by Becky McGraw
Cassie smiled. She wasn't skinny, but no matter what, Imelda worried about her, and her solution to everything was a good meal. Her own round hips told that story. "That sounds wonderful, mama. You need any help?" Cassie walked toward the breakfast bar.
"No, you just sit there and tell me what you've been doing with yourself for the last ten years. Your daddy tells me things, but I want from the horse's mouth."
They talked for a few minutes, then Imelda put a heaping plate of scrambled eggs, grits and bacon in front of her then handed her a fluffy perfectly golden-brown biscuit. "Wow...this looks scrumptious."
Cassie picked up her fork and dove in, and had made quite a dent in her meal when the doorbell sounded. She looked up at Imelda standing at the sink washing dishes and raised a brow. "You expecting anyone?"
"Nope. Buddy told me yesterday he'd be out this morning. He was going to town to try to find some hands. He wouldn't be ringing the bell though."
She set down her fork and slid off the barstool then walked through the family room to the front door, just as someone knocked. She reached for the knob and swung the door open and there stood Luke Matthews dressed in tight-fitting Wranglers, cowboy boots and a tight black t-shirt with a well-worn saddle slung over his shoulder. Her mouth went dry as all the moisture in her body fled south below her belt buckle.
"Morning, darlin'," he drawled and walked past her into the entryway.
Her mouth flapped several times as her eyes moved down to his tight ass so well-displayed in the faded jeans, then back up to his eyes as he turned around to face her again. "What the hell are you doing here Luke?"
"I'm here to help you, darlin'," he told her matter-of-factly.
"Oh, hell no, you're not." She walked around him and pushed on his broad shoulders trying to get him back out the door.
His boot heels dug into the wood floor and he leaned back. "Yes, I am. I talked to Buddy this morning."
Cassie huffed out her frustration. "But you can't! You're the Sheriff...not a cow hand."
Luke turned around to face her. "I'm a cow hand for the next three weeks," he told her and smiled widely showing that stupid dimple that drove her crazy.
"Why would you want to do that? We don't need you, we'll be fine."
"You do need me...and I'm not leaving," he said and reached behind him to shut the front door, his eyes never leaving hers.
Cassie stuffed her hands on her hips. "Okay then--bunkhouse is out back you can store your gear there--and stay out there."
He smiled even wider then took off the sexy black Stetson hat that had been shading his brown eyes. "Bud told me to come up to the house to get some breakfast from Imelda. He's out back in the bunkhouse."
"Fine," she huffed and stormed back to the kitchen leaving him standing there. "Throw your saddle on the back porch," she said snottily over her shoulder.
Luke chuckled and walked through the house and out the back door to deposit his saddle where she'd indicated, then went back inside and found the kitchen. He'd been inside once or twice when he and Cassie had been dating, and then yesterday when he'd come out to visit Carl.
The place hadn't changed much over the years, but could use a coat of paint on the outside, he'd noticed. Taking care of a place this size--just the house--would have to be a big burden on Carl, even with the few hands he employed on the ranch. Maybe, after Cassie left, he'd come back out and help him do a few repairs.
Walking into the kitchen Luke went over and put a kiss on Imelda's cheek. He was friends with a couple of her boys in school, and had been to her house occasionally growing up. "Hi, Imelda."
Her wrinkled brown hand moved up and she patted him on the cheek. "Hey honey--you been keeping outta trouble?"
"Nah, you know it always manages to find me," he chuckled then looked over at Cassie sitting sullenly at the breakfast bar. Her eyes met his briefly, then she looked down at her plate. She wasn't happy about him being here, and that was just too damned bad. "How's Brandon doing these days?"
"He's living over in Amarillo. Got married a couple years ago and gave me my first grandbaby last fall." Imelda wiped her hands on her apron and then reached up for a plate, before she walked to the stove and filled it up without even asking if he was hungry.
"Oh, that's great. Boy or girl?"
"Girl, they named her Ella. She's cute as a button," She shoved a plate and fork at him and he walked around the breakfast bar and took the stool next to Cassie.
"Bet you're spoiling her rotten," he said and forked up a mouthful of eggs. They were spectacular, and melted in his mouth.
Imelda set a big glass of milk next to his plate then said, "They don't make it down here often, so I don't see her as much as I'd like. Bran is working at a factory there and his wife Sue owns a hair salon in town, so they don't have much time off. I'm thinking I'll head there soon to see them."
He nodded, and scooped up some buttery grits then moaned as the creamy warm cereal pleasured his taste buds. This was the best breakfast he'd had in forever. He was a decent cook, but he didn't have time in the morning usually. On weekends, he'd often eat breakfast at the Bluebird, but their offerings didn't hold a candle to this.
Cassie looked over at him and she licked her lips her eyes filled with more than a little heat. He wanted to moan again, and was tempted to lean over and lick her lips too, but he restrained himself and dragged his attention back to his breakfast. The stool scraped on the floor when she pushed herself off then walked around to put her plate in the sink. "Is daddy up yet?"
"No, and he needs to stay in bed. I brought him his breakfast there."
"I agree. I'll be out in the barn if you need me."
"Okay, Cassie Bee. I'll have lunch ready around noon. I'll ring the bell for ya."
"Thanks," she said and kissed Imelda's cheek again "I'm not sure I'll be in for lunch though," she said then walked to the back door without looking his way again.
Cassie found Bud sitting at the long farm table inside the bunkhouse drinking coffee and munching on one of Imelda's biscuits. He glanced over to her when she came through the door and smiled. Or at least she thought he did, his thick gray beard covered most of his lower face. "Well, look what the cat dragged in," he said and set down his cup and biscuit before sliding a leg over the bench to stand up and open his arms to her.
She ran into them and squeezed him tight. Bud whopped then lifted her up in a big bear hug. "Darlin', I've missed you somethin fierce."
"I've missed you too...so much." she managed to mumble against this broad flannel-covered chest then felt the sting of tears behind her eyes. The only regrets she had since she'd left town was not seeing Bud or Imelda, and not being able to explain why she'd left them ten years ago without saying goodbye. She knew it must've hurt them.
"Well, you're back now...when your daddy needs you. That's what matters," he told her in his gravelly voice.
Cassie sniffled and rubbed an arm across her eyes when he finally put her back on her feet. "Yeah, he does need me. I'm here to help, tell me what I can do."
"Well, you've already got off to a good start. Thanks for feeding the horses."
"You know you don't need to thank me Bud, it was...fun."
He snorted. "Fun? Jesus, girl you've been off the ranch too long for sure if you think that's fun."
"It was fun. I've missed all this," she admitted honestly.
"Why the hell did you leave it then?"
"I had to Bud...but I can't talk about it. Phoenix has been good to me. I have a business there and a fiancé now." She shoved her finger toward him and showed him the large engagement ring James had given her.
"Lordy, girl that thing could choke a mule..." he said then squinted his eyes to take a better look. "You should put it up someplace safe if you're gonna be working out here."
She hadn't thought about that. He was right, she'd probably either lose it or damage it wearing it out here. At the very least get it full of horseshit or dirt. "I'll put it up when I go in for l
unch. I'll just put it in my pocket for now." She slid off the large diamond ring and stuffed it in her pocket.
Cassie looked around the room and then asked him. "So, where are the other hands?"
"I told them I'd be gone this morning so I told them to come in late. I'm gonna have them out mending the fence in the south pasture."
"What can I do to help. I don't know your routine with daddy, and it's been a long time..."
He smiled. "Yep, it's time for you to get back in the saddle for sure."
Cassie groaned, it had been ten years since she'd ridden. Riding today meant she'd be sore as shit tomorrow from using the core muscles that she only pretended to keep in shape from her twice weekly workouts at the gym at home.
"Really? I thought I'd clean the horse stalls."
"Nah, we can do that this evening. I need to ride out and cut a few of the high-risk cows from the herd. Don't want 'em losing their calves, and last time I was out they looked sickly." We'll put them in the catch pen behind the barn and doctor them up." He patted her shoulder. "You're a natural, honey--it'll come back to ya. Just sit in the saddle and let the horse do the work."
Her face fell and Bud chortled, then picked up his plate and walked over to put it in the sink. "Luke is gonna help us. It won't be that bad."
"That's something I need to talk to you about. I don't want him here. Can't we find someone else to help out?"
"I've been trying to find more hands for a week. I found one, and he wouldn't have been my first pick, that's for sure, rough kind of sort. It's calving season, and all the good hands are signed on elsewhere. We're damned lucky Luke agreed to help, Cassie Bee."
Cassie sighed in frustration and dropped her chin to her chest. It looked like she was stuck with the man, at least until they could find another hand to replace him. "Okay, but will you keep looking? We can cut him loose when we find someone else."
"Sure will," he said and patted her shoulder, "Sunshine's a wastin, let's get going." She followed him out of the bunkhouse and around to the barn. Now wasn't the time to bring up the cattle sale she wanted to have, he was busy, and she really did need to take a look at the stock before she made that decision.
CHAPTER FOUR
When they walked into the barn, Luke was there with a big black gelding in crossties, while he saddled him. His head was bent and his nimble fingers moved over the buckles and cinches underneath the gelding with knowledge. He'd ridden a motorcycle when they dated, not a horse. She'd never seen him around a horse, other than hers when he watched her barrel race at rodeos. He stood up then walked to the horse's head and expertly pinched his upper lip and slid the bit gently between his teeth, pulling the straps up over his cheeks and ears.
He glanced over at them when he was done. "Hey, Bud...Cassie."
He tipped his hat at her then pulled a hoof pick out of his back pocket and lifted the gelding's front leg to inspect his hoof. After he finished inspecting all four feet, he patted the big horse's side and unclipped the crossties and grabbed the reins. "I'll be out back when ya'll are ready."
Why his ability to groom and tack a horse would turn her on, she had no idea. But it did. Heat moved up her throat to her face and she swallowed hard and nodded.
"We'll be ready directly, Luke," Bud told him.
She watched as he turned the horse toward the back door of the barn, the sight of his broad shoulders and fine ass in those blue jeans ramping up the funny little flutters that were dancing around in her chest. Forcefully, she tamped down the fluttering and sucked in a breath.
Luke Matthews was off limits to her...she was an engaged woman, she reminded herself. And even if she wasn't, Cassie wasn't about to put herself out there again with him to let the cheating bastard hurt her again. Even for what she knew would be the best sex she'd had in ten years.
"Your saddle and spurs are still in the tack room, Cassie Bee. You can ride Honey today. She's got some spunk, but she won't give you any trouble." He led her over to a stall where a beautiful golden palomino mare sat lazily munching on the hay she'd put in there earlier. "Damn good cutter, too," Bud told her.
Cassie clicked her tongue and the horse looked up then sauntered over to put her head over the gate. She scratched her behind the ear, then rubbed her muzzle. "Hiya, pretty girl." The beautiful horse nudged her hand with her nose. "Yeah, we'll get along fine, won't we?" Honey neighed and snorted and Cassie laughed.
This is what she'd been missing for ten years...her bond with animals. Maybe when she got back to Phoenix, she'd find a barn where she could lease a horse to ride when she got the urge.
Pushing away from the stall, Cassie went to the tack room and found her saddle lovingly covered with a soft cotton cover, her spurs on the shelf above. Reaching up she pulled down the spurs and clipped them on her boots, then she removed the cover on the saddle and ran her hand reverently over the gorgeous well-oiled leather. She'd won it barrel racing, her title and the date was commemorated for all time by the deep engraving on the fender. Feeling sentimental, she leaned over the saddle horse and hugged the saddle to her, then stood up and lifted it over her shoulder, the stirrups banging against her waist and rear.
The rowels of her spurs sang a familiar tune as she walked back into the barn to find that Bud had cross-tied Honey and brushed her out already. "Thanks, Bud," she said and walked over to pat the horse and run her hand along her spine, before she placed her hot pink saddle blanket over the horse's back.
She walked around front and petted Honey's nose. "We're gonna look mighty fine today, Honey. You get to wear my prize saddle." Cassie told her then gently set it on her back and tightened the cinches. When she was done saddling Honey, she grabbed a coiled rope from a peg on the wall and secured it on a clip on the saddle.
"You got your rifle with you, Bud? Daddy said the reason he got thrown was a rattlesnake."
"Always, honey," he said then patted his saddle where it was sheathed. "The snakes are pretty bad this year, but what happened to your daddy was a fluke."
"I sure hope so...you know how I hate snakes."
"I remember," he said and a chuckle rumbled deep in his chest. "That garter snake you ran up on in the garden that time really made an impression on you. I don't think your feet hit the ground more than twice, before you made it to the bunkhouse to get me."
"It certainly gave me a healthy respect for them."
"No worries, sugar. I'll shoot 'em for ya." He grabbed his reins and led his horse toward the back exit and she followed a safe distance behind.
Once they were outside, they met up with Luke who was already mounted and waiting for them. She tossed her reins over Honey's head and then grabbed the pommel and put her left foot in the stirrup. With a bounce, she swung her leg over Honey's back and settled herself in the saddle.
So far, so good, Cassie thought as she clicked her tongue and Honey started moving forward toward the gate to the pasture. Bud was right behind her on the big roan mare that had been so friendly to her this morning, followed by an unusually quiet Luke on the big black gelding.
When she got through the gate, she squeezed her legs and urged Honey to a trot, then a cantor. Cassie stopped her then circled her around testing the horse's response to her reining commands. She was soft in the mouth and responded beautifully in both directions. She pulled back on the reins gently and the horse immediately responded by backing quickly until she released the pressure on her mouth. Bud pulled up beside her and she looked at him and grinned from ear to ear. "Yeah, she's real good, Bud."
"She certainly is." Luke said and she looked over at him. The intensity in his smoky brown eyes told her he wasn't talking about Honey. "I've missed seeing you ride, cupcake...I forgot how good you were."