Page 30 of Brands

“Why? Where are you going?” I’m not sure if I trust myself around Blue. My heart is still beating quickly from being stopped in the middle of fantasizing about the very man staring me down cooly.

I want to scream at him being so calm.

Or jump him.

“I have to run to town. Lucy is down with mastitis again because she won’t stop breaking out of her stall and laying in the manure pile.” Dad rolls his eyes. “That cow is a pain in my ass.”

“Why can’t Devon show him?” I meet Blue’s lidded gaze boldly.

He can’t intimidate me.

The corner of his mouth twitches up, then one of his icy eyes winks at me.

Asshole. I bet he knows what I was just doing.

“Your brother is at school.” Dad glowers at me. “We have a buyer coming for ten head next week. Help Blue pick out some nice three to four year olds so he can start the work up on them.” He slips his Carhartt from the hook and threads it over his thick arms.

“Wait, no. I told you I’m gonna figure out a way, Dad. We don’t need to sell them, I can do it.” If I don’t fight back, the whole herd will be gone before I know it.

Dad runs his palm over his face and shakes his head. “We talked about this. The buyer is paying higher than market. Besides, you aren’t ready for this, Lib. You’re still a damn kid,” he grumbles before slamming the door behind him.

“Bullshit,” I mutter to the wood paneling.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I sure don’t think you’re a kid,” Blue chuckles from behind me.

I turn on my heel and squint at him, then move close enough I can press my palm against his chest.

His breath catches as he watches me.

“You know what would fix this? A slow comfortable screw against the wall.” I let my tongue drag over my lower lip before spinning away.

He lets out a small groan. “Lib…we talked about this—”

“I meant the drink, Blue.” I grab my jacket without looking at him. “I could really use one. In fact, I was justthinking a few minutes ago about going back up to Hilltop and seeing if that nice boy was there that you ran off the other day.”

Am I fucking with him?

Yes.

But he’s the one setting the rules.

I’m just playing outside the lines.

He catches up to me after only a few steps. “Is that what you really want to do?”

I stop long enough to plant one fist into my hip. “Are there other options?” I hold up both hands, wiggling my fingers in the air in front of his face. “My girls are getting tired, I’m ready for a pinch hitter.” Giving him my best smile, I turn and start stomping through the mud to the barn.

I’m nearly to the big bay doors when I hear him following.

It’s warmer inside, despite the open ends. Steam rises from the silage and noses of the resting cows.

The sickly sweet smell of rumination wafts over me, but I’m so used to it I barely notice.

Most of the big brown eyes just blink lazily as their jaws work. Every now and then an ear twitches as I walk past.

They’re used to me.

A few raise their heads as Blue passes, but new people aren’t a rare sight here either.

---