“How else can I get the herd to the stockyards? I can’t hire a hauler. I talked to the sale manager. He said if I don’t bring them all in at once I’ll lose major money. And frankly? At this point, I can’t afford to lose another dime.”
She combed frustrated fingers through her bangs, wincing as she flexed her biceps. So much for him understanding and wanting to help. “I’m out of time, Chance, which you’d know if you ever listened to your voice mail.” She watched as the arrogant facade he’d worn crumbled a bit. Maybe she could play poker with him after all. Score one for her.
“I’ve been busy, Cass. I’m...sorry.”
A snort erupted—half bitter laugh, half the sound of derision it was meant to be. “Busy? Well, guess what, cowboy. Me, too. I’m hanging on by my fingernails. I’m stuck with a ranch I never wanted in the first place but all my options were ripped out from under me. I have no choice. I walk away with nothing after a forced liquidation sale, declare bankruptcy and hope to hell I can live in the homeless shelter until I can find a job.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. “I don’t own a car, Chance, so I can’t live in it. Nadine has been after Boots forever. If he has any sense, he’ll marry her and move in with her, and take Buddy, Red and Lucky with him. My other option is to stay and fight. I’m not paranoid, but I’m really starting to wonder. The bank decides to foreclose. There’s not a cattle hauler in three states that’ll talk to me. I lose my job.” She ticked off the points on her fingers.
“The market is prime right now, and I’ve got Grade A beef on the hoof, grass-fed and tender. Daddy gambled everything on that herd. I can’t let him down. I can’t turn tail and run, as much as I’d like to just find a hole, crawl into it and die. I wasn’t raised that way.”
She paused for a breath, struck silent for a moment by Chance’s expression. A mixture of admiration, sadness and something she didn’t want to identify but hoped like hell wasn’t guilt etched the handsome planes of his face. He met her gaze, but he blinked first.
His hand captured one of hers again while the other cupped her cheek. “Dammit, Cassie. I...care about you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Too late for that.” He winced at her cutting tone, but she didn’t care. Much. Tired of feeling alone, she leaned into his palm. “Help me, Chance. Help me make everything right again.”
His expression softened, and his fingertips caressed her skin but he didn’t say anything as he dropped his hand.
Exasperated, she pulled away from him. “You can help me or get the hell out of my way, Chance.” When he remained silent, she shrugged. “Fine. Thanks for dinner, but I need to get home. I’ve got a lot of work to do to get ready for the trail drive.”
The uncomfortable trip home couldn’t end fast enough. Cass had the passenger door open before Chance put the truck in Park. She hopped out, slammed the door and trotted toward the barn, hoping he’d get the hint and just leave. She still had evening chores to finish.
Aware that Chance had cut the motor on the pickup and now followed her, she did her best to ignore him. Every time she thought their relationship held some promise, he dashed cold water on the whole idea by his actions. Fine. She could deal with that. By not dealing with him. She wouldn’t think about him, wouldn’t plan on him ever being a part of her future. She could stand on her own two feet, and she would.
Cass climbed up to the loft and dragged a bale of alfalfa hay to the edge. She shoved it over and waited a heartbeat before calling out, “Heads up.” She snickered when Chance stumbled backward out of the way.