"What are you doing?"she cries."Put me down!"
"You can't walk all the way back to the ranch with a twisted ankle."
"You're supposed to be calling the cops," she says, glaring at me.
"Cassiopeia…Can I call you Cassia?"
"Why?"
Because I won't call you a name you hate.
"Because Cassiopeia might have been beautiful, but she was a mortal queen.You're a fucking goddess, pretty baby.And you damn sure wouldn't have been placed in the heavens to be tortured for all of eternity," I growl.
"Oh," she whispers, her body softening in my arms."I guess you can call me Cassia."
"Cassia," I say, fighting a smile when she softens further."How do you expect the cops to arrest you way out here in the pasture?"
Her teeth sink into that pouty bottom lip as she looks around, sheepish."I didn't think of that," she mumbles."Fine.I guess you can carry me to the ranch."Her eyes narrow in warning."But keep your hands to yourself or I'm telling."
"Yeah?Who you tellin'?"
"Everybody."
I can't fight my smile this time.I think I'm in love.
"Hey, boss!Everything okay?"Jace yells, finally making it to us with Toby hot on his heels.
"Get that damn bull in the barn before he wanders off again," I order, not surprised the bastard brought himself back home this time.It's going to snow later today.He wants no part of that.I swear to God, he's escaping just to fuck with me at this point."And then get the rest of the herd inside before the storm hits."
The damn fence will have to wait.
Jace and Toby eye Cassia, gazes full of curiosity.She keeps her head down, trying like hell to hide her face behind her hair.It's a wild tangle at this point, full of grass and bits of leaves.She's still beautiful, lush and ripe in all the right places.Judging by the way these two fuckers are looking at her, they agree.Too bad for them.She's off limits.If anyone even thinks of touching her, they'll be answering to me.
"Keep your eyes to yourselves," I bark, sending hard glares in their direction.
They both jump.
"If I find out any of you have been anything less than respectful toward her while she's here, you won't be setting foot on another ranch this side of the Sierra Nevadas, are we clear?"
"Yes, sir," they say at the same time, sharing a grin I choose to ignore.I know damn well what it means, and they aren't wrong.Women come and go on the ranch all the time.They chase cowboys as much as cowboys chase pussy.But they leave me the fuck alone and vice versa.Cassia isn't just any woman though.Might as well make that shit clear now so there isn't any confusion.
I jerk my chin in a nod."Take care of the bull.He's riled, so be careful."
"Yes, sir," they say again.
I turn on my heel and head toward the house with Cassia in my arms.
"Um, do you expect it to take long for the police to get here?"she whispers.
"Long enough," I mutter."There's a storm coming.It might be a day or two before the Sheriff can make it out here."I don't mention that I have no intention of calling him at all.We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
"A d-day or t-t-two?"she splutters, making me want to kiss the shit out of her and laugh at the same time.
"Maybe longer," I lie."Until then, you're stuck here, little cattle thief."
"You can't just keep me here."
"Yeah?"I grin at her, a slow, devilish grin."Says who?"
