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Chapter Nine
A week later. Triple K farm, Bunkie, Louisiana...
Kevin led the posse of riders as they set out to inspect the fence line enclosing the vast Triple K ranch. He sat tall in the saddle, guiding his horse with a relaxed confidence born of long years riding the range. Dressed in worn jeans, boots, and a simple shirt, he looked every inch the rugged cattle rancher. Years of physical labor added to his muscularity and deep tan. He was perfectly at home in the countryside.
As they rode along the perimeter, Kevin continuously scanned their surroundings, missing nothing. His piercing onyx gaze took in every detail as he checked for any issues with the fence that may allow their prized livestock to stray. He moved with an innate grace, easily rolling with his horse’s gait. The animal responded to his subtle cues as if they shared one mind.
Kevin was in his element out here on the range. Though he carried himself with coiled power and intensity, there was a comfort and ease to him in the saddle that spoke of his deep connection to the land and animals. He sat erect yet relaxed, exuding a quiet confidence and command over the countryside that came naturally to him. With his lion-like focus and noble bearing astride the powerful horse, he struck an imposing figure, every inch one of the masters of the Triple K ranch. He wore that mastery lightly, though none could miss his innate sense of belonging in this rugged domain.
“Keep your eyes open for any weakened spots in the fence,” Kevin said. “That’s what those bastards do. They damage a small section, little by little, and when they see it’s not fixed, that’s when they break through.”
“We know the drill, Kev,” Keith said in a dry voice.
“Don’t give me lip. Just do it.” Kevin had been in a bad mood since they had woken up at Club Rogue to find Lollipop gone. Since they didn’t have the opportunity to discuss anything with her after the scene, and all member information was confidential, they had no way of finding her.
“You better get a grip on your temper, Kev. It’s no one’s fault but our own that she slipped through our fingers.”
“I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Well, tough. You might already see the writing on the wall, but I don’t. I am positive we will find her. She wouldn’t have paid an annual membership fee at Club Rogue only to disappear into thin air.”
Kevin chose not to further fuel the debate and kicked his horse into a fast trot. He had been furious when they woke up to find Lollipop gone. They had gone on a rampage through the club looking for her, but there was no sign of her. Interrogating Miss Daisy didn’t offer any leads either since they had met at Club Decadence and became submissive friends. She only knew her as Lollipop and couldn’t shed any further light on who or where she was.
As they rode along the fence line, he paused at times to take in the raw, untamed beauty of the Louisiana landscape surrounding the ranch. The cloudless blue sky stretched endlessly overhead, meeting the horizon across the rolling grasslands. Clusters of live oaks dotted the plains, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. In the distance, cypress trees lined the bayous that wound lazily through the countryside.
Having grown up on the Triple K, this land was in Kevin’s blood... as it was in both Kaden and Keith’s. From the chirping of birds fluttering through the trees to the musky scent of the bayou, every aspect of this place resonated within his soul. He felt a primal connection to the cycle of life and death on the ranch that harkened back to mankind’s ancient bond with the natural world.
“God, I love the smell of the land,” he murmured as he breathed in deeply, forcing his troubled soul to calm. Keith’s words rang in his ears—he was right. It was time to rein in his temper. Kevin was a firm believer in destiny and fate. The explosive scene they had with Lollipop had exceeded his expectations. When he had laid eyes on her, he had immediately felt the magnetic pull from her soul. His gut instinct had never been wrong. He didn’t believe it would fail him now. The gorgeous redhead was meant to be theirs. One way or the other, they would find her, and when they did, he would make sure she didn’t run again.
“It’s more than the smell, Kev.” Keith was riding next to him and had picked up on his mood. “There are moments of stillness out here when one can sense the spirit of the land wrapping itself around you like a living thing.” Keith swept one hand through the air. “This is why we love this place so much. It’s the power and wisdom of nature singing in our veins, reminding us of our insignificance, yet also of our belonging in the greater web of life.”
“Good God, when did you turn into a philosopher?” Kevin growled, but silently, he admitted Keith was right. Whenever the pressures of the civilized world grew too much, it was the wild freedom of this corner of Louisiana that centered him again, bringing peace to his restless spirit.
“Fuck off. At least I’m not turning into a grumpy old man,” Keith shot back. “This land is home in a way no other place could ever be. Mark my words, Kev... before the end of the week, Lollipop will know her destiny lies with us... here, on Triple K.”
“I appreciate your positive manifestation, Keith, but it’s becoming tedious.” Kevin’s voice chased after him as Keith urged his horse into a fast trot. As the sun shimmered high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the untamed landscape, Kevin’s heart swelled with a bittersweet joy. The raw, primal beauty of his homeland moved him in ways nothing and no one else ever could.
Until he woke up that morning and found the woman he wanted in his life, gone.
