Page 4 of Stray

I shrug as I grab a roll from the middle of the table. “I don’t know. I’ve lived in big cities my whole life. You ever had deep-dish pizza or Cincinnati chili? Not everyone grows up eating the same thing.” I stick my tongue out at Carter before biting into the warm roll. God, this roll alone is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. “What?” I ask when all three men just stare at me.

“What the fuck was that?” Jackson asks, earning a smack from Dorothy.

“Not at the dinner table,” she hisses.

“What is what?” I question, and Carter points to his tongue. Slowly, I stick my tongue back out and show them my piercing. “Just a tongue ring.”

“My god,” Carter breathes out, looking me up and down with a sly smirk across his angular face. “What on you isn’t pierced?” I glare at him and am about to shoot back a snarky remark when Jackson punches him in the arm.

“Act your age.” He grumbles before going back to his food. The rest of the meal is pretty quiet, at least on my end. Dorothy and the guys talk about the ranch and plans for some fair coming up in a few weeks, as well as winterizing the farm, not that I understand what on earth that means. They mention someone named Theo and that they are coming back here soon, and Jensen continuously mentions a girl named Niamh. I keep quiet, trying to absorb all the information and finish the food that I swear will cause me to go into a food coma. After having more than my fill, I thank Dorothy for the amazing meal before grabbing another bowl and heading upstairs to Morris.

“Meals in heels!” I grin, walking into his room. Morris snorts and looks away.

“Manners lost on you?” He grumbles, looking at his television. “You knock before entering. I could’ve been indecent.”

“First off,” I say, setting the bowl down. “Let’s not kid each other into believing either of us is anything but indecent, and second, I’m going to see your bits daily, so I’m not concerned in the least.”

Morris snorts to cover his amused laugh. He finds me funny, even if he is an asshole about it. “Can’t imagine how a charmer like you ain’t married.” Sliding his tray in front of him, I sit in the chair beside his bed.

“I’ve been married six times, actually. They all keep dying on me. Strangest thing.” Morris looks at his bowl of chicken and dumplings, then back at me.

“You’re a fucking nut job.” I grin brightly while leaning back in my seat.

“And you’re stuck with me until you kick the bucket.” I watch his face break out in an actual grin.

“Well, don’t be banking on a Christmas bonus. If I’m stuck with you, I’m gonna check out sooner.”

Jackson

When people talk about the Rowe’s, they know Jensen is the sweet but incredibly introverted and shy one; Carter is a ball of sexual energy; our eldest brother, Derek, is the one that nearly killed his best friend when he found out he was screwing his wife; Theo is the transplant sibling and the “lady killer,” and I am the straight-laced, working grump. I have to be. It’s not like I was given much of a choice. Derek ran off to California to become a fucking tattoo artist for celebrities, and the others needed someone to look up to besides Pops.

Our father is a hard man to get a pat on the back from. He’s an amazing man, but he’s complicated. I remember, at twelve years old, I successfully delivered a calf that was sideways. It was the first time that ever happened to me, and after we knew the calf was okay, I got told to wash up and get back to brushing the horses. Like I said, he’s hard to get praise from. Derek and I grew up fine without it, but Carter and Theo thrive off praise, and Jensen needs routine, or he starts having panic attacks. So, my mission is to stay here and make sure shit runs smoothly and my siblings get their quota of back pats, regardless of my feelings on the matter.

Running the ranch is a constant, merciless job. There are no breaks and no room for mistakes. There is no time off, no vacations, nothing. You stop working; you stop making money. You get lazy, and accidents happen. Accidents here can cost you money, products, animals, and even your life. There was an accident a few months back when our brother Derek was visiting. A single mistake led to Derek flipping his tractor, nearly killing him. So, like I said, no mistakes. I run a tight ship. There are strict orders that must be given and followed. And right now, I have a very curvy woman swinging her sinful hips down the driveway, and she is most definitely reading like an accident waiting to happen.

Ozzy Davenport is sexy as fuck. It would be stupid to deny it. The second I saw her, I felt an instant, infuriating attraction. She’s a little less than a foot shorter than my six foot three height. Her hair is jet black on one side with silver on the other, and she is, from what I can see, covered in tattoos. She’s also got dimple piercings, and last night at supper, I found out her tongue is also pierced. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. No one in our town looks like her. She wears intense eye makeup and heels that are dangerously high. It’s completely impractical, but still… I can’t stop appreciating it. Despite how much she pisses me off. And son, does this woman piss me the fuck off.

Last night, after our “moment,” she had gone into town to the market and apparently forgotten her wallet and had to return, stating she would go back later on. She had supper with us, and then she was upstairs between her room and Pops. But now, six in the morning, this girl is wearing a white tank top and those damn leather pants that hug her ass in a way that makes my mouth water and my cock twitch. She’s the kind of distraction that causes accidents. The last thing I need is to think about my father’s nurse in a way that makes my cock twitch.

Perfect, she is here because Carter couldn’t keep it in his pants, and now here I am.

“Where is the closest city?” Her question startles me. Shaking my head, I drop the hay bale and hold back a groan so she doesn’t realize that these hundred-and-twenty-pound bales are killing me today. I don’t know why it matters. I shouldn’t be trying to impress her, yet here we are because, again, my cock is taking the goddamn lead here.

“Thought you went to town yesterday,” I pant while taking my hat off to wipe at the sweat. “Your sense of direction is so bad you can’t remember how to get back there?”

“That wasn’t a city.” She states, and I give her a smirk.

“Aww, come on now, Tink. Are you telling me country life is already too much?”

“Tink?”

“Yeah, you kind of remind me of that bitchy ass fairy from the cartoon. You even put your hands on your hips like her.” I chuckle while pointing at her posture. She huffs and turns away.

“Fine, I’ll use my GPS; there has to be a city somewhere that I can drive to.”

“About two hours away.” I shrug, watching her entire body deflate. I chuckle while shaking my head. “Tink, you best just get used to buying online if you need something the town doesn’t have.”

Her dark brows crease, and her lips purse as she avoids my eyes. I can’t explain why, but I feel on edge suddenly. Something in my gut tells me there is more to this story. “You don’t want to go to town?” I ask and notice she doesn’t move or speak, except for the corner of her eye, it’s twitching ever so slightly. “Did something happen yesterday?” I ask calmly as I tighten my death grip on my working gloves.

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