Chapter Twenty-Two
Chase was inthe barn shoveling shit when Marshall showed up. “I’ve been looking for you. Who knew I’d find you actually working,” he said. “Where’s Stewart?”
The teenager who normally mucked out the stalls had called that morning, saying football practice was going to run late that day. Chase wasn’t sure he believed it but the kid was usually dependable so he didn’t argue. “Football practice is running late.”
“Good thing you’ve got a lot of frustration to deal with, then. I sure as hell don’t want to muck out the stalls.”
“Ha-ha,” Chase said and paused to shoot him the bird.
His brother leaned a shoulder against the wood slats of the stall. “Still no changing Ella’s mind, huh?”
“Not so far but she’s softening.” He smiled remembering that night a few days ago now. After having truly mind-blowing sex, she’d said no more. He knew she meant it. He just wasn’t convinced she could resist. He sure as shit couldn’t. So, no, he wouldn’t turn her down if it happened again. But he wasn’t counting on it. She’d gone right back to avoiding him.
If he weren’t so frustrated it would be funny.
“Why don’t you just tell her what you’ve been planning?”
“Why don’t I tell her? I have told her I want to retire. Several times. She doesn’t believe it. She thinks the only reason I’m saying that is because I don’t want to break up with her.”
“Is it?”
“Hell, no. I told you and Damaris, I’m doing it whatever happens with Ella. I want to have my plans a little more in order before I elaborate. But I’m going to do my best to prove to her that raising bucking horses is what I want.”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I’m not sure.” After standing his shovel up and leaning on the handle, he wiped his forehead with the bottom of his T-shirt. “Maybe getting Sugar Lips will do it. Or showing her the preliminary plans for the new barn.”
“You’re really hung up on her, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” More than that, he was afraid. What was he going to do if he couldn’t convince her he was serious about retiring?
“Does she know that?”
“She should. I told her I loved her.”
“No shit? Sounds serious.”
“I am. But I told her it wasn’t like we were getting married.” Even though, he’d realized just now, that marriage was exactly what he wanted. Who’d have thought it?
Marshall stared at him. “So you’re seriously in love with her but you don’t want to marry her?”
“No, I do. But there’s no point in telling her that when she’s so determined not to interfere in my career. It’s that damned ex-fiancé of hers. He convinced her we’re all alike. All rodeo cowboys, anyway.”
“Damaris could talk to her. I’d say I would but I can’t think of anything I’d be worse at.”
“Thanks, but she’ll just think Damaris is being loyal. She wouldn’t believe you either if you did talk to her.”
“When is it you’re supposed to get Sugar Lips? That should convince her you’re serious about breeding bucking horses, anyway.”
“I hope so. Sugar Lips has one more rodeo and then I can go get her. She’s in far North Texas, in the Panhandle.”
“When are we meeting with the architect?”
“Next week. In between my last two rodeos. I’ve already paid those entrance fees and besides, I could make some decent money at them.”
Marshall had worked more on the sketches. They were planning to give those sketches to the architect Harlan had recommended.
“Have you found out anything about the Kelly Boots deal?”
