“I like her too!” Evie confirms. “She’s cool…and she rodeos. So now I have someone to practice with.” She grins up at me deviously.
Pretending to contemplate that thought for a moment, I say, “I think she’ll like that too.” Needing to keep this whole thing looking innocent and platonic around them. They’re hound dogs. They’ll sniff me out in a second if I’m not careful.
When we’re finished, we put our eggs in the fridge and head out to put the rest where they belong. As we leave, I look back over my shoulder, hoping Dixie is okay back there. I’m sure she is, there’s no reason she wouldn’t be… I’m just being me.
Marching down the hill, I see someone leaving through the back door of the building. I look closer and instantly know it's not Brian. There are three other guys still hanging around here and I don’t have to stare hard toknow it's Grady. I only hire men I know I can count on. But after I saw how he interacted with Dixie the other day, I’ve been carrying a chip on my shoulder. He irks me and if I ever catch him talkingtoher orabouther like that again, his ass is grass. Gone. Fired. Won’t ever work on my ranch again. He’s the gofer from now on. The lowest man on my totem pole.
“Hey, Grady!” I shout at him. “Samson needs to be brushed and combed. Now.”
He tips his cowboy hat and shifts his stride toward the barn. We make it down to the bunkhouse and put all the eggs in the fridge. I look around and a rage grows inside my chest. This place is a fuckin’ mess. Dixie Wilder does not belong here…ever. I don’t know what I’ll do after she heals enough to get back to work. But she’s not sleeping here—over my dead body. And as soon as the gopher finishes grooming my horse, he’s cleaning this shit up. Brian and the other men have been working since sunup, I can guarantee it. And that little fucker was doing, only god knows what in here.
Suddenly, my mind steers back to the woman still alone in my house.We need to get back.
Chapter Nineteen
I hold on to the bar and push the glass door open. Then reach for my new crutches leaned against the wall next to the towel hook. There was already one there when I came in, and I didn’t have the energy to go searching for another one. I don’t know if it’s fresh or used… but somehow I don’t care either way as intrusive thoughts bombard me.
Maybe it’s been wrapped around his body, dried places that only he sees…
I lift the towel off the hook and hold it to my chest, then bring it to my nose and inhale… It smells like that damn soap I just used. Cinnamon, with a hint of bourbon, maybe? It’s definitely not new. But I’m alone, and there’s no one here to judge me. So I lean against the glass enclosure to support myself as I wrap the fuzzy fabric around my frame and continue to breathehimin.
Goosebumps ripple over my body, but it’s not because I’m cold. I can’t help the way he makes me feel—it doesn’t make sense. And it’s certainly not anything Ican act on or do about. He’s my boss. I’m his employee. He’s got kids for hell’s sake. And who am I?
A dirty, used up cowboy with a pretty face. Nothing but a truck and a horse to her name.
They took my soul thatnight. Then the universe laughed and robbed the only glimmer oflightshining at the end of that damned sewage pipe I was hiding in. I, Dixie Wilder, have nothing to offer a man likehim.
I let go of the towel and feel it slide down my body as it drops to the floor. I have no business indulging in afantasythat couldneverbe a reality. To let myself, would be to torture what little dignity I have left.
I pull the crutches from the wall and place them under my armpits. My hair is still dripping wet, but I don’t care. I look up and see myself in the full length horizontal mirror on the wall in front of me. Then I turn and take myself out of the bathroom. I can see my duffle bags sitting on the floor and realize he must’ve brought them in for me. It’s a good thing too, because my ass is bare, and I hadn’t thought this through when I dropped the towel a minute ago.
It’s a struggle, but I get my clean clothes out and dress myself. He left my walking boot next to the bed too.That was thoughtful of him.I sit on the edge of the unmade mess and strap my ankle in. When I’ve accomplished my task, I reach for my cowgirl boots and place the left one on my good foot.
My hair still isn’t dry, but I find my hairbrush and quickly comb through it so I don’t look so wild. Usually, I let it air dry. I move to the wooden door and open it. Idon’t hear anyone out there, but I make my way to the living room, anyway.
Swing, click, swing, click.All the way down the long hallway. But as I come to the end, I see someone sitting on the couch. It’s not my boss though—it’s Grady.
“How is it? Bunking in the big-house, showering in the boss’s shower… Probably sleeping in his bed too—you give it up for him last night,Cowboy?”
I freeze.Shit! How long has he been here?He knew I was in the shower. I don’t have my gun; I don’t have my legs, I can’t run. My heart races and my mind spirals.What if it happens again? Fuck.
Grady slowly stands and takes a few steps toward me. “You think you can show up here, get cozy withEl Jefe?Think you can act like one of us,beone of us? You ain’t no cowboy…” He looks me up and down greedily and his eyes fade to black. “But I sure as hell can show you how one rides—especially with that bum leg you got there. No way you’d be able to put up a fight…”
Before Grady can say another word, I hear it. That deep bass vibrates through me like thunder, and I know everything’s going to be okay.
“What the fuck are you doing insidemy home?”
Grady jolts and turns to face the man who will ultimately seal his fate. “Sir! I mean, Boss, I um…”
“Get your filthy mouth out of this house and off my ranch, you son of a bitch.”
“No, you don’t understand, I was just…” He tries to cover up what happened, but it’s too late. There’s a hand around his neck, pushing him back against the nearest wall, and I swear I see a wet spot form on the front of Grady’s jeans.Pissed his pants.
“I said…get off my goddamn ranch. You have as long as it takes to grab your shit and put your truck in drive. Go.” He drops his hand from Grady’s neck and fists his shirt instead, throwing him toward the nearest exit. Grady stumbles and then bolts out the door.
Two little girls stand frozen behind the couch. I feel horrible they had to see all of this.
“Adelaide, Evolette, go up to your room. You’re safe. I’ve got to help Dixie and make sure that asshole really leaves.” My boss moves toward his daughters and wraps them both in a hug, then guides them to the stairs where they scramble to the top.
