Chapter Eight
Having a bunkmate would take some getting used to. Wyatt had grown accustomed to peaceful evenings, but as soon as Tom stomped inside grumbling about women being worthless, he knew his life would change.
“There are two rooms that are open. Choose the one that suits you best.” Wyatt stood in the kitchen, forming hamburger patties. Trinity’s mention of them earlier had created a craving. He didn’t know why he called her Three. It wasn’t his usual practice to give anyone a nickname, but it felt right with her.
Tom plopped into the corner chair. “Where’s the television?”
“We don’t have one.” He put the burgers in the skillet and washed up.
“What’s for dinner?”
“I’m having burgers. Not sure what you’re having. What did you bring to eat?”
A knock sounded. Wyatt dried his hands and threw the worn towel over his shoulder on the way to the door.
When he opened it, there stood Trinity. “Hey, Three. Long time no see.”
“Umm, can I use the bathroom?” She looked over her shoulder to the trailer. “The amenities are scarce. The toilet is basically a litter box.”
Tom leaned forward. “Go piss in the bushes like the rest of us. You’re not welcome in here.”
Wyatt pinched the bridge of his nose; he didn’t need this shit. Life was complicated enough. There was no room for childish behavior.
“Grow up. She has as much right to be here as you or me.” He stepped aside and pointed to his right. “First door on the left.”
She ran down the hallway.
“I don’t want her here,” Tom said.
“You don’t have a choice. She’s Cade’s sister.”
“He doesn’t want her here either.”
Wyatt went back to his burgers and flipped them. “She’s here, so live with it.” He sprinkled on garlic powder, salt, and pepper. “Didn’t your mom teach you to respect women?”
Tom laughed. “Man, you’ve got it all wrong. Trinity isn’t a woman. Look past the long blonde hair and tits, and she’s a man with a vagina.”
She walked down the hallway. “Or a girl with a dick. One bigger than yours.” She lifted her nose and breathed deep. “Smells good.”
Wyatt leaned on the counter and looked at her. “You hungry?”
Tom jumped to his feet. “Woah, you told me to get my own, but you’ll feed her?”
Wyatt opened two buns and handed a plate with one to Three. “She’s proven her worth. You haven’t shown me shit but a bad attitude.” He flipped the burgers once more and set one on top of each bun. “I don’t have the fancy stuff, but there’s ketchup and mustard in the fridge.”
She covered the patty with the other bun. “I’m easy.”
“Got that right,” Tom said.
This wasn’t Wyatt’s ranch. If it was, he’d take Tom out and show him some manners. He walked to the table, set his plate down, and pulled a chair out for Three. He took his seat because if he didn’t, Tom would get a beat down.
“Let’s establish some rules. We all live here. There won’t be any fighting. If you can’t be nice, then get the hell out.” He took a bite of his burger.
“Who made you king?”
Wyatt took the edge of the towel that hung over his shoulder and wiped the juice running down his chin. “Squatter’s rights. I’ve been here longer than you. I set this place up. You have a problem with me, then go talk to Cade. If you’re hungry, there’s a can of stew in the cupboard, or if you hurry, the diner is still open.”
Three stood up and turned in the direction of Tom. “You ready to call it a truce?”
Tom eyed her. “We ain’t friends, Trinity.”
“Nope, but we’re neighbors. You stay out of my way, and I’ll keep out of yours.”
Tom walked out the front door. Seconds later, his engine started, and he left.
“I don’t want to cause trouble, Wyatt.” Three nibbled around the edge of her burger.
“If the rumors are true, that’s your superpower.”
She shook her head. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“I never do.” He leaned over to grab a bag of chips sitting on the counter. “You want some?”
She nodded. “More than you know.”
They ate in companionable silence. When she finished, she rose and started tidying up.
“I don’t expect you to clean.”
“I know. I’m doing it because you didn’t expect it. If you did, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger.”
He sat back and watched her clean the kitchen area. “Are you always so contrary?”
She turned off the water and set the frying pan on the counter to dry. “Sometimes, I’m worse.”
He went to the fridge and pulled out another beer. “You want one?”
“I didn’t come over to eat your food and drink your beer.”
He twisted the cap and handed the bottle to her. “No, you came to pee.” He took a long draw and nodded to the door. “How about a walk?”
She followed him outside. “Are you ready to discuss the girl in the barn?”
“Nothing to talk about. She’s a girl who thinks I’m the one, but I’m not. What about you? You want to tell me why you and Tom hate each other?”
He led her to the pond where they took a seat on the big rock. A sparkling blanket of stars covered the sky.
She laid back and stared upward. “Nope, Cade doesn’t care. Why should you?”
“I’m not Cade.”
“Thank goodness for that. I love my big brother, but sometimes he’s as stubborn as a mule.”
She pushed up and sat with her feet dangling over the edge.
“Sounds like a family trait.”
She looked away. “What Tom said … it wasn’t untrue.” She picked up a pebble and tossed it into the water. A ripple moved across the surface. Not one part was unaffected. That was the thing about change. It created a disturbance, and when something interrupted the calm, it would never be exactly the same again.
“What part?” His mind ran through the evening. There was a lot said. It wasn’t the words he heard but the actions he saw. Tom was dead set on hurting Three.
“I was raised on ranches to be one of the boys. I’ve lived in bunkhouses my entire life.”
The wind whipped around them, and her hair blew across her face. He reached out to brush it aside. “You are not like any guy I know, but after meeting Tom, I’m sure you beat him in the endowment department.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen his. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not easy.”
He immediately felt guilty for kissing her that afternoon. In what world was it okay to grab an unsuspecting woman and lay his lips on her? “Trinity, I’m so sorry for this afternoon. I didn’t understand how that might make you feel. I was selfish and inconsiderate.”
She turned to look at him—stare at him as if she was analyzing his intentions. “I like when you call me Three.”
He stood and offered his hand. “Well, Three, I’m sorry for being an asshole.”
She pulled herself up and stood beside him, looking at the water. “You’re better than most.” She tapped her chest. “I feel it in my heart.” She looked toward Abby’s house. Under the light of the moon, she smiled. “Don’t tell him I have one.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” He helped her off the rock, and they walked back toward the trailer. “Get your stuff. I’ll show you your room.”
“I’ll stay here.”
“Not a chance. I lock the door at night, which means you have to knock to use the bathroom.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“You lock the door? Are you afraid someone will break in and kill you?”
He chuckled. “Kind of. I’m afraid Violet will sneak in, and Lloyd will kill me.”
She stopped and turned toward him. “Basically, you need me as your shield.”
He rocked his head back and fo
rth. “And I’ll act as yours. Now get your stuff. It’s dark, I’m tired, and my mattress is calling me.”
She rushed into the trailer and came out with a backpack and a purse. “This is all I’ve got.”
Three was a puzzle to him. She was as pretty as a princess and as tough as a soldier. She rode a horse like a wrangler but had the softness of a kitten.
“You want help with your luggage?” he teased.
She tossed him her purse. “Yeah, you take the heavy one.”
They walked into the cabin. It didn’t have much to offer. There were a few chairs, an old sofa, and a card table where they ate. For all intents and purposes, it was drab and dreary, but Three brightened up the place with her presence. She was a single rose in a glass vase. Alone. Pretty. Fragrant. Thorny. Delicate. She would wither if not cared for. Something inside Wyatt wanted that job.
He passed the room he bunked in and turned into the second one. Not seeing any of Tom’s things, he set her purse on the dresser. He’d been collecting donations to furnish the place for weeks. There were two beds and two dressers in each room. Nothing matched, but it didn’t have to. Most were happy to have a place to call home.
“I think Abby put sheets and towels in the drawers.” He turned to leave. At the door, he pointed to the lock. “Use it. I don’t want Tom bothering you.”
She laughed. “The last time he did, I broke his nose.”
He held back his smile. “Good night, Three.”
“Night, Wyatt.” As the door was about to click shut, she said, “I didn’t really mind the kiss.”
Neither did I. He walked into the room next to hers and stripped down for bed. Three would be trouble all right. He had a weakness for women who were funny, feisty, and fabulous.
Chapter Nine
Trinity knew she’d slept in. She felt it in the way her muscles dragged when she climbed out of bed. There was no need to look at her phone for the time. The silence of the house told her everything. Half the workday was over.
She grabbed her towel, tossed her bag over her shoulder, and peeked out the door to make sure no one was skulking about before she rushed to the bathroom in her bra and underwear.
She leaned over the sink to look in the mirror. Dark circles rested under her eyes.
“You’re a mess, girl,” she said to herself.
She stripped out of her undergarments and climbed in the shower. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was wet and remarkably clean. With Tom around, that would change. He wasn’t a details kind of guy. She hoped her brother had gotten him cheap.
She lathered up and rinsed, then wet her hair and glanced around for the shampoo but found none. “That’s right. They’re heathens.” Her hair would hate her, but a girl had to go with the flow, so she used the bar soap. When she finished, she stepped out, ready to conquer the day.
Cade had told her to find a job. Abby said she could care for the horses. The latter would feed her; the former might get her some shampoo and a change of underwear.
In the kitchen, an old coffeepot sat on the counter. At the bottom was an inch of caffeinated mud, just the way she liked it; coffee, she could almost chew. She downed it and headed for her SUV and a trip into town.
She parked in front of the pharmacy. She had priorities. Shampoo, conditioner, and toilet paper that didn’t sand her bottom were at the top of the list.
The bell above the door rang when she stepped inside. Behind the counter stood a white-haired woman with kind eyes and a welcoming smile.
“Mornin’,” she said. “Welcome to Doc’s. I’m Agatha.”
“Good morning.” She reached for her hat to take it off out of courtesy but remembered she’d left it at the cabin. “I’m Trinity.”
Agatha closed the paper and leaned on the surface. “You new in town or just visiting?”
“Not sure yet. I’m Trinity. Cade and Luke’s sister.”
“I know your brothers. That Luke is something else. His girl Riley makes these big metal pieces people pay thousands for. Cade sticks to himself, but he makes our Abby happy so that makes us happy.”
“Good to know.” She moved toward the counter and snatched up a chocolate bar. “Where would I find shampoo?”
“Let me think.” She put her finger to her chin and looked up. “It’s in the cleaning supply aisle. Three down to your right. Paul has a system that only makes sense to him.”
Trinity thought the woman had lost her mind, but when she turned down the aisle, she found the shampoo sitting beside the dishwashing detergent, which was stored next to the granite cleaner. In some crazy way, she got his system.
Not wanting to bother the older woman, she considered where the conditioner might be. It was a kind of lotion for the hair. She located it sitting next to a bottle of Nivea. Looking for the toilet paper was easy. It was with everything else made to absorb, like sponges and mops and tampons.
Back at the counter, she set her selections down and took out her wallet. There wasn’t much in there. Gas had eaten her resources to get here. Inside was the check from Blain and not much more.
Agatha rang up her purchases. “That will be nine sixty-one.”
Trinity moved the chocolate bar into view. “Did you get this too?”
Agatha added it to the bill. “That’s ten eighty-five.”
She had a five, four ones and some change. She’d need to find a bank soon.
“Can I put this back?” She held up the candy bar.
Agatha stared at her with soft, mothering eyes. Not that she knew how a mother looked at their child, but if she’d had a mom, she was certain the expression would be similar.
“Is this your first trip to town?”
“Yes. Well, I mean, I was here yesterday with Wyatt, but I stayed outside while he ran into the corner store.”
Agatha bagged the goods. “First ten bucks is on us.”
“Really?”
The older woman’s cheeks turned pink. “It builds goodwill and …” She paused like she was making it up on the fly. Trinity wasn’t sure she wasn’t. “That brings you back.”
She handed Agatha a dollar. “My bill was over ten.”
“Close enough.” She thrust the bag forward. “I look forward to seeing you again, Trinity.”
“I’ll definitely be back. Do you know anyone who’s hiring?”
Agatha smiled. “Check the bakery or the brewhouse. Maisey’s might need a little help too until Natalie gets back.”
“I will.” She walked out of the pharmacy and into the sun. The golden rays caressed her cheeks. Across the street was the bakery. Down the road was the fire station. She debated on which to visit first. The bakery where she might get a job or the firehouse where she would find the nice brother. When her stomach grumbled, she dropped her bag at her SUV and headed straight toward the smell of chocolate.
She entered heaven and glanced at the offerings in the glass case.
“Howdy,” a blonde from behind the counter popped up and said. Her Texas drawl was a reminder to Trinity of the years she’d spent in Dallas.
“Howdy back. The chocolate roped me in.”
“That would be the muffins.” The woman reached over and offered a hand to shake. “I’m Katie, and you are?”
She gave her a firm shake and dropped her hand. “I’m Trinity Mosier.”
“As in Luke and Cade?”
She raised her hands in the air in mock surrender. “Guilty.”
“When did you get here?”
She moved sideways to take in everything. There were cookies and cakes and muffins and something that looked like a brownie covered in caramel and nuts.
“I arrived the day before yesterday. I’m staying at Cade’s ranch for now.”
Katie pointed to a table under a corkboard labeled as the Wishing Wall. “Have a seat. First treat is on the house. You like chocolate?”
“I like everything.” But raisins. She didn’t admit that because it wasn’t nice to criticize.
Katie giggled. “My
kind of girl.”
Trinity sat at the designated table and looked up to the board. There were notes pinned in various places. Some were serious, asking for healing. Some were silly, asking for first kisses.
Katie sat a plate in front of her. “Coffee or milk?” She had both balanced in one palm.
“Coffee, please.”
“Perfect, I’ll drink the milk.” She took a seat. “That’s the Wishing Wall. You want to fill one out?”
Trinity shook her head. “I don’t really believe in wishes. I believe in hard work.”
“It’s possible to believe in both.”
Trinity stared at the plate full of treats. “Are we having a party? Who will eat all of this?”
“Take home what you don’t eat.” She pulled open the carton and drank deep. “Tell me what brings you here.”
They sat together like they were friends. Trinity had never had a female friend. There weren’t many women on the ranches where she’d worked. The ones that showed up were gone by first light.
She wasn’t sure how this sharing thing went. Did she tell her everything or spoon-feed her the basics? Too much of anything was never good, so she shared only a bit.
“I lost my job in Dallas and came here to regroup.”
Katie smiled. “I’m from Dallas. Where did you work?”
That Southern twang made Trinity feel at home. She’d been hearing it for years.
“I trained horses for Blain Wallaby.”
Katie lifted a brow. “Oh my. How was that?”
“Fine, until he fired me.”
“Let me guess, new trainer for his Angel?”
Trinity stared, slack-jawed. “You know them?”
“They’re the Wallabys. Big money, little brains. I mean really, who has a ranch named Wallaby but raises horses?”
“Mr. Wallaby, I guess.” She pulled off the top of the muffin and took a bite. “Oh, my goodness. This is …”
“Heaven, right? When Bea died, she left all her recipes. You’d think there was magic in them, but it’s mixing the right stuff together that makes it good. Don’t worry about Blain; he wasn’t the best ingredient for you. I imagine you’ll find everything you need right here in Aspen Cove.”
One Hundred Choices (An Aspen Cove Novel Book 12) Page 6
