Brody and Cage aren’t around. They’re busy, waking at the ass crack of dawn and returning long after dusk deepens to night. My days are mine to fill as I please and I’m ready for an adventure.
“Okay, Knight, do you trust me enough to be good?” I reach down and pat the side of his neck. He gives a rumbly nicker, a low vibration coming from his throat which says he’s excited. I lead him through the gate of the small enclosure we’ve been running around the past few days and he prances with excitement. Giving a sharp snort, he can’t wait to stretch his legs.
I’m comfortable enough with the lay of the land to head out on my own. Navigating a vineyard is easy compared to a forest trail. Knight and I are off and ready for an adventure.
He’s excited to be out of the barn.
I’m excited to be away from buildings.
We’re perfectly matched.
And the vineyards are nothing short of breathtaking. The vines sit heavy with grapes. They’re so tempting. I want to reach out and snag a cluster, but hold back. I tried a grape a few days ago and wine grapes are nothing like supermarket grapes. I spat it out with a grimace while Brody and Cage laughed their asses off. They’re not here to make fun of me today, but I learned my lesson.
The burnt fields are sobering. Knight slows, making me think he knows something bad happened here. A horse’s sense of smell is greater than a human’s, as is their fear of fire. He gives a little whiney, shakes his head, and snorts, all while stamping at the ground.
“It’s okay, boy.” I give another pat, trying to soothe him. Fortunately, he likes the sound of my voice and calms down.
We reach the end of the burnt field where I briefly consider heading back home. But there are still a few hours left before I lose the light. My curiosity is at an all-time high and I know exactly where I want to go.
Pretty certain I can find my way, I do a quick search on my phone for the trailhead. I’m right. It’s less than a mile down the road.
“How about a little climb, boy? You up for a nice, long walk?”
With a snort, he stamps at the ground again.
I take this for a yes and guide him to the trailhead. He doesn’t need my assistance, however, and seems to know exactly where to go. That’s when it dawns on me that this must be where Asher takes his La Rouge Stables clients on what he fondly refers to as his plodding mares.
I assume Knight is very well acquainted with the trail and let him have the lead while I sit back and enjoy the day.
It doesn’t take long before we pass familiar landmarks. That outcropping of boulders is where I took Prescott’s call. They’re one of the only things I recognize. The forest I hiked through is nothing but the charred skeletal remains of what used to be a breathtaking wilderness.
We round a bend and I peer around the curve. Right where I expect it to be is the fire pit with its rocks. Everything is covered in black soot and char marks.
There’s hope, however. It’s been a few weeks since the fire, and it’s impressive to see a burst of new life. Green shoots poke through the charred dirt. Even in fire and devastation, nature is resilient, creating new life from the ashes of old.
That’s what I wish for myself, to be able to rise from the ashes of my previous life and become something new. I’m more certain now than ever before that I don’t want to return to my previous vapid life of a socialite. I’m much more than the number of zeros found in my bank account.
I’m on a mission, eager to find the remnants of my cellphone. Concerned about my missing revolver, I climb down from Knight’s back and hobble him while I stretch my legs. It’s been well over a year since I’ve ridden a horse, and years since I’ve sat in the saddle for that long. I’m going to be sore when the morning comes.
Knight paws at the soil and nibbles at new shoots of grass. They must taste especially sweet, because he seems to be enjoying himself. I place my hands on my hips and take a moment to simply take it all in.
It’s too quiet and nothing like the blazing inferno I woke to. Impossible to stop myself, I trace an imaginary line from the fire ring to the edge of the ridge. I don’t know if this is where I catapulted myself into thin air. It’s impossible to tell, but I see the grouping of boulders in the ravine where I took shelter.
Did I really think those would protect me from a firestorm?
Desperation does crazy things to one’s mind.
With Knight happy munching on baby grass, I make a circuit of the campsite, kicking at the sooty earth, hoping to find evidence of my cell phone and pray I find my revolver.
But they’re nowhere to be found.
A breath of frustration whooshes out of my pursed lips. It was a fool’s notion to think I’d find my revolver. This place was picked over by whoever did the arson investigation, but I’d hoped to find something.
The jangle of tack grabs my attention.
I’m not alone.
A man on a pretty chestnut mare comes up the trail. I shield my eyes against the sun and squint at the stranger. He pulls to a stop.
“Good afternoon.” He tips his cowboy hat in a welcoming salute. His lips curve into a panty-melting smile. “Don’t I know you?”
“Um, yeah.” I know who this is. “We met at the bar.”
“That’s right, you’re…” He points at me. “Don’t say it. I never forget a beautiful woman’s name.” He pauses dramatically then snaps his fingers. “Got it. You’re Evelyn Thornton.”
“That’s me.”
Honestly, anyone within fifty miles knows my name by now. I remain the most hated stranger, vilified on a daily basis by the local gossip magazine, although I’m no longer front page news. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t left La Rouge Vineyards since Abbie’s mega shopping trip to the local superstore.
“Well, it’s nice to see you, you’re a pleasant surprise. I’m—”
“Felix.” I supply. “I remember you.” How could I not? I’m no stranger to the flattery of men. On the surface, Felix is like many of the men who tried to steal me from Justin. He knows his worth. He’s good looking, has a great smile, and knows how to flirt.
But I’m taken.
And cautious.
The tension swirling between Felix and Asher that night at the bar was palpable. I don’t know Felix, but I trust Asher.
“Whatcha doing up here?”
I glance around and take in the devastation. “I guess I wanted to see what it looked like.”
“Is what they say in the papers true?” The tone of his voice shifts.
It’s subtle, something I would normally miss except I’m paranoid. The last time I was up here with a strange man, he tried to kill me.
“If you’re asking if I set the fire, then no. It’s not true.”
“Then how did it start?”
“There was someone else here, a man who knocked me out. He started the blaze.”
“Oh no. Have they caught him? I haven’t heard anything.”
“No. I wish, but no luck so far.
“Well, if that’s the case, you’re getting raked over the coals in the Gazette for no reason.”
His reference to getting raked over the coals hits too close to home. “Soon enough, they’ll catch the guy who really set the fire.”
“You think that’s likely?”
“If I can find my phone it will be. But the cops are looking into other angles.”
“Your phone?”
“I lost it, along with everything else.” I cast about the campsite. “But I can’t find it.”
“Don’t you have iCloud backup or something?”
“I wish that were the case. If so, I could get them to drop the charges, but no luck.”
“Just get a new phone and download, or upload, whatever it is. You know restore your phone from the cloud?”
“Thought of that, but I don’t know any of the passwords. I can’t restore it, which is why I’m up here.”
“I guess they won’t find the guy then.”
I shrug. �
��I don’t know. Grant Malone had me sit with a sketch artist. I don’t remember much, but it’s something.”
“A sketch artist?” His upper lip twists and he shifts in his saddle. His grip on the pommel tenses. “Kind of a long way for a pretty woman like you to be alone.”
“I’m used to it.” Not interested in pointless small talk about my innocence, or presumed guilt, it’s time to wrap things up. “Well, it is getting late. I should be headed home.”
“Home? Now where would that be? I thought they said you were from out of town?” He leans over the pommel of his saddle. “Honestly, I’ve been looking for you. You know, kind of hoping to run into you again, or have you run into me. Felt like we had a connection.”
Definitely no connection.
Felix’s clean-shaven appearance probably draws the kind of women who are more than eager to drop their panties with one well-timed blink and that fabulous smile.
Not me.
I’ve got something better.
“I’m staying at La Rouge Vineyards.”
“Ah…” He cups his hand over his heart like he’s wounded. “I’ve lost you to a La Rouge triplet. Ace, I presume?” Giving a slow shake of his head, he looks appropriately disappointed. “He always had a way of stealing the best girls. I guess you and Ace…” He leaves the rest for me to fill in, but I’m feeling too jumpy to react to his comment.
“They’ve been really nice to me, stepping in to help.” I walk over to Knight and release his hobble. “Anyway, it was nice seeing you, but I need to be heading back. They get upset if I’m not back for dinner.” Cage and Brody roll in long past supper, but Felix doesn’t need to know that.
“Such a shame.” His eyes pinch. “We could’ve watched the sunset together. The view from up here is phenomenal.”
“Maybe another time.” I place my foot in the stirrup and lift myself into the saddle.
It feels a bit abrupt leaving so quickly, but Felix is right about one thing. I’m alone, far enough from civilization that no one will hear me scream. Not that Felix is a threat, but the last time I was up here with a stranger things didn’t turn out very well for me.
“Maybe another time, Evelyn.” The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine, and not the good kind.
I urge Knight into a canter and head back the way we came. For a split second, it feels as if Felix might join us, but I look over my shoulder and breathe out a sigh of relief.
It’s me and Knight all the way home. When we get to the barn, I intend to reward Knight with a treat, but I’m the one who receives the best surprise imaginable.
“Evelyn?” Asher calls out as we come into view. “How the fuck did you get him to let you ride him?”
There’s no time to answer. I practically levitate out of the saddle in my rush to jump into Asher’s arms. My legs wrap around his hips and my lips lock to his.
“You’re back!” I bury him in a flutter of kisses and hug him tight. If it weren’t for Knight, I’d fuck Asher right there, but Knight needs to be rubbed down after our ride and Brody and Cage are home early. They watch from beneath the covered porch
And yes, they both have shit-eating grins on their faces because they know exactly what went through my head. I’m practically dry humping their brother in front of them.
Not that I care.
Asher is home.
28
Asher
It’s been nearly two weeks without Evelyn in my life, in my arms, and wrapped around my cock. She clings to me like life itself and I admit to loving every minute of it.
Funny how before I met her, I thought Erin was the woman I wanted to spend my life with. I’d been so blind.
Evelyn feels like a breath of fresh air. We kiss and I’m practically dizzy from lack of oxygen. Our lips lock. Our tongues tangle. My dick gets hard. Damn, I need to sink inside her wet heat and feel her tight pussy clench around my dick.
Unfortunately, my brothers snicker from the porch and Knight snorts with indignation because I’m ignoring him. Unlocking my lips from Evelyn’s, I reach out and pat his neck. He’s hot and lathered in sweat, as if he’s been working hard.
I want to be hot and lathered in sweat, but only because I can’t wait to fuck Evelyn’s brains out.
Crude. I know.
But it’s true. I’m long, hard, and aching.
“Where did you take him?”
Evelyn squeezes her legs around my hips. Damn, but I can feel the heat of her pussy through our clothes. She climbs off me and places her feet back on the ground. It sucks, because I liked her hot pussy pressing against my greedy cock.
“I need to fuck you and soon.” Low, gravelly, my voice rattles with need.
“Definitely.” She smiles up at me, soft, seductive, and irresistible. “I missed you.”
I missed her more than I’m willing to acknowledge.
“I can’t believe you rode Knight.” A low cough escapes me as I switch topics.
“Why?” She grabs his nose, gives him a kiss, then leans over to scratch his special spot behind his ear. Nobody knows Knight’s ticklish spot, but she seems completely at ease with him, and more surprising, my horse appears to be utterly and completely infatuated with her.
“He never lets anyone ride him but me.”
“Oh, we had plenty of time to get to know each other. He’s really just a big push over.” She turns her attention to Knight. “Aren’t you, boy?”
Knight, totally out of character, gives a little whinny.
A whinny.
He’s flirting with her, fucking bastard.
“Where did you guys go?”
Evelyn looks at the ground and traces a half circle in the dirt with the toe of her boot. “Through the vineyard.”
“Through the vineyard?” She’s lying. I can tell by the way she refuses to look at me. “That’s it?”
“Well, I wanted to see the burned area.”
“And…” I know my horse. A quick ride around the vineyard doesn’t bring that much of a froth to his coat. “Where else?” A sinking sensation in my gut tells me I know exactly where she went.
“I took him up on the trail.”
“The trail.”
“Yup, the trail.”
“Where you almost died?”
“Where you saved me.” She lifts on tiptoe and props her forearms on my shoulders.
Her fingers twine in the hair at my nape, sending shivers down my spine and bringing a nod from my dick.
I like her hands on me.
The idea of Evelyn out all by herself doesn’t sit well with me. I’m very well aware she’s able to take care of herself, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. To hide the anger stirring within me, I grab Knight’s bridle and lead him inside the barn.
I have no right to be angry, but I’ve been away for nearly two weeks. I’m tired. Exhausted. And pissed. She has no regard for her safety. But I’m not too far gone to make the mistake of voicing those thoughts out loud.
Knight provides the perfect distraction. As does Evelyn. We head into the barn while my brothers dismiss themselves and retreat into the house. This leaves Evelyn and me alone to reconnect, a.k.a. fuck, while they do whatever the fuck they need to do without us.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s to never take Knight for granted. As much as I need to reconnect with Evelyn, I take the time to properly care for my horse. While I do, there’s plenty of time to talk myself down from the anger stirring in my belly.
I have no right to be mad at Evelyn for heading back up to the ridge, but damn if it doesn’t gnaw at me. While she’s comfortable in the wilderness by herself, I’m not okay with it.
Funny how that’s one of the things I love most about her, even when I don’t like it. Too much of a protector, I’m not used to a woman who’s able to take care of herself. I’m not used to a woman with the balls to go hiking alone.
“Why did you go up to the ridge?” I’m curious.
“I wanted to
see if I could find my phone.”
“We went to look for it, but didn’t find anything.”
“I know. I guess I just needed to go myself. I was also kind of hoping to find my revolver.”
“Your what?” This is news to me.
“My father gave it to me and I kind of lost it.”
“What do you mean by lost?”
“I had it when I hiked up there and didn’t have it after…well, you know.”
After that asshole knocked her out and left her for dead. Yeah, I know all about that.
“Is it possible he took it?”
“Considering the arson investigator didn’t find it, that’s kind of what I’m assuming. It’s a shame because it’s the only thing I really have left of my father.”
“How can that be?” She told me her story, but still. Did she really get rid of everything?
“Just is. Anyway, California gun laws are strict, and I kind of didn’t want that laying around.”
She’s right about that. It’s harder than shit to get a gun permit in California, and concealed carry for an out of state visitor? Impossible. I’m not sure what kind of laws she broke, but understand her need to recover the weapon.
“Brody, Cage and I spent an entire afternoon up there looking for your phone. If there’d been a revolver we would’ve found it.”
“I appreciate that.” She shoves her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “I guess I needed to see what it looked like up there after the fire. It was a sobering experience.”
It’s a fire she very nearly didn’t survive. I suppose I understand her need to revisit the scene of the crime, as it were.
“Did Grant come by and talk to you?” My shift in topic may be abrupt, but I haven’t had a chance to speak with Grant. I need to know what he’s found.
“He did.” She twists a lock of hair around her finger. “He had me sit with a sketch artist to get a picture of the man I saw.”
It shouldn’t surprise me. Unlike flakey Pete, Grant is a thorough fucker. He’ll chase down every lead until it reaches a dead end. I’m glad he’s working her case.
With Evelyn helping me, we unsaddle Knight and give him a rub down in half the time it normally takes. I slide the bolt to Knight’s stall closed and turn to find her playing with a length of rope.
Firestorm: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 25
