Bridling Lucy (Horse Mountain Shifters Book 3)

by Sierra Brave

  The man smiled and nodded. “Please forgive my deception. I couldn’t wait to meet you even though Dory cautioned me to wait.” He wrapped his arm around her mother and gently squeezed her shoulder. Tears pooled at the corners of his eyes. “It’s a dream come true for me to have my girl home and finding out I’ve got another little lady to dote on is like a miracle from heaven.

  Lucy’s stomach stirred with unrest. She’d always longed to know more about where she’d come from, but somehow, being so close to having what she wanted scared her. “Uh…um…Mama, where’s my daddy?”

  Mr. Dupree set his drink down on a coaster. “I’m sorry. He’s passed on.”

  Lucy gasped as she jumped to her feet and stared at her mama. “Grayson killed Craw?”

  Dory covered her mouth as she shook her head and giggled. “Your daddy’s fine, honey, and Grayson’s headed back home. A man who works for your grandpa is driving Craw to a treatment facility. He’ll be back when he’s better.”

  Lucy plopped down next to Chance as she furrowed her brow and looked off to the side. “I don’t get it. He’s sick?”

  Mr. Dupree took another sip of tea before he spoke. “I apologize for the confusion, but your mother and I had a long talk about her marriage, and I agreed to pay off her husband’s debt as well as any compensation required for the patriarch in Las Vegas to release you three from his clan if Mr. Crane was willing to accept my offer of help for his gambling addiction.”

  Lucy lifted an eyebrow and threw her mother a sideways glance. “For real? Craw just happily headed off to gambling rehab? Is this some kind of con?”

  Dory shook her head. “I wouldn’t scam my daddy.” The southern, mountain-girl accent her mother seemed to have comfortably fallen back into using made her more suspicious than ever.

  Lucy laughed. “Sure you wouldn’t.”

  Her mother narrowed her eyes. “We’re all making changes to better ourselves. Craw didn’t want to go right away, but then I threatened to leave him if he didn’t.” She smirked.

  Lucy sighed. “That sounds more likely. He’s pretty lost without you, but I doubt you could stay away from him even if you kicked him to the curb for a while. So the dead man Mr. Dupree was talking about?”

  “I’d love it if you call me granddad or grandpa.” Mr. Dupree caught Lucy’s gaze and her tummy turned a small flip.

  She glanced at Chance and he gently squeezed her hand. After turning her attention back to the old man, she shrugged. “Um…I guess I could try.”

  “Thank you, and yes, your father was named Dalton Tate. He worked for me and was poised to someday take over running the factory for me. As such, I thought he and your mother would be an excellent match. When things didn’t work out, Dalton was too embarrassed to work for me anymore though we did keep in touch for some time. He joined the military but was killed in Iraq.”

  Lucy felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. She clutched her chest and took shallow breaths. Chance placed an arm around her and leaned his head against hers. “I’m sorry.”

  She nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek. “It’s weird to miss something you never knew you had.”

  “No, it’s not.” He caressed her arm.

  Lucy looked over at her mother and grandfather and caught Mr. Dupree studying Chance with interest. “Mr. Locklear, what is your relationship with my granddaughter?”

  Lucy’s face heated up like bacon in a skillet as her jaw dropped. “Mr. Dupree…I mean, grandpa…we’re not at a point where you can start asking—“

  Chance interrupted her. “It’s okay. Lucy’s my fated mate. I love her, and I’d die for her.”

  Mr. Dupree rubbed his chin between his thumb and index finger, his gaze never leaving Chance’s face. “I don’t imagine you’d want to come to work for me and train to take over my factory someday?”

  As Chance grimaced, Lucy pursed her lips so she wouldn’t laugh. The thought of him trying to work inside all day was downright hilarious. He pushed his hair back away from his face. “I appreciate you thinking of me, but I have a career. I love what I do, and to be honest, there’s no way I could run a factory.”

  Lucy’s lifted her hand as if she were back in school. “I could.”

  A grin spread across her grandfather’s face as he met her gaze. “Would you really want to?”

  “I’m not leaving Chance, and there aren’t any casinos around here where I could deal blackjack. I’m going to need a job.”

  He nodded. “Your mother tells me you are a smart and capable young woman, but you spent too much time working for your grades in school to show your true potential.”

  I hadn’t realized she’d noticed. Lucy touched her hair nervously as she glanced at her mama for some indication of how much she was allowed to say. Dory nodded. “I guess there is some truth to it. We didn’t have a lot of extra money. At first, I worked to pay for school clothes and so I could have a cellphone and things like that. Later, I wanted a car.”

  “You don’t have to justify your decisions, dear, but running a factory isn’t easy. Would you be willing to study industrial business at college?”

  She tapped her bottom lip with her index finger as she recalled the sinking feeling in her stomach when she’d crunched the numbers of what it would have cost her to finish an online degree program while working at the casino. “I don’t know; it’s so expensive.”

  Chance piped up. “I’ll pay for it.” Lucy jerked her head to the side as she stared at him with her eyes widened. He squeezed her arm while looking her in the face. “I believe in you, and I have savings.” Her heart raced as she was struck speechless.

  “Young man, I appreciate your faith in my granddaughter, and I’m sure it’s well placed, but I’ve had my guest house made ready. It would be my honor for Lucy to move in and allow me to cover her expenses while she attends school.”

  Lucy shook her head. “I’m…grateful, but I don’t know. I'm used to paying my own way.”

  “Please, think of it as an investment on my part. It would mean everything to me if I could leave my legacy in your hands.”

  The sides of her lips curved upward. “When you put it that way…okay, but only if I can intern at the factory while I’m in school. I want to learn everything.”

  Her grandfather smiled. “Excellent.” Lucy’s nerves were just starting to calm down when Mr. Dupree opened his mouth again. “As for you, Mr. Locklear…”

  “Chance.” Lucy’s heart fluttered at her man’s unflinching demeanor.

  “Okay, Chance, I give you my permission for you to properly court my granddaughter, and after the third date, if she’ll still have anything to do with you, you may ask for my blessing to marry her.”

  Lucy palmed her face as her stomach twisted in knots. I went from almost no parental guidance to this? Fuck my life.

  “That’s reasonable.” Chance stood and offered Mr. Dupree his hand. With a little help from Lucy’s mama, her grandfather stood and then the two men grasped palms.

  Dory stood and hugged Chance. “Wonderful. Daddy and I will leave you two alone for tonight, and tomorrow I’ll return to pick up Lucy to shop for all the things she’ll need for her new job and school.” She reached over and thumbed a lock of Lucy’s hair. “We can get your red back before we move you into your new place if you like.”

  Lucy sighed. “I’d like my natural hair color back. Are we going to be roommates?”

  Dory chuckled. “I’ll be staying in the main house with Daddy until Craw completes his program.”

  Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me you and Craw aren’t going to just sponge off your father.”

  “Craw and I are going to manage daddy’s rental properties.”

  Lucy looked up and tilted her head. “Hmm, that could actually work if you stay on top of him and force him to keep a schedule. Craw’s always been good at maintenance. Still, is the patriarch really going to be okay with you, me and Craw cutting out on him?”

  Mr. Dupree chuck
led. “When I spoke to Mr. Black to arrange the settlement of your stepfather’s debts, he was rather surprised to learn his son and Mr. Crane were here rather than deep sea fishing off the coast of Corpus Christi as he had been told. He was willing to release you and your mother for a rather insignificant sum provided he never had to see Mr. Crane again.”

  Lucy smacked her hand over her mouth to keep from busting out laughing but couldn’t prevent the snort that escaped from her nose. He mama leaned over and nudged her shoulder. “Alright now.”

  Lucy’s grandfather took another sip of tea. “The matriarch of the equine clan says she never released your mother to Mr. Black’s clan and already considers you and your mother as members. As for your stepfather…” He rubbed his temples and sighed. “I had to call in a lot of favors and dig into Mr. Crane’s lineage, but after I confirmed he is one-sixteenth wolf, the wolf matriarch was willing to accept him on a probationary basis.”

  “Couldn’t he join a coyote clan?” Lucy looked over at Chance.

  Chance shook his head. “Not ‘round here. The wolves accepted the horses with open arms but have always been a might territorial with other canine types—never let any of them get a paw hold on the mountain or the surrounding areas.”

  Mr. Dupree shook his head. “Quite. Well, then…” He grasped Dory’s hand. “Doraleah and I shall take our leave. I’ll see you in the morning, dear.” He walked over to Lucy before leaning over and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Mr. Lock—I mean, Chance.” He extended his hand and Chance shook it firmly.”

  Once her mother and grandfather were gone, Lucy sat quietly while wringing her hands. Chance stroked her hair. “You okay?”

  She glanced at him before looking down at her lap again. “Are you?”

  He chuckled. “I know…that was a lot to take in all at once…a lot of changes.”

  “How do you feel about having to court me?” She smirked.

  Chance brushed his lips against hers, capturing the bottom one while cupping her cheek. As he pulled back, their gazes locked. “I like it.” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. You deserve to get all dressed up and be taken out to eat at nice restaurants and to put on jeans and boots for beer and line dancing. Three dates aren’t enough either. Even after we’re married, I’m going to take you out to rodeos and wine tastings. We’re going to drive down to the coast and run on the beach. I can’t wait to experience everything with you.”

  “Sounds nice.” Lucy snickered. “You line dance?”

  He nodded. “I do and even if I didn’t, you’re worth learning for.”

  She buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I can’t believe the change in you.”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes you have to give in to win.”

  “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what the world looks like when I’m standing next to you, but before we start all that, we still have tonight, and I want some more of this.” She reached over and rubbed his cock over his jeans.

  As his dick hardened beneath her palm, he grinned. “I wasn’t really satisfied with that quickie either. I need to get you in my bed and take my time. She gasped as he lifted her off the couch. She wrapped her legs around his waist while holding on around his neck. As he walked toward his room, they kissed, their tongues meeting while they devoured each other. She pulled away and rested her head on his shoulder. I can’t remember ever being this happy.

  The End

  Other Book Series by Sierra Brave

  Horse Mountain Shifters

  Horse Mountain Heat

  Real Cowboys Love Cats

  Triple Passion Play

  Rock You Like a Hurricane

  The Power of Three

  Baby Makes Four

  Crystal Coast Romances

  Crystal Coast Craving

  Crystal Coast Chemistry

  Crystal Coast Love Connection

  One Shot Stories

  Geek Girl's Romance

  Blood Ties and Leather Restraints

  **Free** Fevered Dream **Free**