His wide shoulders lift.
“Seriously?” I huff. “I’mfine.”
“You keep saying it,” He scoops the last of his food and holds it in front of his mouth, “But doesn’t mean I believe it.”
“It’s not your job to take care of me,” I hit back.
“On this ranch, it is.” In one swig, he downs the contents of his glass and stands from the table, clearing his plate. “And if not me, then who?”
CHAPTER 13
When I woke up, the house was empty, with no sign of Knox, and when I looked out the window, all I saw was Chase working outside the lonely bull’s pen, wrapping a long, thick rope around his arm.
He really isn’t going to let me do anything.
Once dressed in shorts and another airy shirt, my hat and boots, I head out to Chase.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” He flirts shamelessly.
“Where is he?” I return in greeting.
“Would it hurt for a good morning?” His dark red brows lift.
“Well, is it?” I retort, which only appears to confuse him.
“Is it what?”
“A good morning.” My head cocks to the side as I watch him. He’s young, probably around my age, built almost as big as Knox is, but where Knox is hardened, a man made from stone, this one appears softer.
“Well,” He stutters, “I guess.”
“If you guess, then it isn’t a good morning.”
He opens and closes his mouth a few times before a ruddy color overcomes his cheeks and he looks down to the scuffed and worn toes of his boots.
“Where is he?” I repeat my initial question.
“Fixing the fence on the east side of the property with Sal.” He answers, “Told me to tell you there’s nothing for you to do today.”
“I call bullshit,” I grind out, “The stables.”
“Already done.” He cringes.
“What about feeding? Grooming?”
But I just get a shrug from him. “Maybe you should rest up a little,” He suggests, “With that leg and those hands…”
“If I wanted your advice, I’d have asked for it.” I snap at him.
“You’re mean,” He pouts, offended.
“Don’t get anywhere in life by being nice, Chase,” I pinch the bridge of my nose, the sun beating down on my shoulders. A sweat has already broken out down my spine and the nape of my neck, dampening the hair I’ve braided and tied using some twine I found in the kitchen drawer.
“Served me just fine,” He shrugs.
A long, echoing bellow sounds from the paddock, the sound vibrating in my chest. It twists something in my gut, his loneliness given voice.
Leaving Chase to whatever the fuck he was doing before, I head toward the fence, leaning my arms on it to watch him. He looks longingly toward his herd, a group of around fifty grazing too far away from him to reach.
