Page 56 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
“Yes. So tell him.”
“I just might.”
Now that I have both Lou and Ella’s encouragement, all I need to do is find the perfect time to let him know.
When we make it into the dining room, he’s already seated at the table. He pulls a chair for me, and I take my spot next to him. He loops his arm on the back of my seat and starts playing with my hair. A subtle but very smooth move.
Ever since I opened up to Zane, he has been very protective of me. I had to physically stop him from finding my mother and Estevan to make them pay for all they put me through. I want them to pay, but I also hate confrontation, thus why I constantly chose to run away rather than face my problems head-on.
Maybe I’ll grow some balls in the future or borrow Zane’s. He has some very impressive ones.
“Frida called. She wants to know if you’re up for classes this weekend,” Ella inquires as we settle down for dinner.
“I don’t think so. After what happened, I don’t want to risk leaving the ranch again. I’m sorry, Daisy,” I apologize, giving the cutie an apologetic look.
I know this hurts her—it hurts me too—but I don’t have much of a choice.
“Okay, I’ll let her know, but you should reconsider,” Ella advises.
“I have thought about it, and it’s a no,” I insist.
The whole table falls silent, and I realize that I might be disappointing them, but I’m too scared to risk going into town again.
“So you are going to stop doing something that makes you happy because of them?” Zane asks.
I turn to him with a glare. “It’s not that easy, and you know it.”
“It is, actually. Do you want to keep teaching the classes or not?” he challenges.
“I do—they are so much fun—but...”
“But nothing. You should keep teaching if that’s what you want,” he asserts.
“What about her security?” Jace asks him.
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
“We’re going to need more than that,” Hank chimes in.
He looks frustrated at being confronted, but he answers them nonetheless. “I’ll take over from Ella. I’ll take Daisy and Ava to the rec center every Saturday, wait for them, and bring them back.”
“But you hate people and, even worse... going into town,” Ella reminds him.
“That I do, so Miss Diva over here should feel honored that I’m willing to make the sacrifice for her,” he replies, tugging on my earlobe.
“I am, but...”
“Enough with the buts. Are you okay with me taking over from Ella?”
I sigh and nod. Of course I feel safe with him. All actions I’ve taken since I arrived have proved so. “Yes.”
“Then it’s settled,” he decrees, leaving no room for argument.
It looks like that’s that. Daisy looks happy with the decision, and I’m not so apprehensive anymore knowing that Zane will be there. At least I don’t have to lose another thing that makes me happy due to my demented family.
22
ZANE
