“Yes, boss.” I watch as her ass hits the bench below and it’s like I’m watching her in slow motion. The men call me boss, but whenshejust did it—whatever tune she sang hit me like a hoof to the jaw.
I shake my head and rub my hand over my face, then down my beard before I hear Grady pipe up with, “It’sPickled Peppersby the way.”
Why is that guy such a stupid son of a bitch?“Grady, shut up. If Dixie kicks your ass, it’s your own fuckin’ fault.”
“You said no fighting!” He snaps.
I narrow my eyes at the man who dares sassme. “You’re worse than my girls, Grady. And since you wanna talk back, you’ve earned yourself a night of muckin’ stalls all by yourself.”
I look around the room. “Any man wants to fight, you fight me! But if any of you boys pick a fight with this one…” I point to Dixie. “I’ll hold you down while she whoops your sorry ass, then uses the branding iron on it. Questions?” I hear muffled grunts andyes sirs, before I turn and walk back through the open door. But as I make my way toward the main house, I hear a door slam, and footsteps running up behind me.
“Boss!”
Damnit, I wish she’d stop calling me that.“Yeah…” I say as my eyes connect with hers.
“I don’t need you or anyone else fightin’ for me. I won’t hesitate to pull my gun if I feel threatened. As long as they do their job and leave me alone, I won’t cause any grief.”
She’s got grit and I don’t doubt she can hold her own. But I hired her, and she’s my responsibility. I stuff my hands in my pockets to avoid the sudden urge I have to reach out and touch her. “If your gun doesn’t work, I’ll use mine.” I look away, then my eyes come back to her when I say, “You’ve got a really pretty face, and you might need someone to watch your back. So don't be too much of a hardass to the ones who are just trying to help, okay?”
Her once determined face turns shocked and a little hurt too. “Hardass? Did you just call me a fuckin’ hardass? To my face?” She scoffs.
Shit.Now I’m the asshole. I thought if Itreated her like the other guys, I’d get rid of whatever this fuckin’ feeling is she’s throwing at me.
“I didn’t mean to…”
“You know what, boss? I’ll just head back. I don’t need you watching anything. Maybe I’ll end up being thehardest assworkin’ this outfit. The only back you need to watch is your own.”
My jaw hardens as she turns on her heel and stomps back toward the bunkhouse. Did that woman just threaten me?
“Hey, blondie…” She halts her march and stands still. “If that was a threat, I’ll take it seriously. Just remember who signs your paycheck.”
Her stance stiffens before I see her hands clench into fists. Her feet move again, and I don’t look away as she reaches up to pull the handle on the door then slips inside. I doubt anyone will try anything after what I said, but you never know. In her attempts to be intimidating she might end up making herself a challenge instead. She could hate me for it, but I’ll be there if it happens.
Chapter Five
“Hurry girls!” My voice booms up the stairs. “We’re going to be late. Lythie’s waiting for us.”
My niece offered to take Addie and Evie while we push the cows up the mountain this week. They’re always excited to stay with Blythe and Justin, especially now that they have baby Jake. I’m a little jealous they get to stay and I don’t. It still blows my mind when they all call me grandpa. He’s not genetically my grandson, but the way our family came to be, doesn’t conform to societal norms.
My girls bound down the stairs from their bedroom carrying their duffle bags. “You got everything you need? It will only be a few days and Lythie has a key if you forget anything.”
“Yep!” Evie beams. Addie smiles along with her sister and we head out the door to my truck. The Forge family ranch is only about fifteen minutes up the road, so I’ll be back within the hour and we can start getting things ready. I open the back door to my truck and help each ofmy daughters up inside before closing it. As I make my way down the gravel drive and past the barn, I look out my window and see Dixie saddling her horse. She’s got an amazing, red and white palomino. Its mane and tail are blonde though. I wonder if it’s just as bullheaded as she is?
I can’t get our last encounter out of my mind as I drive. When she made that threat, it only made the growing burn inside of me hotter. I’ve loved deeply, been consumed by a woman before. But this woman…she put a fire in my belly that apparently doesn’t go away with a good night's rest.
As I pull up to their house, Justin is standing on his front porch with little Jake, bouncing him in his arms. He’s about a month old now, born just a week or two early. That’s the nice thing about owning your own business… You make the schedule. Justin is the best farrier in the state and no one can convince me otherwise. He puts shoes on all the horses for Silo Springs, and basically the whole of Yellowstone county.
The doors of the truck fly open as soon as I have it in park, and my girls are running. They completely forgot about their bags, and I can’t blame them. I watch as Justin bends down with the baby to let them nuzzle his cheeks and give him a kiss. Our life looked completely different around this time last year. I never could’ve dreamed how this beautiful world would collide.
“How’s it going Grandpa?” Justin pats the baby’s bum, looking at me with a shit-eating grin on his face as I make my way up the steps.
“I’m barely forty-five. Now I’mwondering if you’re all just trying to hurt my feelings.” I chuckle and bend down to kiss mygrandsonon the forehead.
“Coming inside to say hi?” He asks with an invitation.
I lean and look inside through the doorway my girls left open in their hurry, when they bolted through. I consider it, but decide I should probably get going. Knowing myself, if I step inside I’ll want to get the girls settled and then ask Lythie how she’s been doing and I don’t have that kind of time right now.
“Not today, I’ll stay awhile when I get back. I’ve gotta run, tell my three girls I love ‘em and I’ll see you all on Friday.” Patting Justin on the shoulder, he wishes me luck. I’m gonna need it, looks like Blondie probably volunteered herself to go up with us today and I don’t know how that’s gonna go after last night.
