Page 8 of Every Single Vow
Since the day I met him.
I’d give anything to be the woman who lived life right beside him.With him.But some things just aren’t in the cards for some of us. Some of us have bad blood running through our veins. Darkness in our roots. A darkness I could never allow to snuff out his light.
Chapter five
Cooper
My foot is barely over the threshold to the barn when I hear hooves pounding the ground behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see Dale, my deaf blue heeler none the wiser to my brother Ryder, and his horse Mags, angrily crossing the pasture. Everything Ryder does looks angry, riding a horse isn’t any different. Neither is him already being on horseback at the crack of dawn and clearly not sleeping.
“Cooper.” He comes to an abrupt stop right before he plows over Dale who ambles out of the way at the last second.
“Good morning, brother.” I toss my arms on the top rail of the fence. “You’re up early.”
He runs a hand over his chin. “We need to start moving the herd.”
“I agree. It won’t be today though,” I answer.
“That’s fine. Needs to start this week or next though. It will take us a few days just to get everything accounted for.” He shifts while Mags blows a puff of air through her nose.
“Hey girl.” I run my hand up her nose. “I have some things to handle today. I won’t be around much. You need anything holler at Clyde.”
“Where you going?” He asks.
I blow out a breath. “Dakota.” I pause. “Her little sister showed up at the ranch last night.”
He lifts a brow. “Little sister?”
“Yeah. Apparently, Bea managed to procreate again after leaving Dakota in the dust.”
“Why she here?”
“Bea overdosed. Dead. The girl is twelve, traveled all the way from New Orleans. Has no other family.” I take off my hat and run a hand through my hair. “Need to help Kota get all that figured out.”
He’s quiet for a moment before he surprises me. “Need anything let me know.”
Then he snickers at Mags and trots off.
I peer out over the farmland. Most of it finally grew back from the fire. The fire that almost destroyed everything my family had built. The Mayson Ranch has been in my family for generations. It’s been burned into my brain and blood since I took my first breath. I was a rancher. Through and through, and I wanted nothing more than to make this place better. A legacy that will be remembered long after I’m gone.
Turning back toward the barn, I pick up my pace and step inside to check the horses. Buster, my bay horse sits in his stall, appearing to be half asleep like he always is. Sugarfoot, Ivy’s horse automatically neighs in greeting, creating a musical ensemble from the remaining stalls that house the rest of the ranch horses.
“Morning to y’all too.” I chuckle.
“If it isn’t the horse whisperer.” Clyde stands by the tack room, a cup of coffee in hand.
We both know who the real horse whisperer is. It’s the dark haired woman who slept in my bed last night. I push the thought away, not needing to get a hard on in front of a man who I practically consider my grandpa.
“Clyde. Surprised you’re still kicking,” I tease.
For his early seventies, the man still handles a horse like a champ.
“Can still run circles around you, boy,” he tosses back but there’s no heat.
This happened to be our love language.
Insults and sarcasm.
“I’ve got some things going on today. Figured I’d let the horses graze in the north pasture for a bit. Stretch their legs.”
