Page 11 of Rival
Wringing her hands together, she follows him and suggests, “Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll fix up another plate for you?” She eyes me warily, but I’m not sure why. My eyes go back and forth between the two of them, then hear my brother groaning from the living room.
“He’s wakin’ up,” I say more to myself than them.
“Yeah, you should probably take him on home,” Clayborn mutters, still digging through the fridge, pulling out dishes and dropping them on the counter. “Don’t we have more beans? Thought there was more than this.”
Edith forces a smile at me and tilts her head toward the other room. “Why don’t you get your brother? Thank you for your help cleaning up tonight.”
Dropping a hand on her shoulder, I squeeze gently and wink at her. “Probably for the best. Your daddy’s ready for bed too, I think. Thanks for havin’ us over, Clay. See ya later.” He grunts and waves me off. “Dinner was delicious,” I tell Edith, lowering my voice, then give her one more squeeze before letting go.
I find myself more disappointed than I would have thought as I drag Corbin out to the truck, his arm hanging heavily over my shoulder. The vision of Edith’s ass brings a smile to my face. I tell myself there’s nothing wrong with tagging along next time the boys decide to watch another game. Might have to get them to drink the whiskey next so she and I have a little longer to chat.
Chapter Five
Mason
Why won’t she stay away?
I observe my meddlesome neighbor from the shadows of the trees as she inches her way toward my barn, cupping something close to her stomach.
What in the fuck is she doin’? Bringing somethin’ to fuck with my farm?
Her daddy would. I wouldn’t be surprised if he set her to do his dirty work, although it has been a few years since he’s done more than call the city on me. Not that I haven’t returned the favor. The shit he’s got stacked up on his lot is an eyesore, and probably hazardous with all the fluids and shit seeping into the ground.
The wind whips up abruptly and I glance at the sky, noting a storm about to roll in. I’m upwind from her, so she doesn’t hear me as I step out of the trees and head toward her, but I certainly hear the tiny, high pitched mewl coming from her stomach. I pause and cock my head, narrowing my eyes.
Deciding to give her a moment, my curiosity is piqued. If sheisdoing something nefarious, I’ll be able to catch her red-handed and drag her ass to the house. Keep her waiting until Iget the police out here and charge her with trespassing. My lips curl in a sneer, excitement washing over me at that prospect. Bet her daddy would justlovethat.
Walking more slowly now, I tuck my hands in my pockets and stroll lazily in her direction. With where she’s standing, the straight line winds swirl harshly around the corner, the bottom of her dress slamming against her legs and she fights to keep it from lifting up to her waist.
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head at the ridiculousness of wearing a dress out on a farm. Dropping my gaze lower, I notice her worn boots caked in mud and worn soles, but it’s the way she hunkers over to protect whatever she’s holding at her stomach which keeps my interest.
She jogs to the entrance and tries the handle, but it won’t budge. My fingers grip my keys in my pocket and finally my anger at her trespassingagainsurpasses this brief moment of wondering what the hell she’s up to.
I’m only a few feet behind her when I snap. “Wanna explain why the hell you’re tryin’ to break into my barn?”
The way she screams from being startled brings me a small ounce of joy, but her cry quickly shifts to one of pain as her arms fly around her.Is this damn woman possessed? Jesus fuckin’ Christ!
A blur of fur has me tipping my hat up as I watch her wrestle with the mangiest looking kitten I think I’ve ever seen in my life. Edith doesn’t answer my initial question; instead, she pleads with the kitten. “Ssh, ssh. Just wait, baby! It’s okay, it’sokay!I got you. J-Just—” Hissing when the tiny ball crawls its way up her neck and clings to her exposed skin, she winces as she carefully removes his claws. “Just calm a bit for me.”
“That thing’s probably got fleas. You ought to put it down.” I wrinkle my nose as she continues her fight to calm it, pushing her hair from her face as the wind whips it around her cheeks.
Finding my eyes, she gives me a sheepish smile. “I can’t. I’m trying to return him to his momma. Your barn is the only place nearby that probably has some barn cats, so I came to see if maybe his family was here.”
“I don’t have barn cats,” I state, crossing my arms across my chest. “That still doesn’t excuse you for trespassin’… for thethirdtime within a week.”
The girl is good, I’ll give her that. She seems embarrassed at being caught. Dropping her head, she looks away from my glare. “I did try the door, but no one answered. I wasn’t trying to be sneaky; I swear it.”
“My parents are out. That doesn’t give you the right—”
I’m shocked when she interrupts me. “IknowI shouldn’t have come back. But—” She fights off the kitten again as it tries to crawl onto her other shoulder and nestle its way under her hair. “But I didn’t know what else to do. He’s just a baby. I thought he would’ve found his momma by now, but he keeps coming round. His crying was breaking my heart.”
Closing my eyes when hers fill with tears, I groan loudly and tip my head back. “Look, I don’t know what to tell you. There aren’t any cats in there, so I know he doesn’t belong in my barn. Why don’t you just keep him at your place? He looks old enough to be on his own by now. Probably weaned from his mom already.”
“I can’t,” she whispers. Glancing in the direction of her home, she begins her explanation, but lets her voice trail off at the end. “My father… he…” Shoving her hair from her face again, she straightens her spine. “Could he please stay in your barn? I bet he’d be real good at catching any mice that might be making a home in there. I’ll even come by every day and feed him.”
“He’s gonna spray when he gets older.”
She shakes her head quickly. “I’ll save up and have him neutered as soon as I’ve got enough.PleaseMas—” I raise mybrow when she uses my name, causing her to quickly correct herself. “Mr. Cooper. I’ll even help out around here if you want me to as payment.”
