Page 38

Chapter 38

April

It’s funny how fast I not only grew used to sleeping with him, but now I wake up when I can’t touch him.

The soft murmur of his voice comes from the living room. After tossing on a tank top and shorts, I’m drawn to the low croon of his words.

His smile when he sees me will never get old.

Especially accompanied by him pointing to the counter where a fresh cup of coffee sits for me.

“We’ll be over in a bit.” He ends the call with whoever he was talking to, and moves behind me, his bare chest pressing against the thin fabric of my t-shirt. “Morning, Frosty.” His lips touch lightly on the back of my neck. “Mason needs to talk to me, so invited us over for breakfast.”

I don’t want to admit I’m secretly addicted to Lori’s amazing cooking, although it’ll never beat the chicken parm at Chinos…or the dessert I got last time I was there.

It has been nice to finally get the chance to do some of my own here. The bacon I have thawed I was planning on using will be perfectly fine for another day.

Maybe I’ll use it for dinner.

There’s never a bad time for bacon.

“Do I need to bring anything?” Having access to my bank account again is liberating. There’s enough cushion in there I don’t need to stress for a little while, but simply enjoy this time with Ford until he has to go back to the cabin in a few days.

The thought makes my stomach roll.

I might just have to go with him. I don’t think I want to sleep alone ever again.

“Nah, Mason has everything he could ever want.” His arms squeeze around my waist a little tighter. “Just like I do.” With a growling nip to my ear, he chuckles and pulls away.

Warmth spreads through my chest, settling the queasy doubt.

Shrugging into a flannel shirt that hugs his biceps, he folds open the fly of his jeans to tuck in the tails, giving me a glimpse of the bulge of his thick dick.

I’m obsessed. Even a quick flash makes my pussy quiver. But I’ll have to wait to indulge until after we get back home.

Home.

It feels like more of one here than it ever did at Dad’s. Maybe I knew somewhere deep inside I was never suited for suburban life. Being stuck in the rows of houses just didn’t call to me like the cows in the pasture, or the sun rising over the mountains to glint off the fields of snow.

The crisp bite of the December air doesn’t hit the same either.

It’s refreshing, filling me with an eagerness to enjoy every moment.

Or maybe it’s the steady heat of Ford’s firm grip on my hand as we navigate the ice-dotted walk to the main house, while Roscoe trots alongside.

His knock is brief before he pushes the heavy oak door open into the bustle of the McCullough family.

Paisley squeals when we enter, holding up a plastic horse and pretending to let it gallop through the sky as Char watches with a tired smile from the couch.

Her belly seems bigger than the last time I saw her. I can’t imagine trying to carry twins in her tiny frame.

Dixon and Mason are seated at the large table, each nursing a cup of coffee, while Lori and Sophia set trays of heaping sausage and eggs in the center.

“Ford, April, good morning.” Mason raises his mug as a gesture of welcome. “Come on in and have a seat.”

I’m not sure that he means me. Ford said they needed to talk, so I slip my fingers from his hand and move towards the kitchen.

Lori tosses her potholder down to pull me into a hug. “Hi! How’s the gingerbread trail of getting all your paperwork going?”

“Pretty good. Still waiting on the last of a few things. I’ll have to go to campus to get a new picture taken for spring semester, but I’m not even sure if I’ll be going back this year.” I don’t wait to be directed, but pick up a basket of rolls that look like they’re destined for the table.

“Why not? I was looking forward to maybe seeing you there.” Sophia’s dark eyebrows raise as she tips the pan of scrambled eggs to dump onto a tray.

How do I tell her I’d rather run off to the cabin with Ford?

That I’m terrified to be alone?

Quitting school seems much less scary than running back into the monsters of my nightmares without Ford nearby.

As if Lori can read my thoughts, she leans closer while balancing a broad plate loaded with hashbrowns. “Always choose your heart,” she whispers with a wink, then turns to the dining room.

I think I love her.

Everyone starts picking their chairs, while Dixon stands and moves to Char.

“Come on, baby. Let me help you.” With ease, he pulls her upright, then scoops Paisley into his arms.

Her little face scrunches and she wiggles in his grasp to watch her horse toy fade into the distance. “Bye Falco.” She waves before settling onto her own seat at the table.

I think she’s grown too.

“Falco is the name of one of my newest colts,” Char says as she fixes a small plate for Paisley. “I haven’t seen her this attached to any of the others, so I might just have to keep him for her.”

“That’s my girl.” Sophia leans across the table to high five the three year old. “Us horse girls have to stick together.”

“I think Jack will be right there too. I had him up on Hank the other day, and he screamed like someone stole his birthday when I pulled him down.” Mason’s lopsided grin shows the hint of pride he feels for his son.

“We’re gonna need a herd of ponies for these kiddos soon.” Dixon shakes his head, but the corner of his mouth twitches his mustache. “Especially with three more on the way.”

Ford squeezes my thigh, but he doesn’t look at me.

What would it be like?

Mason scratches his jaw, glancing around the room. “I know I have a few more leaves for this big ass table. Might have to move the couches to make more room for everyone to fit.”

Lori pokes him in the ribs, then squints at him.

“Oh, hell. They’ll hear worse than that out in the cowpens.” He runs his fingers through his short hair making it spike on top. “Anyways, speaking of cattle, we have some new crap going down.”

Ford stabs at his food as if it’s the culprit.

“Russ and Simon just about got trampled in a stampede in the south lot. There’s a new angle, whoever it is, they used drones to push the herd. I think they were aiming them towards that ravine at the end of the ridge.” Mason takes an angry bite of his biscuit and glances towards Ford. “We lost fifteen head,” he grumbles, then dips the bread into his yolk.

Ford grunts, and I can see the muscle of his cheek tighten. “Sounds familiar,” he says quietly.

A lead weight settles into my stomach, ruining my appetite.

It’s what Dave and Doug did.

I managed to go two whole days without thinking about them.

But the rotten memories work their way back up, like putrid odors from a bloated corpse.

“What do you think the odds are that they pulled those same tactics on you, showed up at Val’s, and now are using fu—” He glances at Lori. “—freaking toys to kill our cows?” Mason’s fist balls, and then his amber eyes meet mine. “They need to pay for all the cruelty they have caused.” His voice is nearly a whisper.

Lori nods, then stands when Jack cries from the back room.

My fingers wrap around Ford’s on my leg.

The demons keep coming back to torment me.

He lifts my hand, bringing it to his lips, and turns to me. “I’ll keep you safe.” Leaning over, he presses a tender kiss against my temple.

It’s like he knows that this is stressing me out.

Tilting my head, I let it rest on his shoulder. Picking at the warm roll I nibble on small pieces, no longer hungry for anything else.

I just want to go home and hide, wrapped in his arms.

Knowing that those monsters could be close enough to see me with their drones sends an icy chill down my spine.

Mason watches us, then clears his throat. “Ford, I made arrangements for the cabin to be covered. You won’t need to go back out. I need you here, especially now.”

“Poor kids gonna be stuck out there all winter?” Ford’s teeth grit. “I already feel bad they’re having to do my job, but for months?”

Mason’s palm raises and waves idly. “Nah, I’m sending Tommy out. His girlfriend ran off with his brother. He needs a place to cool off for a while and jumped at the chance at a bonus. I’ll have Sawyer and Scotty spell him occasionally, but he can finish out there until March.”

A massive weight lifts from me.

I had no idea how heavy that looming deadline was becoming. I know I’d have gone with him, without a moment of hesitation.

But not knowing if I’d even be able to had me worrying.

Ford just nods. “A’ight. I’ll line him out on what to expect.”

Mason looks up as Lori appears next to him toting a bleary eyed baby with crease marks pressed into his cheeks from a heavy nap.

His lips thin as his gaze flicks to Dixon, then to Ford. “Besides, if things go south, I want people I can trust nearby.”