Page 19 of Barbed Wire Hearts

So, annoyed that it’s an admission of failure, I set the box on the tailgate and step back, my face pinched the same as Levi’s now. It’s fucking catching, apparently.

“That’s what I thought,” Levi grunts, shaking his head at me. “Fucking useless.”

I cross my arms and scowl. “Look, I get it that you don’t like me?—”

“I don’t have an opinion of you, at all,” he interrupts before scribbling down some numbers on the notepad.

“Clearly, you do,” I argue. “I’m just trying to help. If I’m going to work out here, I need proper training.” When he doesn’t answer, I take a step closer. “Levi?—”

“You won’t last long enough to be trained,” he growls. “This is just a waste of my time having you in my way. So just shut up and do what I tell you.”

I stare at him, at the way his eyes darken with his perceived anger. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“City girls like you have no idea what it takes out here. You think this is this just some little cowgirl adventure?” he spits. “Pet the calves? Like this is some sort of vacation?” His face twists. “This is my life, not an adventure for city girls.”

“What’s your problem with city girls?” I growl. “So if you’re not from the country, everyone else stay out? Just because I grew in the city, I’m automatically the enemy?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “You are.”

We stare at each other. His chest rises and falls with his venomous words, but I only grow calmer as we stare at each other. Sadness flickers in my chest, not because I’m worried about my job, but because he clearly doesn’t like me or want me here. I’m trying, and I’m genuinely enjoying my time on the ranch so far. I’d thought this place could be. . . something. I don’t know what it’s like to have a family like this. I don’t know what it’s like to laugh with someone so carefree as I do with Wiley. Even Dakota with his awkward charm and distrust treats me with respect. Whatever demons are in Levi’s past are large enough to make him skip decorum and manners. So much for all the country hospitality I’ve been hearing about.

“Look, Levi,” I say as I stare into his eyes. He looks away, as if he can’t quite handle the eye contact. “I don’t know you. I don’t know this place yet, but I’m trying. And you being an asshole about teaching me isn’t helping. If you don’t want to work with me, I’ll let Dakota know and go back with Wiley. He, at least, doesn’t seem to mind my existence.”

He hesitates and grumbles something under his breath I can’t hear before he growls, “I don’t have time for this.”

I look around at the open pasture and the mountains standing tall in front of us. “Seems like out here, there’s nothing but time compared to where I come from.”

His eyes meet mine and his face twists. I can’t even pretend to read his thoughts. The man is an iron safe for his emotions, but I consider it a win when he blinks and sighs.

“Fucking fine,” he grunts. “Bring that calf here. Mind the mama.”

I smile. “Yes, sir,” I reply, before turning to the closest calf. My smile falls. How the fuck am I supposed to get the thing over here? Affirmations? Do I call it over like a dog? I doubt it’s trained already.

Well. . . here goes nothing, I think as I take a slow step toward the baby.

ChapterSeventeen

LEVI

I’m an asshole. I know that. I certainly don’t need some city girl to tell me I am, but clearly, it had taken just that for me to realize I’m being unfair. I don’t think I’m going to like the woman. She’s too talkative, too smiley, wears a lot of black. I don’t like it. I don’t trust it. With the way Wiley looks at her, I know she’s nothing but trouble.

Even if she’s gorgeous.

I hadn’t told her how to bring the calf over to the truck on purpose. Both because I’m looking to be entertained and because I wanna see how she handles the task. Some might give up right away. Others would ask for help. Clearly, Kate is stubborn and won’t ask me for help unless she has to. I’ve made sure of that with my attitude. She starts off by cooing to the calf like it’s a baby kitten, talking to it. The calf stares at her and shifts a little closer to its mom. Surprisingly, she gets close enough to pat the calf and try to coax it over to the truck. The moment she reaches for the neck of the thing though, it moos in protest and leaps away, refusing to go with her.

“Hey! Come back here!” Kate shouts and gives chase. She’s wearing tennis shoes and thin pants, hardly the type of clothing that belongs out here. I think to warn her about the cow patties, but she steps in one before I can warn her, and I can’t help but snort as she gasps and plugs her nose. “Ew!”

I’m watching her in amusement when Dakota drives up on a four-wheeler behind us. He hops off and takes in the scene in front of us before looking over at me with a sigh. The mama takes notice of Kate trying to catch her calf and moos in warning. She paws at the ground and Kate’s eyes widen. She holds up her hands in surrender, as if a cow will recognize that.

“Nice cow,” she says. “I’m just trying to help. I’m promise I won’t hurt your baby.”

The cow snorts again and takes another step.

“Did you explain how to bring the calf in?” Dakota asks, taking note of the rope still sitting on the tailgate.

“No,” I answer honestly. “I did not.”

“You trying to make her quit?” Dakota sighs. “I thought we’d agreed on this. We need help. She came looking.”

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