Page 21 of Tempted By the Broken Cowboy
I take charge and speak up first. “That was such a childish move.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Of course he’s denying it.
“Locking me in my room.”
He does not respond and instead brushes past me, heading for the stables, treating me like I’m invisible. I square my shoulders and follow—if he thinks ignoring me will send me packing, he doesn’t know me at all.
The smell inside the barn nearly knocks me over—hay, leather, horse, and something pungent I don’t want to name. Beck doesn’t wait for me to adjust. He shoves a pitchfork into my hands without a word and nods toward a stall. His eyes flick up, daring me to refuse.
“You wanted to shadow me, didn’t you?”
So that’s how he wants to play it? Fine, I can do this.
I roll up my sleeves and dig in, shoveling muck with more determination than skill. It’s disgusting, but I remind myself that I’ve sat through endless council meetings where men twice my age tried to tell me the project I’m here groveling for is not “worth the investment.” Compared to that, this is easy. At least manure doesn’t talk back.
Beck checks on me once, lips twitching like he’s holding back a smirk at the sight of me elbow-deep in ranch work. I glare at him, which only makes him turn away, shoulders shaking with quiet laughter. Fine. Let him laugh. I’ll outlast him.
The day drags me from one task to the next. Saddling horses under Beck’s sharp gaze, carrying buckets of water that nearly spill all over my jeans, holding onto a skittish colt while my arms tremble with the effort. Every time I think he’s about to give me a break, he tosses another chore my way, like he’s cataloging all the ways I don’t belong here.
By midday, my palms sting with raw blisters and sweat runs down my spine, but when Beck leans against a fencepost and mutters, “You can quit anytime, princess,” I force a smile.
“Funny,” I say, brushing dirt off my jeans. “I was just about to ask if you needed a break.”
His jaw ticks, and for a second, I think I see something almost like respect in his eyes, but then it’s gone, replaced by the same cool indifference. He stalks off, and I trail behind him, refusing to fall behind.
This is day one. And if he wants to make it a war, fine. I’ve fought tougher battles in silk blouses and high heels. Beck Morgan has no idea how hard I can fight when I want something badly enough.
And I want this.
8
BECKETT
Quinn’s frustrated groans carry across the barn, curses leaving her pursed lips every so often. She’s trying to lift a saddle onto a mare’s back, fumbling with the weight of it, cheeks flushed with the effort. I should probably step in, but instead I lean against the stall door and let her wrestle with it.
She grits her teeth, muttering something under her breath as the leather slips again, nearly taking her down with it. I know I’m probably taking it too far—she doesn’t really need to do any of the mundane tasks I’ve been making her do all morning; even I don’t do most of it. But I want to drive her crazy to the point of quitting.
“Need help, princess?”
She turns to me with a glare. “No, thank you. I’ve got this.”
“The sooner you give up, the better for the two of us,” I remind her.
She stops what she’s doing and walks up to me, a resolved look on her face. “You do know that I am not going anywhere, right? I am here to stay, so you might as well get used to it.”
Her words only work to make me angrier. “I don’t have to get used to anything, so do us both a favor and leave.”
“Not happening,” she asserts before turning around and going back to saddling the mare.
I hate how confident she is in all this. She’s stubborn enough not to ask for help, and just like it’s been all day, she will keep going until she gets it right or until she breaks.
And that’s when it hits me.
Jace set this up. He knew she’d dig her heels in, that she wouldn’t back down. And he’s counting on me to break right alongside her.
The realization knots hot and tight in my chest. I’m not some project that needs tinkering, and I sure as hell don’t need the mayor’s daughter following me around and using me as her own personal guinea pig.
