Chapter 16
T he cows were moving in one large group in the right direction.
Cash finally let himself relax for a minute.
He’d been doing this every year, in the spring and fall.
These cows knew the drill and the promise of new food, but it didn’t mean that shit couldn’t happen.
But. They couldn’t have picked a calmer day to start moving cattle.
After he’d untangled himself from Abbi’s soft body, he’d called Aaron to see if he could help move one of the smaller herds and get a jump on things for the weekend.
That’d give him more time with Abbi before she went back home.
His chest tightened. He didn’t like the idea of her not being around.
She brought so much color to his world, not just with her mad home improvements skills.
As the foundation for his family, he had little support.
Lately, though, he wasn’t so much foundation as the glue keeping the four of them from ripping apart and scattering to the winds.
What would family get-togethers be like? Would Mom even come back? This was her family, but only in-laws really. He was her son, but…
Cash coughed as his throat suddenly grew thick. Well, Mom wouldn’t need him anymore as a go-between as she slowly cut off her soon to be ex-husband. Sissy wouldn’t be coming back to Moore for years while she served in the navy.
Cash adjusted his hat as fear raced through him. Fuck, was he a twenty-nine-year-old man crying about his mommy?
Yeah, he kind of was.
But if Abbi was around, however much of their relationship Mom wanted to keep…it’d be all right.
Aaron and his gelding, Twitty—short for Conway Twitty—fell into step beside Cash. “I hear you and that girl are still seeing each other.”
“Abbi, and yes. She’ll have to go back home soon, but eventually, you know…”
“Nice. She seemed nice. And she can put up with you, so…” Aaron chuckled when Cash flipped him off. “Hey, if she’s got any single cousins, have her bring ’em out.”
Cash smiled, but his moment of relaxation was stained with sympathy.
Aaron had a hard time dating and keeping a girl.
His family relied on him too much, and while he was a couple of years younger than Cash, he was at the age where women ran fast when they met a guy like that.
“You’ll find someone, Aaron. Maybe Travis can be your wingman. ”
Aaron snorted and his horse nickered. “Travis is nursing his broken heart too much to think about dating.”
“Good thing he didn’t marry her, though.” Cash winced to himself. Travis’s situation wasn’t much different than Cash’s in that he’d found a city girl. But his ex couldn’t bring herself to downgrade to the country and she’d never seemed as comfortable around their family and property. Unlike Abbi.
A clear blue sky stretched over him and his land. Things were looking up. It seemed like a fantasy to roll out of bed after a night with the sexiest girl he’d ever met, go out and do what he loved, then come home, back into her arms. But he was living the dream today.
His phone rang and he tugged it out of his pocket. Aaron trotted off with Twitty to give Cash privacy.
Cash’s optimism wavered.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Can you tell your mom I need to talk with her?”
Cash rolled his gaze skyward. “She’s not answering?”
Dad released a gusty breath. “No. She needs to act like an adult about this. We shouldn’t have to go through our lawyers for everything.”
She probably worried that he’d sway her just like he had for the last thirty-plus years. “I can let her know, but I can’t make promises about whether she’ll talk with you.”
“I appreciate it. I’m worried about her and this new man.”
Cash repressed a sigh. Dad could’ve worried a little more before it got to this point. Cash disconnected but didn’t feel like talking to Mom just yet. He texted her and pocketed his phone. His cattle and Abbi were much better subjects to dwell on.
His phone rang again.
Seriously… “Hey, Sissy.”
“Oh. My. God. Mom and Dad have been on me for hours.”
“What did you think they’d do with the news?”
“Let me make my own damn decisions.”
Cash couldn’t hold back this sigh. “Your past decision-making hasn’t impressed them. They’re worried. They’ll get over it. Look on the bright side: when you ship out, they won’t be able to get ahold of you.”
“That kind of makes me feel better. Didn’t you tell them that I talked to the recruiter and everything’s set up, that it’s my decision?”
At least ten times. “Yes, and they were upset I didn’t hold your hand all the way through. Look, Sissy, the best way to show them you’re serious is to do it and be the best sailor you can be. If you regret it, own it and finish your enlistment.”
“Yeah, but can you tell them to quit bugging me?”
As if that would help. “Sure, but I can’t make any promises.” Hadn’t he just said that?
“Tell them that I’m serious. I have a good feeling about the navy.”
“You know, you can tell them yourself.”
“I did, but they’ll listen to you.”
“I’ll talk to them again.” Lord knew, both Mom and Dad would surely call by the end of the day.
He scanned the pasture. He and Aaron were nearing the corrals where Travis waited on his bay, Reba, and Abbi perched on the thick corral poles.
She waved to Cash. “I gotta go, Sissy. Just don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it. ”
For the next hour, they could call all they wanted, but Cash wasn’t going to answer. He grinned at Abbi and brought Patsy Cline to a trot.
Abbi fisted her reins and glanced around. Gorgeous men surrounded her, all astride beautiful beasts.
God, could this be her life? Of course, she wasn’t attracted to any of them other than Cash, who stuck close to her on Patsy Cline.
The four cousins he ran the Walker Five with had arrived this morning and now surrounded the eighty cows they were driving to their winter pasture.
Abbi had even gotten to meet the dark-haired cousin’s fiancée.
Cash had asked if Josie was going to help with the cattle drive and the exotic beauty had laughed and said there was a driveshaft calling her name.
Then she’d winked at Brock and driven off in her muscle car.
And when Abbi had said she would love to drive a car like that, Cash had asked Brock. His cousin had said to stop over and Josie would take her out.
So she was helping with a real-life cattle drive, albeit a short one, and then she’d get to go drive a Mustang.
How fucking cool was that?
And these guys lived this life. And Cash wanted her to be a part of his life.
She couldn’t fight her grin.
“Fun, isn’t it?”
She glanced at Cash. Not only was he drool-worthy sitting astride his horse, but his posture was textbook.
Wide shoulders, straight back, head held high.
She looked at Dillon, Brock, Aaron, and Travis.
All the same. Their hips rocked with their horses’ movements, their heads swiveled as they checked on cattle, ball caps pulled down low, but they rode with confidence.
And she was one of them! Minus the ball cap.
“This is so fun.”
Cash’s easy smile warmed her from the inside out. She had been about to mount him after they ate breakfast, but Dillon had arrived, judiciously honking the horn as he’d rounded the house. Abbi had dived back into her jeans and Cash had tucked himself back into his own pants.
They were so going to pick up where they had left off once this cattle business was done.
She dutifully followed her rancher wherever he went. Soon, the herd was nestled into their winter pasture and probably just in time. Her cheeks must be pink from the brisk wind. It was fall, but this was the time of year when clouds could dump surprising amounts of snow. Not today, though.
She steered Mandrell into the barn and dismounted with the rest.
“Most of the horses winter here, too,” Cash explained as he handed her a brush. “Travis keeps Reba and his siblings’ horses in one of his pastures.”
Brushing Mandrell, Abbi listened to the guys discuss what herd they’d move tomorrow, the weather forecast, and how they’d coordinate their weekend schedules.
“After the cattle are moved, we should have a big barbeque,” Travis said. “We can do it at my place this time. Michelle was just talking about our infamous grills.”
Cash stopped brushing and rested his forearms on Patsy Cline’s back. “You two back together?”
Abbi thought she was done brushing, but feeling a slight increase in tension, she kept up her long strokes and Mandrell didn’t complain.
Travis rose to his full height, which was just as tall as Cash. “Yeah, and I don’t need to hear it.”
“Hear what?”
All the guys stopped to watch the interaction while Travis elaborated. “How you think I can do better than Michelle.”
“I never said that. And it’s not about Michelle, it’s about you two breaking up and getting back together again—again.”
Abbi stroked Mandrell as quietly as she could. Would the guys start pointing at her and asking what Cash was doing with her?
“Whatever,” Travis grumbled. “I’m not asking permission to date my fiancée.”
Cash made a disgusted sound only she heard.
Aaron spoke up. “Why do we have to wait until we’re done moving cattle? Let’s go out tonight. Barley ‘n’ Hops has live music tonight.”
“I’d love to take Elle out dancing,” Dillon spoke quickly, like he was glad to move on from the Michelle subject.
Abbi glanced around at all the men. Belonging to this family would be like gaining four other brothers. And a sister. Not to mention the other cousins Abbi hadn’t met yet.
“I could ask Josie,” Brock said.
Cash looked at her with a question in his eyes and she grinned.
“Sounds fun.”
Abbi laughed as Cash spun her around the dance floor. The man was as good on his feet as he was in bed. She didn’t miss the envious, sometimes seething looks she got from women. Cash hadn’t let go of her all night.
Loud country music kicked a steady beat through the bar.
Men and women Abbi’s age and older crowded the tables and dance floor.
The place was just what Abbi would expect in a small town: wood beams, booths, and tables lining the dance area, and a polished hardwood floor.
It was homey, but fancy enough to make going out a treat.
“Are you thirsty, honey?” He had to yell in her ear as close as they were to the band.
She nodded, and he led her back to the table their group sat at when they weren’t out dancing.
Abbi chose a seat and spotted Dillon and his beautiful girlfriend two-stepping to the current song.
Josie looked like she struggled at dancing as much as Abbi had, but like Cash, Brock was a pro at gliding with her across the floor.
Travis and Michelle seemed like they were in perfect sync, and Aaron had found a few single ladies—for dance partners at least.
She let her gaze wander to the bar to pick out Cash. With his height and broad shoulders, it wasn’t hard. Neither was seeing the lady next to him, pressing against his side. She was cute and dressed to kill. Her flirty mannerisms were all for Cash. Abbi watched, more amused than irritated.
The woman murmured to him and he shook his head. The bartender slid a pitcher toward him and he smoothly snatched it up, gave the woman a nod of polite dismissal, and swaggered back to Abbi.
Abbi’s grin grew as he slid into the seat next to her. “Am I going to have to come with and protect you next time?”
“Yes, please. I said no three times.” He smirked with a hint of apology. “She’s not used to that, from me or anyone else.”
“She’ll get over it. Aaron’s the only one of you guys free.”
“Don’t mention that around him.” Cash poured their beer. “He’s got a thing about not dating anyone the rest of us…you know.”
“Does that leave him anyone under the age of sixty?”
Cash hesitated, then chuckled. “We weren’t that bad.”
“You weren’t?” She moved like she was going to stand. “Let me go ask that girl who was hitting on you.”
“You could.” He grabbed her and dragged her onto his lap. “Or you could sit here and talk about the next thing that comes up.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Oh my god, I haven’t heard that line for years.”
His gentle laugh sent shivers up and down her spine. “I know a place where we could…talk.”
She met his hot gaze. “I’d like to talk.”
They were in his vehicle within minutes and cruising through town.
Abbi had a hard time fighting her grin. When had she looked forward to having sex before? Not just ooh, I’m getting some but yes! I’m getting some! It seemed to be more every time she was with Cash. “Do I get to see a part of Moore I haven’t yet?”
“Uh…I was going to take you to the lake we went fishing at, but I can find another spot.”
“No, the lake is good. We can do another spot another time.”
He shot her a sidelong glance. “Yes, ma’am.”
She gazed out her window as they bumped along the small gravel road. The only light came from the pickup’s headlights and the occasional yard light visible through the trees.
“It’s so dark out here. I’ve never seen this many stars.”
“It’s why I wanted to take you to the lake. The road out there is decent and there’s little light pollution. I used to go there when I was a teen and Mom and Dad were fighting. I’d throw a blanket in the bed of the pickup and stretch out to think.”
Her heart went out to the young Cash who’d felt responsible for his parents’ problems. “You don’t have to be alone to deal with it anymore.”
He gave her a warm look. “I appreciate it, but you don’t need to deal with my family drama.”
“I mean it, Cash. I don’t want to be coddled—I want us to be partners. You don’t need to protect me from anything. I can handle it.” She’d never again be part of a relationship where her man made decisions for her own good.
He patted her knee and ran his hand up her thigh. “I’ll always protect you.”
His words seemed to echo with a deeper meaning, but she shook her head. “No. We’re in this together. Don’t baby me.”
His expression became serious. “I won’t.”
“Promise?” She’d make him pinky swear if she had to.
“Of course.” His charming smile should’ve eased her sudden anxiety about jumping in with another boyfriend who didn’t think of her as an equal. But she’d seen that smile before.
Why wouldn’t he be one hundred percent genuine? No, she wasn’t going to second-guess his word. He’d been nothing but real with her and tonight was about enjoying them and their new standing as a solid couple.