Stone Cold Cowboy(31)
“She’s here to pick me up,” Sadie said. “We have a shift at the diner together this morning. I’ll be by later tonight to get started.”
Colt bolted for the barn, avoiding a woman for the first time in his life. Must be a story there, but Rory had other things to think about right now. Like Sadie at his house every night.
Sadie walked past Ford and headed for her friend.
“Sadie, your dad?” Rory asked, concerned for her.
Sadie turned back, the look on her face all he needed to know. Things were getting worse.
“I’m sorry about the cows.”
“You know I have to call the cops.”
She pressed her lips together, then softly said, “I know.”
She walked to the Jeep, climbed in, shut the door, and stared out the window at him. Luna, her friend, had opened her door and stood, staring over the top of the car, her gaze locked on Colt’s retreating back.
“Wasn’t she seeing Colt’s buddy a while back?” Ford asked. “What happened between them?”
“I don’t know,” Rory answered, barely able to keep up with his brothers’ lives, let alone those of their friends. “Whatever it was, Colt’s not happy about it.”
Ford slapped Rory on the back. “So, will you and Sadie be messing up the sheets before she washes them?”
Rory shoved Ford away and pointed a finger at him. “I don’t give a shit what her brother did, you will treat her with respect.”
Ford held his hands up in defense. “Never said I wouldn’t, but it’s obvious you’ve got a thing for her.”
“If she insists on working here for us, I’ll let her, but you and Colt will steer clear.”
“Got it. She’s yours. I hear you loud and clear.”
“She’s not my anything. She’s had a rough life, complicated by her no-account brother. Her father is ill and dying slowly right before her eyes. The last thing she needs is more grief, or you and Colt flirting with her while she’s trying to do the decent thing.”
“I’m sorry, man. I had no idea.”
“Well now you do. You’ll relay it to Colt when he gets his head out of his ass. Right now, we need to get these horses sorted out.” Rory stared at the twenty horses gathered together in the small pen. “How did she get them here?”
“Saw her ride up with all them trailing behind her,” his grandfather said.
“She rode? In her condition?”
“She looks fine to me,” Ford said.
Rory spun and grabbed him by the shirt.
Ford put his hands up to ward off Rory. “I meant she doesn’t look like she’s hurting any.” Rory shoved Ford back again. “Man, get a grip. I’d never go after your girl. Especially when you finally like one. I mean, seriously, when’s the last time you were with a woman?”
Rory stared at the empty driveway Sadie had disappeared down. “Too long.”
“Yeah, I got that from the pissed-off way you’ve been walking around here for months.” Ford planted his hands on his hips and gave Rory a you-know-it’s-true look.
“You’re like a raging bull kept in his pen and away from the herd too long,” his grandfather added.
“Look who’s talking. You two don’t have the ladies lining up at the door.”
“No, but your lady will be back tonight.” His grandfather started back up to the house. “You’re welcome.” Tickled he’d gotten the better of Rory, his grandfather chuckled.
“What’s with the death glare at Colt?” Sadie eyed Luna, then grabbed the dashboard as her friend backed up too fast, hit the brakes too hard, then sped down the driveway like she was making a speedy getaway from an armed robbery.
“It’s not for him, but myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. I thought maybe when he saw me he might come up to talk.”
Instead, Colt had turned and walked away and obviously upset Luna.
“Did you two have a fight?”
“No.”
“But he’s angry with you?”
“Yes. No. Yes. I don’t know.”
“Do you want to explain what happened?”
“Not really.” Luna turned onto the main road to town and gunned it.
Sadie put her hand on Luna’s arm. “Hey, slow down. He’s not coming after us.”
Luna let up on the gas pedal and sucked in a deep breath and sighed it out. “Sorry. How’d it go with Rory?”
“He’s not happy about my plan to pay him back.”
“Is the man ever happy?”
Rory’s solemn face came to mind. “No.” She remembered the way he smiled at Kaley and the way it changed his face, made him even more handsome and approachable. “Actually, I did see him smile.”