Page 29 of Caught By A Cowboy

“Look, Jace. It’s okay to have someone, but you can’t let that someone distract you from what you do,” he tells me firmly. I’ve spent the last two weeks pretending that side of me doesn’t exist and it’s been easier than I thought. Having Maddison here seems to have lifted all the anger out of me. I even let Billy McGee go free, despite being sure that he knows more than he’s telling me.

“I got your job done, didn’t I?” I point out.

“You did, but you know as well as I do, that there will be more men like Elliot. And that the people who want that road built right through this place, ain’t gonna play fair for much longer.” He looks at me with those condescending eyes.

“Eli ain’t ever gonna let that happen, that road would destroy this town, and all the businesses in it.” I clench my fist when I think about how hard my dad and grandfather worked to build this place. They’d always been men of the community, but I don’t think they’d be proud of the kind of man I’ve had to become to follow in their footsteps.

“Eli ain’t got as much power as he thinks he does. He’s just a minion with a fancy title. He can’t hold them off forever.”

“So what do you suggest we do? Kill all the Gendrys and the counselors they pay off, one by one?” I look across at him, knowing that that could very well be his plan.

“I don’t know, but now’s not the time to be complacent or distracted. I heard you're holding a barn dance here, next week. What the fuck is that about?” He furrows his brow.

“The town is holding it, I’m just giving them my space.”

“Just stay alert,” he warns. “And keep your cool. Taking McGee was sloppy and reckless, you're lucky you put the fear of God into him or he’d be having you arrested.”

By who, Hayden?” I laugh at him and manage to hide my concerns over the fact he knows about McGee. I didn’t tell a soul about that.

“Hayden may be on our side, but that new sheriff they’ve recruited from the city won’t be. She could be a real problem. I need ya to keep ya head down and stay outta trouble,” he warns before turning to leave.

“Unless you call me, right?” I shout after him and when he turns around he’s smiling.

“You forget that I did my time, and I’ve gotten my hands dirty. Maybe one dayyou’llbe the one giving orders but until that day comes, you need to remember that we all got our roles and that this ain’t justmydirty work. What we do is for the benefit of this whole town,” he reminds me before he marches out.

Momma hated Uncle Jamie and he wasn't much fond of her either, you could tell just from the way he looked at her that he saw her as an inconvenience. Maybe it was because she made my father wanna be an honest man. But she, like many other people in this town, didn't know what lengths my uncle, and a select few others, would go to to protect it.

My father was as straight as they came, he showed his support by fixing roofs and raising funds for the church. I hate to admit it but Jamie is right, we all have our roles and mine forces me to leave my morals at the backdoor.

I wait until I hear his car pull off before I head out into the yard and when I see what’s about to happen in the corral, I toss my cigarette to the floor and march on over.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I grip Carter by the collar of his shirt and throw him to the ground when I see him heave my girl up onto a saddle and fix her foot into a stirrup.

“Jace!” she screeches, looking horrified as I grab the horse's reins to ensure it remains still.

“She just wanted to learn how to ride, boss.” Carter stands back up and dusts off his jeans while I grip Maddison’s waist and drag her off the damn saddle.

“Are you crazy?” I stare into those wide, pretty, blue eyes and watch them blink in shock.

“Areyoucrazy?” She stares right back, and when I realize we got the attention of everyone in the yard, I give them all a look of warning so they get back to work.

“You could be pregnant,” I remind her under my breath. “What the hell are you doing climbing on a damn horse?”

“Two things. One, Icouldbe pregnant, and two, pregnant women ride horses all the time.”

“Now, I’ll tellyoutwo things.” I grip the front of the jeans she’s wearing and drag her closer. “None of those pregnant women are carryingmybaby, andyouvery likely are.” I go to kiss her but she holds me off.

“Jace, don’t you think you're being a litt?—“

“Did you check the app today, your period’s due. Did ya get it?” I’ve been waiting for her to tell me that fact, but I guess I’ll have to bring it up myself.

“Well, no, but you can’t rely on an app.” She looks around the yard in case there’s anyone listening. “I was just trying to fit in around here. Lunch is already prepared and I thought I’d give this riding thing a go. Everyone around here seems to do it, and I’d love to go riding with you. You look all hot and sexy on that horse of yours.” She takes hold of the front of my shirt and fiddles with the buttons, it almost distracts me from the fact I’m mad at her.

“Darlin’, it ain’t safe for you to be up on a horse if you're pregnant.” My hand automatically moves to cover her stomach. I’ve put every effort into ensuring she’s caught and the wait to find out is getting hard to stand.

“I just want to keep you both safe” I explain.

“There’s probably no baby to keep safe, it’s very rare for a couple to conceive in the first month of trying. You shouldn’t get your hopes up.” She forces my hand away and blushes.

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