cassidy could see the second Petey’s gaze found its mark—him.
“Well I never, Cass done gone and got himself a mate,” Petey announced the second he got a good whiff of him, his gaze on Cassidy’s throat.
I’ve got a mate. Trey is mine. Guess what, I’m mated to a hottie.
All of it fit the occasion, yet none of that fit how monumental it felt to Cassidy. He had secretly yearned for this. Now he just didn’t know how to share the same way he had with his chicks. They didn’t judge. The men in the bunkhouse would.
At his lack of response, the noise in the bunkhouse grew with shouts and laughter.
“One of your gal’s got your tongue?” Stark, an enormous bear of a man who loved to tease and always wore a mischievous grin, asked when he came and stood way too close to Cassidy and sniffed. Cassidy felt his hot breath on his skin, and immediately went to draw away, only to freeze when he inhaled a very familiar scent…
“Get the fuck away from my mate.” A threatening snarl made the hairs on Cassidy’s arms rise.
The situation in Cassidy’s jeans was wholly different. They became way too snug for comfort as he spun around and met Trey’s hungry stare.
Oh my.