Page 6 of Bred By the Cowboy

Her arms sliparound my waist, naturally and silently, just as her fingers met mine. Without even thinking about it, we have grown a whole lot closer than I ever anticipated us being, and quite fast too.

I didn’t expect seeing Cheddar give birth would make her break down like this. It tickles something inside of me too, yes. She’s crying, her tears soaking my shirt. I chuckle softly.

“I’m sorry,” she says, stepping back.

“Sorry for what? Crying? It’s a pretty impressive sight, a wonder of nature.”

“No... just... I don't know.” She shakes her head, wracked with emotion. She’s fidgeting in place, trying to figure out what she wants to say. “Thanks for helping me back there.”

“You already thanked me. And I already told you it was no big deal. I’d do anything for you, Dolly.”

She let out a long sigh. “Because I’m your sister’s best friend?”

The tension between us is so strong. She’s looking for an out here. Does she realize how awkward this is for me? I feel so much for her, but her friendship with my sister does hang over us. Not to mention if the whole town thinks I’m an asshole, I have no idea what that would mean for her to be associated with me.

We stand in silence, watching Cheddar nurse her newborn foal. Our hands meet again. Our eyes drifting toward one another. And then she’s in my arms once more. Our embrace is tighter this time. I want her, and she wants me. We edge along...

Only for lights to blind the two of us, another truck rolling up on the ranch.

I shield my eyes as I walk out of the barn.

The truck doors open and slam shut. It’s Red and Annie. “Didn’t expect you all back so soon,” I call.

“We got kinda tired of the whole scene,” my little sister says. “That incident took the wind out of our sails and we decided to head back and check up on you two.”

“Oh, we’re doing fine,” Dolly says as she comes up behind me, putting on her own bright, smiling face and acting like nothing happened between us back in that barn.

I realize I missed another opportunity. I should have struck when I could. It’s what I want, she is what I want, but maybe it’s all for the best.

“Don’t have to make every weekend some wild party,” Red adds. “Sometimes it’s nice to go home and relax and enjoy the company of those closest to you.”

“Yeah,” I reply, skeptical, wondering just how close he and my little sister are.

“Cheddar just foaled,” Dolly tells Red and Anise. The three of them head back into the barn to take a look, but I keep my distance. I have to do something to get my mind off Dolly’s sweet temptation.

My answer is hittingthe books. More specifically, the ranch’s financial books. And damn, they look dire. My mother kept everything moving so harmoniously, delivering our produce to buyers swiftly and keeping up good contacts. Dad alone is kinda bad at that. He’s never been much of a people person and doesn’t like treating all of this like a business. He likes being up at the crack of dawn feeding the cattle, tending to the horses, and making sure everything’s flowing beautifully.

Which is good. It’s just that the money doesn’t grow out of the ground. I grumble as I go over what is written down, how much of our produce is going to waste when he doesn’t line up a buyer in a timely manner. I took after my father in being kind of anti-social, but I’m not going to let that get in the way of turning the Rowdy Ranch around. This is what my mother wanted me to learn. It’s vital to getting by in today’s world and she knew that. I have to learn both sides of the business if I really want to make sure this ranch is here for my own children.

I look up at the window in my room. I never went to bed and the first light of the morning is starting to lighten the sky. It’s well past the time Dad gets up, and I spot him in the fields. I stayed up all night fretting over this. I can also hear people are up and about downstairs, so I sigh, realizing I’m not getting any sleep, then head on down. I’m greeted with the angelic sound of Dolly’s singing, belting out a bit of “9 to 5,” as sung by her namesake. The scent of eggs and sizzling bacon fills the air and lures me into the kitchen, where I’m greeted with the most beautiful sight I can imagine. Dolly shaking her cute ass in those denim cut-offs, leaving my eyes glued to them and filling my imagination with some lewd thoughts.

“Take a seat, Angus, breakfast is almost done,” she says when she sees me, fluttering her eyelashes and tempting me as she always does.

I laugh and do as she asks, soon joined by my father coming in, as well as Annie. “Going all out with the works, aren’t we? What’s the special occasion, Dolly?” I ask.

“This is how I contribute to the household,” she says. “Your father is out in the fields, and Annie is working at a diner out in Home. This is the least I can do.”

“The least? She’s one hell of a cook,” my dad adds. “I’d hire her to be my personal chef. If I could afford it, anyway.”

Yeah, we can’t afford personal chefs right now. We can barely afford anything.

“You’re working at a diner now, Annie?” I say, looking toward my sister.

“Uh huh. Little bit of extra money to help pay the bills, a little bit of money to live my life.”

“Guess that’s where you hit it off with Red then,” I mumble.

“Sure is. He’s a regular. Tips really well, so let’s just say I like it when he comes in, for a whole bunch of different reasons.” She flutters her eyelashes playfully.

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