Page 30 of Chasing Home
He jerks his chin. “You better.”
Thomas revs the ATV and takes off ahead of the herd before swerving between the open gate and leading us all into the pasture. Tracker and Bandit keep the cows in line as they slip through the gate and then spread through the field.
Wade tugs on Kip’s reins and leads him to the left side while Joker and I take the right, herding the back. It moves fast after that, and by the time we ride into the field with the final cow following the others, I take my hat off my head and run a hand through my sweaty hair.
I don’t know what time it is, but my stomach is growling, and my throat is parched. The heat is unforgiving today, and I know my back is slick with sweat. It’s everywhere. One swipe at my upper lip, and I taste it there too.
Thomas makes a long loop and then drives the ATV back toward me, his face red and shirt sticking to his chest just as badly as mine is.
“Lunchtime?” he shouts over the engine.
I look for Wade and find him talking to his second-in-command, Renner, on the opposite side of the pasture.
“Lunchtime. I need to get out of this heat before I pass out,” I reply.
Thomas nods, his ball cap flipped backward, not doing anything to protect his eyes from the sun. At least he’s wearing a hat, though. His buzzed blond head would be bright red if he hadn’t.
“I’ll meet you there, then. I’m excited to get a first real look at the new girl.”
The sly tone of voice would have riled me if I thought he actually stood a shooting chance with Aurora. If I hardly do, he sure as shit doesn’t. Something tells me that she isn’t into backwoods cowboys with chips on their shoulders and a habit of sleeping around.
“A look is all you’ll get,” I shoot back.
“We’ll see about that, J.”
I roll my eyes and slide my fingers back into my mouth before whistling for Tracker. His head lifts and whips in my direction before he takes off, his legs pumping beneath him. After turning Joker to the side, I give her a scratch on her neck and wait.
Thomas whistles for Bandit, and suddenly, the dogs are racing, tongues flopping in the air and tails swatting. I laugh and pat Joker’s side when my pup gets close enough to jump. He doesn’t hesitate before leaping from the ground and jumping onto Joker. Settling into the spot behind me, he shoves his head under my arm, forcing me to lift it and tuck him in my armpit.
“Good boy, Tracker. You beat your sister like I knew you would,” I coo, scratching behind his ear.
“You’re a cheater. He had a head start,” Thomas says.
“She wouldn’t have beaten him if she had a head start, and you know it.”
Thomas waves me off at the same time Bandit jumps onto the ATV and sits on the cushioned seat beside him. He revs the engine a few times before racing off, leaving the air thick with the scent of gas and exhaust.
My horse shuffles forward, wanting to follow him, and I give her the go-ahead while adjusting the reins. Tracker nuzzles into my side, and I keep him secured against my body and beneath my arm as we head back to the house.
The closer we get, the more my excitement grows. After walking Rory home Saturday night and watching her disappear behind her front door, I’ve been counting down the minutes till I can see her again. I didn’t know that it would be this morning or that she was working for Eliza and Wade now, but fuck me, learning of her new job was great news.
Getting to see her every day while I’m working is a reward of epic proportions, even if she still hasn’t actually agreed to spend more time with me than our walk the other night.
I haven’t exactly asked her out yet, and I won’t for a while still. Not because I’m unsure that I want to shoot my shot after everything I said to her the other night but because I’m trying to win her over first. If I did it now, I know she’d reject me. And while I’m a confident guy, I’m not a glutton for punishment.
The ranch house grows bigger and bigger the closer we get until, soon enough, I can see the number of trucks parked in front and hear the loud slap of boots on wood inside the stable. It’s silent around the second stable, so my construction crew must have taken off for lunch too.
Thomas’s ATV is parked beside a brand-new lifted Chevy that Brody brought home with him last week. It’s nice, really damn nice, with thick black tires and dark rims to match. My truck is a decade old now, but she runs as good as new. Once she kicks the bucket, I’ll dive into my savings to find something newer, but until then, I’m happy with what I’ve got.
The house is loud even from outside. Laughter and shouts, even a few hissed curse words, escape the open windows and the flapping screen door. It sounds like home, and once I’ve tied Joker up and ordered my dog to wait for me in the shade of the porch, I’m walking inside with a smile on my face.
“It smells like heaven in here, Eliza,” I say, slipping into the kitchen.
“Your heaven smells like melted cheese?” I hear from somewhere in the throng of sweaty men and cowboy hats.
It sounds like one of the older guys who spends all his time with the calves, but I’m too hungry to investigate.
Sidestepping my way toward where I know Eliza’s griddle sits on the counter, I rub at my empty stomach. The first peek of silver hair behind a broad shoulder is a relief. Eliza stands at the counter with a stack of paper plates in her hands and a griddle full to the brim with tortillas full of shredded cheese beside her. The three empty pitchers next to a stack of plastic cups don’t surprise me. I’m one of the last ones in today, and these fuckers have stolen all the good shit.