Page 32 of Freeing the Wild
She continues filling me in on everyone’s stories as the smell of bacon and eggs fills the air.
I glance up at Haden now, as my mama prattles on about CeCe’s friend Olivia’s clothing boutique and all the other shops in town.Now that I’ve managed to sneak a good look at him, I notice that Haden looks different from the last time I saw him.There’s more ink on his arms, and branches of some sort creep out of his t-shirt collar and up his neck.His beard and mustache are a little thicker and his hair longer too.I smile internally.Maybe that’s just how cowboys keep warm in the winter.
From all their chatter around me, I gather it’s been a particularly cold winter for this part of Kentucky, and I certainly felt it this morning after leaving Santa Fe behind.Haden must feel my eyes on him, because after a few seconds he looks my way.He continues talking to Cole and Dusty but keeps his eyes on me.Just long enough to make my stomach drop the same way it did all those months ago.
I turn my head away and remind myself to steer clear of him.Only to have my plan foiled when he takes a seat directly across from me at the table, and he doesn’t look too happy about it.
“Hey!You two have the exact same breakfast,” Mabel giggles beside me as she looks from my plate to Haden’s.“You even have the same coffee!”
I look at Haden’s plate, then back to mine.Eggs, bacon, fruit and Greek yogurt.Coffee black.Exactly the same.
“So we do,” I agree, glancing back up at Haden.
“Well, my plate might look different if I could’ve added more bacon.But I know where to go if I want more, Mabes,” Haden says with a pointed smirk to Mabel, nodding to her plate which is heaped with bacon.Mabel looks down at her plate with a smile and offers him a piece.He chuckles and takes it from her.This is the lighter side of him that I saw a glimpse of that first night at the bar.
“So, Cassie honey, how long are you here for?”Papa Dean asks as everyone eats.The table quiets down as they wait for my answer.I shrug.
“I’m not sure yet.Maybe a month?Possibly a little longer?I just need some time off.”
“Can I get the honey for my toast, Nana?”Mabel asks Jo, and I’m grateful for the attention to be off of me.
“In the pantry.”Jo points toward it.“And bring the dipper.I don’t want your fork double-dipping in the honey pot.”
“Double dippin’ is illegal around here,” Nash mutters.
I take a bite of fruit as someone snorts from the other end of the table.
“What?”Jo asks whoever snorted.I can’t help myself.I smile too.Cole tells her he won’t explain double-dipping.I laugh for the first time in what feels like weeks.
“If you can put up with all their immature minds you can stay as long as you like,” Jo says, pulling my attention back.“No one’s using that old cabin anyway.If you need anything at all, you let me know.”
I look over at her and smile.“Thank you.I’ll earn my keep too.I can help with the horses.”
Haden drops his fork, then clears his throat and quickly picks it back up, speaking for the first time to me since he got here.
“We’re pretty full with volunteers right now,” he says pointedly in the deep voice that’s haunted me for months.My eyes drop and I focus on my fruit.
“That’s true,” Wade agrees.He looks at me.“We have a lot of students here until spring for school co-ops, is all.But you can ride anytime you want.This place is yours.”
“Riding would be really good for you,” Ivy says softly.
I nod.“Riding sounds incredible.”
I loved horses so much as a girl and would spend hours looking after ours with Dad.But since he died, I haven’t been able to bring myself to ride anywhere near the same amount.
“I definitely miss it.But I need to remember how to even saddle up properly.It’s been a while since I’ve done my own,” I admit.
“Maybe Dusty or Haden can reacquaint you!”Ivy says, offering both of them up to me.Haden stops mid-chew to look at her.Dusty opens his mouth to speak and I swear I hear Haden mumblefuckunder his breath.
“I got it,” Haden says, facing Dusty for a split second, before glancing quickly back to me.“You can ride with me.”
“Are you sure?”Ivy asks.“I guess I should’ve asked first, but you and Dusty know the property best, aside from the Ashby kids.If you could even just remind Cassie how to properly tack up and make sure she stays to the safe spots on the trail, that would be amazing.”
“I’m sure Haden is busy,” I cut in, letting him off the hook.“I don’t really need a guide.”
“Nonsense.It’s no trouble,” Wade interjects.“Right, Haden?”
“No trouble at all,” Haden retorts, but there’s definitely an edge to his tone I don’t miss.
