Page 4 of Honoring Freedom
“What the hell is all the noise?” Keifer Abbott came strolling into kitchen, appearing as irritated as his older brother, blinking sleep from his eyes. The gap in his boxers came open, giving a peekaboo greeting at his morning salute. Despite being almost a decade apart in age, Keifer and Keller looked remarkably alike. Aging had been good to both. Keifer’s brows lifted when he settled his gaze on Freedom. “Well, well…look who we have here. Shame I wasn’t invited to the party.”
“Keifer Abbott. What are you doing in Sagebrush Pines?” Freedom said as a grin tilted her lips. She had a deep fondness for the boy—now obviously very much a man—who once had a kid-like crush on her.
He crossed the distance, picked her up, and swung her around for a tight bear hug. After he set her down, he stepped back and gave a wink. “I thought since my brother moved back onto the farm, I should come along to help keep him out of trouble.”
“You should have talked your brother out of coming back, Keif. That would have been keeping him out of trouble,” she sighed, feeling the heat of Keller’s narrowed gaze on her.
“He was adamant on coming home. Something about the mountains, the fresh air and some sweet Rose sister—”
“Don’t let him pull your chain,” Keller interrupted, casting his brother a death glare. “I’ve always wanted to come home to the farm. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
“What is going on here?” Kimmie whined as she speared each of them with an unladylike scowl. “Where’s my phone? I’m calling an Uber.”
“No, you’re not,” Freedom said, shaking her head wryly.
A frown carved its place on the girl’s face as she lifted her phone higher. She spun in circles searching for service. “Figures,” she snapped. “I should have known this was a mistake when I saw the dead rattlesnakes hanging off the line.” She rolled her eyes.
"That’s what we do to keep the rodent population down around these parts," Keller remarked nonchalantly. “The vultures come, eat the snakes’ guts and also the rats.”
Kimmie wrinkled her nose. “That’s—that’s disgusting,” she sputtered. “I want off this farm.”
“What did I miss?” Keifer whipped his silver blue gaze around the room.
“Is it too much to ask for a ride back into town?” Kimmie’s head tilted. “I feel like I’ve entered some back-country, Crocodile Dundee twilight zone.”
“Let me get dressed and I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” Keifer said with a charming smile. Yeah, he definitely was dangerous with a combination of looks and appeal. Just like his big brother.
“Back to reality? Please,” she cast Freedom a pointed stare before she sashayed down the hall, slamming the door.
“Sorry, Keifer. I upset your girlfriend,” Freedom confessed without apology. “Tell her I take back the itty-bitty titty committee remark.”
He lifted a brow and sighed. “I don’t even want to know.” Then he went after Kimmie.
“Proud of yourself?” Keller didn’t look a bit pleased with the entire scenario.
“Not entirely. Simple mistake, which is your fault.”
“My fault?” he grunted. “You coming in here like a raging wildcat wielding a skillet like a tennis racket threatening to beat Keif’s girl over the head and you find that I’m to blame? Of course you’d see things like that. Still as irrational as ever.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and took a long swig, wincing. “I’m too old for your shenanigans, Freedom.”
Although she’d never admit it, she felt a bit taken back—maybe happy—that the twat wasn’t sleeping with Keller.
She took another long, visual perusal over him. Time had only improved him. He had more silver hair than black, a few lines around his eyes, and thick whiskers covered his broad jaw. Mother Nature had seasoned him well. If anything, he was taller, broader, and more handsome than she remembered. But back when she knew him, he didn’t bear the scars that riddled his skin. She didn’t want to stare too long but as if a bright light held her gaze, she couldn’t help herself. “Then why are you here?” she said sassily.
“Sam made me an offer I couldn’t turn down.” He reached into a bag of chips and grabbed one, tossing it into his mouth. She remembered that he’d always had a craving for junk food.
“Tell Daddy you’ve changed your mind and you can no longer accept the job.” She leaned against the counter feeling a bit uneasy seeing him again after all these years. The last time she saw him she was eighteen and naïve as a baby kitten born on Independence Day.
“Afraid I can’t do that.” He leaned his back against the edge of the island and crossed his bare feet at the ankles. The fringed holes near his front pockets gave a sneak peek at crisp black hair. Did these cowboys not know how to dress properly? “I shook on a deal, and I plan to keep it.” He wiped his salt covered hands down his jean-clad thighs.
“That’s not going to work.” She impatiently tapped the toe of her boot.
“Did I ask for your approval?” He cocked a thick brow.
“Do I care if you asked?” she said.
“You really are unreasonable.” He scraped his fingertips over his whiskers.
“This will never work, Keller.”