“What’s this really about?” he asked me once we were alone.
“She’s mine.”
He turned to face me. He must’ve seen me frowning and laughed.
“Cassidy.You’re woman’s Cassidy?”
I nodded, feeling heat rise up my neck.
“She’s eighteen.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Eighteen,” he repeated.
Buck and I turned at the sound of her footstepsacross the packed dirt. She’d changed into jeans and her sturdy work boots, a blue t-shirt. A baseball cap was on her head, her hair pulled back in a braid.
“What time you done?” I asked her, leaning against the rail.
She frowned, then glanced briefly at Buck.
“Um… six.”
Buck slapped me on the shoulder and headed into the stable, giving us some privacy.
“Why?”
“I’ll be back to pick you up then.”
“Why?” she repeated.
“To take you home.”
Her eyes widened and her face went white as if she’d seen a ghost. “Home? He fired me? I thought you said–”
“He’s not firing you,” I reassured her. I took a step toward her. “Tell me why you’re suddenly scared.”
“Because you said you’re taking me home!”
She set her hand on her chest, as if her heart was beating so hard she was afraid it was going to bust out.
I didn’t like what I was picking up. “What’s wrong with where you’re from?”
She tipped up her chin. “I… I’m not close with my family. My dad’s a jerk and my brothers are just like them.”
I took another step closer, set my hands on her shoulders. Leaned down so our eyes were level. “They hurt you?” I had seven brothers. If they so much as made her cry, we’d set things straight.
She shook her head. “No, but I didn’t want to be around them, so I got the job here. Trying to make my own way.”
“You’re safe here.”
With a nod, she said, “I know.”
“But when I said I’m taking you home, I meantmyhome. You’re coming with me.”
She cocked her head and her braid slid over her shoulder. “Why would you do that?”
The answer was easy. “You’re living with me now.”
