Page 35 of The Runaway and the Rugged (Dusty Meadows #1)

GARTH

I was in bed, comfortable, watchin’ the news when an incoming message popped up on my phone.

New video message from Greta.

Already on edge from the previous messages Emelia had sent, I sat up taller, swallowed the large lump in my throat, and pressed play.

“Garth? It’s me, Emelia,” She beamed into the camera, nearly stealin’ the breath right from my lungs as I peered at her pixelated form.

“You told me to prove that I’m not drunk and I’m not.

” Her slurred words spurred my heart into a full-on sprint, pounding with immense worry that was deemed impossible to ignore.

And just when I thought things couldn’t get any fuckin’ worse, there was a low, husky laugh that erupted behind the camera that certainly didn’t belong to Greta.

“Fuck…” I grumbled, yanking the covers off my lower half and jumping out of bed.

“Get up on the table, sweetheart, that’ll be sure to prove you ain’t drunk,” the dead man shouted playfully, hopin’ that Emelia would fall for it.

Don’t fuckin’ do it, Outlaw.

I was already stepping into my jeans, bracin’ for the shitstorm, when suddenly, her drunken, wobbly giggle filled the video. Next thing I knew, Emelia was being lifted high onto the table by a pair of grabby hands and chaos erupted.

Specifically catcallin’ and whistling, but in a matter of seconds, the video abruptly ended.

Without another thought, I threw on a clean shirt and flew down the stairs with determination.

I should have known somethin’ like this would happen.

Trouble seemed to follow my sister around everywhere she went these days.

It didn't matter what she was doin’ or where she was, it always managed to find her.

And unfortunately, Emelia was swept up in the trouble tonight.

Fueled by rage and anger, I stormed inside my truck and sent my mom a quick text letting her know I was leaving, and to check on Grace who was sleepin’ in the house. Then with a firm, swift nudge on the gear shifter, I slammed it into drive and sped off into the night.

In record time, I tore into the parking lot of The Lonely Barrel, not caring about the lines or designated spots. I parked damned near next to the entrance and with a heart pounding with concern, I jumped out the truck and stormed inside the buzzin’ bar.

Immediately, all eyes were fixed on me.

Most were locals who knew me already, while others who didn’t began to size me up.

Pushin’ past the crowd, I went in search of Emelia. The music was too loud, the lights were blinding, but a flash of sunshine had crossed my line of sight and I swiftly fought my way over to her. In a chair next to the bar, both Emelia and Greta sat with a pissed-off Shane hovering nearby.

“Oh, hell…” Greta grumbled, her head falling back, smacking the wall behind her.

“Garth?” Emelia’s eyes blazed with recognition and excitement. “I knew you’d come.”

I squatted down on my haunches in front of her, scanning her quick and hard for any sign of injuries. She was teetering on the edge of falling asleep, so I gently cradled her cheek, forcing her awake and to look at me.

“You feelin’ all right? Does anything hurt?”

Her eyes fluttered but with a slight nudge against her cheek, they shot back open.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she mumbled, cuddling herself further into my palm with a tender sigh.

I peered over at Greta who had her head leaned against Shane’s hip now.

He always had a soft spot for her, even when she was dating his damn worthless son Hunter, but recently, she’s been pushin’ every one of his buttons, stirrin’ up all kinds of trouble.

I should be pissed at her for bein’ so careless, especially when she had Emelia with her, but instead, I tried my best to remain collected.

“Saw her get hauled up onto a table.” Shane nodded his head in the direction of Emelia, careful not to disturb Greta. “She didn’t look too steady on her feet to be up there, and luckily I was able to get to her before she busted her ass.”

The tightening feeling in my chest seemed to loosen from his reassurin’ words, but I knew if he hadn’t noticed her at the right time, she could have been hurt, or worse.

“Where was Greta when all this happened?”

His stare dropped down to the woman fast asleep on his leg.

“Dancin’.”

I sneered.

“How many drinks has she had?” The answer was evident in their battered, sloppy states. Way too fuckin’ many.

“Not sure, but enough.” Shane sighed, clearly just as frustrated as I was with this whole situation.

Tired, annoyed, and half tempted to find the bastard who was recording Emelia, I clenched my fists tight and decided to let the dirtbag off easy. Then gently pulling my hand from her cheek, careful not to let her fall over, I pushed myself up from my knees.

“Sorry for all this,” I said wholeheartedly. “Don’t know what’s gotten into her lately.”

Shane didn’t tear his eyes off my sister. He knew somethin’ was up with her, I think we all did, but findin’ out what the issue was would be a struggle in itself.

I just hoped one day soon she’d push all that stubbornness to the side and tell us.

“Not your fault, I just wish I would’ve been watchin’ her closer.”

“She’s a grown woman, you shouldn’t have to.”

He nodded as irritation and a look of defeat crossed his expression. I understood the feelin’ all too well.

“Think you could help me get her to my truck? I doubt they can walk.” I went to pick of Emelia, like I’d done so many times already before. Was startin’ to think she’s been in my arms more than she has on her feet in front of me.

It was like second nature havin’ her cradled against me.

Arms under her knees and face buried into my chest, she cuddled into me as if I were her favorite damn teddy bear.

It was the alcohol talkin’, of course, even if she was mostly asleep, but I didn’t mind.

I soaked it in as much as I could, savorin’ the moment as if it would be the only time I’d get to feel it.

I figured Shane would do the same, considering the certain level of affection he had for Greta, but instead, he picked her up effortlessly and tossed her drunk ass over his shoulder.

“Ugh, Shane! I’ll puke on you, dammit,” Greta groaned, hair danglin’ just inches from the ground as the rest of her body hung over him like a sack.

“Shut it, Taz,” he growled, his palm connecting with the back of her thigh in warning. I didn’t have the energy to be bothered by it, she deserved it and probably a hell of a lot more.

We carried the women through the bar, catching amused, curious, glances as we stormed past. Most noticing Greta from the wild, curly mane and I had a strong feelin’ she’d just sealed her fate as the talk of the town for next few weeks.

“G-Garth,” Emelia half groaned, half mumbled into my shirt, a fresh stain of drool just below my collarbone.

“I got you, Outlaw,” I dropped my mouth to the crown of her head and whispered softly.

We were close to the door, Shane just a few feet behind me, when suddenly an arm appeared from the crowd beside us and landed roughly onto my shoulder.

“Hey, man, where you headin’ with her, huh?” A smug, blond guy appeared out of nowhere with bloodshot eyes and his gaze focused a little too intensely on Emelia.

Who the fuck is this?

“I’d keep my damn mouth shut and turn around, Jasper.

He ain’t in the mood, and I ain’t in the mood for any more bullshit,” Shane announced from behind me, but already I could sense this fucker was goin’ to be a problem.

He was lookin’ at Emelia like he had a claim to her and when a rough, unsteady laugh came tumbling from his mouth, I damn well knew who he was without a doubt.

The piece of shit who was recording her.

“He ain’t in the mood?” he sneered, taking the bottle in his hand and tossin’ it back. “Had her up on the table back there. So that means I get the first crack at her in my bed.”

Before I knew it, I was driving my boot into his stomach. Full force, ignited by rage, I kicked him into another damn dimension. His body flew backward until his back connected against the side of a pool table, nearly causin’ the whole thing to topple over from the force of it.

I didn’t care that almost the entire bar went silent or the fact all eyes had fallen on me. I’d reached my breakin’ point, and there was no way I could hold back anymore. I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t a saint. And right now, I felt more like a territorial beast than I did a human.

Chest fluctuating to the rhythm of my heart, I glanced down at Emelia, expectin’ to see pretty green eyes lookin’ up at me. Instead, she was still fast asleep like I hadn’t just jostled her around.

“Fuck… Goddamn idiot,” Shane muttered angrily. I knew I had just stirred up a whole damn storm for him, but it was clear his annoyance wasn’t directed at me, but at the fuckwad who didn’t listen.

Hushed whispers began to shift into normal conversations again, and with one last glance at the groanin’ asshole who was sittin’ with his head tucked between his legs, I advanced out the door with Shane following close.

Once at the truck, I opened the driver’s side, while Shane opened the passenger.

We carefully placed both passed-out women inside, with Greta leaned heavily against the door and Emelia slouched over toward the driver's seat.

I then quickly hopped in, cautious not to disturb her, and kept her pressed tight against me.

After getting Greta settled in, Shane walked around the front of the truck and stopped next to my rolled-down window, a look of exhaustion heavy in his eyes.

“Sorry ’bout the shit show tonight,” I admitted, knowin’ half was my fault while the other was also partly mine, due to bein’ related to the other guilty party.

He shrugged, his stare lingering on my sister before meeting mine.

“Make’s life more interesting.”

Couldn’t tell if he was talkin’ about Greta or all the chaos that went down, but regardless, he didn’t deserve to be in the middle of it.

“Well, regardless, I owe you one.”

I owed him more than one, but I figured he already knew that.

“Don’t worry ’bout it. Just get these two home and in bed, yeah?” He slapped the door panel with a grin. “And tell Greta the next time she tries to come to dollar beer night, I’ll toss her ass out myself.”

With that, he disappeared back into the bar, leavin’ a ghost of a smile on my face as I cranked the engine and drove us back to the ranch.

Getting both women inside proved to be more fuckin’ difficult than I thought.

Greta was awake by the time we got back, wanting to walk on her own up to the guest room, which only took an hour after falling over at least five times.

From laughin’ to cryin’ because it hurt, to needing to use the bathroom, and finally getting some Tylenol before laying down in bed.

I about broke a sweat gettin’ her laid down.

Emelia wasn’t as difficult, but the second I picked her up, those olive eyes locked with mine. I almost stumbled up the steps of the house because I hadn’t expected it.

“Hi,” she whispered, her eyes glazed and tired but never once leaving mine.

“Hi,” I grumbled back, annoyed from how affected I was from this little bundle of sunshine who had me all sorts of fucked up lately.

Even her drunken grin had me forgetting why I was pissed off tonight.

“Am I dreaming?” she asked as I passed through the living room where my mom was asleep on the couch.

“Yeah, this is a dream, Outlaw,” I lied, not wanting her to awake tomorrow with any more embarrassment than she’ll already have.

“It is?” she questioned almost disappointingly into my chest. “So, I can say anything I want right, because the real you won’t know?”

Oh fuck.

“Because I have a lot I could say to you.” She chuckled, the words I needed to stop her completely dying on my tongue. “Like the new nickname I have for you.”

I was climbing up the stairs to the second floor, tempted to stop and ask her for all the things she had to say to me. But instead, I keep my head forward and focused until I felt her lift her head and her lips almost brush my beard.

“Wanna hear it?”

Christ, why did she suddenly sound like a damn temptress?

“I’m all ears.” I swallowed.

Hearing the subtle sound of her tongue wetting her lips, she leaned in even closer. “Ranch Daddy.”

My hands slipped underneath her knees and I almost dropped her.

Fuck…

What the hell did she just say? And why the hell was she giggling now?

“A what?” I asked, clearly hearin’ her wrong, but her gigglin’ only intensified.

“A ranch daddy!” She repeated. “You know, cause you work on a ranch and you’re a daddy.”

Fuck. Me.

I couldn’t even think, let alone process what she had just said. She was drunk and thought this was a damn dream right now, but it still made blood rush all the way to my cock.

“Smart, huh?”

I blinked, unsure how to respond as I opened the door to the other guest bedroom, the one across from mine. Wasn’t sure puttin’ her so close to me was such a good idea, but if she needed anything, I wanted to be able to get to her quickly.

I coughed. “Yeah, real smart.”

Then just when I was about to deposit her onto the bed, I felt the gentle, warm brush of lips graze just below my chin.

It stopped me completely. Dumbstruck with a heart galloping like a thunderstorm, I glanced down at eyes that shimmered with longing.

It’d been twelve years since I’d been in the position to let a woman kiss me.

I wanted more.

I was fuckin’ desperate for more, and it was evident in her crystal-clear, glowin’ eyes she wanted that too.

She had me wanting things I never thought I’d ever have the chance to experience.

She had a way of makin’ me want to break down every wall I’ve built, leaving nothin’ behind, and give her every last piece of myself I had to offer.

Dangerous was what she was.

Dangerous to me, the ranch, to anyone who had the privilege of encountering her. And that’s why she needed to stay that way. I didn't have the strength for the type of heartbreak she’d leave me behind with.

She was the woman with sunshine hair and a heart filled with endless possibilities, while I was merely just a man who had no business tyin’ someone like that down. And with a final sigh, I lowered her onto the bed, her gaze unwavering and captivating more than ever.

“Can I tell you more?” she asked, a hopeful glint in her tipsy tone.

“Not tonight, Outlaw,” I whispered, pulling the comforter up to her chest where she snuggled right in. “Another time.”

“Promise?” She yawned while nestling deep into the pillow with fluttering eyelids.

It was impossible to say no to her.

“Promise.”

Light snoring soon filled the air and I took the opportunity to push back a flyaway strand of hair on her forehead. The movement was slow and tender, and when I finally summoned the strength to pull away, I quietly left the room, leaving her door cracked.