Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Damian
I stood at the kitchen sink, rinsing the last of the lunch dishes while the rain tapped against the window.
The storm had eased up some, but the yard was still a muddy mess, and I could hear the faint drip of water hitting the porch roof.
Red Rock Ranch didn’t slow down for weather, though, and I’d spent the morning juggling calls with the cattle buyer and double-checking the barn repairs with Tommy over the radio.
Everything was under control, but it’d been a long day already, and I was ready for a quiet night.
The screen door banged open behind me, and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Cosmo.
His boots thudded on the hardwood, too loud to be anyone else.
“Damian, you got a minute?” he said, his voice carrying that easy lilt he used when he wanted something.
I set the last plate in the drying rack and grabbed a towel for my hands. “Depends. What’s it about?”
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, grinning like he’d just won something. “We’ve got a guest. Her name’s The car broke down in town, so I brought her here. She’s staying a while.”
I turned to face him and wiped my hand slowly to buy a second to process that. “Staying a whileWhat does that mean?”
“Means her car’s toast till we get it towed and fixed,” he said and shrugged. “Roads are crap, and she’s got nowhere else to go. Figured she could crash here till it’s sorted.”
I tossed the towel on the counter and crossed my arms. “You figured, huh? And when were you gonna ask me?”
“Didn’t think I had to,” he said, still grinning. “It’s a done deal. She’s in the living room drying off. You’ll like her. She’s got spunk.”
I stared at him and kept my face blank. Cosmo had a habit of pulling stunts like this, acting first and filling me in later.
Usually, it was small stuff like extra feed orders or a random buddy crashing on the couch, but a stranger staying at Red Rock was new.
“Spunk’s great,” I said, voice flat. “Do I have a choice?”
“Nope,” he said and clapped me on the shoulder. “Come meet her. She’s harmless. Christian’s already on board.”
“Christian’s on board with anything that moves,” I said idly and brushed his hand off. “Where’s she at now?”
“Living room,” he sa, id and headed that way. “Come on, don’t be a grump. She’s not some stray dog I dragged in.”
“Might as well be,” I muttered and followed him. The house was quiet except for the rain and the faint creak of the floor under our boots. I wasn’t thrilled about this, but Cosmo wasn’t wrong because the roads were a mess, and we had the space. That didn’t mean I had to like it.
We stepped into the living room, and there she was, sitting on the old leather couch with a mug in her hands.
Her hair was damp, dark strands sticking to her neck, and she had on a red dress that looked like it’d seen better days after the rain.
She glanced up as we walked in, her eyes sharp and steady, sizing me up like she wasn’t the one out of place.
“Geraldine, this is Damian,” Cosmo said and gestured at me. “He’s the boss around here. Damian, Geraldine.”
“Hey,” she sa, id and set the mug on the coffee table. “Thanks for letting me crash. Didn’t mean to barge in.”
“You didn’t,” I said and kept my tone even. “Cosmo did that for you.”
She smirked, just a flicker, and leaned back on the couch. “Yeah, he’s good at that. Said you’d be fine with it.”
“Did he?” I shot Cosmo a look, and he just grinned wider. “Well, you’re here now. How long’s a while?”
“Till my car’s fixed,” she said and shrugged. “Could be a day, could be a week. Depends on the mechanic, I guess.”
I nodded and took that in. A week wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t the end of the world. “Where are you from?”
“City,” she said. “Run a boutique. Came out here for a break, not to get stranded.”
“Bad luck,” I said and leaned against the wall. “We’ve got a spare room upstairs. You can use it. Just don’t expect five-star service.”
“Didn’t plan on it,” she said, her lips twitching again. “Coffee’s good, though. Better than the diner in town.”
“Low bar,” I said, and Cosmo laughed and flopped into the armchair across from her.
“Told you she’s cool,” he said. “She’s got a mouth on her. Fits right in.”
“Great,” I said, dry as hell. “You need anything? Towels, clothes?”
“I’m good for now,” she said and picked up her mug again. “Cosmo gave me this towel, and I’ve got a bag in his truck with some stuff.”
“I’ll grab it,” Cosmo said and hopped up. “Be right back.”
He darted out and left me standing there with her. She took a sip of coffee and watched me, not saying anything. I wasn’t big on small talk, but she didn’t seem to care and just sat there comfortably like she owned the place. I had to give her that because she didn’t flinch.
“So, you run this ranch?” she asked after a beat and broke the silence.
“Yeah,” I said.e and The guys. Been at it a while.”
“Looks big,” she said and glanced out the window at the muddy yard. “Lot to handle.”
“It is,” I said. “Keeps us moving.”
She nodded, and that was it. There was no follow-up and no chatter. I liked that she didn’t push it. Cosmo came stomping back in, her bag slung over his shoulder and dripping water on the floor.
“Here you go,” he said and dropped it by the couch. “All your city gear, safe and sound.”
“Thanks,” she said and unzipped it to peek inside. “Looks dry enough.”
“Miracle in this weather,” I said and pushed off the wall. “I’ve got work to finish. You need anything, Cosmo’s your guy.”
“Got it,” she said and looked up at me. “Appreciate it, Damian.”
I gave her a nod and headed for the door and grabbed my jacket from the hook. Cosmo followed me out to the porch and shut the door behind him.
“See? She’s fine,” he said and leaned against the railing. “No trouble at all.”
“She better not be,” I said and pulled my hat on. “You’re the one who brought her here. She’s your mess.”
“Happy to clean it up,” he said and grinned. “Christian’s already half in love with her.”
“Christian’s half in love with anything in a dress,” I said, and stepped into the drizzle. “Keep her out of my way. I’ve got enough going on.”
“She won’t bug you,” he said. “She’s chill. Might even loosen you up.”
“Doubt it,” I said and headed for the barn.
The rain was light now, just enough to keep the ground slick, and I could hear the horses shifting inside.
I needed to check on them and make sure Tommy hadn’t missed anything.
Cosmo’s voice carried after me, but I tuned him out and focused on the work ahead.
Back in the barn, Tommy was stacking feed bags, his shirt still damp from earlier. “Horses good?” I asked and grabbed a clipboard from the wall.
“Yeah, settled down,” he said and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Who’s the girl Cosmo brought?”
“Geraldine,” I said, and flipped through the vet notes from yesterday. The car broke down. She’s staying till it’s fixed.”
“She hot?” he asked and grinned.
“Ask Cosmo,” I said and didn’t look up. “He’s the one drooling over her.”
Tommy laughed and got back to wo,rk and dragged another bag into place.
I walked the stalls and checked each horse and ran my hands over their legs to feel for heat or swelling.
They were fine and just restless from the weather.
The barn was holding up, too, with no new leaks and no damage.
I set the clipboard down and leaned against a post, and listened to the rain taper off.
It’d be a muddy week, but we’d manage because we always did.
The door creaked, and Cosmo poked his head in. “Damianare, are you eating tonight? Geraldine’s asking about dinner.”
“She’s asking?” I said and raised an eyebrow. “She’s settling in quick.”
“She’s just being polite,” he said and stepped inside. “I told her we’d cook. You in?”
“Yeah, fine,” I said. “Give me an hour. I’ll be up.”
“Cool,” he said and ducked back out. I shook my head and grabbed a broom and swept up some stray hay.
Geraldine staying wasn’t my call, but Cosmo was right because she wasn’t causing trouble yet.
I’d keep an eye on her and make sure she didn’t turn Red Rock upside down.
For now, I had a ranch to run, and dinner could wait.
.