Cloud Riders(143)

Woody shook his head. ‘I think the J man may just have something there, K. It’s been staring us in the face all this time. How could we have missed it?’ Woody slapped his forehead. ‘Damn, if that does not beat all.’

‘That it does, my man, that it does.’ Kayden rubbed his chin, finally letting Jason’s theory allow him the relief he needed to slot the weirdness of the situation into perspective.

Jase put his arm around Kayden. ‘Anytime, K! Cassie and you are tight, man, never lose sight of that. All the rest of us are pawns in the game our princess plays. When she gave me Sonia she gave me a dream come true and that was when I worked it out. I knew then that she was not just a princess we saved but had to be a goddess to do what she does.’

‘That, Jase, is exactly where my train of thought had gone and I was thinking I might be going crazy with such an idea. I so needed someone else to say it. Conom called her a stealer of hearts. I’m starting to think that maybe that is exactly what she is.’

Woody grinned. ‘Yes that sounds like our Cassie girl. Suits her to the core.’

Jase rolled his eyes. ‘God, no. Please, no disclosing what we’ve just discussed or we’ll never hear the end of her jokes about us thinking it. I can imagine the aftermath of problems it would create and can just hear her now. “Excuse me, goddesses do not cook or clean” or “The goddess would like her coffee now”. Kayden, this is between us forever. Cloud Riders code of secrecy! You have to promise.’

They all laughed again and attracted the girls who came over to them. ‘What’s all the laughing going on over here? We want in on the joke,’ Sonia purred, leaning into Jase.

‘Never going to happen, sweetie, boys’ stuff. But you can come with me and show me how much you’ll miss me while I’m gone,’ he chuckled, dragging her to Cassie’s old room. ‘Later, men,’ he said over his shoulder, smirking.

Ella was grinning up at Woody. ‘Well, K, I have other pressing business with my woman. Wake us when it’s time to leave,’ he said, throwing an arm around Ella and taking her to the main bedroom.

Cassie was still chatting to Conor and Ethan, who where lying down on the sofas, so Kayden made himself comfortable next to his honey and smiled. The boys will be just about ready to enjoy themselves about now. What a bugger I can’t. No bedrooms left. Oh well. A grin widened across his face as he closed his eyes. Night boys, he thought, and chuckled as he put them all to sleep. Ah, to be the boss, revenge is so sweet.





Sweet Betrothed


When Kayden woke them up, the many harsh comments coming from the bedrooms were directed at Kayden. Cassie could feel his body trying to hold back fits of laughter.

‘I can only guess what that was about.’ Cassie nudged him. She turned around to face him and he had the biggest grin. ‘Just having a bit of fun with the boys. Payback can be so pleasurable.’

‘Coffee, cheeky one?’ She was enjoying his lightened mood.

‘Love one, sweetheart,’ he smiled as she jumped up, quickly moving from him as he made a grab for her. She saw in his expression what he was about to do and ran off on him, giggling. ‘Not so fast.’ He chuckled as he reclaimed her, growling as her father had—as if he were a big old bear too. He made her laugh more.

In between his foolery, Cassie finally made everyone’s drinks and they went out on the veranda to drink them and catch up with each other while waiting for Zoltan to lead the horses out.

Cassie turned to Ella, sensing she was a little hurt that Sonia was engaged before her. She had caught the look on Ella’s face when Sonia showed Cassie her ring for the second time. Woody saw the look too and pulled her next to him. ‘Come here, woman.’ He smiled and winked at Cassie. ‘I wanted to wait until you guys were here so you could be a part of my surprise,’ he said as the horses trotted out of the barn at Kayden’s command.

It was the first time the girls would be seeing the horses or their transformation. Cassie knew how dazzling a show it was going to be for them. They all placed their golden bridles on the horses and mounted them. The girls gasped at the transformation and when Kayden put Cassie onto Starburst, Sonia squealed and ran over to hold Cassie’s hand.

‘Sorry, I have to touch you. My God! You look like an angel,’ she squealed again excitedly.

She turned to Jason who jumped down to give her a hug. ‘You okay with this, sweetie?’

Sonia was crying and laughing, trying to take it all in. ‘More than okay, babe.’ She jumped up on him, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him heaps of kisses. Jase loved it, more than pleased with her enthusiasm.