Page 38 of Knot Her Cowboys (Big Sky Omegas #2)

A series of knocks woke me from the best nap of my fucking life.

I was in bliss with Cooper’s autumn leaves and aged oak scent thick in my nose and the familiar warmth of his body curled around me.

The bone-deep satisfaction of finally getting his hands on me made my limbs twice as heavy and the desire to move nonexistent.

I lifted my head, glancing out the window.

The sky was awash with color, so either it was nearing sunset or we had slept the day away and sunrise was greeting us.

“Yeah?”

The door opened and Levi popped his head in. “I have to go out on an emergency vet call.”

“And you’re waking us up for that because…?” Cooper grumbled next to me, wriggling to get even closer to me, though that was basically impossible at this point.

“It’s at the Decker compound,” Levi replied, stepping fully into the room. “I know Riley was looking for Maisie. I don’t know that I’ll be able to cross paths with her, but is there anything you want me to tell her if I do?”

I bolted upright, Cooper groaning as he rolled onto his back, rubbing his eyes. “You’re going to see Maisie?”

“Well, I don’t know.” Levi shrugged. “I’ll be a lot closer than we have been, but I can’t guarantee I’ll get close enough to talk to her. Their animals got into something and the local vet is overwhelmed, so they called out to surrounding ones for help.”

“Can I come with you?” I asked.

Cooper squawked. “Absolutely the fuck not. You’re not going within a hundred miles of Darrell Decker.”

“He doesn’t have to know I’d be there.”

Cooper narrowed his eyes at me. “It’s not a risk you should be taking.”

I knew it was a terrible idea, but I pushed back anyway. “Maisie is living the life Darlene wanted for me. She never had anyone to protect her.”

“And how are you going to protect her now?” he asked plainly, but not unkindly. “Pretty sure she’s bonded and has an armload of kids.”

I turned to Levi. His sister had fled abuse, so he’d probably be the best to ask about the situation. “What if she wanted to leave?”

He hesitated, caught in a staring match with Cooper. “If she wanted to leave, we certainly have places for her to stay.”

“You might as well lay out a welcome mat for the Deckers in that case,” Cooper hissed. “We’ve already got Darlene scaling the fucking fences to get to Riley. How are we supposed to defend against the whole compound if Maisie shows up at our door? They could kill all of us.”

“Maybe law enforcement would finally do something about it then.” Levi frowned, crossing his arms. “Listen, I don’t want to put Riley in any danger, or us, but I’ve heard the stories of that compound as well as you.

Riley’s right. Nothing will probably come of it anyway, but Maisie should know she has somewhere to go if it comes down to it. ”

Cooper looked like he was about to implode.

“I know you’re both probably thinking I don’t give a shit, but that’s not what this is.

I know Maisie’s life is what I prevented Morgan from experiencing, and I know it’s what Darlene wanted for Riley, but I also fucking know the Deckers are bad news.

There are too many people here and we can’t risk our guests or our staff. That’s not fair to them.”

I wilted. “Cooper’s right. I wasn’t thinking about that part. I’d still like to go, though. Even if I can’t get her out, I want her to know she’s not alone.”

“I just got you back,” Cooper pleaded. “Don’t go.”

“What’s going on up here?” Cash asked as he slipped through the open door. “Having a conference without us? Riley went haywire in the bond.”

Dakota followed him in, a soft smile on his lips at seeing Cooper and me tucked away beneath the blankets.

“Riley’s trying to run headfirst into danger,” Cooper told them. “Darlene’s trying to sell her to Darrell and now Levi’s got it in her head about her going to the compound.”

“That’s not what I did,” Levi defended, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I just offered to bring a message.”

“Let’s all take a breath,” Dakota ordered. “What’s this about Riley being sold to Darrell?”

All four of them focused on me. With a sigh, I explained. “Darlene thinks if she gives me to Darrell, it’ll buy her way back into the compound. She tried to do it when I was a teen, and now she’s trying to do it again.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa .” Cash crossed the distance between us and parked himself on the bed next to me. “She did what now? Why didn’t I know about this?”

“Because if I told you, you would’ve told Cooper, and Cooper would’ve done something very stupid and wouldn’t be here right now.” I narrowed my eyes when Cash opened his mouth to argue. “Don’t even. You know it’s true.”

He blew out a breath. “Okay, you’re not wrong.”

“Why do you want to see Maisie?” Dakota asked.

“She’s my sister, or at least half. I only ever got to see her at school because her mama hated mine.

Once I got to high school, I never saw her at all since she was a year behind Morgan.

She probably wouldn’t even recognize me now.

I just want to see if she’s okay with my own eyes, and I know she’s probably not, and I don’t know what I’ll do with that when I’m faced with it, but since I’m staying here, I can’t just ignore that she’s in that position. ”

Pure delight blossomed in the bond. ”You’re staying?”

I squawked as Cash descended on me, wrapping me in a hug. “I never wanted to leave you before, and I don’t want to now. I might be terrified of a lot of the things still here, but I’m really trying to not let Darlene cost me another twelve years.”

“I don’t think it’s safe for Riley to go into the compound,” said Dakota slowly, “ but I understand why she would want to. If we could make her unrecognizable, cover her scent so no one knows she’s an omega, and we all go under the guise of assisting Levi with the animals, then I would support a single visit to check on Maisie. ”

Cooper stole me from Cash, cocooning me in his arms. “Do they do weapons checks? I don’t want to go in there unarmed.”

“They do.” Levi nodded. “I’ve already called my cousin to let him know I’m going in. If he doesn’t hear from me by morning, he’s going to consider it a kidnapping situation.”

Cooper sighed. “Tell the staff to be on alert and to lock the gates after we’re gone.”

“Gonna go shower really quick.” I kissed Cooper’s cheek. “Come with me, ’cause you’re covered in so much slick they’ll think you’re the omega in our group.”

He tossed me over his shoulder before I could climb off the bed, leaving me upside down, breathless, and giggling as he carted me into the en suite. Cooper swore when I nipped his ass cheek, but in my defense it was right there and perfectly bitable. The smack against my own ass made me squeak.

Cash helped get me upright and on my feet, his joy over my ease with Cooper like a spotlight in the bond. “I see you two are rekindling.”

Cooper’s cheeks were pink as he turned on the water. “’Bout time.”

“I’ll fucking say.” Cash laughed. “Wash quick. We’ll sort out something Riley can wear to the compound that doesn’t show off her luscious legs to all those weirdos, and we’ll let the team know we’re heading out.”

Cash, Levi, and Dakota each gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek before leaving me with Cooper. He dragged me under the warm water and pressed me to the cool tile, his mouth instantly on mine. My body lit up like a goddamn Christmas tree.

“Don’t you dare call attention to yourself when we’re on Decker land. If Darrell finds out you’re there and shows up, I’ll have to commit crimes that’ll get me killed.”

“My only goal is to talk to Maisie. I’m going to avoid the others like the plague.”

“What about her younger siblings?”

“I don’t even know their names. Not like our moms were on friendly terms for me to meet them. I only vaguely know Maisie because of the years we crossed in school.”

“So you’re not intending for a whole herd of Combs children to appear at our door?”

“I mean, I wouldn’t turn them away if they did, but I wouldn’t be able to recognize a single one of them to ask if they wanted out. I figured I would get Maisie safe and she could deal with the rest.”

Cooper sighed, kissing me again like he needed the contact to steady himself.

“If she comes here, we have to find somewhere else for her to go. I’ll make sure it’s safe.

I just refuse to risk our staff and guests if the Deckers come searching for her.

You know what they’re like. We have too many kids visiting here to let them get caught in the crosshairs. ”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“We’ll figure out a way to help,” he promised. “In the meantime, we have to get ready a little faster.”

“Says the one distracting me.” I lathered myself up in body wash, removing Cooper’s scent from my skin. I hated doing it now that I’d gotten it back, but it had to be done.

Once we were both scrubbed down, I spritzed myself with a de-scenting spray and dressed in the outfit Cash had returned with.

The jeans were a couple of sizes too big, but a belt kept them on easily enough.

The T-shirt and flannel were also too big, falling straight down to hide my figure.

I bundled my hair on top of my head and secured it all beneath a cowboy hat.

We piled into one of the trucks and got on the road.

“So, what’re we dealing with when we get there?” Cooper asked.

“Ruminal tympany,” Levi recited.

“And for those of us without veterinary degrees?” I prompted.

“It’s a potentially fatal bloat condition.

If they’re not treated quickly when the gas starts to accumulate, the animals can die within a few hours.

If they’re calling me in from this far away, they have to be desperate.

The Deckers have about five hundred goats in their herd, so I’m assuming at least half are impacted. ”

“Five hundred ? What the fuck do they have that many goats for? When did that happen?”