Page 7 of Saving the Rain
As I button up the worn flannel shirt, movement snags my attention through the window. Bloody Tessa. That woman is up to her usual shit again. I jab one hand through my damp hair before crossing to the door in a few strides. Yanking on my cap and shoving into my boots, I head down the steps leading along the side of the barn, damn near two at a time, doing up the last buttons as I descend.
“What did I tell you?” Growling at her, my breath streams white in front of me, thanks to the crisp fall air this morning.
She straightens, cheeks flushed pink, pregnant belly sticking out more and more each day it seems now.
“Oh, hey, Raine.” She instinctively holds her lower back as she stands upright. “God. Don’t you give me that glare.”
“Well, I told you to come and ask me for help. Not to keep trying to do shit on your own.” I jog across the gravel and swipe the bag of laundry from her hands. Once again, she’s attempting to heave crap into the back of the truck on her own.
“But...” Tessa whines, before I cut her off.
“But nothing. You’re an exceedingly capable woman, yes? One whois growing a goddamn child.” I jerk my chin in the direction of her jacket hanging open at the base, the point where buttons refuse to do up any longer. “So quit doing dumb shit when I’m right here to help.”
Tessa’s blue-gray eyes soften, and she leans against the back of the vehicle, absently rubbing the front of her rounded stomach.
“I’m sorry. You’re busy and pulling extra-long hours without Beau here. I hate feeling like I can’t do the simple stuff.” With one hand, she waves dismissively in the direction of the laundry bags tied with a drawstring. Bundles of used linen that have come from the cabin accommodation for guests staying here at the ranch.
I hurl the sacks of sheets and towels into the truck bed, then slam the tailgate closed. The metal has an icy feel to it this morning beneath my fingers, and a chill seeps through the fabric of my shirt. I didn’t even stop to put a jacket on, but I’ll certainly need extra layers before I get started with the horses and stock. These mountains sure are beautiful, but it’s cold as fuck at this time of year.
“Well, I’m pretty sure your brother will kill me if you get injured, and your husband will dig me up from my grave to do it all over again. It’s purely selfish because I don’t need either Beau Heartford or Oscar Diaz on my ass.”
She smiles and pats my arm. “Anyone told you how cute you look when you’re being all huffy?”
“No.” I scowl.
That makes her eyes dance, an impish grin growing wider by the second. “Like a big grouchy teddy bear, aren’t you? Had coffee yet, sunshine?”
“What do you think?” My brow creases. “I’m running out here, barely half-dressed, because I saw what you were trying to sneak out and do before anyone noticed.”
“I just brewed a fresh pot.” Tessa tilts her head toward the main house. The one the guests use as a communal kitchen and living area. “It’s right there if you want some.”
My lip curls. I can’t think of anything worse at this time of the morning than being around the guests who are currently staying. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a big part of what we all work for here on this property, with visitors booking in to enjoy a taste ofranch life. But I’mjust not interested in small talk at any time of day. Let alone when the sun has hardly gotten out of bed.
“I’m good, but thanks for the offer.” I bang my fist on the top of the tailgate and move to head away, then pause. “How are you planning on unloading all this when you get into town?” My eyes narrow.
Tessa wets her top lip with a little peek of her tongue. “Uhhh... gravity?” She mimics pushing something off a ledge with both hands.
“Jesus, Tessa.” Pulling out my phone, I fire off a quick text to Beau, letting him know that his sister needs to get in someone to start doing the heavy lifting when it comes to the accommodation side of the ranch.
“Oh. No.” She swats at my hands, trying to steal my phone. “You’re telling on me, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely, ma’am.” I lift my focus to meet her wide eyes.
A text pings back straight away, a thumbs up, and a couple of words telling me he’s on it.
“Don’t tell Oscar.” She presses her palms together, playful pleading in her voice. “Bull riders are unbearably smug when they get to sayI told you so.”
I shake my head, and a tug pulls on the corner of my lips. “That’s pretty much rough stock riders all over. We love to win.”
Her husband competes at the top level in bull riding, and is currently away with the pro tour. I know he hates being on the road while his girl is pregnant, but he just came off the back of a season ruined by injury. We all want him to be out there doing what he does best, and that means rallying around Tessa to be there for her while he’s gone.
I’ve only been at this job a couple of weeks, but I swear to god, this woman has managed to make it feel like we’re family or some shit. I suppose you can count that as another glaring example of how my only blood relation is the worst son of a bitch you could ever have the misfortune to meet.
“What time does this shit need to be dropped into town?” I glance between my phone and the woman standing in front of me.
She volleys her head from side to side. “Sometime before they close at the end of the day is all. It’s not urgent, but I wanted to get it outtathe way before I plonk on my ass... and then struggle to get back up again.” Her fingers wiggle a circle in front of her belly. “You know, with this extremely comfortable and not at all tiring situation I’ve got going on.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll have time to go into Crimson Ridge later.”