Page 37 of Wild Rose (Blue River Springs #1)

Rose

I’m up early on Monday morning. Wilder left after I fell asleep. Just like he told me he would. I’m not upset about it. The last two days have been better than I could have imagined.

Minus the few hours I spent in the heat and dirt picking rocks.

But it was worth it. Not just having the man who put me in that position in agony over it. But the care Wilder gave me when he brought me home.

I know better than to hold on to it. It’s understood that this isn’t something that can go on for my remaining four weeks here.

Still, the weight of his gaze, the way his deep voice softens for me, the way his rough hands brush along my skin .?.?. it all lingers on my mind. And it’s not going away anytime soon.

I also know better than to think none of it meant anything.

We shared intimate parts of ourselves. Well, I did anyway.

Wilder doesn’t talk about himself. And as much as it frustrates me, because I’ve been nothing but open with him, I know it’s better that he doesn’t.

The less I know about him, the more likely my heart will get the message.

Wilder’s not in the Saddle Room when I come in. He must have been earlier, since he left me a note on my desk that he’s going to be at the clinic with Dallas this morning, along with a list of things he’d like me to check for him.

Field work?

I run down the list and find some lowly tasks for Randy and Barry to do. They won’t be happy.

I text Wilder.

Rose: I can’t tell the guys to do these things.

Wilder: Morning. How’d you sleep?

There goes my heart again. He’s still tender.

Rose: Morning. Good, you?

Should I have asked? Is it one of those things that your boss just asks but you don’t get to ask back?

Wilder: Not as well as the night before.

I want to leap to the ceiling and squeal. But the feeling quickly dies when he follows with another text—shifting to boss mode.

Wilder: I don’t expect you to tell them anything. I just need you to make some rounds for me this morning. Report back if the guys are where they should be.

Rose: OK. Will do.

I see the three dots jumping as he works on his response. But they disappear. So I send one of my own.

Rose: How are things over there?

He sees the message but doesn’t respond. And there are no little dots jumping around to indicate he’s participating in the topic.

As soon as I set my phone down, it rings, Wilder’s name on the screen.

“Hi,” I answer.

“Hey,” he sighs. “We’re just waiting now. He’s already gone in, but Mr. Hartly and Ellie were late.”

“Oh.”

“Dallas was a little annoyed until they got here. Then he took one look at her bedhead and sleepy face and all that just melted away.”

“Wilder, that’s so sweet. Even you have to admit that.”

“Yeah, I suppose. He wanted to wait here until she’s done. She seemed a little nervous. Soon as they’re finished with everything, we’ll head back.”

“No rush. How long until you know?”

“Couple days.”

“Does he know you told me?” I ask.

Another long sigh. “He does.”

I bite my bottom lip. “Is he mad at me about the rodeo?”

He chuckles. “Why do you ask?”

“Because since he knows I know, I thought I’d give him some words of encouragement, but if he’s mad at me, I’d rather wait.”

“Hold on.” There’s a few seconds before a new voice comes on the line.

“Rose,” Dallas says. And I try to recall my earlier psych classes, where I learned to decipher how someone is feeling based on their tone.

“Hey, Dallas. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask how you’re doing.

I can probably guess. I just wanted to say that no matter what those results say, you’ve got this.

I know you’re already going through a hard time and waiting these next few days will feel impossible, but focus on things you can control for now. ”

If there’s one thing I learned from what happened to me, it’s that I can’t control what happened, but I can control how I move on.

He sighs. “Waiting is gonna be all right, I think. Hardest part for me is trying to not have a preference one way or the other.”

I don’t ask him what that is.

“It’s OK to have one. But whatever the outcome is, try to take the time to think about how you’ll handle it. We know you can.”

“Do you?”

“The guys on the ranch don’t count on you because you’re thoughtless and irresponsible. You run a tight ship. You got this.”

“Thanks, Rose. Hey, you should come to dinner with the fam next Sunday night. Silas will be in town and Wes usually joins us.”

Dinner with the Thorne family? Would Wilder like that?

“Um, I’ll let you know. Never know what trouble I’ll be up to that night.”

He chuckles. “Always time to get into trouble after you eat. Come on by, Dad and Wilder are cooking, and you can listen to your brother play judge.”

“Well then, I’ll be there.”

“Terrific, Wilder will pick you up.” Then he hands the phone back to my boss.

“Hey.”

“I’m going to get back to work,” I say quickly, convincing myself—and maybe him—that I don’t need his reaction to the invitation.

“Rose,” he starts, a warning in his tone. “Don’t engage with the guys. If they’re not doing what they’re supposed to be, just let me know when I get back, all right?”

“How is that productive, Wilder?”

He sighs. “You know what, forget it, I’ve got a buddy in town—I’ll ask him to do it.”

“Wow, that’s not insulting at all.”

Another sigh. “A drive-by. That’s it,” he growls.

“Go be with your brother. I’ll see you later.”

He grumbles when I don’t give him my promise.

After we hang up, I work on my usual morning tasks, going through mail, following up with vendors and preparing a blank rotation schedule for next week for Wilder to fill in later.

A drive-by.

How is a drive-by discreet? I’ll go on foot.

Leaving my golf cart in front of the Saddle Room, I head to the stables. I’ll just go see if Randy and Barry are there and then head back. Just like Wilder asked.

When I reach the building, I move carefully along the side, eyes roaming the edge to where the cowboys are supposed to be mucking out stalls.

I hear a lot of what sounds like shit-talking, but I can’t decipher who it’s about. Until I do.

“This is some bullshit, I tell you. I’ve been here sixteen years—back when Connor had rodeos at least once a season.”

I frown. “What?” I cover my mouth, then move around toward the front to see if I can hear more. What I’m not hearing is any shoveling.

“Maybe they don’t got the money for it now. It ain’t cheap,” Barry points out.

“But it brings in business. I always liked Dallas, but he’s getting weak. They all are. Perhaps it’s time to move on.”

“His fiancée just died.”

“I meant for me.”

Barry grumbles in response then pulls himself off the floor where he and Randy have been resting.

Randy doesn’t stand; he’s picking at his fingernails, and I wonder how much work everyone else does while he just sits around.

With a heavy sigh, I turn to leave before anyone sees me. Then a voice drawls behind me.

“Y’know, if you wanted to watch me sweat, darlin’, you could’ve just pulled up a chair.”

Heat floods my cheeks as I spin around.

“Take it the boss sent you to spy?”

I roll my shoulders back. “I’m working. As you should be.”

Randy stands and something about his stance is a little threatening. I swallow when he takes slow steps my way. “And what part of your job is this, sweetheart?”

I fight the urge to step back. “That’s enough. Why don’t you go back to what you were doing. And I’ll get back to the office.”

“Why don’t you head on to the kitchen and whip us boys up some lemonade. Then I’ll happily let you watch me at work.” They both laugh, turning away from me, neither bothering to look remotely busy.

I barely have time for a sharp response before the steady thud of hooves silences their laughter. A deep voice slices through the morning air like a blade. “Something funny, gentlemen?”

Randy scowls as he looks over my shoulder.

I flip around, not recognizing the voice. It’s not Wilder or Dallas. And he certainly doesn’t work here. I would have remembered seeing him .

The man on the chestnut horse has a rugged beard and sharp blue eyes, not as deep as Wilder’s though.

His horse shifts beneath him, and he hops off. The cowboys behind me clear their throats. “Just havin’ a little fun, sir. Welcome back to Blue River.”

“That right? Appreciate the welcome but doesn’t look like your jokes are, so might be best if you just get back to work.” His scrutinizing gaze sweeps over them before they mumble to themselves and move back to the stalls.

The cowboy’s eyes settle on me, and he smiles, reaching a hand. “Levi Reeves.”

I accept it with some scrutiny of my own. “Am I supposed to know who you are and why you think I need saving?”

Wilder’s soft accusations of my need to prove I’m brave come to mind, but I push them down.

The new cowboy’s got a wide grin and a nice set of teeth. “My apologies, protection is an instinct in my family, but you clearly had it under control.” He raises his palms in defense.

Is he mocking me?

I’m trying to assess him. He’s not threatening in any way. He’s quite warm and charming, actually. “I’m Rose. Wilder’s assistant for the summer.”

He nods. “My wife and I are in town for the night on business. We’re staying at one of the guest cabins. He asked me to check in on these two, in particular. Said they’ve been causing trouble lately.”

“So have I. Did he ask you to check on me ?” I ask defensively.

He grins again with a light chuckle. “You have, huh? Nope, just the guys.”

“Oh, you’re the friend he told me about earlier. It’s not your first visit, I take it?”

“No. We do some business together.” He glances around the nearby structures. “Some of these guys here used to work for me at Hideaway Ranch.”

“Hideaway Ranch .?.?. right. I spoke to one of your associates there, Tessa. She helped me out with some vendor recommendations.”

He laughs. “That’s my wife. She can be very chatty.”

“Is she with you? I’d love to meet her.”

“Well, hop on.”