Espino, Stacey - Hardcore Cowboys [Ride 'em Hard 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (12 page)

Chapter Twelve

Four days passed. The men doted over her, wanting to ensure she was one hundred percent recovered from her hypothermia. She’d reassured them a thousand times, so she assumed they enjoyed taking care of her. It was a nice change from her regular life. But it all had to come to an end soon enough.

The sun had been shining for two days straight. Snow was melting, the roads were clear, and the power had returned the previous night. It was time for Samantha to face the music, get her car back, and return to
Toronto
. She’d have a great time explaining to the car rental place why she was late returning it, and anything could have happened to it being on the side of the road for so long. Her boss was probably calling the house like an enraged animal, wondering why she never answered. He always called her when they were short staffed, and she rarely refused a call-in. But a huge part of her didn’t want to leave the ranch, didn’t want the dream to come to an end. She cared about her three cowboys, could never thank them for all they did for her.

As much as she’d like to stay, she wouldn’t subject them to a lifetime with her. They deserved better, some cute farm girl with a bright future, not a burned-out waitress from the city. She wished things were different, but they weren’t.

“Where’re the twins?” she asked, walking into the kitchen in just woolen socks and Wyatt’s old T-shirt.

“Gone to get your car. Our neighbor, Chase, has a tow truck. They won’t be too long.”

She nodded, her good mood souring. “Good. That’s good.” One step closer to leaving permanently. Why couldn’t the snowstorm have lasted forever?

“You know, we should venture into town to pick you up some clothes, and other supplies you may need.” He poured two mugs of coffee and then returned the carafe to the machine. Wyatt nodded to the living room as he carried the hot drinks. She sat on the sofa but set the mug he offered her on the coffee table. Her mind was too scattered to even think about eating or drinking. She didn’t want to leave the
Carson
ranch but wouldn’t be a leech, living off the men with no way to support herself. How would she even get to work if she miraculously managed to get a waitressing job in the small town? She wouldn’t rely on these men. It wasn’t right. Samantha valued her independence as much as she hated the constant struggle.

“Val says you usually leave for the rodeo about now.”

Wyatt sat opposite her, cupping his mug as he leaned over his knees. He wore his usual long-sleeved flannel and worn blue jeans. When he looked up from the mug to her, his intense blue eyes nearly caught her breath.

“That’s true. My first event is eight days away, but I was planning to drop out.”

“Oh?”

“Things have changed, haven’t they?” He took a tentative sip of coffee, scowled, and sat it on the table. “Forgot the milk and sugar.” He smirked, a dimple appearing in his cheek. The man was adorable, so rugged and sexy, with an inexplicable boyish charm.

“How so?” She dug her nails into her palm after speaking. What was she doing? Was she actually searching for everything she wanted to hear? Even if Wyatt told her she was the reason he changed his plans, it didn’t change the fact any relationship between them was futile.

He rubbed his big, rough hands together. Hands made from hard, honest labor. Hands that felt amazing against her sensitive skin. She watched his every movement, waiting for him to speak. “The day I found you, I was a broken man, Samantha. I was coming home, not sure where I’d end up one day to the next. The circuit has worn me thin, and I know I can’t keep up the lifestyle much longer. Then I came across a girl in a broken-down car. All of a sudden I had a purpose—to help you.” He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled, as if trying to regain a sense of composure. “I’ve been happier the past week than I’ve been in years. Only a fool would give that up, don’t you agree?”

She shook her head. “I’m nobody, Wyatt. I agree you should stop riding in the rodeo. It’s dangerous. Settling back home with your brothers will do you all good—”

“And you,” he said firmly.

“Wyatt…” She got up on her feet and walked around the room, pretending to be appraising the pictures and decorations around the living room. “It wouldn’t work.”

“What is it? Is it this house?” He bolted to his feet, his masculine presence nearing her from behind. Once beside her, facing the wooden fireplace mantle, he picked up a trinket and held it up as if it were something that held great power over him. “They’re just things. We can change. We
need
to change.” He replaced the porcelain collectable back in its place and wandered around, looking at the furniture, the wallpaper, and décor. “It’s a shrine my brothers keep to remember the past, but we need to move on. All of us.”

“That’s good. Change can be good.” Why was she trying to convince him to let her go when she wanted their relationship to work just as much as he did, maybe more so. The way he spoke, with such conviction and emotion, frightened her. She’d never known men to be so passionate, but the
Carsons
had proved to her time and time again that she’d just been dating the wrong types of men.

“I see that now.
Thanks to you.
” He turned her to face him and then draped his heavy arms around her waist, tucking her close. “I used to dread the sunrise, no matter how beautiful. It only reminded me of my failures. My father and mother will never see the sky change from red to blue again, because I was too selfish to help them when I was needed. But after all these years, I think it’s time I moved on, gave myself a second chance.”

She reached up and cupped his cheek, rough with stubble. “That’s good. You have to forgive yourself. Living with guilt all your life is a death sentence. It’s no way to live.”

Val had told her how Wyatt carried such guilt over traveling the circuit in his youth when the family needed money. Wyatt believed he could have made a difference if he had returned and helped on the ranch, but it wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Samantha didn’t live with that level of guilt, but she still hated herself for not doing more with her life when she had the chance. She also desperately wanted to be able to help her own family, but didn’t have the means. It was easy to relate to Wyatt’s inner demons because hers were so similar.

“So you agree that new beginnings are good for a person?”

“Yes.” Then she thought better. He was referring to her. She could see the intentions in his eyes. “No. Yes. I don’t know.” The tenseness in her muscles softened. Why fight it? Maybe it
could
work.

“Are you afraid of me? Do you have someone in the city waiting for you?” He searched her eyes, maybe her soul, for answers.

What should she tell him? That she had nothing to go back home to but didn’t want to be a burden to the cowboys, or worse—a mistake. All the men in her life walked out on her or did something to hurt her, so it was hard to trust. What if they isolated her on this ranch with no income, no transportation, and turned from her dream men to a nightmare in time? She’d be trapped, worse off than when she started this godforsaken road trip.

“Nothing like that.”

“Then what is it? Is it us? The house?” He tilted her chin up with a curled finger. “We can change the house, modernize whatever you want. When the winter passes, you’ll see how beautiful the land truly is.”

“You don’t have to convince me, Wyatt. It’s just so soon. I need time to think.”

He took a deep inhale and nodded and then kissed her forehead. “You’re right.” He released her waist. Wyatt stared at her as if she was drifting away from shore and he longed to have her back. He played with her hair the way she loved, running his fingertips along the roots by her face, soothing her, lulling her. “How about we head into town and get you a few things. When the twins get home tonight, we can worry about getting you home, if that’s what you want.”

She agreed, and after she slipped on a pair of makeshift pants, they both donned their coats. He’d pulled away from her emotionally when he released her physically, and she instantly missed their connection. Maybe she needed the men more than she realized.

Chapter Thirteen

“We towing it back to your place?” asked Chase, cigarette hanging precariously from his lips, as he used his controls to raise the little car’s rear into the air. The chains rattled, and the metal groaned in protest.

“There’s more than enough fuel at the ranch. We stocked up for the storm.” Cord was exhausted after digging out the car enough for the tow truck to back into position. They were miles from home, so he’d owe Chase a big favor for coming all the way out here to tow the vehicle for him. The window was smashed, as Wyatt mentioned, but otherwise the car looked to be undamaged. It didn’t matter what the rental place said. Samantha need not worry. Ever since she woke up from her coma, she’d worried herself sick over the damn rental. But she was his responsibility now, and he’d pay for any damages or late fees incurred.

Cord shook off his padded jacket before joining Chase and Val in the pickup. “So what’s the story with this girl you found?”

“Not just any girl,” said Val. “She’s
the one
.”

“Really now?” Chase shifted into gear, a crooked smirk on his face. “Which one of you does she have wrapped around her little finger?”

Cord and Val shared a look. Explaining that all three of them were comfortable sharing her wasn’t something they expected would be widely approved of. If it wasn’t the norm, it was looked down upon in their neck of the woods.

“Her name is Samantha and she’s none of your concern. You worry about that little sister of yours, not us.” Cord was glad he only had brothers. If he had a little sister with a body to die for, he’d be gray by now. Chase was as overprotective as they came, so Cord knew the comment would shut him up and give them an escape from providing an explanation about Samantha.

“Angel’s doing just fine,” Chase assured, keeping his eyes on the road. “In fact, I’ve kept her idle hands busy during the storm, fixing that John Deere.”

Val leaned toward Chase. “She is good with her hands, ain’t she? Send her on over to our place when she’s done.”

“Watch your goddamn mouth, Valentine!”

“Just saying, we could use the help.” They weren’t interested in Angel. She was a cute young thing, but a tomboy, and a girl they grew up around. If anything, she was like a little sister to the
Carson
brothers.

Chase rolled down the window enough to toss out his cigarette butt. “Not happening, boys. You’ll have to take care of your own equipment. I like my sister home where we can keep an eye on her.”

Angel was the youngest with three older brothers. Cord imagined she’d be an old spinster before Chase, Grant, or Matthew let her date. The poor girl was twenty-three and still hadn’t had a boyfriend. She played with the big boys, farmed a man’s day, and was a genius with fixing cars and machinery. None of those qualities seemed of interest to a cowboy who wanted to maintain superiority in a relationship. The girl’s love life was hopeless either way.

They pulled into the driveway nearly an hour later. Wyatt’s truck was gone, which struck Cord as odd.

“He left her alone, the bastard.” Cord stepped out of the truck cab onto the hard, packed snow.

“Maybe she’s sleeping,” said Val. The peacemaker wasn’t going to be able to fix this. Couldn’t Wyatt have waited a couple hours before slipping away? He probably went down to Carter’s to play pool with the guys.

Chase followed them in. As much as Cord would like to be alone with Samantha, he wouldn’t be an ungracious host, especially after Chase went out of his way to help them. The house was still warm, but the fire had been allowed to die out in the fireplace.

“Samantha?”

“I don’t think she’s here.” Val shrugged off his jacket and tossed in on the coat tree. “Wyatt must have taken her out.”

Chase did the same, hooking his trademark red-and-black checkered lumber jacket on the hook. The Garner brothers were symbolic of everything Canadian, right down to their love of hockey, close-knit family, and strong work ethic. They also got plastered every weekend when they hit the bars in town. But Cord knew he could count on them in tough times, same as most of his neighbors.

“You want something to drink?” Cord asked.

“Yeah, pass me a Molson.” Chase crossed his arms and chuckled as he scanned the room. “I don’t know how many years it’s been since I stood in this room, but it hasn’t changed a bit. You boys are living in a time warp.” He pointed at an array of photos on the wall in the hall and laughed out loud. “Valentine, is that your high school grad picture? Fuck me, you boys need a woman!”

Cord knew Val hated being called his full name, but the Garner brothers knew that too, which was the reason they teased him mercilessly. Any minute Val would go off, and Cord didn’t doubt they’d end up wrestling on the floor like teenagers.

“Knock it off, Chase.” He pressed a chilled bottle in his neighbor’s hand and gave him a shove toward the living room and away from Val. It was the same dance all summer, every summer. He didn’t want to deal with them already.

Before Val could follow, Cord grabbed him by the shirttail. “Don’t go startin’ anything. He did us a favor, and Samantha could be back any time now.”