The Rancher's Rose: Ranchers Only Series

by Elle Christensen

  We sat in contentment for a few minutes. My eyes strayed to her legs and I chuckled to myself. I couldn’t imagine what we looked like at the moment. Rose naked only from the waist down and I’d only dropped the waistband of my jeans a few inches to get my cock fully exposed.

  “Maybe tomorrow I’ll remind you on the bed.” Rose giggled, and I groaned when she shifted. “If you don’t want to spend your entire morning with my cock buried in your sexy pussy, you need to hop off, baby,” I told her, my voice gritty from the strain of trying not to buck my hips up.

  Rose twisted her upper body and wiggled her ass on my lap. I glared at her and squeezed her waist where my hands were resting. “You’re pushing it, Rose.”

  She winked at me with a naughty smile. “We’re both going to need another shower. How about you dirty me up a little more before we take that shower together.”

  She didn’t have to ask me twice.

  “Where’s Rose?” I asked Mason, one of our trainers, as he led one of our show horses out to the paddock.

  “Think I saw her working with the new horse on the novice course.”

  “Thanks.” He nodded and kept walking. He was a man of few words, but he was our most skilled trainer and I swear, the guy was a fucking horse whisperer. I dreaded the day he might come to me and tell me some other ranch had lured him away.

  Going into the barn, I saddled my black Arabian, Eclipse, and rode him out to one of the training courses we built out on the land. As I approached it, I saw Rose standing near the start, nuzzling the horse and quietly talking to him.

  She’d learned fast over the last month, soaking up everything Lia and I taught her. It was clear that she had a knack for working with the show horses. Before Lia came to live at Red Hill, it had been run by her grandfather who we’d all been very close to. He’d spent some time teaching Rose how to ride competitively. She’d never had a passion for it like Lia, who’d eventually gone to the Olympics, but the lessons and practice were definitely coming in handy now.

  It had been almost five weeks since I’d given her the six-week timeline and I was chomping at the bit to get it over with. I wanted the world to know she was mine.

  I’d made it very clear to the men on the ranch that she wasn’t available; without saying it outright so that I wasn’t breaking Rose’s trust. But, no way was I going to spend six weeks watching every man drool over her. I’d probably have ended up in jail on multiple counts of assault.

  I was also anxious to tell James. I didn’t know what his reaction would be, but he was my best friend, practically my brother. Even though it was by omission, I still felt like I was lying to him.

  Rose’s head lifted suddenly, and her gaze swung in my direction, as though she’d sensed my presence. Her face lit up and she waved with a wide smile. When I reached her, I hopped off Eclipse and tied him to a fence post. Then I pulled her into my arms for a languid, sexy kiss.

  “Well, hello there, cowboy,” she quipped with a saucy wink.

  I laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. “Sorry I had to slip out of bed so early this morning. Maddie needed some help over at Locke Creek and I wanted to get that done early so I was here when everyone else showed up.”

  She patted my chest with faux sympathy and sighed dramatically. “It’s okay. Just means you missed breakfast.”

  I lowered my head and whispered in her ear, “I’ll make it up by eating twice as much of you tomorrow morning.”

  Rose shivered, and I buried my nose in her hair and inhaled her sweet scent. Then I reluctantly let her go and stepped back. “I couldn’t go any longer without a kiss,” I told her. “Now that I’ve had a taste, I’ll let you get back to work.”

  She closed the small space between us and went up on her tiptoes to place a kiss on my jaw. “Later, cowboy.”

  I laughed as she winked and sashayed her way back to the quarter horse she was working with. She’d put a little extra sway in her hips and my eyes were glued to her sexy ass. With a groan, I adjusted myself and walked back to Eclipse, trying to cool my lust before I mounted him. A hard dick and a hard saddle were not a good combination between my legs.

  Sam, one of our other trainers, drove up in a truck just as I was settling myself on Eclipse’s back. I lifted a hand in greeting and he did the same out of his open window.

  I looked over my shoulder to get a last glimpse of my girl and puffed with pride as I watched her take her horse through the course. She was urging him into a low jump when the truck backfired loudly and startled just as his feet left the ground. It caused his landing to be unsteady and I watched in horror as he stumbled to the side, then righted himself and bucked a couple of times. Rose held on as long as she could, but when he bucked, she lost her grip with her legs and was tossed off.

  My heart stopped at the sight of Rose flying through the air and landing on the ground with a thud. I don’t even remember dismounting or running over to her. It felt like I was just suddenly there, by her side.

  Her eyes were closed, and she was completely still. I reached out to check her pulse but reared back in surprise when her eyes popped open and she shouted. “FUCK!” she groaned and closed her eyes again. “Damn, that hurt.”

  My heart had restarted and was slamming in my chest. I didn’t know whether to freak the fuck out or lecture her about her language. Neither seemed like a helpful reaction, but I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly.

  “Are you alright?” I frantically ran my hands over her body looking for damage. She hissed when I reached her left wrist and I noticed it was already turning purple and swelling. “Sorry, baby,” I apologized solemnly.

  Carefully, I helped her to sit up. “I’m good,” she muttered, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. “Just a little bruised on my body and ego.” A corner of my mouth lifted at her joke, but I focused on scooping her into my arms and standing up. “I can walk,” she protested weakly as she laid her head on my shoulder and cradled her injured wrist against her chest.

  I shrugged and kissed her temple. “I like to carry you.”

  Sam had rounded up the quarter horse and calmed it down. “Can you ride Eclipse and take both horses back?” I asked as we passed by him on our way to the truck.

  “Sure,” he agreed. “Keys are in the ignition.” He looked at Rose with concern. “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head, but I answered for her. “Probably just a broken wrist but I’m going to take her to the ER, just in case I missed something.”

  She huffed a little and mumbled, “It’s probably just a sprain, why don’t we wrap it up and see if it gets better? No sense making the trip all the way to the hospital for the doctor to put it in an Ace bandage and send me home.”

  I frowned at her and shook my head as I gently set her in the passenger seat. “Don’t argue with me. We are going to the hospital. You could be bleeding internally or something.” She snorted as I buckled her up. I ignored her and shut the door, then jogged around to the driver’s side and hopped in.

  After turning the key in the ignition, I sent a quick text to James before putting the truck in drive and hitting the gas.

  11

  Garrison

  “Rose!” Lia exclaimed as she came barreling into the exam room. She rushed over to Rose and gave her a careful hug. “What happened?”

  “Where’s James?” Rose asked. “I don’t want to have to tell it twice.”

  Lia waved flippantly toward the door. “Finding the doctor.” She rolled her eyes. "You know how he is. I’m sure the doctor will fill him in.”

  Rose relayed the story to Lia and was just finishing when James walked in with the doctor on his heels.

  “Hey, Petal,” James greeted her with a forced smile. He took Lia’s place beside the bed she was reclining on and brushed some hair off her face. “You look like you were in a tussle and lost.”

  Rose laughed. “Yeah, but you should see the other guy.”

  He chuckled lightly before turning to face the doctor, widening h
is stance and crossing his arms over his chest. “You checked her over thoroughly? Ran all the tests?”

  I smiled as I watched Rose roll her eyes up to the ceiling in annoyance. “I’m fine, big bro,” she tried to reassure him.

  He ignored her and continued to stare down the doctor. I couldn’t blame him since I’d done the same thing not a half hour ago.

  The doctor looked to Rose for permission to share her medical information with us and she nodded.

  “She has a few bruises and will be sore for a few days. We splinted her sprained wrist and gave her some pain medication. Otherwise, she appears to be completely healthy.”

  James frowned as he surveyed Rose from head to toe, his eyes lingering on her sling. Then he turned to Lia. “I think she should come home with us so that we can take care of her. At least until we are sure nothing else is wrong.”

  Rage built up inside me, trying to spew from my mouth like an erupting volcano. “No,” I said, my voice hard. “Rose is mine and I’ll be the only one taking care of her.”

  The only sound in the tension-filled silence that followed was Rose’s gasp. Her eyes flew to her brother before swinging around to glare at me. I stared back at her unapologetically.

  “You,” James snapped as he pointed at me. “Hallway. Now.” His finger switched to Rose. “And, you, we’ll be having a talk later.”

  Lia put her hand on his arm. “James, I don’t think now is the right time.”

  “It’s exactly the right time, Ophelia,” he responded as his hands clenched at his sides.

  The doctor cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “I’d like to speak with Ms. Locke alone for a few minutes. So, perhaps now is a good time for you three to step out.”

  “Why alone?” I asked, confused and worried.

  “Doctor/patient confidentiality,” he said coolly, then looked down at her chart. “If Ms. Locke chooses to share with you, that’s her decision.”

  “Baby—” I started, but she cut me off.

  “Go ahead. I’m sure it’s just protocol. And, bro”—Her blue eyes flashed with warning as she narrowed them at James—"He better be in the same physical condition when he comes back in as he was when he left.”

  If I didn’t know James better, I could’ve sworn I saw him pout before stomping out of the room. I wanted to argue with Rose and stay behind, but she just shook her head and pointed at the door.

  James was pacing when I entered the hallway. I could practically see the waves of anger rolling off of him. He saw me and stopped, a piercing scowl on his face that intimidated most people.

  “What the fuck, Garrison? Why am I just now finding out that you’re seeing my sister?” He pulled at his hair in frustration, confusion seeping into his expression. “And when the fuck did you two stop hating each other?”

  “We never really hated each other, James,” I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. “It was how I deflected the sparks between us. I knew you wouldn’t approve—”

  “Why wouldn’t I approve?” he asked, interrupting me.

  “For starters, I’m twelve years older than her and—”

  “Do you love her?”

  I ran my hands over my head and blew out a breath. “Yeah, I love her.”

  “And, you swear nothing happened before she was legal? Because if it did, I will rip off your balls and shove them up your ass!”

  He yelled the last part a little too loud, gaining us a few odd looks. “James!” Lia snapped. “Keep your voice down and how about you don’t threaten to maim your best friend while we are in a hospital and someone might call the police?”

  James nodded in acknowledgment but kept his eyes on me. His stare was hard as he waited for my response.

  “I was never inappropriate with her,” I insisted, holding my hands out to the sides. “I promise. I honestly never noticed her like that until after she turned eighteen.”

  He scrutinized me for another minute before speaking. “Okay. Now, back to my original question.”

  “Wait, what do you mean ‘okay’?”

  James walked over to where I was standing with my back to the wall. He leaned on it, crossing his arms and ankles. “I mean, okay. I have no problem with you two as a couple.”

  “You don’t?” I questioned cautiously.

  “You’re the best man I know, Garrison. Why wouldn’t I want Rose to be with you?” Warmth invaded my chest as his trust in me. "I know you’ll take care of her—treat her right, and you said you love her.”

  “I do,” I confirmed.

  “So, I’m okay with it,” James grunted. His face twisted up as he shifted uncomfortably. “Enough of this mushy shit. I want to know why I’m just now finding out about this?”

  “Rose wanted to be sure about me before she told you,” I explained. “I wasn’t comfortable hiding it from you. You’re my best friend and brother. But, she’s the love of my life and I’ll do anything to make her happy.”

  Lia sighed and clasped her hands over her chest, her mouth spread in a dopey smile. James and I both laughed at her sappy reaction to my words and her expression turned to a glower. “What?” she asked defensively.

  James walked over and pulled her into his arms. “Nothing, baby. You’re just adorable, that’s all.” He pecked her on the lips and she seemed to melt into him. It made me ache to hold my girl, to feel all her softness pressed up against me.

  He cocked his head at me. “So, I should take this up with Rose, huh?”

  I shook my head emphatically as I barked, “Absolutely not.”

  “Excuse me?” James snorted as though he thought I was joking.

  “Leave it alone, James. I don’t want you upsetting her.”

  Lia snickered, and he frowned at her. “What? Like you never act all caveman about me?” She rolled her eyes and patted his arm. “Don’t be a hypocrite, babe.”

  James’ eyes danced with amusement, but he kept the frown on his face and muttered, “Traitor.”

  The doctor came out into the hallway just then and waved us back into the room. I rushed in with James and Lia right behind me. Rose still sat on the bed, but now she looked pale and shell-shocked.

  Panic invaded my body, but I kept my voice steady. “Baby?” I advanced toward her until I was at her bedside and could take hold of her hand. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

  12

  Rose

  Garrison had shocked the hell out of me with his announcement. But, it was nothing compared to what I was feeling now. And, it was accompanied by a strong dose of panic.

  I was grateful the doctor had insisted on telling me about my condition privately. How was I supposed to break this news to them?

  When he opened the door to tell them they could come back in, Garrison came in, moving with urgency. James and Lia followed at a calmer pace. I tried to school my expression so that I wouldn’t alarm Garrison as he got closer, but it was clear by the fear on his face that I hadn’t succeeded.

  “Baby? Please tell me what’s wrong,” he pleaded again since I’d been too dazed to answer him the first time.

  “Um…” I looked to the doctor, unsure how to begin.

  He set my chart in the holder at the end of the bed and folded his hands in front of him. “I want to admit Rose and keep her overnight for observation.” Garrison whipped around, and the doctor hurried on. “Nothing to be alarmed about, it’s just a precaution to make sure there are no new complications.”

  Garrison glared at the doctor and waited, as though he expected him to elaborate.

  He didn’t. “A nurse will be in shortly with the paperwork. After you’ve filled it out, you’ll be taken to your room on the third floor.” Then he hightailed it out of the room. At which point, Garrison turned his angry face on me.

  “Complications?” he growled. His eyes narrowed, the hazel turning to a dark brown. “What aren’t you telling me, Rose?” His voice shook and to anyone else, it might have been construed as barely contained rage. But, I knew be
tter. I could see the fear in his eyes.

  “Rose?” James stepped up to the bed and studied my facial features. “Is there something else that you’re holding back?” He was obviously very worried as well, or he wouldn’t have called me by my given name.

  I shook my head. “No, no. I promise, I’m fine.” I cocked my head to the side, so I could see around James and look Lia in the eyes. “Could I have a few minutes with Garrison, please?”

  She nodded and took James’ hand, twining their fingers together. “Let’s go find the cafeteria. The baby is hungry again.” My eyes flew to Lia in shock. How the hell did she know?? Then I realized she was rubbing her own protruding belly and I had to hold in my enormous sigh of relief.

  At the mention of the baby, James was successfully distracted. He let go of her hand and slipped an arm around her waist as he led her out of the room. Before he disappeared, he threw one last troubled glance in my direction.

  Garrison silently watched them leave then turned and lifted my body as though I was light as a feather. He sat on the bed and scooted to the spot I’d just vacated. Keeping his arms tight around me, he buried his face in my neck as he settled me on his lap. “You’re scaring me, baby,” he croaked.

  I sighed and decided not to dance around the issue and dive right in. “Garrison, I’m fine. I promise. Keeping me overnight is just a precaution so they can make sure the fall didn’t hurt the baby.”

  His body stiffened, his arms tightening around me like bands of steel. A few breaths later, he raised his head and stared at me with wide-eyed shock.

  “Baby?” His voice was raspy, as though it was taking great strength to hold back a flood of emotion.

  “As in a little person growing in my stomach.”

  “B-but, you’re on the pill,” he sputtered.

  I frowned and gestured to his groin. “Apparently, your big dick has some kind of super-sperm.”

  The corners of his mouth tilted up in a smug smile.