Page 54 of On His Ranch

“I understand. We can find a time to talk later, after chores.”

He clenched his jaw. He had a feeling he knew where this was going and he needed to put a stop to it then and there. “What’s there to talk about?”

“Well, I mean, I know you’re busy now, but afterward you could fill me in and—”

“Piper. Drop it, okay? It doesn’t matter how much time I have, this is not somethin’ I’m goin’ to discuss with you. I told you to leave it alone, and you better.”

Shock and hurt read plain on her face. “But… butwhy?”

“Because I decide what I will and won’t discuss, okay?” Exhaustion and naughty girls who didn’t listen had him at his limit. “And I’ll tell you something else, you better be glad I’mnotyour daddy. If I were, I’d spank your ass for you again.” He turned away as tears began to fall down her cheeks. His irritation flared as sounds of her muffled sobs reached his ears. “Get back up to the house.”

“I… I p-promis-ed to h-help you.”

“Go home, Piper. All you’re doin’ is slowin’ me down.”

By the time he’d restored all his clothing and turned around, she was long gone.

* * *

Piper stumbled inside, still crying. Knowing that they were still coming, she’d given up wiping them away and her vision was obscured by the flood of emotion.

“Oh, dear.” She heard the clucking of a tongue.

“Sorry, P-Patti,” she sobbed. “I’ll j-just go u-up to my r-room.”

“Oh, you’ll do no such thing. Not on my watch. Come sit down and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

She felt a hand on her elbow and did not resist as she was led to the table. She sat down and buried her face in her hands and sobbed out her hurt and frustration. Patti didn’t say another word and the only sound other than her own sobs were those of the older woman moving around the kitchen.

Once her sobs faded into a softer cry, Piper brushed her eyes and tried to get ahold of herself.

Patti must have been waiting for just such a moment because she was quick to inquire, “You wanna talk about it?”

“I d-don’t know,” she answered, taking a deep breath and trying to calm down.

Patti didn’t press her. She busied around the kitchen and left Piper alone until she slid a mug across the table toward her. Then, with her hands around her own mug, she sat down across from her.

“I guessed peppermint. I hope that’s alright.”

Piper inhaled and felt instantly comforted by the peppermint smell. “Yes. Thank you.” She lifted the cup to her lips and took a tiny sip. “It’s delicious.”

“I’m so glad. Now, what did my idiot son do?”

Caught off guard, she giggled before she could stop herself.

“Go on, you can tell me.”

“Well… I don’t want to talk bad about Chase. He’s your son.”

Patti snorted. “Exactly! Who better to know how pigheaded he can be sometimes?”

Piper shifted on the bench, ducking her head to hide a smile. It was nice to feel like Patti was a friend. “Ah, well… we had a bit of a fight.”

“I would’na guessed.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay. I just… I don’t know what happened!” she burst out. “We were having fun… milking.”

“Uh-huh,” the older woman said, deadpan.

---