“Yeah, okay. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Tanyon smiled. “Sounds like you’re staying.”
“If I recall a recent conversation, you told me I wasn’t leaving. Guess I’m hanging around.”
“Fine. When I get back from picking up the mare, ask Dusty if he’ll go on a trail ride with you to test her out on our trails. No, ask Levi. Get her used to it here before putting riders on her back. Stick to trail riding for a while.”
“No cattle driving?”
Tanyon sighed at her endless nagging about putting her on the damn cattle drive. “Trail rides. That’s where I need you unless Max wants you to work in the kitchen or go shopping with him.”
She laughed. “Why Tanyon Outlaw, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous of your uncle.”
“Holy shit, no.” At this moment he didn’t know what the hell he was. Back at the ranch, Tanyon pulled up to the horse barn but should’ve pulled up at the house where no one lingered.
He and Karis exited the car. He headed to the barn to saddle a horse but glanced over his shoulder as Karis strode straight to the house. Yep, jeans on her wore as good the second day. Those not rounding up cattle had spotted them getting out of the car together. Nothing they said now would make a difference.
He took another step but came to a halt, unable to drag his gaze away from her. Why had he left her last night? They could’ve slept in the same bed without having sex. Maybe it’s what they’d both needed to feel connected again. Tanyon chuckled to himself. No, they couldn’t, and that’s why he’d left her. To be truthful with himself, he didn’t know what to do from this point on.
Having her in his arms for those brief moments told him what he wanted. Needed. Her. This self-betrayal pissed him off. She had no plans on sticking around when summer ended, thus adding to his confliction. The way their relationship had been before wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted all or nothing. The idea slapped him upside the head good and hard. Was he willing to let her go if she couldn’t, wouldn’t stay? He might as well draw the line in the sand now.
He saddled and bridled Sullivan then led him to the hitching post by the porch. He’d need to change before surveying the damage. Of course, he bumped into Karis as she came out of her bedroom in a rush.
He nodded and walked past her, but she grasped his arm. “I’ll get a horse saddled and head out.”
“All righty. They’ll need the help today. Bulls don’t round up easy. Shit, they don’t round up. If you can get the big boss bull going in the right direction, the others should follow. Or if best, separate a couple at a time.” He took a step toward his room but her grip tightened on his arm.
“Now what happens to us?”
Max entered the front door whistling his favorite tune, and Tanyon glanced over the railing to the foyer. “I asked myself the same question.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I need time—”
She released her grip on his arm. “Time goes by fast. Were you serious? You know… Giving me a job here? What job?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you seriously asking?”
She nodded.
He gripped her shoulders and stared at her eye to eye, which had been a mistake, for it was like looking into her pained soul. “Whatever job you want here. Except mine.”
She gave the soft smile he’d dreamed of losing. “I have to get out there.” He dropped his hands from her shoulders, but their gaze remained fixed until he broke it a moment later. She rushed downstairs. He’d been left with an out of control pounding of his heart.
He couldn’t go through the ache again that pained him so hard after she’d stopped communicating. Sure, she’d had a good reason, and he understood now, but they’d fallen apart without a chance to make it work. It could happen again, and this place was too important to him to let it slip like he had until he got his wits back. Albeit, could he go on again without her?
One glance at her at the campfire had brought it all back—the seduction in their early relationship, the times they tangled up in the sheets at the hotel in Flagstaff and wherever else. The blank stare in her eyes and broken body at her brother’s funeral, and the time his brain finally got the message she’d left him.
And then she came back.
He was more conflicted now than in Sedona.
Tanyon entered his bedroom, changed, and left. Outside, he stepped into the saddle, then noticed he didn’t have his damn ropes. He tossed the reins over Sullivan’s back and hurried into the barn a second time. The dream from last night kept flashing across his eyes—so realistic, he almost dove for cover a couple times near the barn. On his way out of the tack room, a few young ranch hands laughed and poked at each other while supposedly cleaning stalls. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Karis putting a bridle on one of the mares in a stall. He strode past the loudmouths as Logan West exited a stall near Karis.
The young idiot nodded toward her. “Ya gotta be the owner around here to hit that, huh?”
Tanyon let him have it so hard, Logan stumbled back and fell against the far wall in the stall. “You ever say anything like that again, you’ll be off this property before you take another fucking breath, and I didn’t say you’d be walkin’.”
Karis brought her horse out of the stall and nodded at him with wet eyes. What had they said to her before he’d arrived in the barn?
Tanyon nodded toward the cowboy a breath away from being fired. “I’m sorry you had to hear that asshole.” He damn well wanted to pull her into his arms to console her.
She narrowed her eyes at the ranch hand as he staggered out of the stall. Karis mounted, clicking to get the horse going, and she rode out ahead of him.
∞∞∞
By dusk, they had the bulls back in the field where they belonged, but in the end, they had to use a trailer to get the last of them. He and his brothers finished repairing the fence. The damage wasn’t an accident. The fence had been cut—the second time now, not pulled away from the post.
Standing here at dusk, his thoughts went to Karis. Her dedication to helping them with the bulls couldn’t be denied.
Cade came up and slapped him on the back. “Sorry I couldn’t come get you today.”
“You were needed here. We leased a car to come back.”
“We?” Cade asked. “I thought you went alone.”
Tanyon glanced at his trail boss, Fox. Rumors hadn’t made the rounds as fast as he’d thought they might. Well, minus the hotshots in the barn today. “I have to go back to get the horse and my truck. The truck’s ready now, but I’m dog tired.”
Levi rode up to them. “We were lucky, huh? At least they didn’t get past the other fence. Old Frank must not have moved his stock to the summer field yet.”
“That’s all we would’ve needed.” Tanyon caught sight of the lowering sun and visualized the damage that could’ve been. Fox had already headed back.
“I can take you to get your truck in the morning, Bro,” Cade said, mounting his horse. “Let’s get the hell back. Uncle Max better have saved us some food.”
“Levi’s taking me tomorrow.”
“I am?” Levi asked, removing his hat to wipe sweat and dust from his face.
“Yep.” Tanyon gave Sullivan a pat then mounted him. They caught up with Fox, and the four of them raced back to the ranch, untacked their horses, and did a quick brush down. The three of them headed inside together, while Fox went to his place. Washing his hands at the sink, Tanyon hadn’t missed Karis in the kitchen accepting a plate from Max.
“Hey, Karis, you worked like one of the guys out there today. Bet the boss would hire you full-time if he had a chance.” Levi guffawed and took a plate from Max.
Tanyon made eye contact with her while drying his hands and half shrugged. He’d told her she had a job here. All she had to do was accept it.
She covered her mouth with the back of her hand when she yawned. “I’m going upstairs. I didn’t sleep much last night. I’ll bring the plate back, Max.
Thanks for keeping the food hot.”
“You’re welcome. The rest of the cowpunchers out there with you all need to be fed, so I’ll be here when you come back.”
Tanyon removed his gaze from her before she left the kitchen. “Call those guys to come on over here and eat, Max. They all did a great job gathering our bulls today. A couple of those greenhorns impressed me. The job wasn’t easy.” He set his plate on the table and went to the cupboard, grabbed a whiskey bottle, and filled shot glasses for he and his brothers, and Max. They toasted to the day. Tanyon left the bottle out for when the cowboys came over. However, he took his plate and a couple beers into his office.
He gave Sparky a pat, sat at his desk, and shoved the plate back to open a beer, guzzling while reminiscing. As Levi had said, they got lucky. A knock got him to his feet.
Karis held her plate in one hand and iced tea in the other. She had a far-off look in her eyes. “Can I come in?”
Tanyon pulled a chair back then took a seat around the desk and picked up his fork. “What’s up?”
“I don’t know. A loneliness crept over me as I sat in my room. I think of Rory when I’m alone.” She sat her glass on the floor by her chair and laid out a napkin on the table, then put her plate and glass down. She cut off a piece of the grilled pork chop. A sigh then a “mmm” came out before her words.
“I think of him too, Karis.” Tanyon stood, picked up his plate and both beer bottles. “Get your plate. Follow me. If anybody says anything tell them to go to hell.”
Chapter Five
In the kitchen, they wrapped cellophane over the plates and set them in the fridge. He put on his hat, grasped her hand, and exited the house.
They met Ronni on the porch. “Hey, you two,” she said with a broad smile. “Did you get the bulls put away safely?”
“Yep,” Tanyon replied. “See you later, Sis.”
Karis returned Ronni’s smile. “Where are we going. I’m filthy.”
“Like every other cowboy this time of night. Get in. We’re going to Williams.” He opened the passenger side door on his other work truck then went around.
“I’m not a cowboy.”
“Yeah, you are.” He opened a beer and handed it to her, grinned, and rubbed off a smudge of dirt from her face. “We need a little rowdiness and wild west excitement. Are you with me?”
“No. I’m not going anywhere in Williams after herding bulls.” She took a drink of beer and then another and shoved the bottle at him. “Let me go get my purse.”
“Hurry or I’m leaving you. You don’t have to change. We’ll go into Wills Bend instead.”
“All right. I’ll be right back.”
Wills Bend hadn’t had much more than a short main street with a saloon, police station, post office with a huge flag flying a top the building, library, a small grocery store selling more beer than anything, and a gas station on the way out of town.
He set her bottle in the cupholder, his eyes on her until she disappeared through the door. As he’d told his brother earlier, he was dog tired. Well, he was, but he wanted to get her out of the slump, but leaving Max’s pork chops wasn’t easy. They wouldn’t be there when they got back. He removed a wet cloth from the pack and ran it over his face and neck and another for his hands. The door opened. Huh? “Max? What do you want?”
“Where you two going?”
“Town. Catch ya tomorrow.”
“Want some company?”
“Nope.
“Listen here, nephew. She’s vulnerable right now. Don’t lead her on.”
“I’m vulnerable, but I…” Tanyon paused. “Don’t get in the middle of this. I’m still trying to figure it out. Thought you were cooking for the crew.”
“Sage and Toby are handling it. I’ll kick your ass if you hurt her.”
“Are you her dad now? Or what?” Tanyon lifted a brow.
“Somebody who cares. I mean it.”
“You know what, Uncle Max, I have a lot of respect for you, but right now I’m telling you to stay the hell out of it, and let us deal with this.” They had a stare down until Karis scooted in between Max and the door.
“You coming with us, Max?” she asked.
“Don’t mind if I do. Scoot on over there, young lady.”
Tanyon stomped on the accelerator and tore down the highway, drove toward town, and drove on in silence. Too bad he was the only one silent. His uncle was a nervy S.O.B., but hey, he was family.
Karis hooked her seat belt. “We didn’t mean to walk out on your pork chops. I could tell it was delicious after only one bite.”
“I hid your plates but don’t count on any leftovers. I’ll make an extra side order for you tomorrow night. Shall I include you in that, Tanny?”
“Yeah, if you never call me that again, Uncle Maxton.”
Karis nudged Tanyon’s shoulder. “Aw, come on, Tanny. Your uncle is nice enough to include you.”
“I don’t need you calling me names. And for the record, ma’am, I remember your nickname. Maybe Max doesn’t know it?” He glanced around her for his uncle’s reaction. Nothing.
Karis gasped. “No. Don’t you dare tell anyone especially to Mia and Austin when they arrive.”
“Cool, they’re coming, Little Bits?” Tanyon snorted a laugh. Karis gave his arm a damn good punch for a woman her size then he rubbed his fake sore bicep. “Ouch.”
“Damn you.” Without looking at Max, she warned, “Don’t you dare or you’ll get it too, Maxton!”
“I’m sitting here minding my own business…Little Bits.” Then he snorted an even bigger laugh.
“Aren’t you punching him?” Tanyon asked.
She growled. “My brother Seth gave me the name. You both will pay if I hear it repeated.”
Later, he lowered his eyes when Karis scooted close enough for their thighs to touch.
“A little while ago I received a text from my mom. I’m glad she’s taking you up on your offer. Thanks again for inviting them.”
“Good. We’ll have Geri get one of the small bunkhouses ready if she hasn’t run home to her hubby already.”
“Don’t pick on Geri for being in love all these years. I see no reason why I can’t stay there with—”
“No, Little Bits,” Max blurted out. “You never know if one of my helpers won’t show up. I’d hate to pound on the bunkhouse door and wake your family before sunup. Wouldn’t want them to see me begging you for help, now would we? I’m looking forward to meeting them, by the way.”
“It isn’t often you’ve had to wake me early. In fact, I don’t remember one time.” She chuckled.
Tanyon was glad to see her mood had improved, but it had been his intention for him to be the one to bring her out of her slump. Max couldn’t be more obvious. He finished off the second bottle of beer. Had Max had these feelings for her from the get-go? He listened to their never-ending back and forth conversation and banter. How come he’d never noticed this before? He needed to stop pussyfooting around and decide on his damn future.
Levi sped past them in his truck, honking his horn and driving too fast to see his passenger. “Anybody see who is practically sitting on his lap?”
Karis observed Levi’s truck as he jerked back into his lane ahead of them. “Maybe Emily. You know her. She accompanies you on the cattle drive. She must be a beginner here.”
“She’s no beginner. I nearly gave her a damn job full-time. I hear she tutored him through his senior year. Now I know why she’s here.” Hitting on him in the barn earlier was one of the biggest mistakes she’d ever make.
“She’s a pretty little thing. Levi knows how to pick’em.”
“Uncle Max? Think. I can’t have an employee who…” He nipped that statement in the bud. Forget it. “Karis, do me a favor. Text Cade and tell him to scratch Emily off the list.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as I know I’m getting drunk tonight.” He found a parking spot and they got out. He handed her the keys. “No matter what
I say, don’t give them to me.”
“Hey, guys. Karis.” Levi came up to them with his arm draped around Emily’s neck. “What are y’all doing here?”
“Gettin’ drunk. You?” Tanyon ignored Emily and strode to the bar with Max on his heels. He let Karis drift ahead of them. “Max, what in the hell are you doing here? You know, a guy could think you were after their…”
“Their girl? Karis isn’t anybody’s woman, and especially not yours. How long did you think it would take before one of these cowboys made a play for her? She’s gorgeous, intelligent, single, and has a great personality.”
“The old Karis. Sure, she’s still gorgeous, intelligent, and single.” They strode up to the bar, but he got hijacked by one of his best buddies, Ray, from way back. They did the usual handshake-shoulder bump greeting.
Ray grinned until he spotted Karis. “It’s time you got off the ranch. Come over to sit with us.” Ray nodded to the table on the far side.
Tanyon glanced over then raised his hand to a couple guys he knew and Ray’s pregnant wife, Elizabeth. “Nah, I might catch ya later.”
Ray glimpsed Karis sitting alone at a table. “Don’t tell me you brought her here.”
Tanyon flicked his gaze toward her. “Yeah. Why? She’s back for the summer.”
“Dude—”
“I don’t want to lay you out on the floor, so don’t say it, Ray. I’m figuring it out.”
Ray shrugged then took a couple bottles of beer back to his table.
He smiled at Karis. What could he get her to drink, and why was Levi in a bar?
Levi stood beside him. “Order me a beer.”
“Go to hell, little brother. James, he gets no alcohol,” he told the bartender. “You know how old he is.”
James nodded toward the door. “Unless Tanyon or your uncle is your guardian, you best get out of my establishment. Take your little girlfriend with you.”
Imprisoned In A Cowboy's Heart (Two-Five Ranch Outlaws Book 1) Page 7
