Caleb's Blessing(17)

“Brutus kicked down the south wall again.”

“Is he hurt?” That damn bull is a pain in the ass. I should probably just slaughter him for barbecue, but he’s one of the best breeders around for miles and I make a pretty penny putting him out to stud. It’s the only time he behaves.

“Uh, not sure boss, you know he won’t let any of us near him, not even Nathan.”

“I guess I’ll go have a look when we’re done here.” I stood from the table to rinse my glass and dish for the washer before heading back upstairs to check in on her.

“She’s still asleep so I’ll do that now before she wakes up.”

“I can stay and keep watch for you boss, no problem at all.”

“Mikey get your ass out of my house.” The young fool grinned and accepted the slaps to the back of the head from the others. As much as we did that it’s a wonder the poor kid didn’t have concussion three days of the week.

I wasn’t in the mood to deal with my bull right then, a few hours ago maybe, but now I just wanted her to wake up so that I could see those beautiful eyes of hers and hear her sweet voice.

“Fucking bull.” He’d torn down almost the whole wall to get out and was now huffing and puffing in the enclosure that I’d had built to hold him after the last time he’d done this shit.

“Brutus, if you don’t stop your shit I’ma put a bullet in you.” He snorted at me and turned his back. He probably knew I was the one responsible for the enclosure and keeping him from running wild, as he’d like.

Since none of the others would get near him and I needed that wall fixed sometime soon, it was going to be my job to rope his ass and tie him up somewhere until the job got done.

I went for my lariat and prepared to be bumped and bruised to within an inch of my life. Damn ornery ass bull was worst than a damn wife.

It didn’t take as long as I’d imagined because he was probably hungry. I roped him in less than five minutes which might not seem long to most, but when you were dealing with two tons of angry bull that five minutes felt like half a lifetime.

I cleaned myself up while nursing my arm where he’d clipped me just a little after I’d roped him. He hates to lose and that’s his way of letting me know he didn’t appreciate my efforts.

I couldn’t wait to get back to the house; she should be waking up soon. She’d been asleep so long, it made me wonder when was the last time my poor little girl had got some rest.

I can’t imagine what it felt like to be on the run from someone, someone you knew meant you harm. That was no way to live, and if I have anything to say about it, she won’t have that worry for long.

When I got back to the house and up the stairs, she wasn't in bed where I'd left her. I didn’t panic or anything as I left her room in search of her.

I searched the house calling out for her, but there was no answer. By the time I’d searched the whole upstairs and half of downstairs, my heart jumped into my throat and I was about to lose my shit, until I saw the note. She'd pinned it to the fridge door with a longhorn magnet.

I relaxed a little thinking that she’d probably gone for a walk to clear her head. Not to mention I was sure she was going to be embarrassed by what had happened earlier in the kitchen.

"Dear Caleb, thanks for trying to help me, I wish, I wish...it doesn't matter what I wish I can't stay here. I'm bad news I'll only bring you trouble. You should give that Cecily girl a chance she's better suited. Thanks for all you did for me. Bye Amanda."

I was running before I finished reading the note. Jumping down off the steps, I whistled loud and long until they came running.

"She did a runner, get the trucks. Search every corner she couldn't have gone far and she left the front way." I was heading for my truck as I yelled out orders.

The men split off going to their trucks without question. I was not going to lose her like this fuck that, and fuck taking it slow. If that fucker was in her head then the only thing left for me to do was to go in there and dig him the fuck out.

I drove like a bat out of hell down the long drive, my eyes trying to cover every square inch ahead of me.

She was a dot up ahead and I sped up until I cut her off by driving around and in front of her. She came up short, her eyes wide, and her face red from crying.

"You're not leaving me." I jumped out of the running truck.

"Caleb..." She had no choice but to stop when I planted myself in her way.

I hope I'm dong the right thing here, heaven please help me. I wanted to hold her so bad, to erase that look of sadness from her face. I didn’t have much time to think about my approach so I went with my gut.