Page 149 of My Cowboy Freedom
“No. I’m saying I don’t need that money. I can take care of myself.” I left them there to chew on that.
God. Try to do someone a favor and all you get is—
“Wait.” Elena’s footsteps clattered behind me. “This money was for you to get started on the outside, right?”
It was still hot enough outside to make me sweat, and a stillness gave the air an even thicker, more oppressive feel. Elena was looking at me like I was crazy. I wondered for a second if maybe I was.
She had a valid question. ’Nando had given me that money. He might not have left it on the nightstand, but it was clearly for services rendered. But the money was mine. I’d earned it. I might need it someday, in which case, I’d sure as hell regret giving it up now.
But then I remembered how I felt when ’Nando’s wife gave it to me.
“I can earn whatever money I need.” I wiped my suddenly damp hands on my jeans. “I want to use that money to help Rock.”
“No.” Elena scrubbed her eye with the heel of her hand. “No, no, no. This just isn’t right.”
“Elena.” Foz gave her a worried nudge.
She dropped her hands with a long-suffering sigh and when she opened her eyes, there was an unfamiliar hardness in them. She aimed the look at me first.
“Youcome up to the house with me. Foz, get Ryder on the phone.”
“Sure. Wait—” He blinked. “Ryder?”
“Has Sterling got any other sons you know of?” She lifted her brow in question.
Foz’s eyes widened. “Oh, honey. Boss’s head is going to fully explode if you bring Ryder back on.”
“Tell Ryder we’ll need Andi’s help too.” I didn’t see the look she shot Foz, but he fumbled his phone from his pocket like it was on fire. “And tell Doc Winters I need to talk to him. He’s probably got contacts with some idea of what we’re up against. Tell the rest of the hands to come up to the house. We need to make a plan.”
With a meaningful nod to Foz, Elena half-sprinted to the ranch house. When we got there, she handed me a mug of coffee and pointed to a chair.
“Sit,” she said.
I sat and took that first bitter coffee sip. It was strong enough. It might even keep me awake.
Elena folded her arms. “You tap my Rocky’s ass?”
I spat coffee everywhere.
“Okay, that’s a yes.” She offered me a towel.
I dabbed at the spill but it was hopeless. “Technically—”
“Oh hell no.” She held up a single finger, inviting me to wait while she poured herself a glass of red wine. The finger wagged. “No-no-no. No details. I’m having a glass of wine and you’re giving me no details.”
I nodded. “All right.”
“You weren’t the first, though.”
Good thing I’d left my coffee alone after that first sip. “No, ma’am.”
“I didn’t”—she gripped the edge of the kitchen counter—“I did not ask that.”
“No, ma’am.”
“Knock off the ‘ma’am’ stuff.” She set her glass down on the table and then plopped into the seat next to mine. “We’ll need to talk with Andi and Ryder. Make a plan. Maybe even bring Lucho and Tripp back.”
“I’ve heard the hands talk about Lucho and Tripp. Are you sure Chandler would want that?”
