Page 5

Chapter five

Crushed and milled to be sifted through your fingers

Mason

“Dixon, I need your help.” I have three hands out sick. Or maybe it’s because Memorial Day weekend is coming up and they’ve been “preparing” a little too much.

“I can’t, Mason. I have patients scheduled. If you still need me on Saturday, I can come out.” His voice gets garbled, like he’s talking to someone else. “Shit, I can’t this weekend. I have an ER rotation.”

And to think I encouraged him to be a doctor. Back when we were all young and dumb and not sure if we wanted to stay on the ranch.

I shouldn’t ask him. He spends a lot of his extra time here.

Probably why he’s thirty-five and still single.

Hell, I’m forty-one and single, not by choice. My wife was taken from me by a drunk driver too many years ago.

No one could ever compare to Carolyn.

I bet even our youngest brother Cade has found someone by now.

Wherever in the fuck he is.

And Dixon is married to his job and then the ranch.

“It’s alright. I appreciate it.” Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I head over to Ford who’s working the squeeze chute.

The cow he currently has in it is making a lot of noise, but she’s held firm while he gives her a shot.

“No dice,” I grumble when I get close enough.

“Mmhmm.” He isn’t much for words. As soon as he pulls the release lever, the animal rushes out like she’s escaped death, then stops just a few steps away to shake herself before nibbling on an errant weed.

“Who can we pull from the south range to round up the forestry parcel?” I really want to get that bunch in. They’re all heavy with calves. If the rustlers are around, a newborn is easy pickings without tags or brands.

He turns to look at me, scratching the dark scruff on his jaw. “I can nab Jake and Trevor. They benefit from supervision anyhow.”

Trevor has been cranky with me since he didn’t brush my horse down correctly and I made him learn by grooming all of them in the south barn. He volunteered to go out this time.

Well, he didn’t have the balls to bitch, but I can tell.

“Yea. That’ll do. I’m bleeding money like a stuck pig. Eighty more head missing from that last bunch, and still no sign of where they went. Maybe it ain’t a bad thing having three less hands if we can make it work.” I jump up on the fence and wave my hat at the next cow in line, ushering her into the chute for Ford.

“Sounds like old school justice brewing.” He gives me a lopsided smile as he shuts the gate, locking her in.

“If I knew when and where to find them, you know we’d rally.” Clapping him on the shoulder, I head towards the house.

With him not far behind me in age, Ford and I have been through some shit together being raised on the same ranch. His dad worked for mine. If Ford ever has a kid, I’m sure they’ll be here working for Sawyer long after I’m gone.

While I stomp some of the excess manure and mud off of my boots, Caesar is a black, white and brown mess dancing by my feet. He tilts his head at me as I pause before going in.

“You’re filthy.” Pushing the heavy oak door open, he darts through the gap and runs towards Sophia’s room.

He’s been in there whenever I let him.

Not this time.

“No, on your bed until you dry out. She doesn’t need you getting her nasty.” It’s been the hardest thing to have to try and help her to the bathroom.

I know it’s awkward for both of us. It’ll be nice when her friend shows up to take over.

Caesar drops his head and tail and pads over to his bed by the fireplace.

“Don’t pout. You know you’ll be in there in five minutes because she spoils you stupid.” Knocking lightly on her door, I push it open a crack and poke my head in.

“Hey, sweetie. I’m back in the house for a while. Do you need anything?”

Sophia meets me with a wide grin. She looks just like her mother when she smiles.

“I’m fine, but thank you.” Her eyes fall to my knees where Caesar’s head is pushing through.

I get a hold of his purple collar just as he’s about to slip in. “Nope. Back on your bed until you’re dry.” Prying himself away, he slinks back to the living room.

“You’d think I kicked him as dramatic as he is.” I check over my shoulder to make sure he isn’t sneaking back. “I’ll let him visit in a bit. Holler or text me if you need anything.”

“Okay.” It almost looks like she wants to say something else, but her focus shifts back to her phone.

My stomach grumbles, reminding me that it’s almost two, and I don’t think I’ve eaten yet.

Pointing a finger at my sly dog, I narrow my gaze just enough so he knows to stay.

His nose buries between his paws, but one ear sticks straight up.

I swear it’s his way of flipping me off.

After crossing the living room, I round the corner into the kitchen, then freeze.

Her hair is like a field of wheat at sunset in a thick braid down her back. It points to a revealing swath of skin in the gap below her shirt as she reaches into the high cabinet.

Pushing herself onto her tiptoes makes her butt clench in her snug jeans.

Well. This is unexpected.

Clearing my throat makes her startle, and the bag of sugar she had in her fingertips falls to the counter in a cascade of white.

“Oh. Hi.” Her cheeks bloom into a rosy flush beneath emerald eyes as she tries to right the spilling granules. “I’m-um. I’m so sorry.” Rushing to the sink, she grabs a washcloth and starts to dampen it. “I’ll get that cleaned up.”

I dip my hat so she can’t see my smile. It’s a bit of a struggle as I watch her dart back and forth from the shrinking pile to the faucet.

“It’s fine. You must be Sophia’s friend?” I extend my hand, interrupting one of her trips.

She stops, staring at me like a spooked heifer. Slowly, her palm extends and I envelop it with mine.

“I’m Mason. You let me know if you need anything? Did Sawyer get you set up?” Her fingers are hot from the water and burn into my skin.

“Um. Yes, sir. I’m Lorilei, but my friends call me Lori. I mean, Sophia calls me Lori. Sir.” The rose color deepens to a scarlet that floods across her throat and dives beneath the buttoned collar of her green blouse.

“Lori. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for coming all the way out here. Make yourself comfortable.” I let go of her before I scald myself from the fire in her touch. “Sophia told you that you’re cooking and light housekeeping?”

I don’t give a shit how much money she asks for. This place desperately needs a tune up.

Her mouth flattens before her teeth roll the corner of it in. “She, um. I did tell her that I’m not very, um, experienced at cooking. But, I’m willing to try anything.” She tries so hard to give me a confident smile, but I can see a tinge of worry that sits around her big green eyes. “I learn fast, sir.”

The way she draws out the “sir” before pulling that full lip in to nibble on it makes me feel strange.

Like climbing the rope in gym class.

“Thank you, Lori.” I try to give her a reassuring look before pivoting on the heel of my boot and heading toward my own room down the hall.

My knees are weak as the image of her ass poking out while she stretched plays on repeat in my mind.

Fuck, it’s going to be a long summer.