Page 7 of Cozy Cabin for Two
The sun hadn’t even peekedover the mountains when I barked at everyone in the bunkhouse to get their asses up. It started my day off on the wrong foot.
“Jesus, what crawled into your boot and died?” Knox complained as he pulled his socks on.
I wouldn’t dare say a word to them, but I blamed Willow. Overnight, every time I closed my eyes in my bunk, there she was in my dreams—inmycabin.
It didn’t help one bit that my brain conjured up images of us there together as I tossed and turned, like how she’d tease me wearing one of my flannel shirts and nothing underneath.
Or she’d pull me into the shower with her.
Then she’d hum a tune at the stove, cooking breakfast for me while a few small children ran about.
Wait—who the hell were those little kids invading my universe?
“Colt! You dead? Let’s go. This isn’t the Off-Duty Spa. We run a ranch, goddammit.” I gave him a jolt when I kicked the frame of his bunk with my boot.
“I’m up, I’m up!” He groaned, rubbing his eyes.
“The luxury of late mornings doesn’t exist on a mountain ranch like ours.”
Finally, the men met me in our makeshift mess hall. Eldon did his usual best as our cook, serving up huge stacks of pancakes, batches of oats, bacon and sausage, along with the blackest soul of coffee ever created on God’s earth to wash it all down with. Lethal stuff, but it worked to get us going.
Everyone settled with their plates around the long picnic tables that formed our simple dining set. After a few minutes letting them get something in their bellies, I barked off assignments for the day to each man, then came to Knox and Colt.
“Colt, get a stall cleaned out and ready. Knox will show you the ropes. Daisy will be by soon with a new rescue.” I eyed Knox, who perked up at the mention of her name. It wasn’t a huge secret that he had a thing for her, although Daisy seemed not to have a clue.
“On second thought, I think I’ll go take a quick shower to start the day,” he scuttled off. Snickers rose around the table.
Eldon yelled after him, “Dammit. Go light on that aftershave, would you? I don’t like it mixing with the scent of my food.”
Knox simply held up his middle finger before closing the bathroom door behind him.
Would there be the slightest hint of Willow’s perfume left behind when she leaves my cabin at some point? I shook off that thought.
“Colt, later this morning, take the UTV and pick up Willow and Ro so they can go see the horses,” I ordered.
“Yes, Boss,” he eagerly answered.
Some men started asking questions about the newcomers to the ranch. Apparently, word spread quickly about the woman and child who joined us last night. Even joked that I’d built a bed-and-breakfast instead of a home. I shut them all down fast.
“Enough. Let’s get to work.” I needed things to get back to normal. At least for a while until I figured out how to feel about Willow and Ro being here.
* * *
I kept busy all morning in my office in back of the barn. Grief was a tricky son of a bitch. It didn’t stay buried. Especially when your dead brother’s beautiful wife showed up with your niece in tow, and out of the blue. They dredged up things I thought I’d locked away, and placed them front and center of my mind.
I would never admit that I’d spent years wondering what might’ve happened if Scott hadn’t loved her. Or if I had stayed in our hometown and given things a chance—but what did any of it matter now? Except they were here, forcing me to face my past and deal with my wounds. Arousing all kinds of thoughts about the future.
I doubted Willow and Ro would just walk away after their visit here. Deep down, I wasn’t sure I wanted them to.
Jesus, what kind of man coveted his brother’s family? What kind of selfish bastard looked at a widow and her child and saw not a responsibility to honor Scott’s memory, but an opportunity to claim something for himself?
Before I could spiral deeper, the roar of an old diesel engine disrupted our peaceful ranch. Daisy’s truck and trailer kicked up dust as they pulled up to the barn.
Good. Another distraction. Horses I could handle. My past? Not so much.
Walking out to meet Daisy, my stomach flipped watching Ro riding on Marshmallow with the biggest grin I’d seen on her yet. Like a ray of sunshine, she waved at me.
Colt walked beside her, reins in hand, and Knox peered on like their bodyguard. The white and brown pony with freckles on his rump held his head proudly as if carrying precious cargo. In a way, he was—my niece, the only connection I had left to my brother.
