Page 74 of Freeing the Wild
“Mmm, fuck.Just wanted to make sure I got those lips on mine before we headed up the drive.”
“Miss me already?”
“I just like to listen to those cute little sounds you make when I touch you, Cass.”He chuckles as he undoes his seatbelt.I make a mental note.His kiss, his hands, his smile.
Hell, at this point, this man is just plain writing my songs for me.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Haden
“I’ll get my boys over here and we’ll take that horse to Randall’s.”Asher mentions the local equine vet taking on livestock to cremate today.With the storm, there have been a few that didn’t make it.Cole and I both stop shoveling as we listen to Asher as he talks; he somehow seems even more imposing in his fire department gear.Not many people see him like I do.Sure, he’s scary as hell on the outside, but I’ve always known there’s more to him than meets the eye.He’s always helping out at the bar, fixing things here and there.He also has a construction background, which is why it’s great he stopped in here today to help his volunteers with pulling down the damaged roof and checking on the horses.
“I’ve got two guys picking up from Caso Ranch this afternoon then we’ll swing back here after and pick him up?”Asher nods to where the horse’s remains are, near the barn.Cole keeps shoveling, knowing that’s my question to answer.
I look over at Penny, her face sullen.I know how much losing even one horse will affect her.
I nod to Asher.“We can swing by with a trailer and bring him ourselves.Thanks, man.”
Penny looks out at the damaged barn.There is pain etched across her face and I know she’s playing the blame game right now.That roof has been rotted for a long time and has a shit pitch.Something like this was bound to happen, and we figure there could’ve been up to a hundred pounds of snow sitting on the corner that caved in.
Asher clears his throat.“They’re burning them together so you won’t get ashes back.Though they’re offering the service at a low price for the community after the storm.”
“That’s real good of them to do that,” I offer as I lean over and pat Penny on the back.Thankfully she only lost one horse last night.But she was still heartbroken when Cole and I told her this morning.
“My guys will have the first half of that roof down by the end of the day.We’ll come back over the next few to give you a hand with the rest,” Asher says.
“I have to pop into the station and make sure Wayne is okay this morning.”Cole mentions the new deputy chief sheriff he hired last fall.“Nash is on the way and Wade should be back from Florida later this afternoon.He’ll come straight over.Then I can come back to help if you need me to.”
Cole is on his own while Ginger stays at home with Mabel.All the schools are closed, and for kids this snow is like an all-out party.
Penny nods sadly.“Well, thank you all.I don’t have much, and I really appreciate your help.”
“It’s no problem.These guys live to serve,” Asher tells her as he puts his helmet back on and points to the barn.“Better to get that part down so it doesn’t cave in on the other side.I have to go make my rounds.But then I can come back too, and get this falling-down fence dug out for you.”
“Wait.At least let me get you a coffee to go.And all of your guys need some cookies,” Penny says to Asher.
He grins at her.“Thank you, ma’am.I’ve had my limit of coffee today.But I’ll never say no to a cookie or two though.”
“He’ll be banging down your door for more, Pen, once he tries them,” I tell her.Hands down, she makes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies.
Penny smiles wide and I make a note to thank Asher later.She really doesn’t have anything to offer him financially, so accepting something as simple as some cookies from her will go a long way.
I glance over at Cassie as she talks to one of Asher’s guys from the fire department.Her nose is rosy as she shovels a pathway to the barn and she looks like a little snow bunny in her big puffy white coat, matching hat and pink mittens.She laughs at something Asher’s guy says and I grit my molars.I’ve seen him around, though I can’t remember his name.Most recently I saw him in the Horse and Barrel bathroom stall with one of the regulars when Cole and I were having a beer.He didn’t even bother to shut the stall door and they were both wasted.Which means I don’t love the googly eyes he’s making at Cassie right now.
“Got some cuffs in the truck if you want to go slap them on her wrist,” Cole chuckles from beside me.
“I’m just not sure why this chump thinks cleaning up from a storm is the time and place to hit on a woman just because she’s here and pretty,” I bite back.
Cole’s eyebrows shoot up.“I was fucking kidding, but seems like I hit a nerve.”
I grunt.Cole laughs even harder and tosses his latest shovel of snow as we get closer and closer to Cassie and Firebuddy.
“Have you got some kind of ownership where your temporary neighbor is concerned?”he asks.
“We spent the night together last night,” I blurt out.And she’s leaving.I try to drill it into my head for the hundredth time.
“Oh shit,” Cole says in surprise.“Again?Christ, she’s only been here a couple weeks.What’s Wade gonna think about that?”
