Page 42 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

Winston scowled. “I can hear you two?”

Emily rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what else to say to you, Winston. I’ve told you several times I don’t want anything to do with you. You need to leave and stay out of my life.”

Winston looked confused before something seemed to dawn on him. He took a few steps and planted himself in front of them. A sarcastic smile crossed his face, and he crossed his arms over his chest—the way he did it howled arrogance. “You really think he’s going to keep you around? For God's sake, Emily. Look at him and then look in the mirr—uhhh.”

Emily’s mouth dropped open as she stared at Winston flat on his ass on the ground in front of them, holding his nose, screaming, with blood dripping down his face. She scowled and turned to Cole. “Dammit, Cole, you told me I couldn’t hit him. Why can you, but not me?”

Cole hadn’t lost his grip on Emily. “Yeah. Sorry, but I couldn’t take his shit one more second.” He grunted when she elbowed him in the stomach.

“Well, I don’t think that’s very fair.”

His arm tightened around her waist and his other hand on her stomach. He bent over and kissed the top of her head. “I gotta say that your taste in men has definitely improved.”

Emily snorted out a chuckle.

He smiled at her laugh, turned them away from the man on the ground, and walked them toward the house.

“You just wait. He’ll get sick of you, and you’ll come crawling back to me,” Winton yelled from the ground.

Emily stopped and turned. She held back her cringe when she saw the damage Cole had done, a little sad she hadn’t been the one to hit him. If Winston’s nose wasn’t broken, it was damn close, and blood had already drenched the front of his shirt.

“I wouldn’t go back to you if you were the last man on earth, Winston. You’re a pitiful excuse for a man, and I deserve so much more.”

Cole tugged her around. “Let’s go, baby.” They walked several feet toward the house. “Neil,” Cole yelled at several ranch hands standing around watching the show. “I need you and someone else to take this trash out.” He indicated Winston, who still hadn’t been able to get up. “I want him off my property.”

“You got it, boss.”

“One other thing. I need two others to go to the motel on Highway Sixty-Three, ten miles north of Bennet, and pick up Emily’s car. I put the keys under the driver’s side mat.

Cole and Emily walked up to find Daisy standing on the porch, her hands over her mouth in shock, but laughter danced in her eyes.

“Wow, Uncle Cole, I never would have expected that behavior from you. Badass.”

Cole grinned and tweaked Daisy’s nose.

“I guess you haven’t been listening to the stories about my childhood, Half-pint. I was a tough little shit.”

Emily chuckled and hugged him with both arms around his waist. “You still are, Cole. You’re my hero.” She batted her eyelashes for effect.

Daisy snorted.

Cole smoothed Emily’s hair from her face. They both must have looked a mess. Their clothes were damp and wrinkled, and their hair messy, their faces looking sleep-deprived.

“If you could make sure Beth hears about this, she might leave me alone for a bit.”

Daisy and Emily laughed.

“We’re going to head up and shower and get some sleep. Only wake me if it’s an emergency, okay?”

Daisy hugged Emily and took a step back. “I’m glad you’re back, Emily. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.”

Emily wrapped her arms around Cole’s waist. “All’s forgiven, Daisy. We’ve all made assumptions that turned out to be false.”

Daisy nodded. “Human nature. How about I send up some snacks for when you get out of the shower?”

Cole ruffled Daisy’s hair and chuckled when she grumbled. “That would be great. We’ve got some sleep to catch up on, but we’re also starved. We’ll see you later.”

They took a leisurely shower together. There was never a moment they weren’t touching, but neither had the energy for more than to get clean and warmed up. The soft touches were more soothing than passionate, something they needed after the emotional pain they had endured the night before.