Page 18 of Darling Bride

No, everything is perfect now. We each have our homes, our families, but we’re not far apart.

When I get back, I’m unloading the chicken feed in the front barn when Allison walks in with a glass of lemonade. I straighten and take my hat off, hitting it on my thigh to clear the dust.

“That for me?”

She nods, holding it out. I take it, draining it and handing it back.

“How was the bull rider?” I ask.

She shrugs, a crease between her brow. “It was okay, not really my cup of tea. River was all about it though.”

“Good, you keep away from it,” I say. “And I’ll keep River away from it. It’s a rough way to make a living.”

She crosses her arms, leaning on a supporting post. “Have you ever done any bull riding?”

I shake my head. “No, I’ve been thrown enough times during work hours to go and do it in my spare time.”

She purses her lips, watching as I toss the last bag in the bin and fasten the lid. I sink down on it and take my bandana out to wipe my face.

“Mom’s making lunch,” she says. “I might ride up to Sovereign Mountain later.”

She says it casually, like I don’t know what she’s up to. I open my mouth. Then I shut it and stand up, holding out my arm.She gives me a reluctant hug, wrinkling her nose at the dust and sweat on my shirt.

“You take Reign up there with you,” I say. “Tell Sovereign to put that new bridle he promised me on him before you come back.”

She nods, her shoulders sinking in obvious relief. We head back to the house and I pull the door open for Allison.

“You don’t be too late on Sovereign Mountain,” I say.

She nods and disappears into the hallway, her boots clattering on the stairs. In the kitchen, I find Diane leaning on the counter with a book open between her elbows. Something bubbles on the stove behind her. I lift the lid and the scent of chicken broth hits my nose.

“Dumplings?”

She glances up and nods. “River’s out the back by the way, staring at his colt through the fence.”

“I think after the spill he took, he might want to work on just getting the horse to eat from his hand for a little while,” I say.

She nods and I come up behind her, leaning my body over hers, and kissing the back of her neck. She squirms under me, but she loves it. Her ass pushes against my groin, waking my dick right up. My lips pull back and my teeth graze her neck. Her hips wriggle and I ease up so she can turn around and lean her elbows on the table.

“You better calm down,” she says, a ghost of a smile on her face.

I kiss her neck again, right in the hollow under her ear. “River is glued to staring at that horse and Allison is getting ready to ride up to Sovereign Mountain.”

Diane’s brow arches. “You let her do that?”

I nod. “I did.”

She bends in, her mouth ghosting over mine. “Maybe later this afternoon, we can get a minute to ourselves.”

“Oh, yeah?”

She kisses me before pushing me off her, ducking around my body, and going to the stove. “I don’t know. We’ll see if you behave yourself.”

I take advantage of there being nobody around to crack my hand across her ass. She whirls and I kiss her hard before heading into the bathroom. She’s flustered, but she loves it. Judging from her little huff, I’m definitely getting some when we have a moment alone.

The rest of the day is peaceful. We all eat lunch together. Then I help Allison up on Reign and remind her again to pick up that new bridle. When she’s gone, I take River out and start him on cleaning out the colt’s new stall. If he wants to keep him, he’s got to learn to care for him.

A few of the ranch hands have questions. I stand on the porch and talk with them for a while. Then, by my watch, I have at least fifteen minutes before I need to start chores.

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