by Amelia Shea
“Then he makes her life miserable, stops banging her, refuses to talk to her or be around her. I’d suggest cheat on her but I know Grey’s not into that. He just needs to make her hate him and the ranch. Then she’ll leave. We might have to buy her out through the divorce settlement but it won’t be nearly as much as we offered her today for the land.” He sat back down on the couch, grinning like a fucking fool. “It’s perfect.”
Grey sat still, watching his little brother revel in his plan. He was disgusted. The family had spent years making concessions for Tripp’s behavior. It stopped now. He wouldn’t engage in his little brother’s cunning, moronic plan. He actually felt embarrassment over sharing the same blood as Tripp.
“Tripp, I pity your future wife,” Grey said with a sneer, no longer amused by his brother.
Chapter Seven
Britt sat on her rocker, her hand curled around her coffee mug. It was early, damn that rooster. A lot had happened in the last month—some good, some bad, all of it exhausting. She was slowly learning the ropes around the ranch. However, Lucas really did most of the work. She took on the feeding of the chickens and goats, which didn’t seem like a big task. Lucas assured her it was helping.
“Britt, trust me, anything I don’t have to do in my daily chores is a big help.”
Lucas was awesome. He knew everything about the ranch and how it ran. He had spent hours giving her the rundown of her newly inherited property.
“We produce barley and wheat and make a good chunk of change from the hay sales. Our livestock is minimal. The cows, goats, and sheep don’t bring much in but they could if you expand. I can help you with it. Cal was content with what he had but Britt, this could be a more successful ranch to rival even the Fords, maybe.”
“You think so?” His excitement was contagious, as was his drive to make the ranch something more. Just because Cal was content with the ranch being simple didn’t mean she had to be. She could take his dream to the next level.
“I do. It’ll take time and money but we got the bones right here. I got ideas that can make it happen.” It was as though a light bulb flickered above her head. Pay it forward. Cal had shared his dream with her, now she’d share it with Lucas. If anyone deserved it, it would be Lucas. He showed up every day, on time, and even came out on his day off when another ranch hand needed help with one of the horses. Together, maybe they really could be competition to the Fords.
It had become all-consuming and important that the ranch be something special. Cal had given her a gift, and she wanted him to be proud of how she’d handled it. Still, there were obstacles. Montana wasn’t all he made it out to be. Not once during their talks did he mention field mice, bears, or snakes. He also left out the isolation of the land. The nearest town was miles away. But Montana had something back home didn’t. It had silent nights and skies bursting with stars. It had views she’d only seen in pictures and her mind. And peace.
Britt started to really feel the peace Cal had described. She smiled, looking out at the land. This was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Britt had spent the last twenty minutes talking with Darcy, who was complaining about Marcus. It turned out he wasn’t so keen on their relationship being so casual.
“An ultimatum, can you believe the nerve of this fucking guy?” Darcy huffed.
Britt rolled her eyes. “Yeah, Darc, unbelievable. Marcus wants to have more than just a sexual relationship with you. He’s got a lot of nerve, trying to spend more quality time with you, getting to know you. And now, wanting you two to take it to the next level? What a fucking jerk!”
“Shut up, Britt.”
She burst out laughing. “Well, seriously, here you are complaining about Marcus, who is gorgeous, kind, and incredibly successful, wanting more with you. He’s a great guy and you’re what…upset he wants more?”
“Don’t you have horse shit to clean or something?”
Britt snorted. “Actually, I do.”
There was a long silence and Britt could hear Darcy sigh. “You’re really not coming home, are you?”
Britt leaned forward on her rocker, staring down at her feet. “I’m where I’m supposed to be for now.”
“Finally got yourself a home, huh?” Darcy said.
Britt leaned her head back but didn’t answer. She didn’t have it in her to admit it, but everything she ever wanted revolved around having a real home. True, she could have sold the ranch and bought a house. But that’s all it would have been, four walls and a ceiling. A structure, nothing more. She was given a dream.
This may not have been her dream, but it came with a home. It was fate and she couldn’t part with it. She struggled with giving Darcy an explanation. In the end, it was unnecessary. Darcy knew her better than anyone, and she was about to prove it.
“I get it,” Darcy said. “But I don’t have to like it.”
Britt smiled. “You can visit, ya know? And you…” Her eyes shifted to the road at the sound of a loud engine. Her body deflating into her rocker, she sighed heavily. “Shit! Gotta go, call you later.”
A rambling blue pickup came tearing up the road. Grey Fords, relentless prick. What now? For the last four weeks, the Fords had made it their mission to mess with Britt and her ranch. First, someone mysteriously canceled their feed order from the local supplier. Something Lucas had said never happened before.
She’d only had a few encounters with Grey. They had bumped into one another in town a few weeks earlier. He’d been cordial but nowhere as nice as he’d been when they first met.
She was coming out of the market when her cart slammed into him. She had been shoving cash in her wallet and hadn’t been paying attention.
“I’m so sorry.” She stared up at his hard face.
He didn’t say a word except to grunt. His scowl locked on his face, he moved to the side to let her pass. She should have kept quiet, but seeing him again brought back the night on her porch.
She smiled, hoping to hide her nervousness. “How are you?”
His face showed no emotion. She got the impression he wanted to ignore her, but he didn’t. “Fine.” He turned to walk through the doors. The gnawing sensation in her chest wouldn’t let up. He was just past the threshold when she blurted out, “Grey?”
He glanced over his shoulder.
“For what’s it’s worth, I had no ill intention with not selling to you guys. I just changed my mind.”
His temple twitched and for the first time, she noticed he was clenching his jaw. Britt took a breath, waiting for him to unleash his anger. It was a mistake to try and make amends.
He squinted harshly, drawing his eyebrows into a deep scowl. “As you stated, you were well within your right not to sell.” His tone was icy. He nodded slightly. “Have a good day, Miss Montgomery.”
She watched him walk into the market. He didn’t look back. She moved toward her car, taking great effort to not let his cold, unforgiving demeanor bother her. It did, especially how he addressed her. She didn’t expect him to call her darling, but he could have said Britt, instead of Miss Montgomery, like they’d shared nothing.
She got the same cordial, cold treatment from Jasper and Mr. Fords. It seemed all the Fords were holding a grudge. All over her land they deemed stolen from them.
Cordialness went out the door the first time her goats got onto their property. From that day forward, every time she encountered Greyson Fords, she was greeted with a scowl and lips twisted in disgust. She learned fast. Grey was not the forgiving type.
Their sheep and goats had gotten over to the Fords’ ranch three times from three different faulty gates. Again, something Lucas had said never happened in the past. Britt smelled a rat. Grey made it clear. If it happened again, she would pay. Looked like the piper just arrived.
He slammed on his brakes and jumped out of the truck, stalking to her porch. “Goddammit, woman! Four times, I warned you if it happened again I would take action.” His fury only enhanced his beauty. Relentless pri
ck or not, Grey Fords was hot. No denying it.
Britt let out a heavy sigh and walked down two steps, putting them at eye level. She threw up her hands. “I’m sorry. What do you want me to do, Grey? Lucas did the gate checks this morning and everything was secure. We’ve done it every day since the first time it happened.”
“Well, then maybe you need to get a better ranch hand. If you’re going to put your faith in someone who is incompetent, then this is what you’ll get.” He took off his hat, smacking it against his thigh. His eyes blazed into hers.
Britt understood his frustration. However, she wouldn’t stand by and let this man talk badly about Lucas. “He is very competent.”
Grey snarled. “According to who? You? It’s like the blind leading the blind around here.”
“God, Grey, I said I was sorry.”
Her apology seemed to knock him down a notch. He was still angry, but his face lost some fury and relaxed. Slightly. He remained silent, watching her. She was at fault, she would make amends instead of excuses. It was the right thing to do.
Britt inhaled deeply and put up her hands in surrender, “Look, I understand you’re mad, I get it. And I’m really sorry this happened again. When Lucas gets back, I’ll talk to him, we’ll figure something out. We’ve barely gotten any sleep trying to catch up on things around here.”
His eyes darkened, and the anger was back in full force at her last statement. What was that about?
“How much sleep you and Lucas get is not my concern.”
“I know. I just need you to cut me some slack, I’ve never run a ranch before.”
Grey released a nasty laugh. “You ain’t running shit, darlin’. Look around you, Britt, owning a ranch is an everyday job. You sitting all pretty with your fancy philosophy degree isn’t gonna get shit done. You have no business running this ranch. Strutting around in jeans and cowboy boots doesn’t make you a rancher.”
She could understand his anger, but his digs were unnecessary.
Britt snapped, “I never said I was a rancher, I just said I’m trying.”
Grey shook his head in disgust. “Try harder.”
Britt opened her mouth to tell him to fuck off but snapped it shut. She grinded her teeth together, holding back. He was right, as much as she hated to admit it, the only way she was running the ranch was into the ground.
Of course, the Fords had played a role in sabotaging her ranch. She just knew it. She couldn’t prove it, and even if she could, who would she tell? It’s not like there were ranch police.
Staring at Greyson Fords reminded her of dessert. You want it, you crave it, you can almost taste it but you know once you have it, you’ll regret it. Heaving a heavy sigh, she fanned out her hands in defeat.
“I’ll try harder. Okay?”
Grey’s eyes burned into hers, his anger very apparent with no signs of easing up.
Britt started down the stairs slowly, gauging his reaction. She was pretty sure he was a gentleman and wouldn’t slug her. She stood on the last step, putting her eye level with his bearded chin. A quick flash of how his prickled beard felt against her face sent a tremble to her lower region. Damn, girl, focus.
“I know you’re mad. I get it and I understand. You have every right to be pissed. I’m sorry, and I’ll try harder. This is all new to me and I know, you don’t care, and it’s not your problem, I just…” Britt stopped in mid-sentence when she heard a loud crash from the barn. Whipping her head to the left, she waited.
Again, she heard the noise and started toward the barn, leaving Grey behind. As she got closer she could hear the faint sound. She didn’t know anything about animals, but she knew a distressed cry when she heard one. Something was definitely wrong. Pulling hard to open the barn door, she squeezed in the small opening. Stalking down the stalls, she checked on the horses. They looked fine.
Hearing the soft moan, she ran to the last stall, where Lucas had been keeping the goat. She hated the damn goat. Nasty thing, constantly nibbling on every piece of clothing she had. Britt had been warned not to lean on top of the fence when Gert was around. Unfortunately, it took three tees and her favorite sweatshirt for it to finally sink in.
Britt peered over at the goat, lying on her side, trying to get up. She was pregnant, and it appeared she’d be a mom very soon. Shit! Not now, where the hell is Lucas?
“Oh, hell no, goat, you hold that baby in until Lucas gets here. Fuck!” Britt rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of talking to the goat. She knew she sounded like an idiot, but at this present time, she could care less.
Patting her pockets searching for her phone, she realized it must be up at the house. She turned fast and plowed into a stone wall of flesh. She bounced back and reached out to steady herself.
Strong hands gripped her waist, and the smell of pine and fire filled her nostrils. Gazing up through her lashes, her eyes found Grey’s. He had lost the anger and replaced it with a mixture of confusion and concern.
His biceps under her hands were clouding her thoughts. This was the first time they had touched since the night they had met. It had been over a month, but she had dreamed about it a few times. She always hated herself for doing it—but dreaming of him, in the bed, with those hands and those lips, had Britt wondering what the sound of her name would sound like in a moan coming from his lips.
The small whine from Gert snapped Britt out of her sex-induced trance and back to reality.
Backing up from Grey, she panicked. “I need your phone, quick.”
“Where’s yours?”
“Dammit, Grey, does everything have to be a fight with you? Just give me your damn phone, I gotta call Lucas.”
“What for?”
“What for? She’s having a baby, that’s what for, you jerk.” Her hand motioned to the stall.
“So?”
“Do you really wanna deliver this baby ’cause I sure as shit will not.”
Peering over into Gert’s stall before stepping back, Grey burst out laughing. His head fell back, releasing a boisterous laugh.
Britt looked over the stall, then at Grey, who was still laughing. He’d taken off his cowboy hat and was wiping his eyes. Tears from laughing so hard.
“What the hell are you laughing at? Can’t you see she needs help?” She scowled. “God, you really are an asshole.”
His laughter died down and Britt was caught in his stare. His blue eyes penetrated hers, making her squirm slightly. He took two steps toward her, backing her into the wooden gate to Gert’s stall. Towering over her, her gaze stayed on him. His hands reached again for her waist, and a tingling sensation coursed through her. His hands were big and rough, but his touch was the opposite, soft and almost gentle.
He slowly urged her by the hips to turn, which she did. Facing the goat with her stomach against the gate, she could feel Grey’s body press against her back. His hands releasing her, he gripped the gate on either side of her. His head bowed to her ear, his hot breath caressing her ear and neck. Her entire body shivered and she could feel her nipples bead.
His tone was low but deep. “She doesn’t need our help, darlin’. She’s about to show us one of God’s miracles. Just watch.”
Britt watched as Gert lay on the floor of the barn. Her low soft cries and groans almost sounded human. She rolled on her side, pain evident. Britt’s eyes widened when she saw a small face appear at Gert’s back end. The groans grew louder and more panicked, and her stomach tensed and released, doing it over and over several times—each time the baby goat making more of an appearance.
The baby was halfway out when Gert abruptly tried to stand. Britt grabbed for the door lock. She didn’t know what she would do once she got in there. Pushing down a pregnant goat in labor probably wasn’t a good idea but if Gert stood up, Britt feared for the baby.
Grey’s hand rested on Britt’s, stopping her from opening the gate. The goat eased down on her back and moaned in agony. The baby goat was almost completely out and with one more tense push, the kid c
ame out.
It was so small lying next to her mama. Gert leaned over her baby, nudging her nose over it. Almost like a human mom would do with her baby, checking for ten fingers and tens toes. It was beautiful.
“See, the most natural thing on this earth. She needed no help from us.”
Small tears pearled in her eyes. Even the most cynical, insensitive person would have cried, she kept telling herself.
Her hand was tugged and led to the next stall. Wiping her tears with her spare hand, Britt followed Grey. His body shifted quickly and he had her pinned again, this time against the empty stall with the front of his body against the front of hers. Her immediate reaction was to grab his chest. Her hands squeezed the hard and solid wall.
His dark stare peered down over her, and she averted her eyes to his chest. Heat ran through her, a tingling sensation shooting straight to her core. This is crazy. She swiped her eyes and snorted. “Jeez, I must look a mess.” She was sure her mascara was halfway down her face by now.
“I think you look beautiful. Watching you get all weepy caring over your goat, it does something to me.” His tone was husky as he hovered closer to her.
Britt glanced down at his crotch. She was set to make her snarky comment and smirked when she saw the bulge at his groin.
“Watching me cry gets you hard?”
“No, watching you all sweet gets me hard.”
All thoughts of goats and babies were gone. Being this close to him, his smell and his body trapping hers.
His hands wrapped around her back, pulling her body into his. She could feel his erection through his jeans pressing against her stomach. Biting her bottom lip, her eyes found his heated stare on her mouth. Quickly releasing it, she swiped her tongue.
“Tease me again, Britt. I dare ya.” He tightened his grip on her. His fingers dug into her sides.
It wasn’t hard to figure out what he meant by tease.
Holding his stare, she licked her lips again and cocked her eyebrow. Without a second’s pause, his mouth crashed down on hers.
His strong lips moved over hers, hands gripping her harder, and she gasped. He entered her mouth with a sweep of his tongue against hers and from there the kiss intensified. She could not get enough of him, tasting him. Even the feel of his prickled chin rubbing against her turned her on. She released his chest, sliding her hands up to his neck, pulling him deeper in.
