Page 107 of Redemption

I shook my head, deciding to deal with this drama another day. Max had a point but I just hated seeing little Tills hurting after everything she’d been through.

I went over to Kat and Leo who were now joined by Daisy. “I think someone needs to check on Tilly,” I said.

“I’ll go,” Leo volunteered. “This one is too drunk,” he pointed to Daisy. “And this one needs a night off from parenting,” he pointed to Kat.

“Appreciate you,” Daisy called after him.

“Damn, you are drunk,” he teased.

“Hush up, Rodeo Clown!”

“Now that your inhibitions are lowered, are you going to reveal to me who cleared the debt and gave us some money to start our plans?” Kat asked, staring intently at Daisy.

Daisy nibbled her lip before she sighed. “It’s Raleigh.”

“Duke? No!” Kat gasped.

“Yeah, and?” Daisy grew defensive. “You went to him for help too!”

“Yeah, but not for money! Oh Daze, what have youdone? You know there’s no such thing as a gift with him!”

“It wasn’t a gift,” Daisy hedged.

“What did you agree to?” I asked, wondering how nervous I should be about what Daisy had gotten herself into.

“Do we owe him back? With interest? Does he get a say in what happens to the ranch?” Kat was panicking and I put a hand on her lower back, rubbing it gently to soothe her.

“No, nothing like that.Wedon’t owe him anything.” Daisy picked at the label on her bottle.

“Daze, what didyouagree to?”

“Nothing that I can’t handle okay, let’s drop it. It’s this big lug’s birthday so let’s celebrate. Race you to the bull!” she shouted and charged down to the mechanical bull, knocking Gertie aside to get to it.

I looked at Kat whose face said it all. “Stop worrying,’ I told her. ‘She’s not an idiot. If she says she can handle it, she can handle it. They’re grown adults, you need to stop mothering them at some point.”

She stomped her foot like a teenager. “I don’t want to!”

“Well you need to. Focus on me instead,” I teased.

I pulled her over to the bull and watched as Gertie and Daisy took turns trying to stay on the longest, with neither of them doing very well. Leo reappeared and said he was going to take Tilly home.

Then it was finally time for us all to leave and Kat drove us back in the truck. I sat in the front, closing my eyes and enjoying the drive. Every now and then she took me out in the truck, knowing how much I loved it. She offered to let me drive around the ranch, but I didn’t want to. My ban was for life, and it wouldstay that way.

“I’m just gonna make sure everyone is put to bed, then I’ll come down,” Kat said, herding the girls into the house.

“Be quick, please. I want my birthday present,” I said against her mouth. She groaned and shoved me off before shouting at the girls to get their butts upstairs.

I headed to the cabin, fending off an excited Teddy as he greeted me. I fussed over him before putting him in his new, hand-crafted doggie bed.

I was tidying up the kitchenette when I felt that telltale prickle. I looked up, through the window and towards the house.

Smirking, I stalked over to the window and crooked my finger, knowing she was watching me. She mostly stayed with me in the cabin but sometimes when she had lots of work, she would stay at the main house. But she’d watch me. Every so often I put on a show for her but not tonight, tonight I needed her here.

My phone buzzed and I pulled it out.

Kat:Coming now.

Typing out my reply and sending it, I looked up at the house and saw the light shine in the window. Satisfaction flared inside knowing she was there watching me.

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