Branding A Legacy (A Silver Star Ranch Novel) (12 page)

“Don’t hurt me again.”

“I won’t.” My lips cover hers again. It’s a scent and embrace I’m not sure I’ll ever be willing to let go off.

“Promise?” Her innocent eyes peer up into mine. “My heart can’t be broken again, Marvel.”

“I promise.”

“What about Sterling?”

“I’ll take care of him. He’s here watching over the family anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

I move one hand up and down her jawbone, and now that I’m addicted to her touch, I’m unable to leave it. “It’s complicated, but just know Maverik hired him to watch over us with the stuff I have going on.”

“Are you safe, Marvel? I mean, I’ve heard lots and don’t know what to think.”

“I am.”

The pounding on the door increases, and it seems like a race to get this all out between us.

“Why did you want to die that night, Marvel?”

The hurt in her eyes nearly knocks the wind out of me and I know it’s because of everything I’ve done to her. “Because then I believed I was nothing but evil and worthless, but you’ve made me feel otherwise. You and my family and this ranch…I may just live again.”

“With me?”

It destroys me as her statement comes across as a question.

“Yes, with you. I need you, Clover.” I kiss her again, not pulling away swiftly but taking my time, devouring all of her with each lick and bite of her flesh. When the knocking on the outer door becomes too loud, I tuck her behind me and walk her back to her seat.

I make eye contact with Sterling, giving him a stern nod with the promise of a chat later.

I
t’s been
three days since the party and Marvel’s attack in the bathroom. My body relives the moment in the small room every single minute of the day, and I dream about it when I sleep. The heat and passion streaming from him has scarred my pure body.

I’ve never ever regretted too many work shifts or homework assignments until him. Now, I find myself only wanting to be with him.

My cell phone has remained silent, which is not much of a surprise since I don’t have his number nor does he have mine. I could easily ask Challis or Ella, but then again I don’t want to taint our memory together. What if it was a dream? Something I’ll never experience again.

“Clover.”

I look up to the nurse in front of me.

“Can you cover my shift tonight?”

Since I’ve covered two other shifts for other nurses, I now have the reputation of being the “girl to call to get off.”

“What was that?” I ask.

“Can you cover my shift tonight? My daughter has a softball game tonight, and I’ve only been able to go to three of them so far.”

I have no idea who the nurse is without reading the name sprawled out on her badge, but she’s playing my heartstrings like no other. A mother attending her daughter’s event is something I’ll never be able to pass up or deny.

Shit!

“When is your shift and what floor?”

I watch as her mouth begins to open, but it’s not her voice I hear, it’s another familiar one. One I’ve fantasized about for days now.

“Nurse Nancy.”

I whirl around to see Marvel walking up the hallway with Maverik and Merek on each of his sides.

“You off yet?”

I wait as he makes his way up the hall, and with only three days passing I can tell his strength has grown in supple amounts and can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

“Clover.” I hear the nurse’s voice behind me but ignore her, keeping my vision glued to Marvel.

I take my time admiring him and remember everything we’ve shared—the good, the bad, and the ugly, but my memory halts on the beautiful. The moments we shared kissing and loving each other are always the sweetest.

“Um, sorry, I can’t cover for you.” I don’t even make eye contact when the words fly from my mouth. My shoes echo in the hallway as I walk toward Marvel.

“Well, look at you.” I smile at him, unable to mask any type of emotion.

“Like what you see, Nurse Nancy?”

“Looks like you’re getting around.” Nerves take over as my fingers fidget.

“You avoiding me or trying to earn a buck?”

I don’t miss the sly smile he tries to charm me with or his two brothers who seem to be ignoring our conversation but are doing a shitty job.

“Just working.”

“The barn tonight at seven.”

I glance down at my wristwatch and see it’s only four and then drink in his stunning eyes. My fingers itch to touch his skin once more, or better yet to feel him on me.

“Is that an invite or a demand?” I ask.

“Demand.”

“Then I’ll be there.”

Marvel turns from me and is off, and I wait for an assault or mean comment, but it never comes as he’s flanked by each of his brothers at his side.

I’m barely able to focus on the task at hand while closing up charts and checking on patients, because all I can see is his eyes. Either the moon and stars were lined up that night for us or fairy tales really do exist. The cowboy on the stallion saving the damsel in distress—it’s the shit you read in your books.

J
esus
, listen or rain on this damn parade now!

“Cons, jeans, and hoodie—is this shit suitable for the barn at seven?” I say out loud to myself in the mirror.

My hair is a messy bun piled on top of my head. I quickly transform it into a side braid, which leads to me throwing the hair tie out altogether and leaving my straight dark hair to drape over my shoulder. I zero in on the California symbol centered on my knitted jacket and wonder what in the hell I’m doing here.

I have never fit in with my mother, have only tiny glimpses of where my father made me fit in before his death, and then a whole blank sheet of nothing. There was a gigantic black hole of nothingness bottled up deep inside me, and now I’m finding me. Finding Clover who’s been the thorn in sides forever. The awkward girl with nothing but a useless skeleton and last name to grant her acceptance into private schools. The same being who not only disappointed her own living mother but the rest of her family.

It feels like a dream, and dreams always end with the cold reality of waking up, and that’s the last thing I want to happen.

“You ditching me?”

I watch as my reflection throws a stiff left jab toward the mirror as the familiar stranger stares from behind me.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I just shit myself.”

Marvel lets out a hardy howl as I cover my chest and whirl around in his direction. My heart races out of control thudding against my chest. It takes several moments for me to catch my breath and control my trembling fingers.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Why are you out of bed? Have you taken your meds?” My fingertips are on the width of his wrist and counting his pulse before I realize what I’m doing.

He tugs me into him and then a sharp and piercing sensation lands on the top of my earlobe.

“I’m here for my date, not my fucking health.” His voice is a growl as his teeth remain sunken deep in my flesh. He has all of my attention.

“Why are you…”

He cuts me off before I can finish.

“You’re not my nurse. You’re my damn date, Clover.”

Date…barn at seven…all stream through my head and once again I second guess what in the hell I’m doing.

“Marvel, I’m not sure this is a good idea.” I step back from him, pulling my hands into the sleeve of my sweater and avoid eye contact.

“What’s going on here?”

“I just don’t think…”

“You don’t think what, Clover? Spit it out already.” The tone of his voice reminds me of the Marvel from the hospital, the mean and cruel patient, but when I finally look up into his face, it’s not pissed or fuming. A concerned expression blankets all of his features.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Clover.” He holds out a hand for me to take.

“I’m just not a typical girl. I have never been in a relationship. I don’t want this to end, but I’m just weird.” I throw my hands up in the air out of frustration. I’m even fucking unable to express one simple thought.

“Hear me out, Clover. Just listen. Turn off your mind for a second and all those racing doubts.” I hear the click of his boots step closer to me and then he props my chin up. “I’m just going out on a limb here, so don’t get offended, but we are both broken people brought together by fate on a dirt road, and that’s something I don’t think we should waste because of our own doubts.”

I squeeze my eyes shut as I hear him say the words I’ve felt since I kissed his forehead the night the ambulance rushed him away. I thought I was just going crazy with the pull and attraction toward him.

Opening my eyes, I see Marvel in a whole new light. He’s not my patient or the angry man who hated me for saving him, but rather a lost soul just like me, trying to find his way in life.

“Together maybe we can find each other.” I want to say so much more but embarrassment strikes.

“I think we can, Clover.” He reaches down and kisses my lips. “But we are forgetting the past. You’re not my nurse, and you have to let me handle the shit I’ve gotten myself into.”

I nod, agreeing. “You’ll have to put up with my clumsy ass and awkward tendencies.”

“I adore those things about you.”

“Marvel.” I clutch his hands that are now framing my jawline on each side. “I want to know everything about you. You can’t keep it all from me. I’m here for you.”

“I’ll share as much as I can.”

“Promise?” I squeeze his hands in mine.

“I promise.”

I reach up this time and kiss him. A heated flush races up my spine and I wonder if I’ll ever feel comfortable in my own skin or around him.

“Oh and, Marvel, I’ll never quit worrying about your health…just so you know.”

“I figured, Nurse Nancy.”

“Quit calling me that.”

“Make me.” He smiles down at me with a devilish grin, and in this light I see so much of Merek in him.

I surprise Marvel by leaping forward, catching his bottom lip between my teeth and applying pressure, causing him to groan. He has me by my hips, hoisting me up on the bathroom sink. I spread my legs, allowing him room to settle in. I grasp for his shirt as I clutch to his shoulders, letting him kiss the hell out of me.

The promise of a love story lingers between us, with pent up passion and determination to hold onto each other as long as the universe allows. With each assault of his lips on mine, I fear my heart will never be the same after this Slatter is done with me.

W
e walk
up to the barn hand in hand. I have to force myself to quit staring at Clover’s swollen lips. An animalistic urge has been lighted inside of me. I crave nothing but her and also marking her as mine. In the past, I’ve had girlfriends and plenty of one night stands, but it was always the ranch that was my priority. Things have shifted. I need her in my life to keep me going to save the ranch.

I grip her hand tighter in mine and am determined to show her every single day just what she means to me. The odd thing is that I don’t even fully understand the extent of what she means to me, but I do know it’s more than I can comprehend.

“What exactly are we going to do?”

It takes everything in me not to stop in the middle of the gravel lot, pull her into me, and kiss the hell out of her again. Her taste and smell are better than any painkiller or whiskey I’ve ever consumed.

“You’ll see.”

As we get closer, the sound of Maverik and Merek arguing comes from inside the barn, and it’s just one more thing that makes me feel at home. My body aches more than it ever has, but being home on the ranch has been the best thing for my soul and attitude.

As we enter the barn, Maverik tosses my saddle blanket on my horse, Arsine. He’s a tall black gelding that I’ve worked cattle on since graduating high school. It’s the one thing my dad gave me. Being loyal to that bastard will always be my greatest downfall. It’s the one reason I wanted to get back at Saint. He’s the one who led my dad away, which also drove our mother off. She just may be the luckiest of all of us right now.

“Clover.” Merek nods to her as he gets his horse out and goes about saddling it.

“Um.” She pulls back on my hand, stopping me. “What exactly are we doing here?”

“Going for a ride.” I wink down at her as I see her nurse game face come on. “Settle down, Nurse Nancy.”

“Don’t call me that, ass.”

“Well, then quit trying to be a nurse right now.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

I answer her with full honesty. “My body isn’t, but my heart and soul needs this right now, and I want you here with me.”

I let go of her hand and grab a brush. Working my horse is therapeutic, and I easily fall into an old rhythm as I comb out his tail and watch Maverik saddle him. I do know my limits and know there’s no way in hell the scar healing on my chest would allow me to throw up the saddle and cinch it down.

“Isn’t he going to kick you in the nuts?” I look over to Clover, who’s gone pale white. Her hands tremble as she bounces back from foot to foot.

“No, my family jewels are completely safe.”

“Have you never been around horses?” Maverik asks her, looking over the back of Arsine.

Clover points to the logo on sweatshirt. “City girl through and through.”

I go grab a biscuit for Arsine and hand it to her. “Here.”

“What in the hell do I do with this?” Her eyes grow in size.

“Feed it to him.” I chuckle at her innocence.

“No, he’ll eat my hand off,” she yells with fear lacing each of the syllables that roll off her tongue.

I don’t have the chance to respond to her since Merek and Maverik’s roars of laughter fill the barn and spook Arsine, causing him to pull back on the lead rope and shake his head. Clover scrambles back, leaping up on a bale of straw and screaming for what seems her life, causing all the horses to spook more. It’s a circus freak show right in front of my own eyes and I can’t help but laugh even though she’s scared to death.

In two steps, I’m standing in front of her and wrapping my arms around her ass, lifting her down to ground level. I try to reassure her and quiet her down. After several seconds I finally get Clover’s attention.

“Horses will eat your hand off. I’ve seen videos of people feeding them carrots.”

I try not to smile, but my brothers’ roars of laughter in the background don’t help the situation at all. “Clover, that’s just a myth. I mean, horses can bite.”

“See. You just said it.”

“C’mon, give it a chance.”

“My mom showed me the video when I was little, talking me out of going to a county fair.”

“Trust me.” I hold my hand out. “See, I have all fingers and both hands and have been around Arsine for years.”

She’s hesitant but finally takes my hand, and I feel her nerves as she quivers nearly out of control.

“See, all you have to do is talk to him as you get closer. He’ll learn your voice soon. You never want to scream or spook a horse.”

I want to point out like she just did.

“Marvel, I’m not holding the treat.”

“Horses only bite people’s hands off when they’re holding a carrot, so you’re good there, Annie Oakley.”

I glare over my shoulder to my smartass brother Merek, but Maverik takes care of him for me, knocking him in the back of the head, causing his straw hat to tumble to the ground.

I do my best to keep talking to Clover and holding her close as we get closer to the horse. “See, if you just move slowly and with confidence he’ll respect you. His name is Arsine and I’ve had him for over six years. He’s a good horse.”

“Marvel,” Clover whispers into my ear. I slowly reach out my free hand with the treat in it, letting Arsine take a second to sniff it. I feel her nails dig into the top of my shoulder as the soft pad of Arsine’s nose rubs around in my palm until he finds his treat. In slow motion he opens his mouth and gobbles up the treat.

“See, babe, he’s a good boy.”

I take her hand off the top of my shoulder and stretch it out until her palm is merely inches away from Arsine’s front shoulder. The closer she gets to him the more she shakes.

“No disrespect to your mother, but no one should instill fear in their children.”

“She’s a bitch.” Clover lets go of my hand and slaps it over her mouth. Arsine flinches at the swift reaction.

“See, he’s just startled like one of us would be. He’s not here to hurt you, and I won’t tell anyone you just called your mom a bitch.”

“Well, she is.” Clover squeezes closer to my side as I inch us closer to the horse. “I just don’t ever want to become evil and mean spirited like her.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

I lay her hand on his shoulder and feel her smile spread across her face as she buries her face in my neck.

“Look up, babe.”

She slowly moves and then begins petting him.

“I’m going to let go.”

“No, Marvel, no. Don’t ever let go.”

I turn to her and only nod, understanding each of her words. We’ve both leapt and now no turning back.

“I’ll never ever let go, Clover, just keep hanging on to me.”

I cover her lips with mine, letting my tongue sweep the length of her lips until she opens up to me. Her mouth works just as furious as mine as we devour each other. Several moments float by as we embrace until Arsine stomps his foot, causing Clover to jump up and bite down on my lip.

“Sorry, shit, so sorry.” Her fingers run along the length of my lower lip where her teeth just sank in, and I can only grin back at her.

“I think I need to buy a helmet with you around.”

“Probably.” She laughs lightly while still petting Arsine. I move behind her, holding her by the waist but allowing her room as she becomes comfortable.

“He’s gorgeous.”

“Won’t lie, I feel like the king of the world with you two standing in front of me.”

“You’re silly, Marvel.”

“I’m not lying, Clover. I’m going to make you believe you’re gorgeous and worth loving.”

She goes to make a comment but Maverik interrupts us before she has the chance to finish.

“Okay, kids, time to ride.” Maverik unties Arsine and hands me the reins.

“You ready?” I ask Clover, leaving a kiss behind on the skin of her neck as I walk out of the barn into the sunlight.

“Oh, I’m not riding that thing. I maxed out on my daily fun meter with large ass flesh-eating animals.”

I don’t know her mother, but I instantly feel hatred for the woman who could scare the shit out of Clover and beat her down to a place of no confidence.

“C’mon, sexy.” I nod with my hat, trying to coax her out.

I watch Merek walk up behind her, leading his own horse and draping his free arm over her shoulder. “We’ll take care of you, lil’ sis.”

She stalls a bit, causing him and his horse to stop dead in their tracks.

“You ride the buckers. I’m not trusting you.”

“Well, get to walking or my horse will take a chunk out of that ass cheek of yours.”

In slow motion, Clover peers over her shoulder and comes face to face with Merek’s brown and white paint horse sniffing her ass cheek. The laughter that flows from him is uncontrollable as Clover kicks up gravel and clouds of dust sprinting from the barn toward me. I try to wave her down to slow her pace, but nothing calms her until she jumps up into my arms.

A sharp slap lands across the back of my head. “You boys behaving?”

I look over to Granddad who is saddled up to his walker with his nurse at his side.

“You better not be harassing her or I’ll beat your asses.”

“I’d like to see that, Old Man.” Merek steps up to him and throws out a couple play punches with his reins in one hand. He jumps back and forth, hopping around like an everyday damn boxer. In one quick swoop Granddad lifts his walker and whacks Merek right in the lower shin. And from the sound it makes and the howls from Merek, I’d guess he made direct contact with him.

I start to laugh, until I feel an elbow in my rib and come in contact with the stern look from my granddad. I shut my mouth real fast.

“You okay, darling?”

“I’m fine,” Clover answers him.

I set her down on her feet, sliding her down my chest and fighting back the urge to wince in pain. She must catch the pain on my face as she mouths the word sorry to me and then goes to raise my shirt.

“No.”

Clover moves her hand quickly back down to her sides.

“Should you be out here?” Maverik asks Granddad.

“Just getting some vitamin D and seeing what you dickweeds are up to.”

“We are going back to the corner pasture to check the fence and count calves. Marvel’s going to ride along,” Merek explains to Granddad as he remains bent over rubbing the front of his leg.

“You think you can handle that?” He looks over to me.

“I need it, please, my heart is hungry to ride again.”

I can tell he has reservations about the whole idea but only nods to me.

“And you’re riding with him, Clover?” He looks to her.

She looks up at me instead of answering him.

“I guess,” she barely gets out.

I feel horrible how scared she is and had no intentions of scaring the ever-loving piss out of her. I just thought this would be a memorable experience together—my first time on the back of a horse with Clover and creating something symbolic with my new view on life and saving this place. She’s made me strong enough to get Silver Star back.

“You’ll be fine. They are the finest cowboys in the state. They’re also shitheads, but they are good riders.” Granddad adjusts his walker around in the gravel and hollers over his shoulder. “Have fun, assholes and Clover.”

That gets a chuckle from Clover, who’s still tucked under my arm.

“See? If Granddad approves, then you’re fine.” I kiss the top of her head.

“I’m shitting scared but will ride with you and only you.” She looks up to me and I kiss her gently on the lips again.

“Jesus, get a room, you two,” Merek shouts while he mounts his horse with one easy leap from the ground.

“Ignore him,” I whisper into her lips.

“Trust me, I know he’s the jokester of the family.” She kisses me quickly. “I think you forget that I was with your family from the night your granddad had a heart attack.”

“Lucky you.”

“Yep, lucky me, it’s when I started falling for you.”

Thundering hoof prints invade our conversation as Challis and lil’ Mav come storming in on their horses. I guarantee they’re racing, and by the looks of it lil’ Mav’s horse has Challis’ by a nose. They both reach down at the same time, pulling back on their reins to bring their horses to a stop right in front of us. A cloud of dust engulfs all of us.

“I am not getting on that horse now.”

I laugh through the dirt storm and try to wave in some clean air. “We won’t be riding like wild hellions. Challis has a need for speed.”

“God dammit, Challis, you little shit.” Merek coughs and sputters out each word as he inhales dirt.

“What? A little dirt going to hurt my tough world champ?”

I can’t see either of them through the dust storm but know a fight is pending between them.

“That’s you, shit.”

I hear two horses take off and the squeal of Challis’ laughter.

“We won’t follow those two,” Maverik says from atop his horse. “I’ve caught those two one too many times.”

“Doing what, Dad?”

All eyes go to Mav, who’s still settled in his saddle.

“Nothing, Mav, we need another hand now. Want to follow us out to the pasture?”

“Roping involved?”

“If we find any sick calves.”

“I’m in.”

Clover weasels from my grasp and begins to tiptoe in the opposite direction.

“Where do you think you’re going, missy?”

“Just going to hold down that bale over there.” She points and tries to get away, but I’m able to grab her wrist before she does.

“I don’t think so.” I lean down to her ear so she’s the only one who can hear me. “I need this ride with you.”

“I’m scared.”

“Don’t be.”

I know that I’ll stand here and talk in circles with her. It’s clear her fear is overriding anything else in this moment. So, I throw one boot up in the stirrup and feel the raw pain rip through my body. Before the realization of just how much pain I’m in sinks in, I leap with my other foot, throwing it over the saddle and hooking my boot in the stirrup. A ripping pain throbs in my chest. I begin breathing slowly, and then try to rub the pain away with the palm of my hand.

“Marvel, give me your hand.”

I look down to Clover staring up at me with her hand extended. I scoot my boot out of the stirrup and extend my hand down to her. Clover hoists herself up using mainly the horn of the saddle with her other hand and the stirrup.