Page 35 of Wellspring
At the moment, he found it didn’t bother him at all.Erick wanted him.Erick wanted him so much he was going to sleep in the barn tonight so he could take himself in hand to the memory of touching and kissing Cade.Erickwantedhim.No, tonight nothing in the whole fucking world could bother him.
“We will find a way.”Erick pulled him into another searing kiss.Cade would absolutely have to find a place to jack off before returning to the bunkhouse.There was no way he’d be able to sleep, as hard as he was now.“Anticipation makes the moment sweeter, so they say.Gute Nacht, Cade.”
Chapter Twenty
“GO ONwith you, Biscuit,” Erick chided.“Just because I let you sleep with me last night does not mean you can help with the horses.You might be trod on.”If the cat could talk, it would no doubt express that it found the suggestion highly insulting, but it jumped to the top of the fence rail and began to clean itself as daintily as a large orange tabby could.
Shaking his head, Erick unsaddled the chestnut paint he’d dubbed Rosy and slipped her a carrot from his pocket.In truth, most of the mustangs were as ready as he could make them, but with Reichardt’s threat looming, he doubted Payne would want to take hands from the ranch to corral more.It also made him reconsider his suggestion of riding into town.As much as the prospect of a night alone with Cade tempted him, it would mean two fewer hands to defend Wellspring if Reichardt made good on his threats.
“If I’d needed more than Webster’s word to take you on, which I didn’t, mind you, Biscuit taking to you like she has would have done it.That cat is a better judge of character than any man I’ve ever met,” Payne said.“She hated Adam Carter on sight.I should have fired him the moment she hissed at him.”
“Why didn’t you?”Erick asked before he could think better of it.
“Because the last thing I need is word getting around that I’m fucking crazy,” Payne replied.“Bad enough I’m a freed slave.That keeps a lot of men away.I don’t want to run off the ones willing to give me a chance.I fired him as soon as he gave me a reason.”
“I understand he made untoward advances toward Miss Bessette.”
“If that’s a fancy way of saying he tried to rape her, but she’s no one’s bitch.”Payne ran an eye over Erick appraisingly, making Erick wonder what Payne saw when he looked at him.“I almost felt bad not patching him up before I kicked him off Wellspring property.I’d have done something about it sooner if it had been up to me, but while Roarke was alive, he made those decisions.”
“I am surprised Cade let him live,” Erick replied.
Payne snorted a laugh.“It took four men to hold him back.Not that she needed the help since she damn-near gelded Carter.The only reason he’s still alive is because Miz Roarke reminded them both that killing him would get one or both of them hanged.”
“But it makes him the more dangerous now.”
Payne nodded.“Most of Reichardt’s men like the paycheck or they’ll only work for a white man or they’re bullies who get off on pushing around people who can’t stand up for themselves.Carter is one of those, but it’s personal now too.He wants revenge, and he’ll find a way to get to Bessette.He’ll rape her if he can, because that’s what she denied him before, but if he can’t, he’ll kill her.And yes, she can take care of herself, but a bullet from a distance can take out even the best fighter.The thing about the hands here at Wellspring… we all look out for each other.”
“I have promised Grace the same.I would do more than train horses.”Erick gestured to the mustangs in the paddock.“Four of this group are ready for the hands or for sale.I welcome whatever other duties you may assign to me.”
Payne raised an eyebrow when Erick used Grace’s given name, but he made no other comment.Apparently Grace’s insistence that she decided to whom she gave leave to use her name was correct.“We can start the hands mixing the ones you’ve got ready in with the horses they usually ride to give them some experience.We’ll need two or three horses per hand when we make the drive to the new railhead in Abilene.Normally I’d send you and a few of the boys to get another batch of mustangs before then, but I don’t want anyone that far away from the outfit until we see how things are going to play out with Reichardt.Which means you’re going to get your wish.As soon as you get the last two ready to ride, I’ll add you to the rotation with the herd.”
It was tempting to ask to be put on the same rotation as Cade, but Erick was not ready to push Payne’s goodwill any further.“Thank you.I will not fail your trust in me.”
“If I’d had any doubt, I wouldn’t’ve hired you in the first place.Now get to work.The barn is filthy.”Payne stalked off, leaving Erick shaking his head.Mucking stalls was the next task on his internal list anyway, but now he had more than just the anticipation of seeing Cade that evening to make the grueling job easier to bear.He was going to be a true cowboy!
“FUCK!”CADEsaid as he scanned the horizon.From the valley where they kept watch on Wellspring’s herd, the hills rose up to the border of their property with JR land.And at the top of the hill—far enough up to be on JR property, but visible where usually there was no one—was a group of riders.
“Cade?”Chel looked in the same direction.
“At the top of the hill.JR hands.”Cade peered closer.“Six total.They aren’t doing anything.Just sitting there watching.And they’re on their side of the fence.But dammit, I had plans for tonight that involved Erick and a room in Eldorado, and now there’s no way in hell we can leave the ranch.”
“And why would you need to leave the ranch?”Chel grinned wickedly.
“We don’t all have cabins like Javier when we want some privacy,” Cade grumbled.
“You have managed privacy for your lessons.”
“When that’s all they were, yeah, but last night changed everything.And sure as shit, the first time we try for anything more than a few kisses, Burke will come up with some urgent reason to have to go to the spring for one of his inventions, and I’d have to kill him.”
“That would make Payne unhappy.I can make sure you are undisturbed,” Chel offered.
Cade eyed her warily.He had no doubt she could and would do it, but favors from Chel usually came with strings attached.“What’s the catch?”
“Can I not do a favor for a friend?”She batted her eyelashes innocently.
She hadn’t been innocent since the day she entered La Fleur blanche.“Not usually,” he replied.
“Cade, I owe you my life.My life at Wellspring, if not my entire life.There is no catch,” Chel said with a sigh.“Except maybe to give me first crack at Carter if he’s stupid enough to attack Wellspring.”
