Rough Riders Bundle 1(books 1, 2, 3) (60 page)

She grinned as he approached. “Nice ridin’, Dad.”

“Thanks. Pay up.”

“Will you take a personal check?”

“Nope. Cash only.”

She snickered. “You should have that tattooed somewhere.”

A calf bawled in the distance.

Cash quietly tried to restore his breathing.

“So, can I sit on that thing?”

He frowned. “I remember you telling me you’d never ride a bull.”

“I don’t want to ride it; I just want to know what it feels like to be on a big, bad bull substitute, which is the closest I will ever get to one of those nasty creatures.”

“Sure. Come on.”

Cash lifted her on the back of the apparatus. He showed her how to wrap the rope, how to spur, how the free arm was the key to achieving balance. He was happy she’d taken an interest in something he’d spent years of his life learning to perfect.

The lesson in bull riding was about over when he heard, “What the
hell
do you think you’re doin’?”

He turned and saw Carter storming toward them. The fence wasn’t an impediment to the angry young man; he put one arm on the railing and jumped sideways over it.

“Get off that thing right now, Macie.”

“Carter—”

“I cannot fuckin’
believe
you put her on the back of a goddamn mechanical bull.”

“Wait just a minute. I can explain—”

“Explain what?” Carter shouted. “How damn dangerous it is? That’s a little hard to explain to her when she’s dead. Christ, she could’ve broken her neck.”

“She wasn’t—”

“Jesus, Cash, what were you thinking?”

“Stop right there, McKay.”

“I’m not kiddin’, Macie, get off that death trap or I’ll drag you off.”

“You can’t talk to her like that.”

“I can talk to her any damn way I please since it appears I’m the only one who cares about her!”

“Shut your mouth, McKay, and listen up.”

“No, you listen.”

“Carter!”

“Do you really think I’d put my daughter in danger?” Cash kept his hands clenched in fists by his sides in an effort not to take a swing at this self-righteous punk.

Carter didn’t answer; he just glared with his hands curled on his hips, looking ready to do some swinging himself.

“Well,
do
you?”

“No. But I think she’d do whatever it takes to get your attention, including putting herself at risk by climbing on the back of a bull.”

Ugly silence hung in the air.

“Don’t have anything to say to that do you, ’cause you know it’s the truth.”

“That’s it, boy, you went too far.”

“Not nearly far enough. If you want to fight, bring it, old man.”

“I don’t give a shit who you—”

Macie stepped between them. “Stop. Both of you.” She whirled on Carter and snapped, “Walk it off. I mean it, Carter.”

He didn’t budge.

By that time Cash noticed they’d drawn a crowd, including Gemma, Colby and Channing, Keely, Amy Jo and the boys he’d been teaching. Great.

Cash turned and walked away.

Macie moved in front of him and grabbed his hand. “Thank you. I had fun. Don’t listen to him.”

Cash reached out and stroked his free hand down her soft hair. “I wasn’t. I’d never do anything to hurt you, Macie.”

“I know.”

“And in case you’re wondering ’bout some of the crap he was throwing out, don’t listen to him either. You
do
have my attention. You’re smarter than to do something stupid to get it.”

“I know that too.” Macie stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. She whispered, “I’ll go double or nothing with you on that bet. Same time tomorrow. Bring your money.”

Cash smiled as he watched her walk away from him…and from Carter McKay.

‡

“D
umbass. Get away
from me.”

“Macie—”

“Don’t. Talk. To. Me.”

“Please.”

“No. Go.” She slammed the camper door in his face and locked it. Then she cranked Dwight Yoakam to a million decibels, effectively cutting off all communication.

Damn. Carter kicked a dirt clod as he lumbered back to his pickup. How had everything gotten out of control? One second he’d been striding across the yard, looking forward to seeing Macie’s smiling face. Looking forward to showing his family what they were together. The next second he’d seen her perched on the back of that bucking bull and his heart just…stopped. He didn’t think; he just reacted.

Badly.

No shit. Now he’d pissed off Macie and her father.

But he knew what he’d said hadn’t been totally out of line, merely bad timing. Macie was so eager for any kind of family connection, especially with Cash, Carter suspected she would do anything. Or listen to whatever free or bad advice her dad offered. Yeah, Carter could just hear that conversation:

Forget about McKay. He’s proven he’s an insensitive prick, just like the rest of the goddamn McKays. Besides, you’re young. Don’t make the same mistakes I did when I was young. There’s no need for you to settle down. Or to settle for a hothead like him.

Then the son of a bitch would probably hand over the keys to his camper and encourage her to hit the road—allowing Cash uninterrupted time with Gemma. If and when Macie returned, Carter McKay would be long gone. Which is exactly what Cash Big Crow wanted.

“Fuck.” He could totally see that scenario happening, since he knew Macie had no intention of sticking around here beyond summer’s end.

How could he make her stay?

He couldn’t. Not today, anyway. His only other option was to skulk around her door like some…whipped dog. Begging for scraps of her attention.

Like that would work.

Or he could go home and work.

On pictures of her.

Great.

He wondered if his day could get any worse.

“Hey, bro, when did you turn into such a macho jerk? That was quite the display of testosterone.”

Keely. Carter thunked his head on his hood. The universe fucking hated him today.

“Yeah, well, I wanted to prove I was a true McKay, asshole behavior and all.”

“Now that you mention it, you sorta were actin’ like Dad.”

“Great, Keely, just what I wanted to hear.”

“At any rate, I brought you a beer.”

He looked up.

She waggled a bottle of Bud Light at him. “I thought you could use one.”

“Thanks.” He popped the cap off and drank. “What’re you doin’ out here?”

“Hiding from the bull rider wannabes and letting Amy Jo deal with them.”

“Meaning, you ditched her and you were sneaking off to drink a beer and you were afraid I’d caught you.”

Keely grinned. “I knew there was a reason you’re my favorite brother.”

“Favorite. Right.” Why wasn’t he surprised his sister hadn’t really come looking for him? No one else had either.

Maybe it’s because you’re acting like a shithead who deserves to be alone.

Keely blithely continued, “Besides, Amy Jo will probably come barreling over to Macie’s camper to listen to her rant and rave about you.”

“Why would Amy Jo care?”

“She and Macie hit it off like gangbusters. And let’s just say Amy Jo is well-versed on dealing with a hot-headed McKay male who can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Carter frowned. “Who are you talking about? She got a thing for Colt?” Lord help the girl if she did. Colt would charm her, bed her, and leave her. And feel no guilt about it whatsoever.

“No. Cord.”

That was worse for poor sweet Amy Jo. Way worse.

“So, how long have you been with Macie?”

He said nothing.

“
Puh
-lease. Even before your he-man tactics today, your eyes devoured
her
while you were supposed to be eating supper last night. And I noticed this morning she had a streak of paint—yellow umber to be exact,
your
favorite color to be even more exact—on her neck. So, I figured you’d been doin’ a little finger painting after the bonfire.”

Carter sighed.

Softly, Keely said, “You have it bad for her, don’t you?”

His head snapped up. “What makes you say that?”

“Because you didn’t bother with niceties today. You were scared, you were pissed, and you didn’t hide it from anyone, least of all her.”

He clamped his teeth together.

“You work really hard at disguising your intense side, Carter. Almost everyone believes you are this calm, cool, laid-back guy.” She plucked the beer from him and drank. “I’ve spent more time with you than the rest of our brothers have, so you’ve never fooled me. I know what you’re really like. Macie knows that side of you too. Or, if she didn’t, she got a taste of it today. But she knew before, didn’t she?”

“Yeah.”

“And it hasn’t scared her off?”

“Not yet.”

“She’s exactly like you, which means she’s perfect for you because she will make your life a living hell. Or heaven on earth. Depending on the day and your collective brooding moods.”

Carter was stunned into silence by Keely’s comments.

“So, no matter what anyone tells you, bro, fight for her. She’s worth it. And I’ll lie through my teeth if you
ever
tell anybody I said this, but you are worth it too.” She sauntered off and vanished in the copse of scrub oak trees.

He’d underestimated his sister on many levels. When had she become so insightful? Or had he automatically discounted her lack of understanding about anything important because of her age?

Was he doing the same thing with Macie?

Either way, Carter realized everything she’d said was exactly on the nose.

He also realized Keely had taken off with his beer.

*

Happy as Gemma
had been to see Channing and Colby, she breathed a sigh of relief after the rowdy crew returned to Campbell County.

Cash and Carter hadn’t come to a resolution after the blow up over Macie. Far as she knew, Carter hadn’t been back to the Bar 9. Rather than ask Carter to help Cash with chores, it was easier all around if she did it.

Things hadn’t returned to normal. Since the primary cook had quit at the diner, Macie warned them she’d be working tons more hours. Gemma knew Cash worried about Macie, but she also knew something had changed significantly between father and daughter in the past few days. Not that Cash confided in her, he was determined to figure this out with Macie on his own. Still, she sensed an acceptance, which hadn’t been there. Like they’d both let down their guards a little.

She wished Cash would let down his guard with her. From a purely professional standpoint, they worked well together. They’d spent hours out in the field, fixing fence, tending cattle, watching for wildfires. She’d learned why he didn’t have a place to call his own, and it broke her heart. They’d sat at the table after supper, mountains of paperwork strewn across the table as they discussed the pros and cons of various breeding programs. When the stock contracting issue came up, he’d bluntly told her to let it go and to focus on other areas of the cattle business. She’d literally felt the weight of that burden leaving her soul.

Was that because it’d been one of her final ties to her life with Steve? The Bar 9 might’ve been Steve’s when she’d moved in years ago, but it was as much hers now as it’d been his.

The door between the upstairs and main floor slammed. Pine-scented aftershave wafted into the living room and she automatically smiled.

Cash plopped next to her on the couch, grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You need help with the laundry?”

“Nah. I’ve got it covered. But thanks.”

“No problem.”

Sometimes the ease with which he’d inserted himself into her life astounded her. But times like these, it seemed Cash had always been here. Helping her. Loving her.

Whoa. She loved him. The jury was out on how he felt about her.

Why don’t you ask him? What do you have to lose?

Him. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing him. Ever. She’d already waited a year to sort out her own feelings, now was willing to wait as long as it took until he was ready to sort out his.

“I’m thinking of surprising Macie and buying her a horse.”

“Yeah? Is this some guilty throwback to ‘Daddy, will you buy me a pony for my birthday?’ portion of her life that you missed?”