Page 9 of Ranch Life At Heart
“Well,” I snap, a bit agitated. “Stop dragging it out and tell me already.”
“You’re going to be pissed,” she warns.
I huff in frustration. “I’m agitated right now and am well on my way to pissed off. So, enlighten me anyway.”
“Cedar Stellan. Your one-night stand was Cedar.” Her eyes are on me, and I don’t disappoint her when I feel my jaw drop.
“No,” I whisper. “He…no, that can’t be. You’re wrong.”
She shakes her head when she says, “He asked about you.”
I jolt to my feet. “He can keep asking. It was one time. Once. That’s it. Dammit. Seriously? Cedar? Didn’t we go toschool together? Shit. He couldn’t stand me, and pulled my freaking ponytail, that Cedar? He was an asshole back then, and had a buzz cut. Why does he suddenly look…look…gah, life really fucks you in the ass when you’re at your lowest.”
“The hairpulling as a kid might be because he fancied you. Now, if he was doing some hairpulling while–”
“Shut up,” I hiss.
I certainly don’t want the reminder how the man pulled my hair while he took me from behind.
“Jason said he was here to stay. He’s come back after two decades to–”
“I don’t care,” I grumble, cutting her off for a second time. “His father is the reason mine is dead.”
Daphne winces and her voice is soft when she says, “Your father died of a heart attack, sweetie. Cecil didn’t kill him.”
I know my father had heart issues; we were in the middle of finding out what the extent of it was.
Still, the anger of losing my dad hits me hard and I lash out with the words, “He had a meeting with Cecil that day. We both know how heated their discussions always were. It’s not hard to jump to my conclusion, now, is it?”
“I know how those two butted heads in the past,” she agrees.
Silence falls and I reach for my coffee to down the last few sips and make myself a new cup.
I hold the pot up and Daphne shakes her head. “One is enough, or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
I snicker. “I’m sleeping before my head hits the pillow, no matter how much coffee I’ve had all damn day.”
She points a finger in my direction. “Reason number two you need to see Cedar again. He has the experience to help you lighten your load. And just for the record? Reason number one is sex. You need it too.”
I flip her off. “I don’t need Cedar. Give me a number of what I can afford, and I’ll place an ad to hire a ranch hand. There’s a guestroom I can throw into the offer as well.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t like you being here alone with a total stranger.”
I point in the global direction of my neighbor and his damn son. “Cedar is practically a stranger as well. Fuck, Daphne. He knew your name and mine. Which means he damn well knew it was me when we had sex. Two freaking rounds of hot and dirty sex. Then I snuck out of his room while he was sleeping. He knew I didn’t know who the hell he was, but he knew my damn name.”
My voice cracks a bit at the end. I think I’m a tad hurt, and a load embarrassed, by this little fact. I know I was the one who shut him up when he was about to spill his name. For a split second I think if at that moment it would have made a difference if I knew it was Cedar.
I had enough to drink, was a bit drunk, but certainly not completely wasted. I might still have agreed to one night of sex. Nothing more, nothing less. Though, I guess we’ll never know if I would or wouldn’t have.
What I do know is the fact that I don’t want anything to do with him now. “Whatever. It was a one-night stand. I have more important things to deal with than shit in my past. The future’s what matters. Tomorrow I’m going to start looking for a ranch hand.”
Daphne pulls something from her pocket and slides a note over the table in my direction. “You’ve mentioned it a few times. I’ve made a few calculations and Jason and I have been checking out the pay of a ranch hand. You should be able to hire someone with good credentials if you also offer a room. But please, Rosy. Be careful who you bring into your home.”
I take the note and glance at her words. “Don’t worry. I’m not just going to hire someone on the spot, and you can join me for the interviews. Well, that is if anyone applies for the job.”
Daphne waves her hand. “They will. You can afford a decent pay along with room and board, don’t worry. For sure as shit, I’ll help out with checking out the cowboys that’ll show up.”
I shake my head with a smile on my face. “Maybe Jason needs to be there as well.”
