Cowboy Bikers MC #2

by Esther E. Schmidt

  A harsh breath rips from my chest when I think things over and finally say, “You know what? You’re right.”

  “I usually am. Now go, I need to focus.” She shoos me away and starts to suture while I head for the amazing quarter horse I had my eye on the first day I walked into these stables.

  “Hello, baby girl,” I coo and know very well she has a temperament with her own personality.

  She’s quite the eye catcher with her dark brown, almost black coat, and then her full white head and bright blue eyes. Gorgeous.

  “Let’s see,” I muse. “What did Roper explain about you?”

  I’m comforting her and myself by talking through the things Roper mentioned about Esma while I place the saddle on her back. She doesn’t like it when you tighten the cinch and starts to kick with her hind leg. I try to sooth her with my voice and praise her when she doesn’t fuss.

  I can feel myself smile and I’m not even riding yet. She’s all ready, though I’m holding her head and slowly petting her. She’s absolutely relaxed and I have to say, this right here is a huge step for me. To interact with a horse who doesn’t need medical attention. It’s as if I was punishing myself by avoiding working with horses and only doing the necessary touching when one needed a vet. Not anymore.

  The soft sound of her hooves makes the anticipation dance in my belly. Once outside I try to push the anxiety down as I double check the saddle one final time before I grab it and pull myself up to swing my leg over. Damn. How I missed this angle. The manes, the ears. And this horse feels amazing and doesn’t allow me to swoon because she has a bounce in her step to keep me on my toes.

  “Oh, no you don’t, Esma,” I mutter as she throws her head up a few times and sidesteps quickly, making me brace myself.

  My adrenaline spikes and I now understand what Roper has been explaining to me. Esma is quite the little temperamental package. I never was one to ride compliant horses. I love a challenge and my Boulder used to be one too. Just a handful of minutes on Esma and I know Roper just lost this horse. Even if I have to buy her, he won’t get her back. Nope, she’s meant to be mine.

  “Ain’t that a pretty sight,” Ledger states.

  Ledger is one of the MC brothers who lives here. He has blond, almost white hair, a scruffy jaw, and I’ve seen him work with Roper lots of times over the last few days. He doesn’t say much and is a bit withdrawn but Roper says he’s a good man who just happens to like animals more than humans.

  It’s why I haven’t seen or talked to him all that much. Most times he’s either doing rounds to check on the herds in the pastures or in the stables; anywhere where there are less people. Ledger quickly opens the riding arena, allowing me inside before he closes it behind me.

  “Cassidy,” Roper’s voice comes from my left.

  My cheeks heat from the way he’s just sitting on his horse with his arms crossed and leaning forward on the horn. He tips his Stetson a bit back to let me see his eyes and man, I can feel the pride and heat of his gaze scorching my heart.

  I quickly slide my gaze back to the front view I’ve missed so much these past years. The feeling of having a horse underneath me and the work it demands of my body to keep this five-year-old horse under control takes effort and is both thrilling as it is a bit scary.

  “Ledger, open up. I’m going riding with my old lady,” Roper states.

  There’s an added tone of pride to his voice and it makes me feel as if I’m on top of the world. I know the pack of dynamite underneath me is young and can be a bit unpredictable, but the horse Roper is riding has a calming effect on her. They are always together in the pasture and Roper’s horse is six years older than Esma. All of it gives me the confidence to stay alert and yet enjoy the scenery along with riding and the fact I get to enjoy this moment—and a personal win by getting back into the saddle—with Roper.

  We ride the land of the Iron Hot Blood Ranch, and the one thing I’m not liking is the fact that my body is not used to riding anymore. When we finally head back and have the horses taken care of and in the stables, I can really feel my body screaming from the workout it just got.

  “I am so taking two days off because come morning I don’t think I can walk,” I grumble while Roper barks out a laugh.

  His arm shoots out and he grabs me by the waist to pull me close. “You are magnificent. Seeing you ride Esma made me so damn hard. You were born to ride that horse.”

  I let my hands slide up his neck and play with his hair that shoots out from underneath the Stetson he’s wearing. “Here I thought I was born to be yours.”

  “You are,” he murmurs and takes my lips in a scorching kiss.

  “VP, Alfie needs your help with the Longhorns,” a voice behind us says, breaking our kiss.

  Roper groans and at the same time my phone starts to ring. When I check the screen, I see it’s Joaquin.

  “Hey,” I start but he cuts me off.

  “I need you here, right now. There’s an emergency—” The line disconnects.

  I stare at my phone and wonder if something’s wrong or if it’s just a normal Joaquin reaction. If the clinic is insanely busy Joaquin gets wrapped up in handling everything at once and cuts off one thing to jump into the next issue. So, his reaction could either mean something or nothing.

  “Everything okay?” Roper questions.

  “Yeah, I just have to head to the clinic. Joaquin called. There’s an emergency there.”

  “Take Willie with you, I’ll head over as soon as I can,” Roper says and waves Willie over.

  “No need to head over. I’ll come home as soon as I’m done. Harlene hired a new vet and he’s been working out great. I’m sure it’s just an extra pair of hands they want.”

  Roper pinches my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “The new vet is a douche. Call if you need me, and keep Willie with you at all times.”

  “Willie do.” I grin while he shakes his head at my name play and gives a quick kiss before he jogs into the direction Willie is coming from.

  “Are we going to the clinic again?” Willie questions.

  He’s been assigned to tag along with me whenever Roper needs to work. He’s a young guy, kinda shy and quiet but nice to have around. Also, because he loves animals and jumps right in to help without asking.

  “Yeah. Are you going to ride with me or take your bike?”

  Willie glances at my SUV with horror and mutters, “I’ll be right behind you.”

  I can’t help but snort and head out, knowing he’ll be right behind me. There’s a huge smile on my face. Things between Roper and me are pretty good, the scent of horses is still on my hands, and the feel of riding still in my legs. Yup, I’m feeling mighty fine.

  I park and see Willie coming up beside me. There’s easy chitchat as we slip inside the clinic. I expect people waiting since Joaquin called me in for an emergency, but instead there’s an empty waiting room and Joaquin is behind the desk.

  He looks at Willie and says, “Billie, Ralfie just called. He wants you to go back to the ranch and milk those dairy cows like you’re supposed to.”

  “Motherfucker,” Willie growls while I’m still baffled why Joaquin is addressing everyone wrong.

  “I just fucking got here. Sorry, Cassidy, you’re on your own.” Willie spins on his heels and heads back out before I can utter one single word.

  The door slams shut behind him and I hear his bike coming to life in the next few seconds. My mind is still spinning but suddenly a gun comes from behind the wall and the one holding it is revealed along with it.

  “Hello, Cassy. Long time no see,” Kai states.

  “Asshole,” I snap. “Put the gun away and get the hell out of my clinic.”

  “Your clinic?” He shakes his head. “I took the only thing from you with any value, which in the end turned out to be useless and just some meat and bones. Now, years later, you still own less than nothing. But that boyfriend of yours does. So, sit your bitch-ass down and look pretty while your new boyfriend
is going to follow through on my demands if he ever wants to see you alive again. Let’s hope he likes your pussy more than I did.” He nudges Joaquin with the gun. “You. Tie the bitch up.”

  Joaquin stands and I now notice his hands are bound together with rope.

  He turns on Kai. “And how the hell am I going to do that, huh?” he snaps and holds his bound wrists up.

  “Find a way, asshole,” Kai sneers and keeps the gun aimed at us while Joaquin reluctantly picks up the rope and stalks to me.

  “I’m sorry,” Joaquin whispers.

  “What are you sorry for?” I shoot a glare over Joaquin’s shoulder and add in a louder voice, “It’s my asshole ex standing here holding us at gunpoint. Which is useless because there’s no way Roper will ever sell you a horse nor will he let you take any horses for that matter.”

  “I don’t want the fucking horses,” Kai growls. “What good are horses when your asshole boyfriend waved his money around and got people to spread lies. They arrested Daisy. They’re looking for me. The bank took our home, and they fucking closed our slaughterhouse. You started this: you end it. I’m going to call Roper and you will make him reverse everything he did. I don’t care how. He has to get it done or I’ll kill you.”

  What the hell did Roper do? Did he really put them out of business and get Daisy arrested? No, it must have been some developments the team working on the case made with the help of Roper and Decker. Roper told me they were working on it and not to worry about anything and to let the authorities handle everything.

  Well, I’m damn freaking worried now.

  CHAPTER SIX

  — Roper —

  “Wait, dammit,” Decker grunts as he falls in step behind me. “Backup is on the way. Let the authorities handle this. You agreed.”

  Now this little piece of information makes me stop and turn to face him. “I agreed to let you and the authorities handle it before this fucker pointed a fucking gun at my woman’s face. I’m not going to sit back and wait till he blows her head off. She’s my everything, asshole. I couldn’t care less about every single dollar in my name or the purebreds I trained or any fucking legacy, nothing matters except her. Something you might not understand but my old lady comes before everything and you as my brother should have my back—have my woman’s back—instead of questioning my intentions.”

  “I have your back, brother. Always. But I’ve been in these types of situations more than you can imagine. It’s fucking fragile. It’s like having an elephant in a damn showcase of crystal ornaments: things can shatter beyond repair with a single move.” He reaches behind him and palms his gun. “But I’m ready for whatever you need. I’m just making sure you’re aware of the risks because barging in there without thinking shit through puts your old lady at risk too. That’s why I’m making sure you know what you’re doing. So, hell yes, I have her back too. Just be aware it’s the whole ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ thing.”

  “Understood, brother,” I grunt and head for Willie who is glancing through the back window of the clinic.

  He called me about twenty minutes ago to tell me Joaquin used different names to address him and Alfie. One of the things Alfie used to do when shit was about to hit the fan is change up names or places, knowing it would alert anyone of his friends. Good fucking thing all brothers—even Willie, a prospect—know about Alfie’s quirk, and the fact Joaquin has been spending time with Alfie and is aware too. It was the perfect way to get help for all of them, instead of risking their lives to pull Cassidy out.

  Willie glances behind him and beckons us with his hand. “He has both Cassidy and Joaquin tied up and on the couch in the waiting room. He’s been rattling words at them and waving his gun around.”

  Decker glances my way. “He’s out for revenge. The authorities fucked up. They should have told me Kai slipped through their fingers the second they arrested Daisy.”

  “Doesn’t do us any good now,” I grunt. “Why do you think I headed here instead of waiting for them? I’m not letting the law fuck this up, not while my woman is inside.”

  “Agreed, but it’s also the reason why I left the FBI in the first place and it just rubs me the wrong way. She’d better live or this time I will have blood on my hands too,” Decker vows.

  He left the job he was born to do because his partner acted on his own to close a case and it ended with the perpetrator slipping through his partner’s fingers. The perpetrator took Decker’s girlfriend hostage and killed her before they had a chance to catch him. It fucked Decker up good, that’s for sure.

  It also triggers Decker’s demand to wait for backup. Rightfully so but any situation is different.

  “Keep it together, Decker,” I hiss.

  Glancing over my shoulder I see black SUVs coming down the road. “Willie, go get those guys up to speed. Decker and I are heading in through the back.”

  Willie nods and runs off.

  “You’re going to catch his attention while I take him out? That’s your brilliant plan?” Decker sighs and shakes his head but follows me anyway.

  To be completely honest, I don’t have a damn plan. I’m running on adrenaline, anger, and blind love for a woman I need to have safely in my arms.

  “Keep hidden,” I whisper before we slip inside.

  Good thing I’ve been in and out of this clinic for months now and know it like the back of my hand. Their voices become clearer when I’m about to step into the waiting room of the clinic.

  “You’re insane and I hope you rot in hell, because that’s where you’re going, my old man will make sure of it,” Cassidy bellows in anger and it makes me cringe.

  Dammit, Sassy. This is not the time to rile up a man, especially not when he’s palming a gun.

  “We’ll see,” Kai snaps back. “He’s going to fix things first and then I’ll kill him and you too, bitch.”

  I glance inside and see Kai standing in front of Cassidy and Joaquin—who are sitting on the couch with their hands tied. Her eyes slide past Kai and land on mine. Relief flashes through her for a brief second before her eyes go back to Kai.

  “You are soooooo stupid. I can’t believe I thought you were a nice man all those years ago, but I guess I was desperate enough to be blinded by your sweet talk, but now I see it. You’re the one living in la-la-land and I can’t wait to kick you face-first into reality.”

  That mouth of her. I’m going to redden her ass the second I have her safe in my arms.

  “Let’s call your so-called old man and see how long he lives after he gets me my Daisy back.”

  “No, no, no,” Cassidy gasps but it’s too late because my phone starts to ring.

  Note to fucking-self...shut off the sound when you try to catch someone by surprise.

  “You rang?” I question.

  Kai spins around and with it aims the gun at my head.

  “Hey, babe,” I tell Cassidy but keep my eyes on Kai. “Sorry I’m late. I see you have some company you’re annoying with that sassy mouth of yours. How many times have I told you to leave the kicking to me?”

  “I kick, you hold on for the ride. That’s us, Roper,” my woman says and she pulls it off to sound fierce and determined but I hear the slight tremor of fear.

  “That’s us, babe,” I assure her.

  “Keep your mouth shut. The both of you,” Kai says as he swings the gun back and forth.

  What a fucking asshole. A dangerous one, because he’s on edge and unpredictable. And I need to anticipate his next move since I have to get that gun away from him. I’ve had some fucked-up situations in my life, especially as a bull rider. That’s all about anticipation and predicting a next move; the whole danger angle always being a vivid presence.

  Anyone riding a bull can have the same technique but when you’re mentally stronger, you can handle anything. And that’s just it. I am at my strongest because of Cassidy. Even if I’m palming my gun behind my back while Kai is pointing his at my head.

  “You’re going to u
ndo everything you’ve done,” Kai snaps, the gun wavering as if he needs to wave me into action.

  “That so?” I bite out those words in a snap, and see a glimpse of a guy in all black with a gun rushing by the window; backup is here.

  “Whatever you did, you fucking undo it or I will kill her.” Kai swings his arm around, shifting his body.

  I just know he’s about to aim the gun at Cassidy’s head, but by doing so he needs to glance back to actually put it there. It’s only a blink of a fucking second but I’m taking it. I slide my gun back into the holster at my back while simultaneously moving forward. I lunge at him while Cassidy sees me coming and bumps her body roughly against Joaquin, making them both tumble off the couch while I collide with Kai.

  I have a crushing grip on his wrist, needing to control the angle of the gun as I’m fighting him. Kai is struggling to fight me, trying to elbow my face and knee me in the balls. A grunt rips from me when I manage to shift and take the knee on my thigh as he elbows me in the ribs.

  “Motherfucker,” I growl and twist his arm in an odd angle, one that doesn’t leave him any other choice but to drop the gun.

  Yet, that doesn’t end the threat. The fucker headbutts me against the forehead and all it does is anger me some more. I pull my arm back and hit the asshole in the jaw, knocking him back as he stumbles to the floor.

  At this point a red haze consumes me and all I can think about is how this fucker hurt Cassidy and now put her life at risk as well as mine, the baby in her belly, and others along with it. My fists start to connect with his head. Left. Right. In the nose, his eyes, wherever the hell I can land a punch.

  Until there are suddenly a pair of strong hands clawing at me and pulling me off Kai.