On His Ranch by Dinah McLeod

Chapter 12

Piper sure knew how to kill a mood. They’d just had a fun time, and now she had to go and ruin the afterglow by bringing up things better left alone.

“I have some theories,” he answered tersely. “And that’s all I intend to say on the matter.” She was tracing lazy circles on his bare abdomen but he couldn’t enjoy it until he knew she was going to drop it.

She looked up at him with wide, guileless eyes. “But Chase… I care about you. I want to know what’s going on, so I can help.”

“You can’t.”

Hurt flashed across her face. “Well, thanks for considering it.”

“I don’t need to consider it, Piper. It’s for the best if you stay out of things.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he interjected firmly, putting a finger to her lips. “This is the way it’s gotta be, and if you want to keep at it, you can have yourself a sore bottom for your trouble.” Frustration and disappointment made his voice harsher than he meant it to be.

She didn’t say anything, but the sulky expression she wore spoke loud and clear.

So much for that. Looks like it’s time to get back to the chores.Chase fished for his shirt and pulled it back over his head.

“What are you doing?”

“Gotta get back to work.”

“Just like that? Just because you’re mad at me?” Hurt bordered on anger, and didn’t do a thing to improve his mood.

“Not everythin’ is about you, Piper.”

“I know that.”

He pinned her with a look, ignoring her flinch. “Yeah? Then act like it.” Without waiting for an answer, he stood up and continued to get dressed.

“That’s not fair,” she said at last, and he knew without looking that she was crying.

Great. Just what I need.“It’s plenty fair, darlin’. Look, I’m not tryin’ to hurt you, but when you’re actin’ like a child, I’m gonna call you out on it.”

“Stop being a bully!”

That got his attention.

Piper quivered at the intensity he turned on her, but she continued. “You’re acting like you didn’t just get pissed because I was asking about a topic you don’t want to talk about. Like I don’t have a reason to be hurt.”

Chase took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You’re right, okay? I did. But regardless of the why behind it, it’s still the truth: I need to get back to work.”

“I understand. We can find a time to talk later, after chores.”

He clenched his jaw. He had a feeling he knew where this was going and he needed to put a stop to it then and there. “What’s there to talk about?”

“Well, I mean, I know you’re busy now, but afterward you could fill me in and—”

“Piper. Drop it, okay? It doesn’t matter how much time I have, this is not somethin’ I’m goin’ to discuss with you. I told you to leave it alone, and you better.”

Shock and hurt read plain on her face. “But… but why?”

“Because I decide what I will and won’t discuss, okay?” Exhaustion and naughty girls who didn’t listen had him at his limit. “And I’ll tell you something else, you better be glad I’m not your daddy. If I were, I’d spank your ass for you again.” He turned away as tears began to fall down her cheeks. His irritation flared as sounds of her muffled sobs reached his ears. “Get back up to the house.”

“I… I p-promis-ed to h-help you.”

“Go home, Piper. All you’re doin’ is slowin’ me down.”

By the time he’d restored all his clothing and turned around, she was long gone.

* * *

Piper stumbled inside, still crying. Knowing that they were still coming, she’d given up wiping them away and her vision was obscured by the flood of emotion.

“Oh, dear.” She heard the clucking of a tongue.

“Sorry, P-Patti,” she sobbed. “I’ll j-just go u-up to my r-room.”

“Oh, you’ll do no such thing. Not on my watch. Come sit down and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

She felt a hand on her elbow and did not resist as she was led to the table. She sat down and buried her face in her hands and sobbed out her hurt and frustration. Patti didn’t say another word and the only sound other than her own sobs were those of the older woman moving around the kitchen.

Once her sobs faded into a softer cry, Piper brushed her eyes and tried to get ahold of herself.

Patti must have been waiting for just such a moment because she was quick to inquire, “You wanna talk about it?”

“I d-don’t know,” she answered, taking a deep breath and trying to calm down.

Patti didn’t press her. She busied around the kitchen and left Piper alone until she slid a mug across the table toward her. Then, with her hands around her own mug, she sat down across from her.

“I guessed peppermint. I hope that’s alright.”

Piper inhaled and felt instantly comforted by the peppermint smell. “Yes. Thank you.” She lifted the cup to her lips and took a tiny sip. “It’s delicious.”

“I’m so glad. Now, what did my idiot son do?”

Caught off guard, she giggled before she could stop herself.

“Go on, you can tell me.”

“Well… I don’t want to talk bad about Chase. He’s your son.”

Patti snorted. “Exactly! Who better to know how pigheaded he can be sometimes?”

Piper shifted on the bench, ducking her head to hide a smile. It was nice to feel like Patti was a friend. “Ah, well… we had a bit of a fight.”

“I would’na guessed.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay. I just… I don’t know what happened!” she burst out. “We were having fun… milking.”

“Uh-huh,” the older woman said, deadpan.

“And then he just got mad at me!”

“Well, were you doin’ it wrong?” the older woman teased.

Piper dropped her gaze as a blush stained her cheeks.

“What did you say?”

“I just asked him about the horse that went missing. And he got mad. I told him that he could talk to me, and he blew up!”

“Ah,” Patti said knowingly.

This got her to look back up. “What? What did I do?”

“My son doesn’t like to discuss his problems,” she stated matter-of-factly before sipping her tea.

“I just want to help him!”

“He doesn’t like to accept help, either.”

“Maybe he doesn’t think I can help,” she mused.

“Maybe, or maybe, in his own strange, cowboy way, he’s tryin’ to protect you.”

“But from what?” she burst out, her frustration returning full force. “That’s what I keep trying to find out!”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you there.”

Something about the way she said it made Piper look closer at her, but Patti remained serene under Piper’s scrutiny. “I just want to help him because I care about him.”

“I know you do.”

“And if he cared about me, he’d let me, right? I mean, don’t people in a relationship help each other? Shouldn’t they be able to talk?” The words tumbled out in a rush.

There was no missing the sparkle in Patti’s eyes. “Are you in a relationship?”

Piper looked at her hands, unsure of how to answer. Maybe that was where she’d gone wrong. Sure, she’d only known Chase for a short amount of time, but…

“I thought we were. I mean… I’d like to be.”

“And how does he feel?”

“Well… I guess he doesn’t feel the same way, not if he doesn’t want to talk to me.”

Patti reached across the table and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Did you ask him?”

“No. But—”

“I wouldn’t go jumpin’ to conclusions on account of one spat, Piper. Ask him, and don’t let him weasel out it.”

“But if he doesn’t want to tell me this, then isn’t that my answer?”

“Why would one have somethin’ to do with the other? My son is as bull-headed as his grandfather, but my mother stayed married to him for forty-two years before she passed. I reckon that must mean he was a good man.” Patti winked. “And if you think Chase is too, then ask him where you stand. If he doesn’t feel the same way, that will hurt, but it’s better than not knowing.”

“Has it been a long time? Since Chase has been with someone, I mean? I get the feeling it’s been awhile…”

“Hmm, I think you’d better ask my son about that.” Patti patted her hand. “And when you do, tell him how you feel. Believe me, honey, I’ll be rootin’ for you.”

* * *

When Chase woke up, his alarm clock read four a.m. but he felt like he hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours at best. Not that he’d had dreams—he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow—but with having to do the chores on the ranch on his own he hadn’t gotten to bed until past nine. Which was not soon enough, seeing as he’d been running on no sleep the day before.

Oh, well. That’s the way it goes sometimes. Can’t afford to spend any time wallowing when there’s work to be done.

He’d just stood up, stretching his arms above his head, when there was a knock at his door. Sure that it must be his grandfather, he didn’t bother to dress and walked to the door in his boxers. But when he opened it Piper was staring back at him, her teeth sunk deep into her bottom lip.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Hey. Um… you didn’t come in last night.”

He arched an eyebrow. “So what did I do, climb in a window?”

Just as he’d hoped, she blushed. “Well, I mean, I guess you did… I just didn’t see you.”

“I didn’t bother with dinner,” he said, leaving out the fact that he’d gone in a side door to avoid seeing her. He figured she’d still be in a tizzy from their quarrel in the barn, and he’d been too tired at the time to risk another.

“Oh. Well, you must be hungry.”

“Yes’m. Is there a reason you’re here, Piper?”

“Yes… um… can I come in?”

Is she here to fight or fuck? Cuz I really don’t have time for either.Still, he stood aside and let her enter.

“What is it, Piper?” He wasted no time in asking when he closed the door.

“I was just wondering… I mean, I thought… I thought I’d help you today on the ranch. Patti says Senior won’t be home until tomorrow morning.”

He confirmed her statement with a brisk nod. Only now did he take in her full appearance and realize that she was completely dressed with her work boots on. It made him more conscious of his naked chest, which she seemed to have a hard time looking away from.

“I don’t have any time for funny business today, so I’ll pass.”

Piper’s face was instantly crestfallen. “I really do want to help.”

“You wanted to help yesterday, and I ended up doin’ most of it by my lonesome.” His jaw tightened with the memory.

She ducked her head. “I know. I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s over and done with, but I can’t afford a repeat of yesterday. I’m behind as it is.”

“It won’t be, I promise. A repeat, that is.”

“Thanks, but—”

“Chase, please.”

He opened his mouth to scold her for interrupting when he noticed the way her shoulders were slumped, the way she held her hands behind her back while she fidgeted. “Is this all you came to say, Piper?”

She peeked up at him. “Why do you ask?”

“You look like somethin’ else is on your mind is all.”

“Uh, well…”

“C’mon. Out with it.”

“Well…” She shifted from foot to foot while he watched, growing impatient. “It’s just… I had a lot of time to think… after… you know.”

“Yep.”

“And… well, I realized…”

“Any day now, Piper. I can leave you here to pluck up your nerve and we can finish this when I get back from doin’ chores.”

“You were right.” She spat the words out, her cheeks flaming crimson immediately thereafter.

That earned a double eyebrow raise. “About?”

“Chase, don’t make me say it,” she murmured at the carpet.

“Thing is, I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout exactly.” Although, if he did, he’d probably still make her say it.

“Yesterday… when you said…” Piper looked up, her chin jutted and her gaze determined despite her beet-red complexion. “You said if you were my daddy, you’d punish me again.”

He cocked his head. “I’m pretty sure I said if I were, I’d spank your ass for you again.”

Her eyes widened. “You do remember!”

He chuckled. “I never said I forgot, darlin’, I said I didn’t know exactly what you were alludin’ to.”

She shrugged and looked back at the carpet.

“So? What about it?”

“Well…” She ran the toe of her boot back and forth against the carpet. “You were right.”

“Great. Glad we got that settled. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

“Wait!”

His hand stilled on the doorknob.

“What I’m trying to say is… why didn’t you? Spank me, I mean? Since I deserved it?”

He shifted as he considered her question. “You know, it’s a little early for this.”

But she must be getting used to being growled at, because she only smiled. “I know.”

“You’re gonna be gone before too long. I guess I figured the rules I handed down were for workin’ on the ranch. A daddy would have a different set of rules, and that’s the kind of thing he would handle.”

“Oh.”

When she didn’t continue, Chase decided to hell with it and walked over to his closet to start gathering his morning uniform. He reckoned she’d leave when she was ready.

“So… you don’t want to be my daddy, then?”

He turned toward her slowly and stared at her for a long moment while he considered her question. “It’s not that I don’t, exactly. It’s just that you’ll be movin’ on to your aunt’s and… if I’m bein’ honest, I don’t want to get more invested than I already am, Piper.”

“But if I weren’t? If I weren’t going to my aunt’s?”

“I’d think about it.”

The disappointment on her face made it evident that wasn’t the answer she’d been hoping for. “Well… okay, then.”

“And I will think about it—if you want me to.”

“Yes, please.”

“Wait just a sec. You need to understand that if I agree, then you will be punished for the way you acted in the barn yesterday.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.”

He nodded. “Okay then. Best head on downstairs and get the coffeepot goin’ and I’ll be along in a few. Hands off, now. Little girls don’t need a lot of caffeine.”

He could hear her giggling until she was almost down the stairs, and he was glad she wasn’t there so she didn’t see him smile.

After they’d both had a quick breakfast—Chase had insisted they didn’t have time for the big showy meals Patti had been cooking—they headed outside. Piper was walking toward the barn when she realized Chase was going in the opposite direction. She quickly changed course but had to hurry to catch up to his long-legged strides.

“No milking today?”

“It’ll have to wait. There are other more pressin’ matters this mornin’. Now, listen to me, Piper: you delay us this mornin’ and not only will I put you over my knee until you bawl, you’ll be pickin’ up sticks and rocks for the rest of the day, you hear me?”

She made a face at him, but seeing his eyes narrow she quickly added, “Yes, sir!”

“Good.” But the word sounded ominous.

Her bottom tingled as she tried to keep up with the impossible pace he set. “So, where are we headed?”

“We’ve got a long day ahead of us,” was all he’d say.

Piper swallowed back a groan because Chase was nothing if not truthful. By the time the sun rose, she was pretty sure she had blisters on her hands from helping mend a fence. Then they milked the cows, sprayed weeds, and moved hay bales. By the time they finished, she was out of breath and her shoulders were sore.

“How do you do this every day?”

“Oh, it’s not so bad,” he said, his attention on his hay bale while he put the stray pieces of hay back in.

“Speak for yourself,” she muttered, earning a sideways grin.

“Well, I think you’ll like what we do next.”

Piper groaned. “We’re not done?”

Chase looked up at the sky. “Senior has a sayin’.”

Oh, I just bet he does.But she was smart enough not to voice it aloud.

“If there’s still sun in the sky, there’s still work to be done.”

“How poetic,” she said drily.

“I’ll make a ranch hand out of you yet.”

Piper ducked her head, her face flushing. Does he really want that? Do I? Truth be told, her head was still reeling from what he’d said that morning. Maybe she’d been wrong to think he’d be so moved by her little speech that it would make everything right between them. She certainly hadn’t expected him to say he needed to think about it.

Not knowing where things stood between them left her feeling nervous and shy. Chase was being nice—well, nice for Chase. He sure wasted no time threatening to spank me. Piper hid a grin as she rolled her eyes. But, according to him, there was more to being a daddy than just punishment. She wanted to know more, but he’d made it clear it would only happen on his timetable. Piper knew from experience what would happen if she pushed, and it might not endear her to him. So she’d have to wait, though clearly patience wasn’t her strong suit.

“So, what’s this job?” she asked, trying to distract herself from the anxiety and doubt clawing at her.

“Horses,” he called over his shoulder.

Piper hurried to keep up, feeling excitement for the first time.

He stopped in front of the metal horse pen and waited for her. When she finally stopped alongside him, he put his fingers in his mouth and whistled.

Much to her surprise, the five horses in the pen looked up from their grazing and trotted toward them. When she looked at Chase, she saw her own wonderment reflected in his smile. But then her hand was being nuzzled, and she turned her full attention to the friendly horse searching for treats.

“Pretty baby,” she cooed to the brown dappled mare with a long stripe of white down her nose. The horse nuzzled her hands, making Piper laugh. “Quick, give me an apple or a carrot or something.”

“You think we just give ‘em snacks for no reason?”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “There is no reason for a snack. That’s why it’s called a snack.”

“Hmm, I’ll remember that. In any case, the horses, just like us ranch hands, have to earn their food.”

Just when she was about to let him have it and call him a big meanie, he offered his open hand to the mare whose attention was diverted by the large carrot in his palm. “Hey! I thought there were rules about that sort of thing!”

Chase’s eyes glittered at her. “What thing?”

“Lying!” she exclaimed, indignant.

He chuckled. “I like to think of it as teasin’. ‘Course, a naughty little girl like you probably hasn’t been taught the difference.” Piper’s mouth dropped open but before she could protest further, he said, “Wanna go for a ride?”

“Yes,” she said grudgingly.

“Well, if you’re goin’ to pout, you can just stay here.”

That made her shake off the sour face real quick and it wasn’t until they were both saddled up and trotting that she broached the subject again. “So, you don’t really see anything wrong with it?”

“Wrong with what?”

“Double standards.”

He cut her a look. “I don’t have any double standards, Piper. You should know better by now.”

“But earlier you said—”

Chase pulled his horse to a stop, blocking her path and forcing her mare to do the same. He gave her a quelling look. “Piper, I was kiddin’ about snacks, not tellin’ tales about where I come from or who I am.” He arched a brow and it struck her that he was saying something significant.

“What… You mean, you think I’m not being honest with you?”

He shrugged. “It happens. Still, I want you to drop it, understand?”

It happens. The words reverberated through her and she couldn’t quite figure out why it seemed significant. Then, unbidden, Patti’s words from the other day came to mind. She’d asked about Chase’s previous relationships, and the older woman had said, you better ask my son about it.

That means something… right? Or maybe cryptic answers are just a family trait.

Before she could even think of how to ask, Chase said, “While we’re ridin’, there are a couple rules for you to follow.”

“Of course there are,” she muttered before she could think better of it.

“Unless, of course, you’d like to go pick up sticks and rocks? There’s a whole other field we need to spray, too. I was gonna save it for tomorrow, but—”

“No, thank you! What are the rules, sir?”

He gave her a young lady stare, but the corners of his mouth quirked, betraying his amusement. “Just two, and pretty simple: I need you to stay close, and I need you to listen to my orders. Got it?”

“Got it,” she echoed, nodding solemnly.

Chase’s expression made it clear he had his doubts, but he pulled his horse around and they resumed trotting.

After a few minutes, he picked up the pace and her own mare automatically followed suit. Okay, he was right. This is definitely the best thing we’ve done since I’ve been here… the best chore, anyway!

The sun had felt hot and oppressive while they were working, but with a horse moving beneath her, it suddenly felt like a blissfully cool day. Piper spread her arms wide and tilted her face to the sky, pretending she was flying—until Chase spoiled her fun by telling her to grab the reins.

Still, it was a lot of fun, even riding with the party pooper. They stopped at a shaded, grassy knoll by a creek and she had the pleasure of feeding several carrots to each horse before they wandered off to graze. Then Piper joined Chase where he was sitting beneath a large tree.

“Thanks for this,” she said, unable to contain her large smile. “It was fun.”

“Well, nothin’ beats baling hay in my book, but it’s not bad.”

“Teasing again.”

“See?” He winked. “You’re gettin’ it.”

Piper laughed and leaned back, amazed that the tree was wide enough for both of them to sit comfortably against the trunk. “Do you like?” she found herself asking. “Ranching, I mean?”

“You know, only my mom has ever asked me that, and it seems like forever ago now,” he mused.

“Well? Do you?”

“It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

“That doesn’t feel like an answer.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she expected a reprimand about obedience, but much to her surprise, he seemed to actually be considering her remark.

“My dad died when I was young.”

Piper’s gasp escaped before she could swallow it. “I… I’m so sorry.”

He gave her a faint smile. “It’s okay. I mean, I was a child. I barely even remember him.”

“That’s… hard.”

Chase shrugged. “Maybe if I’d been older it woulda been. But you know, Senior and this ranch is all I really remember. It gave me a way pretty early on to have a purpose, somethin’ to belong to. Do you know what that’s like?”

“No,” she answered honestly.

He patted her leg. “Well, then I can’t rightly explain. Without this place, I woulda had a different life, woulda been a different person. But for better or worse, this is me. I am the ranch—you know?”

“I… I think so.” She was so unaccustomed to him opening up, she wanted to keep him talking. “Do you remember that day you went through my bag?”

Chase chuckled. “Sure do.”

“Well… do you remember that paper you found?”

“You mean the one you practically ripped outta my hands?”

“I did not!”

“No, but you wanted to.”

She couldn’t deny that part, but still, she frowned at the teasing smile curving his sexy lips. “I have dreams, too.”

“Yeah? And what are your dreams, little Piper? Care to share?”

Heat bloomed so suddenly and strongly she would have swooned from the shock if she’d been standing.

“Why do you do that?” he asked, sounding concerned and darn near tender. “Am I dead wrong when it comes to you?”

How could he even think that? Heck, I practically begged him to be my daddy!“No, it’s just… other people… you know… haven’t always been so… understanding.”

“Who cares what other people think?”

She barked a humorless laugh. “Easy for you to say, Cowboy, when you don’t care what anybody thinks.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I care plenty.”

She looked up and they locked eyes. His gaze was so penetrating, so intense, she nearly looked away. “I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, well, there’s plenty you don’t know about me, Piper.”

“Care to share?” she quipped, using his own words against him.

“Hmm, I tell you what, how ‘bout you go first?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but right at that moment, her stomach rumbled loudly enough to interrupt any conversation.

Chase chuckled. “I guess it’s right about lunchtime. C’mon.” He stood up, dusted his jeans off, and offered her a hand. “We’ll talk on the way back.”