Chapter 14
The big Montana sky is streaked with vibrant oranges, highlighting the expanse of the snowy mountain range in gold.
A clear morning, but the air is cold enough to give you a nosebleed.
I’m all geared up, cowgirl style—with light tan chaps, jeans, my blue boots, leather gloves, a cowboy hat, and a thick jean jacket over my hoodie.
Ready to start this half-day, so I can attend the Thanksgiving party in the Mess Hall.
After that stressful dinner last night, a party is just what I need to set myself right.
But when I approach Blake, he shakes his head. “You’re not with me today.”
“What?” I’m always paired with Blake. Who else would I be with?
“I wish you were,” he smiles widely, and I feel the emotion of his words in his eyes. “But the schedule changed this morning.”
“Then who am I with—”
“With me.” His deep voice snaps my attention, a voice I would recognize anywhere.
Kit approaches me with his horse’s reins in his hands, looking just as pissed off as I feel. Bandit trots along next to him, staying near his heels.
Oh, hell no.
I groan, loud enough for Kit to hear. “Do I have to?” I’d rather eat rocks or chuck those rocks at his stupid face.
Blake just smiles. “Sorry, Sadie.” With a light kiss on my cheek, he brushes my arm, whispering good luck, before he takes off, joining up with a blonde cowgirl named Leah.
There are four cowgirls at Lone Pine Ranch, whom I met briefly during my first week.
Leah is probably in her twenties, a pretty enough girl that I should feel threatened she’s spending the day with Blake, but at the moment, her gaze is on Kit.
Running the length of her eyes down his tall frame. And I hate the way it churns in my gut.
The way it bothers me even more.
“Well, call me displeased, Cowboy.” My hands find my hips, grabbing his attention. “Did you draw the short stick today?”
He tracks my movement, soft eyes drifting from my hips to my eyes, holding there. “Sadie, I—look… about yesterday, I’m—” he starts.
“Forget it,” I cut him off.
That’s the last thing I want to talk about. I can be professional and attempt to do this day with him, but I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of quitting.
Though I know it’s what he really wants.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I mutter, putting my foot in the stirrup.
“Fine,” he sighs, hopping on his horse.
We briskly head out into the snowy pasture, making our way to a herd we’ve been assigned to. A herd that’s gone too far out and needs to be brought closer before the next snowstorm hits.
It takes us about an hour to reach them. We weave through small forests, following a narrow path that cuts through to the other side of the ranch, crossing tiny rivers until we reach open land.
Finally spotting the herd.
Before I can ask Kit how he wants to do this, he sends out Bandit.
Following his orders faster than lightning can strike.
The cattle react instinctively, moving away from him.
Kit takes up one side, Bandit the far side, and I decide to claim the other, taking the initiative.
It’s the easiest round-up I’ve experienced at the ranch as we drive them forward quickly and efficiently.
Kit’s a pretty damn good cowboy for someone so hell-bent on not being labeled as one.
Something I’ll never tell him.
We trot along behind the herd, leading them to a new pasture.
Soft moos and hooves thundering on the frozen ground fills the silence.
He glances at me, perhaps just as surprised as I am at how well we work together, given our mutual hatred for one another.
He brings his horse closer to mine. Catching me by surprise with the softness in his rough voice. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs.
“What’s that?” I pretend I can’t hear him.
He sighs with frustration. “I didn’t mean what I said.”
I snort, choking a laugh. “Yes, you did.” He meant every damn word. I don’t believe him for a second. “I’m surprised you wanted to work with me today.”
“Cole asked me to.”
“Cole wanted this?” Why would he pair me with Kit? He saw how much he hates me.
Kit solemnly nods. “He wanted me to apologize.”
Anger builds in my chest, sending spasms to my fingers. “So, you’re just apologizing because Cole told you to?” He didn’t even have the decency to do it of his own volition?
What an ass.
“No,” he replies quickly. “I mean, yes, but I truly am sorry for how I acted.”
“Sure,” I snap. “We’ll just pretend you’re not an asshole.”
He exhales, scrubbing a hand along his jaw. “Well, regardless of that, I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.” He pauses with a sigh. “Cole thinks we work well together, considering the river incident.”
The incident in which he lied for me, keeping the secret of what really happened for my sake, because I asked him to.
Warmth rushes through me, remembering how he fished me out of the river, brought me back to life, and carried me home wrapped in his coat. Calling the closest thing to a doctor he could find on short notice because he was worried about me. Because he cared about my well-being.
He had taken care of me in that single moment in a way that no one else ever has.
An ache tugs in my heart, and my throat dries up. “Did I… do something? To make you hate me?”
He turns to me, and for a moment, I glimpse that soft version of him. A slow and lazy gaze runs the length of my face, bringing heat to my cheeks. But then his jaw clenches as his eyes lock in mine. The deepness of his voice grates against his vocal cords.
“You exist, Sadie. And that’s enough.”
The coldness in his voice sits like a rock in my chest, like freezer burn with the way it collides with my heated core temperature. “You don’t have to be so mean.”
“That’s just who I am. The town asshole.”
Well, if he wants to play it that way. “Fine,” I clench my teeth, moving further away from him. “I hate your voice anyway.” Which of course isn’t true, but screw him.
“You hate my voice?” he questions.
But I’m already riding away, deciding to keep my distance and my mouth shut.
He doesn’t deserve my words anyway.
Despite how uncomfortable this is and how furious and frustrated I am, we continue to work efficiently.
He watches me from across the herd, giving signals when necessary, and I listen.
Doing whatever it takes to get this day over with.
For the next hour, he’s scowling at me with such intensity that I scowl back.
If he wants to play with fire, I’ll give him fire.
As more time passes, his gaze softens, quietly watching me across the space between us. Across snowy fields and the backs of fluffy cows.
He looks away the first few times, not wanting to meet my eyes.
Pretending he doesn’t want to look at me.
By the end of the day, he holds my gaze like I’m all he sees—like all his frustration dissipated in the frosty air.
The scowling contest is gone, replaced by the softer version of him that makes my pulse race and my body burn. A version of him I missed.
We ride side by side back to the ranch, close enough that I can feel his eyes on me. The sensation burning hot under my skin at his stare, and the closeness of him.
“I don’t want you to leave, Sadie,” he murmurs.
I feel I’ve imagined him saying those words, but his blue eyes piercing into mine confirm it. And damn, I missed the sight of them. “You don’t?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t.”
A sudden weight lifts off my chest at this soft moment between us. A moment that feels right. But when we approach the main barn, the frown on his face is back, and his body goes rigid. Solid as the ice forming on the rivers and lakes.
He doesn’t even say goodbye. He just pulls his ballcap down to cover his eyes and strides away. Icing me out once more. Did he even mean those words?
“So, how was your day?” Blake asks cheerfully as my feet hit the frozen ground.
“Fine,” I mutter, taking Sugar’s reins before walking off towards the barn.
After changing into a different outfit for the Thanksgiving Party, I decide to walk to the Mess Hall. It’s around a fifteen-minute walk, but I need it after such a frustrating day. I need the time to process the feelings welling up inside me.
“Wow,” Blake smiles when I approach him. His eyes drift from my long, silky skirt to my vintage Chicks T-shirt underneath a thick sweater. “You look good.”
“You always say that,” I smile.
“I always mean it.” The space between us slowly disappears. My eyes struggle to meet his as he leans in, intending to place his lips on mine, but I jerk back.
Fuck, what’s wrong with me? Why can’t I kiss him?
“Shall we?” I awkwardly hold out my arm for him to escort me. He flashes me a look of confusion, brushing it off as he gladly takes my arm.
The Mess Hall is full, with fall decorations on tables, and candles set up on whiskey barrels in the corners of the room.
A giant feast is beautifully laid out on the far wall, smelling like I always imagined it would.
Not that I have many Thanksgivings to compare it to besides the dinner at Cole’s that went horribly wrong.
My brother and I used to go to the diner where our mom worked before she died, ordering the holiday special, but after we moved in with my uncle, the whole tradition became a thing of the past. I can’t remember a Thanksgiving that didn’t end in tears.
Or a family dinner.
“Where do you want to sit?” Blake asks.
My gaze darts around the room, taking stock of everyone, when my eyes land on Kit. Sitting in his usual corner. Alone as always. He freezes when he notices me. “Anywhere is fine. I’ll grab drinks.” With that, I release Blake’s arm, heading to the table full of alcohol.
Just what I need.
“Hi, there. I’m Candace.” A woman with fiery red hair approaches me. She’s about my height, with an adorable face covered in tiny freckles. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”
“Sadie,” I smile.
“Right, yes, I’ve heard of you,” she smiles, swaying side to side. “Blake has many nice things to say about you.” Pink blooms in her cheeks.