“But he’s my ranch hand, and he’s?—”
“Fine,” Ash cuts in. “I’ve got him handled.”
I shake my head. “I won’t go.”
“Have to,” Kael cuts in.
“No, I have to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” Kael growls, struggling to meet my gaze. “And temporary.” Pain still surges behind his eyes.
“Bouquet was goodbye.” Then, he looks away, staring at rock and sage. “Rattlesnake country.Notfor me. Farewell, Miss Wakefield.”
Chapter
Fourteen
KAEL
“I’ll tie you to the saddle if I have to,” Ash mutters.
“That any way to treat your elders?” I grunt, whole body still on fire as I lean against the blond cowboy, shuffling my feet toward Tempest.
“Maybe older, but not worthy of respect.”
“Never asked for respect. I demanded it?—”
“From the hollow end of a gun,” Ash cuts in, pushing as I strain into the saddle. “Shit,” I grunt, trying to keep my voice down. Don’t need Eliza looking back or worrying about me.
“Why are you still here? And what’re you doing with the girl, anyway?”
“None of your goddamn business.” I eye him wildly, getting a new wind thanks to anger. “Heard about your impending nuptials. Hardly the man to question me.”
“Live and let live,” he growls.
“Abomination. What the hell are you thinking?”
Ash’s face goes livid. “I’d beat that talk out of you… if you could stand on your own two feet.”
“Blood poisoned and half-dead, you know I’d still kick your ass,” I counter, tugging on my beard.
“Knew it’d be nothing but trouble when Mags told me you came out here to investigate that bull. But to stay? To become her ranch hand? This isn’t your problem. This isn’t your community to patrol.”
“Figured I had to… after seeing whatyou’vestirred up.”
“One more word out of you, Guthrie, and I swear to God?—”
“Mountains called me back. Felt it to my bones that something was wrong. And then I found it.”
Ash stands back on his heels, eyes cutting through me.
“The dampeneryoubroke.” I nod toward his palm and a thick red scar. “Never could handle it.”
“Get out of my head,” he warns, drawing a step closer. I can feel him pushing back psychically, but it’s too late. I already have what I need.
“You and that girl, Josephine.Youawakened them.Youbroke the dampener.”
Ash’s face flushes. “Theydid.”
