Page 24 of His Virgin Woman
He loved her excitement.
Climbing out, he got the wire and his tools, and with Peyton’s help, he changed the wire that had snapped and made sure to remove it so none of the cows would get tangled up in it.He’d done that once when he was a boy—left the wire, and one of the calves got caught up in it.His dad made him sit with that cow for two weeks until it had fully healed.He learned his lesson and never left shit lying around again.
Once the fence was fixed, he tossed everything into the back of the truck and climbed inside.Peyton did the same.After checking all the fences, then responding to a call from one of his men, he checked on one of the cows that didn’t look so good.Before they drove back to the ranch, they called the vet, and he got one of his employees to take the cow to a holding shed where they could care for the cow properly.
Arriving back on the ranch, he saw that several of his men were climbing into their cars and heading out.
“What’s going on?”she asked.
He checked his watch and saw it was a little after five.“They’re heading to the diner.”
“Why?”
“Since my mom died, we stopped feeding them on the ranch.”
“You have?”
“Yeah.Didn’t have a cook willing to make so much food in one go.William comes out when he can, but he also makes them go to the diner.”
Peyton frowned.“Do you want me to cook for you?”
“You’re busy at the bakery.That is not going to work, you coming to the ranch.”
“What if I did it in advance?”
“No,” he said.He went to her and cupped her face.“You’re not doing double the work.”And with that, he kissed her lips.
“But it just seems wrong, and they deserve a good meal.”
“They’ll get one.William takes care of them, and I pay for it.”He shrugged.“It’s no big deal.”
He did miss his mother being in the kitchen.The downside to living on the ranch that was handed down generations was the memories.They hurt.
“Do you miss your parents?”Peyton asked.
He stopped and turned to look at her.It was like she had read his mind.“Yeah, I do.”
She nodded.“I miss mine too, and I think it’s scary that sometimes I wish I could yell at them for keeping the trouble they were in to themselves.”
“You think it would have made it easier knowing what they were going through?”he asked.
“No, it wouldn’t have made it easier, but I might have been able to help.They were not bad parents at all.I know Lily-May doesn’t show that.”
“It’s not always the parents’ fault for how kids turn out.”
He saw her smile.
“I think they would have been so disappointed in me for making that deal with you.”She sighed.“But you know what?”
“What?”
“I don’t care.I know deep down that I should care but it was always something with her.She wouldn’t just leave the business alone.I might have actually been in a better place than I am now if it weren’t for her.I might have been able to hire someone myself.I’m running on that thin line.Each day it is make or break.”She sighed.
“I won’t let anything happen.”
“You can’t guarantee the future,” she said.“If a shiny new place opens up, I’m screwed.”
“Everyone adores you, and I’m here.I’ll help you figure it out.”He had every intention of marrying her.Keeping her.
