Authors: Stacey Espino
She never gave him a comeback, because she was too lost to the rustic lullaby.
Chapter Twelve
The distant thunder boomed, echoing ominously across the open land. Dawson mentally tallied each rumble, knowing the storm would be upon them within an hour. They were six days into their trip, and he needed to start slowing them up. Chase and Brad were determined and hardworking, but he assumed their herculean efforts were due to the hot little number riding with them. Dawson had to remind himself that he was there to keep Jane from reaching her goal. He’d use the rain as an excuse to stall their progress.
“We better set up shelter before the rain hits,” said Chase from behind him. Dawson had checked their supplies more than once, but they were ill prepared for inclement weather. After travelling for days in drought-like conditions, he honestly hadn’t expected to come across a storm system this soon. It was a blessing and a curse. They needed the rain, as did the land, but they were in for some miserable sleeping conditions with the measly gear they had packed.
“I assume you didn’t find anything of use?”
“No, no tarps.”
They were in the heart of the prairie now, the longest stretch of open land before they started coming upon the occasional mixed forest. “We’ll have to bunker down and pray it’s not too bad. Stake the horses, because if they spook, we’ll be fucked.”
Dawson turned his attention to the redhead and her shadow, Brad. The younger cowboy was smitten, it was written all over his face, mirrored in his actions, and nearly tangible when he was close to Jane. Dawson remembered falling in love. He also remembered the pain of losing it. It wasn’t something he ever planned to risk again. Brad would have to learn the hard way, and with a smart, modern woman like Jane, she’d eat him alive and spit him out when it was time to move on to one of her fancy suits in the city. He pushed thoughts of Jane and love out of his head because they served no purpose but to make his heart ache. Dawson preferred living on his own, keeping his matters private. That way there was no one to disappoint him.
The clouds blocked out all starlight, so the night was blinding, and soon the small fire would be snuffed out by the increased wind and approaching rain. They all tucked their bedrolls in close together, making a protective nest of bodies with Jane in the center.
“This will put us back a day in progress,” said Brad. “By morning, the cattle will be scattered, and we’ll have to work extra hard just to get back to where we left off tonight.”
“But we have to make it! I only have seven days left. You promised, Brad.”
“I’ll do my best, darlin’, but I can’t play God.”
Chase leaned up on an elbow. “If we’re a few days late, it shouldn’t matter to you. Your uncle’s ranch is worth plenty, so if you’re late returning to work, it shouldn’t make or break you.” He dropped back down on his blanket, arms cradled under his head. “If you’re worried about paying me more than we contracted for, don’t. Just pay me what you owe, and that’s that. So stop worrying about deadlines.”
“I do worry. And so should you, Chase Garner. If I don’t get these stupid cows to their new grounds by twelve o’clock in seven days, I lose everything.”
Dawson’s attention perked up. He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. “Lose what exactly?”
“Everything! The ranch isn’t even mine, but it will be if I succeed in this ridiculous stipulation of my uncle’s will.”
“Wait a minute. Your daddy’s rich too, ain’t he? I mean, you’re paying us our fee whether or not you meet your deadline, eh?” Chase sat up now, his blanket pooling at his waist.
“Didn’t I mention that? I thought I did. Obviously I won’t be able to pay you if I don’t get my inheritance.” The girl spoke so nonchalantly. They’d broken their backs for days, possibly for nothing. It didn’t bother Dawson, because he had ulterior motives and would get paid regardless, but the other two cowboys would no doubt be growing hot under the collar about now.
“Jane, I was counting on that money, darlin’.” Brad actually spoke out against the woman who appeared to hold his heart for so many days.
“Counting? No, I fucking need that money. I’m supposed to be home working my own fields and tending my own animals. This is one of the busiest times of the year.” Chase stood up, even with the storm a breath away. “If anything happens to my little sister while I’m gone, God help you!” He bound off, disappearing into the darkness.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I meant to tell you. I’m not a rich executive. I’m a secretary with two bucks to my name. There was no way I’d be able to do a roundup on my own, and who do you know that would offer to do it for free?”
“Maybe if you were honest and forthcoming, we’d have wanted to help. But instead you acted all high and mighty to make us feel as if we belonged beneath your heels.” Brad exhaled and stayed quiet for a couple minutes, which felt like hours. “We’ll get the cattle moved by the deadline. That’s all there is to it.” The following silence had the lethality of a sharpened blade.
Jane rose from between them. “I’m sorry. I have to find Chase.” She bolted off without listening to their protests.
* * * *
“Chase!” she called out into the black void around her. Her fears had adrenaline pumping through her bloodstream. Even though they were on miles of open land, with little threat of wildlife, her nerves still flared. It was no different than swimming in a pool at night. Even though you knew there were no sharks about to bite your legs off, your imagination would run wild. Not unlike now. She’d braved the spooky unknown because her conscience was eating her alive. Chase had grown on her, as all three men had. When you lived day in, day out with people, it was hard not to connect, to care. This was the moment she’d dreaded, the moment she had to fess up about the payment arrangement. They were halfway to their destination, so it seemed like a good time to come clean. It hadn’t gone well, but what did she really expect? The men had worked like dogs and treated her well. She wanted them to get their money more than she cared about getting the inheritance for herself.
“What do you want?” His deep, masculine voice came from right behind her, startling her enough that she let out a yelp.
She turned and reached for Chase, unable to see where he stood. Her hands found the hardness of his chest, which she instinctively had to explore. “I’m sorry. As long as we make it, you’ll still get your money.”
“
If
we make it. I don’t like being lied to, Jane.”
“I never lied. I just didn’t offer you all the details.” She spoke softly, hoping to appeal to his emotions. It seemed she’d been trying to gain Chase’s approval for the whole trip, and now he was downright pissed with her. She wanted him to forgive her, understand, and accept her as a business partner…and as a woman.
His skin felt so warm. She wanted to cuddle up close to him and bask in his heat. The storm had brought a chilling breeze with it, and without the strength of the sun, she felt the effects all the way to her bones. She wasn’t thick-skinned and muscled like her companions. Although she prided herself on her independence at home, she wanted to let it all go now, and allow these men to take control. Jane was as tired of the charade as she was with her so-called life.
“Where I come from, that’s no better than a lie.” He exhaled, his rigid muscles loosening under her touch. “I don’t know what to believe about you. What’s real and what’s fake?” His arms shifted, and then the flame from a lighter appeared between them. He looked shadowed like a predator. God, she wanted him. “Tell me.”
“What do you want me to say, Chase?”
He used his free hand to tug her against him, his other hand holding up the flame so they could see the glint in each others’ eyes. “Tell me something real. We’ve been out here for a week, and all I’ve seen is an empty Barbie Doll.”
Jane had honestly felt things had changed over the past few days. She didn’t complain as much, tried to help out, and had grown closer to the cowboys—especially Brad. The prairies started out as a nightmare, but grew on her until her heart went soft at the sight of a sunset, or when a calf ate from her hand. “I’m real. You can see me and feel me, can’t you?”
“That’s not enough. Tell me about you. Why you’re here. Give me a reason to give a shit, Jane.”
“I don’t know! I was told I’d inherit my uncle’s ranch if I participated in a cattle run. The problem is, I know nothing about ranch life, and my uncle knew that! Why he set me up for failure, I’ll never know, because he’s gone.” Where the fuck were the emotions coming from? She was a self-professed ice-queen. Burying her memories and feelings kept her free from heart ache. She had only positive memories of her Uncle Williams until now, and although she’d missed his funeral, she thought she'd dealt with the loss. “If he were here I’d ask why he’d dangle peace and security in front of my face when he knew I’d never be able to reach it.”
“What are you talking about? You’re a Williams girl. You should be rolling in money.”
“Wrong. My mother was shunned from the family for hooking up with my father and having me out of wedlock. I never met the bastard who fathered me because he was gone before I was born. Life has been one pile of shit after the other, but I make the best of what I’ve been dealt. Like now. We have seven more days to get the cattle moved. Then everyone will be happy.”
“Why’d your uncle give you this chance if he disowned your mother? A real man would have helped her, not turned his back.”
“I don’t blame my uncle.” Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes. “He was the only one who reached out to my mother. He let me come to his ranch during the summer months. Those were some of the happiest memories in my life. I don’t why he’d test me like this now. It doesn’t make sense.” She bit her lip, hoping the pain would stifle her rising emotions. Jane had been so busy the past couple weeks arranging the trip that she hadn’t had time to reflect…or grieve.
Her uncle loved her, she knew he did. She also knew he’d reached out to her mother, his sister, when no one else would but the woman was too stubborn to take his help. Why the stipulation?
“He loved you.” Her eyes flashed up to his. His voice had been gentle and certain, unlike his the explosive irritation he’d just displayed.
“How would you know?”
“My mother would do the same thing. Mr. Williams knew what you needed more than you did, darlin’. I think the city’s eating you alive, stealing what makes you human. Nothin’ like the prairies to show you how insignificant you are in the grand scheme of things.”
“A lesson?” It made perfect sense. Her uncle always tried to teach her new things, expand her horizons when she received no culture living in the cramped, subsidized apartment with her mother growing up.
Chase ran his hand up and down her back. She watched the flickering flame from his lighter. The storm was closer now. “A lesson in life. Your uncle was an old-school cowboy. He’d want you to love the land and animals before handing them over to your trust. Does that make sense, sweetheart? It doesn’t mean he didn’t love you.”
She whispered, “I wish I could have said good-bye.” Then a couple tears escaped, trailing hot streaks down her cheek. Chase surprised her, leaning down and kissing her tears away, then moved to her moist lips. Her emotions were coiled tight. She hadn’t expected any sort of affection from Chase of all people.
“We’ll get the cattle moved in time. Don’t worry, darlin’.” He muttered his words between gentle kisses. His hand snaked just under the waistband of her jeans at her back.
“I’m tired of life, Chase. Tired of everything.”
“Let me take care of you.” He kissed her lips so deep that she had no choice but to close her eyes and drop her head back. When she opened her eyes again, the tiny light was gone, and both Chase’s hands were on her hips, squeezing and testing. A crack of thunder sounded, much closer than it had been. She flinched. The following flash of lightning briefly revealed the hungry cowboy looming over her. “I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you.”
“I’m not like my mother. I don’t sleep around.” He knew about the one time she messed around with Brad, and it ate at her a bit each day. She didn’t want the men thinking less of her. There was just something about this place, and these specific cowboys, that did crazy things to her libido. But what they thought of her was even more important than her desire for them.
“I don’t care about your mother, just you.” If only that were true. If only she could rely on a man, drop down her guards enough to love and be loved.
She could feel the firmness of his erection pressed tight against her. Knowing he was aroused for her, rather than angry, made her nearly dizzy with need.
Just when she was ready to let it all go, to give herself body and soul over to this virtual stranger, the rain fell. It was as if the heavens opened up and let the water loose. The rain was cold and heavy, soaking her hair and shirt within seconds. Chase grabbed her hand and ran. She held on and plodded blindly behind him, waving her free hand around in fear of slamming into something, even though there was nothing but grassland.