48. Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Colt
W hen I wake up the next morning, I have a missed text from Brynn. Dammit, I must have been completely out. I respond, but she is probably still asleep. I don't know what her normal work hours are, but they are definitely not as early as mine.
I get dressed and start walking my way up to the main house. I need to eat and get my chores finished before the engineer comes to look at the land. When I walk through the door, the ranch hands stop talking.
That is a sure sign they were talking about me. "Morning boss," Matt says as he takes a bite of his breakfast. The other ranch hands join in, and I nod and make my way to the coffee.
I pour myself a mug and start to make my plate. There are biscuits, ham, eggs and fruit on the counter. Once I pile my plate up with food, I join Blake and Brooks at the table.
"Morning." I sit down and take a sip of coffee .
Blake lifts his mug in acknowledgement, Brooks looks defeated.
"What's wrong, Brooks?"
Blake laughs, "He is pouting."
"Fuck off. I am not."
"Whitney hasn't been around for a couple of days since she is working so much, and he gets a little cranky when he hasn't seen her," Blake says, explaining why Brooks is in rare form.
"Fuck off. I am not cranky."
"Don't sound cranky to me at all," I say as I shove a large bit of eggs in my mouth to keep from laughing.
"You are one to talk," Brooks mumbles behind his coffee mug.
I raise an eyebrow in his direction, waiting for him to explain. "What do you mean?"
Blake shakes his head and chuckles as Callie sits down beside me. "He means that you are cranky AF because Brynn is gone."
"Fuck off. I am not."
"Don't sound cranky to me at all," Brooks says, taunting me with my own words.
I roll my eyes and get back to my breakfast. "What time is the engineer coming again?"
Blake stands from his chair and throws his plate away. "Actually, he will be here soon. He called me last night to reschedule. I already filled the guys in on their tasks since he will be here early."
I nod in understanding and start to eat the rest of my breakfast. When a knock at the door sounds, Blake gets up to go meet the engineer.
I dump my plate and start to make my way to the front door when Callie stops me. "Have you called her?"
"No. I missed a text from her last night. I was already asleep. Haven't heard from her today, but she is definitely not awake."
"Quit being a pussy and call her," Callie says as I hear Brooks snicker from the table behind us.
I just huff and go meet with Blake. We figure it is too risky to take horses this morning, so we stick with the ATV's. The engineer is doing his assessment as the sun rises. The beautiful sky glowing in shades of orange and pink is a reminder of a new day, another day without Brynn.
After a few hours of testing, the engineer says the portion of land doesn't show any potential sinkhole cavities. "If you want me to check more of the land, I can," he says as he packs his equipment up.
"This is the only area we had concerns about since there was a sinkhole. Do you think we should survey the rest of the land?"
"It could have been just one, the radar doesn't indicate any cavities, but I took several soil samples. The results can take up to a week, but I will let you know if they show anything worrisome."
Blake shakes the engineer's hand, and we all load back up on the ATV's. Before we start our journey back to the main barn, I let Blake know I am going to go check some fencing in the back of the property. The trail cameras have been showing some movement through the night, and I want to be sure wildlife isn't fucking with our fencing again.
"Catch you at the house for lunch. Don't stay out too late or the food will be gone." Blake starts up the ATV and takes off in the direction of the barn. I start my ATV and go the opposite way.
I am fixing a huge hole in the fence when my stomach starts to growl. I reach into the bag I brought with my supplies and take out a protein bar. These bars are easy to eat, don't melt in the heat, but they taste like absolute shit. I eat the bar quickly and check my watch. It won't be long before lunch is being served, and I still have about five feet of fencing to fix.
I am working hard; my shirt is soaked through with sweat. I pull it off over my head and wipe the sweat dripping from my forehead before it can settle in my eyes. I am so over this heat. I am ready for some damn cooler temps. I get back to work, finding a groove.
I lose myself in the repetitive movements when I hear horse's hooves in the distance. They are getting closer and closer. I look at the time and see I have completely missed lunch. It is past two o'clock in the afternoon.
"I know, I missed lunch. Sorry, boss." I turn to face Blake, thinking he has come to tell me to get my ass back to the ranch and eat. It is not Blake.
Saddled up on Honey, is Brynn. Her auburn curls peeking out from under the brim of her cowboy hat, her long legs are clad in jeans and her booted feet rest in the stirrups. I wipe my eyes just to be sure she isn't a mirage.
"I kinda like when you call me boss." Brynn dismounts like a pro and comes to stand in front of me. She takes her time looking over my bare chest, glistening with sweat. She tips her head up and looks me in the eye. "Whatcha doing out here, Cowboy?"
"Fixing the fence." I'm still in shock that she is standing in front of me. Looking like the world's hottest cowgirl.
"You didn't come to the main house for lunch." She turns around and goddamn, she is wearing those jeans like a second skin. "I brought you a sandwich, chips, water, and an electrolyte drink."
When Brynn turns back around, she notices that my eyes were glued to her ass. "Like whatcha see, Cowboy?"
"Fuck yes I do. Lunch and the fence can wait. Let's go to the cottage." I reach out to pull her closer to me. "I've missed you. "
"I have missed you, too. Think you can put up with my ass for a while longer?"
"Firecracker, I will put up with your sassy, stubborn ass for as long as you will let me."
I can't hold back any longer, my lips land on hers in a demanding kiss. I can't get enough of this woman. I didn't think I could ever be tamed, but fuck me, she has me wrangled.