Page 37

Chapter thirty-seven

Lucky Bastard

Mason

“They’re old tracks, Mason. I’d say a week or more.” Ford’s elbow rests on his saddlehorn as he pats the shoulder of his sweaty mare. “I didn’t think they’d hit the east pastures. We’ve only had cows there for less than a month.”

Gritting my teeth, I stare past him and lean back, stretching my legs against the stirrups.

Hank shifts his feet, but doesn’t move.

All I really want to do is run back to the house and bird dog Sophia into calling Lori.

“How many head you think they got this time?” Last time I was out there, besides losing my rope, I didn’t see any signs of trespassers.

Ford shrugs, tilting his broad hat back with a squint. He scratches the dark stubble on his jaw. “Dunno. Hard telling until we round them up. They could’ve been there a hundred times.”

Fuck.

“I need to land that Forestry contract land up in the Basin. They’ll be easy to watch up there.” With only one way in and out, it’d keep a big chunk of the herd fat and happy through winter.

“When does that come up?” Ford gives a light prompt with his heels, urging his horse back towards the ranch.

“End of October. I gotta be in Helena to bid on it. Who in the hell still takes those in person? I ain’t super tech savvy, but it’d sure save a lot of hassle.” My palm strikes my thigh, knocking the dust off as Hank starts a slow plodding walk next to Ford’s mare.

Ford stops his horse at the door of the barn where I climb off mine. “Think there’ll be any cattle left by then?” He turns and looks over the sorting pens in front of the main house, filled with more black Angus than we can count.

“I ever catch who’s doing it, I’ll make sure every animal I have left tramples their carcass,” I grumble.

Tugging the saddle off of Hank’s back, I carry it over to the tack rack to hang with all the others.

Something familiar stops me.

“Ford?” I call over my shoulder.

“Yea, boss?” he grunts.

“Who’s gear is that?” I tip the brim of my Stetson since my arms are still full.

After I drop my stuff, he walks in and stands next to me.

“Hmm. Green blanket belongs to Trevor.” His gray eyes widen as he looks back. “What’s up with it?”

“That’s my rope.” I point at the coil hanging on the side. It has the chain knot woven into the end, my unique moniker I’ve used on all of my leads.

He shrugs and leans against the wall, the tattoos on his arms faded under the dust. “So? He probably found it.”

“That’s exactly why I’m curious. I lost that fucker in the east pasture. Trevor isn’t assigned there. He ain’t exactly the ‘pleasure ride’ type.” The exact opposite. I’ve seen him cut out as fast as possible to spend time at Hilltop, or race to the clubs on his days off.

He’s never on a horse for fun.

Ford’s chest rumbles. “What are you thinkin’?”

My thumb traces the familiar cords. I’m tempted to rip it off of his saddle, but I restrain myself.

“We need to keep a closer eye on him. Can you pair up with him for a while?”

I don’t want to leap to conclusions. I want to be sure Trevor is involved before I tear him apart.

“I’d be happy to. Expect him to return in one piece?” The corner of Ford’s mouth turns up.

I know that look.

“What, didn’t get your rocks off with Sean dying?” I clap him on the shoulder as I stride past.

“Fuck, no. It’d been better if I did it. Kinda like drinking near-beer. Same shitty flavor, less kick.” He grabs the reins of his horse and follows me towards the house, then continues on when I turn to go up the steps.

“Meet you back in an hour, Mason. If you still wanted to work on that trailer?” He pauses, his heeler circling his feet before trotting to the shade.

“Sounds good, thanks Ford.” The moment I’m inside my living room, I want to run to Sophia’s door and ask if she’s talked to Lori yet.

Another cup of coffee first.

The first swallow burns the back of my throat when I hear her scream.

Hot liquid and ceramic splatter across the floor, but I don’t care.

I don’t bother knocking, but burst into Sophia’s room. My heart races, looking for the cause of her piercing shriek.

Sitting on her bed, her blue eyes are wide and she holds her phone in her hand.

“What the shit was that?” I ask urgently. I need to know who I’m killing.

“Dad! It’s Lori,” she says breathlessly.

Panic sweeps over me. “What’s wrong?”

She shakes her head slowly, her unblinking eyes never leaving me like she’s a possessed doll.

“She’s pregnant.”

I can’t fucking stop grinning.

She’s gonna have my baby. The thought makes me so hard, it’s difficult to walk.

The only thing that tempers it is that she hasn’t replied to any of my texts.

I try to keep them benign. There’s a part of me that wants her to tell me herself.

There’s the bigger chunk that is struggling not to jump in my truck and start driving back to campus.

She promised that she’d let me know she was okay.

“What the hell got into you? Just a little while ago, you looked like you were pissing hot sauce. What’d you do, win the lottery over coffee?” Ford drops to the ground in the garage bay and shoves one of the floor jacks under the front axle of the trailer.

“Maybe?” I find the right sized lug wrench and start taking off the closest tire.

Isn’t it too early to get my hopes up?

Carolyn had three miscarriages before the twins. But, she also had to get a few rounds of shots to even get pregnant.

Ford crawls out from under the trailer, his white tank top already nearly black with dirt. Brushing off his hand, he pushes his dark locks out of his eyes. “Trevor’s next shift is tomorrow. I called Russ and told him he’s taking the Long Acres run for the next week.”

I can’t think past this morning and the words dropping out of Sophia’s mouth.

If her and Lori are talking again, how soon until I can get my woman back?

The mother of my baby.

I’m gonna do even better than that.

“Mason?” Ford interrupts my thoughts.

“Huh?” I’m standing here like a damn dildo with a wrench dangling from my fingers.

“Man, what the shit? We’ll get Trevor on task. I got it covered.” He reaches over and snaps in front of my face making his silver rings flash in the light.

“Lori’s pregnant,” I blurt. I can’t hold it in anymore.

He’s been with me through it all.

Ford stops and leans his hip against the wood workbench. “I’ll be damned. Knew it was gonna happen, but congrats.” His gray eyes narrow. “It’s a good thing, right?”

I can feel the grin take over again. “Fuck yea. And, the girls are talking again.”

His smile has a sad tilt. “I’m happy for you, man.” He steps over to the dented fridge in the corner and pulls out two beers, then hands me one. “Cheers. You’re a great dad. Lucky bastard.” His smirk pulls at his cheek as he takes a long swallow from the chilled bottle.

My phone has migrated to my palm again. Still no answer to my texts.

“How much you wanna bet she’s on her way as we speak?” He points the neck of his drink at me before raising it to his lips.

“I’d wager you’re right.”

If she is, I know that means she wants to be here as badly as I want her here. She’s coming to tell me in person.

How do I keep it a secret that this is what I wanted all along?

My fingers itch to touch her.

“Let’s get these brake lines fixed. I probably have plans this afternoon.” I don’t bother hiding my aching grin.

His dark hair falls over his eyes as he shakes his head, then we both get to work.

Gravel crunching sends a wave of arousal through me.

Ford and I are just wrapping up, putting the tires back on and lowering the fixed trailer when I hear Lori’s car pull to a stop in front of the house.

Just knowing she’s here distracts me.

Ford gives me a silent scowl and juts his chin in the direction of the door.

Before I step outside, I pull my grubby t-shirt over my head and tuck it into my back pocket. I owe her a little punishment for not answering my texts after she promised she would.

Showing her what she’s been missing might help her squirm.

Might even play hard to get, for a minute or two.

I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold off once I see her again.

The driver’s side slams shut just as I push out into the hot afternoon sun. It catches the strawberry tint in her hair, giving her an ethereal halo that makes my breath catch.

“Hi.” She leans one hand against the window and cocks her head.

Her green eyes brazenly going up and down my body.

When she looks at me like that, biting her lip, it makes it hard to forget she’s my daughter’s age.

“I tried messaging you.” Propping my elbow on the hot metal fence, I manage to keep myself a few feet away.

It’s so fucking hard to keep from smiling.

Her teeth flash as she bites the corner of her mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t have service.” The pink corner of her tongue follows, licking away the red marks.

“You and Soph, you’re good now? All cleared up and back to buddies?” I’m fighting myself to keep from running to her.

She nods. “Yes, sir.” A smile dances her cheeks up as she starts to move towards me.

Fuck, she knows how to get me going. My dick swells and tightens against my zipper. “Is that why I had to find out from my daughter that you were pregnant?” I punctuate my statement with a grin.

“Well,” she says, cocking her hip and waving her hand. “She is my best friend after all.”

My hand grips the fence, trying to rein myself back, but I can’t stop myself from rushing to her and scooping her around her hips to raise her over me. “Yea, but I’m the father. Next time, I get first dibs.” Squeezing my eye in a hard wink, I let her slide down my body until our lips meet.

Fuck, I’ve missed her.

I kiss her like I never have before. Cupping her head, I press her so hard, I know her mouth will be bruised, but I don’t care.

Her fingers dig into my hair, knocking my hat into the dirt, and her legs wrap my waist, all while our tongues battle in a war that I always want to wage with her.

This is how it should be, her in my arms, a part of me forever.

Panting, Lori pulls her lips away, but locks her ankles behind me. “I heard we both had a good talk with Sophia today.” A mischievous wrinkle plays into her chin as she purses her lips.

“I did,” I say hoarsely. “I told her the truth. I’ve fallen hard for you, and you’re always going to be a part of my life.”

Her eyebrows knot above her nose. “Wait, did you say ‘next time’?”

That draws a laugh from deep in my chest. “Yes, dear. Every baby after, I get to know before anyone else. Okay?”

Her hands run over my bare shoulders leaving burning trails, but her green eyes shine with tears.

As she nods, they tumble free, spilling down her flushed cheeks to leave damp droplets on my chest. “Mason, I—”

“Gross!” Sophia’s voice comes from the porch.

Lori stiffens in my arms, but I don’t let her down.

“Am I gonna have to get used to this?” Sophia continues. There’s a teasing tone.

She’s smiling.

“Yes. I’m not going to stop touching my wife in front of you,” I growl, looking back up to Lori.

Her face pales, and a new wave of tears spill over my neck.

“Your what?” she whispers.

“If you’ll have me?” I say low enough just for her to hear.

With a frantic nod, she throws her arms around my neck and kisses me fiercely. Her lips taste salty and sweet.

This time I pull back, propping my forehead against hers. “I need to hear it, baby. Tell me, please.”

“I-I want to marry you, Mason. I love you more than anything in this world.”

Our noses brush before I tilt to nibble on her lower lip.

“So, what am I? Chopped liver?” Sophia limps down the steps, tears streaming over her broad smile.

With a laugh, Lori slides down and turns to hug Sophia.

They both start screaming and giggling, taking turns wiping the streaks from each other’s cheeks.

A billow of heat fills my chest watching them laugh and cling together.

My girls.

This is the best feeling.

No more secrets. Just the people I love being happy.