Page 50 of Jake

“I don’t have one.” She continued into the bedroom tossing her sweats across the edge of the dresser to wear again later, then put away her shower bag and straightened up the bed. “My immediate plans are to finish getting dressed, then go get some coffee, maybe a little food, and see what is planned for today. Don’t you have work tomorrow? What time do you need to leave to make it home in time to get some sleep?”

“You let me worry about that.”

Heather rolled her eyes. She hated it when he didn’t answer a question with a real answer. She asked because she wanted to know how much time they had together. How long until there was one less person watching out for that club hunting for her.

“Whatever.” She wasn’t going to argue with him and the last thing she’d do was let him know she was worried. If she did, he might drag her back to North Dakota with him, or at least try. She wouldn’t make it easy if he did. She’d spent enough time lounging on his couch feeling sorry for herself.

She might not be exactly productive here, but she did have her own space, even if it was borrowed, and she felt a little more in control of her life. Hopefully, she could find a job soon. That reminded her, she should ask some of the women who lived here about local vets. She wondered if the ranch had someone they used when they needed someone to check out one of the livestock. That should be her first call.

She pulled a pair of socks out of the drawer, used her hip to close it as she decided to wear her boots, and tried to remember where she’d left them. After checking the closet, and finding them inside, she carried them into the front room where she found Matt still standing. He had his hands on his hips as he watched her as if he was expecting something.

“What?” she asked as she sat on one end of the sofa and began pulling on her socks.

“You didn’t tell me what you’re doing today.”

“I told you what I have planned, which isn’t much. On the other hand, I asked when you need to leave so maybe I could make plans with you, and I got blown off. I’m not real thrilled with that.” She’d been going to let his answer go but when he called her on not giving the answer he’d wanted, she could do the same.

There were some things that might get the better of her, like knowing someone was offering money for her return. And others that she would never let just roll. And people thinking they knew what was better for her than she did, well, that was one of the things she just would not put up with.

When she’d stepped into both boots, she cast him one last glance that left no doubt how unhappy with him she was, then left. She wasn’t about to wait around for him to figure out what he’d done wrong. She wanted coffee and food and now that she was dressed, she was going to go get both.

She’d filled a plate and was in the process of filling her travel cup with coffee when Matt stepped out the bunkhouse door and looked around. She was still half pissed at him and his attitude, so she didn’t bother waving. Instead, she ignored him as she doctored her coffee, then carried it and her food to one of the tables and sat.

She was halfway through the food she’d gotten, and the caffeine was starting to hit her blood when Matt set a plate on the table across from her. He sat, stared at her for a couple of seconds, then spoke. “I’m sorry.”

Her mood was a little improved from when she’d left him in the trailer, but not enough to let him off the hook for his bullshit. She stared at him in return, waiting for him to say more.

“I’m sorry I jumped all over you. I went in to check on you and you were gone. I was scared and took it out on you, I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, and I didn’t pass you. I stepped out of the trailer, took what is it? Six steps to the bunkhouse and went inside. I won’t apologize for taking a shower or for not checking in with you when I do. I’m a big girl and I’ve been on my own for a long time. I shouldn’t have to get approval for basic shit.”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t have to, and you don’t. I just wanted to know what you were doing so we could make arrangements that you didn’t do it alone.” He hung his head, picked up a sausage link and took a bite.

That did not sit well with her. “I already said I won’t leave the ranch without telling someone, but now I can’t do anything alone? What if I want to go for a walk, or hike or whatever you want to call it. Just take off walking across the pasture and into the beyond. Can I do that alone? Do I need to get your permission to get some fresh air?” She closed her mouth and glared at him for a full minute before picking up her coffee and staring off into the distance while she drank it. What was left on her plate no longer held any interest for her. She was so angry. She didn’t even want to look at her cousin.

As she continued to drink her coffee, she knew she wasn’t being reasonable, but damned if she’d give in. They were only trying to make sure she was safe, she knew that, but if she gave in and took someone with her for every step she made, before long she would feel smothered. She would be desperate to get away from that feeling and would do something stupid just to feel like she wasn’t being held back or controlled.

Behind her, she could hear him continuing to eat. She was tempted to pick up her plate, throw it away and go find something to do. Not that she had any idea what. But something, anything away from him, sounded good right now. The only thing stopping her was that she knew she would be back as soon as she finished this cup of coffee for a refill. She didn’t want to walk away only to have to come back in ten minutes. She decided to wait until she finished this cup before leaving. That would give her cousin that long to figure out how to get out of the hole he’d dug for himself.

37

JakecheckedinwithLurch, making sure there were no last-minute changes to the plans for tonight, a big farewell bonfire. The guys were leaving tomorrow, though the plan wasn’t for them to leave early, as they planned on making the same stops on the way back as they’d made on the way up. Not how Jake would have planned the trip if it were up to him. But it wasn’t so he kept his mouth shut.

After finishing with Lurch, he went to Malice and Ghost, who were getting ready to make a trip into town for supplies. He made sure their list was right and added a few last minute items after he’d checked the kitchen this morning and see what they were low on, then talked to Kerry, who would take over the overseeing of meals once London was gone, though she wouldn’t be cooking most of the time. It had been decided they would keep the prospects cooking, at least for dinner. The rest they’d work out with trial and error.

Now he was finished for a while, he wanted to see Lynnie and maybe get another cup of coffee. It was late enough she was probably up, so he went to the clearing where everyone had been gathering over the last couple of weeks and found that sure enough, she was up, and so was Iceman. They both sat at a table, but she had her back to her cousin, and she looked more than a little pissed off. He took a deep breath, braced himself to play referee between the two of them and approached.

“Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?” he asked as he bent and placed a kiss on top of her head.

Iceman started to say something, but she held up a hand in his direction.

“I don’t want to hear from you right now. Give me a minute or ten, then maybe you can talk to me again without eating your teeth.” She turned to look at Jake, her eyes narrowed, and he suspected he was about to be tested, the question was, what was going to be tested, his understanding or his patience?

“You and I have already talked about me not leaving the ranch without checking with you, and taking someone with me. But if I wanted to take a walk. Say walk out across the pasture and into the field beyond, maybe where we went riding yesterday, maybe not. What would you say?”

Jake blinked. Was this what she was pissed at Iceman over? Surely it had to be more?

“I’d say go for it. If you want to go farther than within sight of the home site,” he circled one finger in the air, indicating the buildings around them, “then I’d ask that you let someone, I’d prefer me, but any of the guys would do, know where you were going and when you planned to be back. I’d be happier if you’d let someone go with you, but I know you’re not used to that and might want some solitude. I’d also ask that you take a weapon with you, as protection against any aggressive wildlife or to signal for help should something happen. I don’t want to restrict you, Lynnie. I know you’re your own person and I respect that, but I do want to make sure you’re safe until we can get this reward taken care of.”

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