Page 29 of Rough Ride

“Yeah. You call, I’ll tell her.”

He just hoped she would ignore what happened earlier and focus on the present. Knowing Crysta, she would and for some reason, that pissed him off. He brushed those thoughts away and made his way into the house. Rustling wasn’t usually a problem, but when it happened, there was usually an agenda.

He had to go tell his partner her family apparently hated her enough to steal from her.

The day just kept getting better and better.

* * *

Hours later, they were sitting in the kitchen and Eli wanted to beat the hell out of the Kaheakus. It had more to do with Crysta than the ranch. She looked washed out, beaten. He knew it wouldn’t be long before she was back up fighting, but knowing someone you’re blood related to pulled this shit, well, it had to suck.

“Will they find the cattle?”

He nodded. “I bet they’ll be on our land before we know it. That or they’ll claim they came over of their own free will.”

“Jerks.”

“Not much we can do about it; although, I am pretty sure someone cut that line. Looked like it.”

She sighed and rose out of her chair. “It’s been a long day. I’m off to bed.”

“Are you going to tell your father about this?”

“Yeah. No avoiding it this time. Not that he has to be kept up with everything I am doing, but I think I should tell him about this. Hopefully, he won’t feel the need to pop over on an unannounced visit.”

“Don’t you want to see him?”

“Not if he comes over pissed off. Then he will be all about making Sam cry. While it would be entertaining, it could kill Sam. He’s barely hanging on by a thread as it is. And then my dad would go to jail for murder or manslaughter or whatever.”

Eli nodded. He watched her turn away and wanted to say something. Do something. She looked so sad.

“Hey, Crysta.”

She looked back at him again. “You shouldn’t let it get to you. Sam’s a bastard to everyone. Even his own son.”

She gave him a small, tired smile. “Thanks.”

He watched her walk around the corner and disappear upstairs.

It was a sad day for a man when that little, pathetic smile was more of a turn on than a naked woman…unless it was that woman naked.

He scrubbed a hand over his face. He really needed a trip to Rough ‘n Ready.

nine

Several days later, Crysta was walking down the aisle at the grocery store not any happier with the situation. Her father had tried to insist on traveling over and missing his upcoming appointment at Bethesda. She’d fought with him, something she rarely did. Eli had finally gotten on the phone and ensured him she was safe. Which ended up in an argument with Eli. It pissed her off that Eli could get on the phone and tell her father she was safe. She was a grown woman who had been taking care of herself for years. She didn’t need the big, bad cowboy claiming responsibility.

The tension had gotten worse every day. Truthfully, she was over the other argument, but they couldn’t seem to be in the same room without getting into a fight about something. Just that morning it had been about shopping. Eli hadn’t wanted her to come alone, and she had insisted on it.

Of course, he’d won that argument. He always seemed to. And that made her even angrier. She got so irritated with him hovering over her shoulder while she shopped, she’d found the feminine hygiene aisle. It had worked just like it did with her father.

With a sigh, she turned the corner and decided to find Eli. Before she could turn down the next aisle an attractive man stepped into her path. He was Hawaiian, a few inches taller than she was and dressed like a paniolo.

“Aloha, Crysta.”

She was taken back a bit. Sure, she was used to people knowing who she was when she was with one of the ranch hands or Eli, but she was by herself in the store. Still, Eli had told her that while the Big Island was the biggest island, it was still like a little ranch town, especially in the areas surrounding the ranch community.

She didn’t recognize him though. She had met a lot of people in the last few weeks, and she was usually good with faces. And there wasn’t a doubt in her mind she would have remembered such an attractive man.

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