“Oh, fuck you, Cash,” she hissed.
His sneer turned wolfish. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak bitch.” With that, he led Playboy into the barn, followed by Charlie and Cason, along with Peckerhead in tow. I moved to Maverick, who stillheld Black Betty. She eyed me as I approached—the mare was possessive as hell of him. But I was too, so I guess we both had that in common. So many emotions swirled and danced across Maverick’s features. Anger, worry, frustration, fear—each passing and shifting so quickly it was impossible to pinpoint just one. I could only imagine how shitty of a situation this was for him. I didn’t envy him at all right now.
“I’ll untack her for you,” I said, pressing a hand to his bare arm, my fingers caressing the canyons of mottled flesh before coming to rest on his reins. He shivered beneath my touch, something in his light gaze flaring.
“You sure?”
I nodded, holding his unwavering stare.
He blew out a breath and released the reins. I didn’t kiss him, even though every possessive part of me wanted to just rub it in this bitch’s face. Somehow, I didn’t think Maverick would like that. He wasn’t the type to gloat or boast. So, I wouldn’t either. Ashleigh could have this last moment with him. It sure as hell would be the last.
Even though I didn’t kiss him, I did make sure to plaster on my fakest, brightest smile as I turned to her and said, “I’m Cheyenne, by the way. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I couldn’t tell the exact color of her eyes in the dim evening light, but I recognized the anger and hatred burning in the depths. Oh well, after tonight, I’d never have to deal with her again—hopefully.
A sneer pulled on her lips. “Well, I’ve heard nothing about you.”
I shrugged, completely unfazed. Casting one long, final look at Maverick, I led a less than thrilled Black Betty to the barn.
For a split second, I feared she might trample me or run me down, but aside from snorting, tossing her head, and glancing back periodically at Maverick, she followed along.
The barn lights were glaringly bright compared to how dim it was outside. My gaze flicked to Playboy, still tied up just outside of his stall, Cash was nowhere to be seen. Cason stood just outside Peckerhead’s stall as Charlie hurriedly pulled off his saddle and saddle pad before all but tossing them onto one of the racks. I frowned as she made her way to the barn doors.
That’s when I noticed Cash. I’d walked right by him. The sneaky bastard.
“Well, you gonna hurry your ass up and join us, or what?” Cash whispered as Charlie settled at his side.
I frowned at the two of them. “Are y’all really gonna snoop?”
Charlie gave me a sheepish grin. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to hear what happens.”
I did. Dear Lord, I really did. But that was horrible of me, right? I shouldn’t care. I’d won whatever little war Ashleigh was in with me. Maverick was mine. Shouldn’t that be enough?
I glanced between Black Betty and my two friends. Well, there was the chance that Black Betty might kill me for trying to untack her. I’d only handled her a few times, and it hadn’t ever been more than this. Maybe I should leave that for Maverick. He’d understand, right?
“Hold on. Let me tie her up,” I said, hurrying to put her in the cross ties in front of her stall.
I settled between Cash and Charlie, Cason completely ignoring us as he brushed down Peckerhead and told him about his football practice like he was an old friend and not a horse.
The three of us peeked out around the barn door. From where Maverick and Ashleigh stood, neither could see us—hopefully—but we could hear them clear as day.
“I don’t know what the hell he sees in her,” Cash grumbled, his gaze narrowed on the brunette.
“Okay, seriously though,” Charlie scoffed. “I was expecting her to be more…” I turned to meet her gaze. Her shoulders lifted into a guilty shrug. “I just expected her to be prettier. I know that sounds awful, but well…he’s been obsessed with her for almost two decades…I was expecting…more.”
“Right?” I was so glad I wasn’t the only one who’d thought that. I could understand her having a shitty personality but him putting up with it because she was a complete knockout. As shallow as that was, I’d be the first to admit I’d done that before. Case and point…Nate. But Ashleigh was a bit, well, plain. It’s not that she wasn’t pretty. She was… in aplainway. There was nothing seemingly special about her. Not that I was trying to toot my own horn, but if she was so god-awful to Maverickandnot drop-dead gorgeous, then what about her had kept him under her spell for solong?
Cash seemed to understand without me saying anything. “Maverick is loyal. To a fault. It’s one of his greatest strengths, but with her…his greatest weakness.” He glanced at his cousin and back at me. “Also, she was his first.”
“Ah.” Charlie and I both nodded, understanding dawning on us at the same time.
“That explains so much,” Charlie replied.
Cash shushed us, nodding toward Maverick and Ashleigh. “They’re talkin’.”
So, settling in, the three of us let relative silence fall in the barn as we huddled together and listened like a bunch of eavesdropping teens and not grown-ass adults.
Chapter forty-two
