Shared By the Cowboys by Cassie Cole
3
Mason
“What do you think?” Cody asked me on the front porch. “About Rebecca, I mean.”
“It’s too early to tell. But I think she’ll do just fine.”
Cody glanced through the front door before saying, “She’s awfully cute, too.”
“She works for us now,” I said, letting a trickle of authority into my tone.
“I know, I know. But you can’t blame a guy for noticing.”
Cody was right. I couldn’t blame him, because I had noticed too. Rebecca was a cute little thing. Long legs, a waterfall of dark hair running down her back, and a pair of full lips that were almost pouty. Begging to be kissed.
It had been two years since I looked at a woman that way. Two years since Penny. Even now, just thinking about her brought fresh pain and sadness. I quickly shook my head before the emotions could flood back into my head.
“Mind giving her the rest of the tour?” I asked.
Cody nodded. “Go easy on him.”
“Like that ever helped anything.”
I walked across the yard to the barn. Had Cody moved on already, or was he putting on a strong face? I wasn’t sure how I felt. I didn’t think I was ready for something new.
Then again, it was always tough to move on.
In the barn, Blake was attaching a feed bag to his horse. “Oh, great,” he muttered without looking over at me. “Here comes the performance review.”
“I’m not your boss, damnit,” I said. “I’m your brother.”
“You sure act like the boss.”
“Because you’re treating this like a job,” I shot back. “A job you hate.”
“I don’t want to be here.”
“We’re trying to build something here, Blake. The ranch we always talked about. We finally have the chance. Cody and I are giving it a hundred percent, but you? You’re slacking off. Sleeping under trees, barely doing anything.”
Blake rounded on me, with fury in his dark eyes. “This ranch was only our dream because of her. Without Penny, this place feels like a fuckin’ graveyard.”
I stiffened. “It doesn’t have to feel that way. When everything’s repaired and we’re in working condition we’ll start looking again. Finding someone who… Someone we can…”
I couldn’t make myself finish the sentence. My pain was still too sharp.
Blake laughed bitterly and turned back to his horse. “Ain’t that easy. No one can replace Penny.”
“Then leave!” I shouted. “Go back to bouncing from job to job, the way you’ve done the last year. If you hate it here, walk out that door and never come back.”
He hesitated while fiddling with the horse’s saddle.
“That’s what I thought,” I said. “If you’re staying, then you need to help. I can’t babysit your bullshit all day, Blake.”
“I like that magic trick you do.”
“What?”
“You open your mouth,” he said, “and dad’s voice comes out.”
“Shut up and do your job,” I snapped. “That’s all I’m asking.”
“Yes sir,” he said sarcastically. “Right away, bossman.”
I wanted to argue more, but I forced myself to turn and walk out of the barn.
I clenched my fist on the way back to the house. Blake frustrated me not just because he was stubborn, but because he was mirroring how I wanted to act. Without Penny, I wanted to rage and sleep all day and tell everyone to fuck off. I wanted to light a match and watch the world burn down, just so I could sleep in the ashes.
But I had to go on. We all did. Even if it meant focusing on one small task at a time.
“Did I hear shouting?” Rebecca asked when I walked into the den.
“Horse got tangled in its tack,” I replied. “It’s all right now.”
At least we have some help, I thought while eying Rebecca.
