AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maybe just once, for one night, Lacey could possibly get a full eight hours of sleep but she knew better. Between her mom’s late-night nonsense phone calls and her forever-stuck-in-the-bar-scene roommates, she was doomed. After claiming her room again with a set of used ear plugs she’d found stuck in her panty drawer from many loud hours spent in the John Deere combine covering for her daddy, she at least rested her eyes until her alarm reminded her it was shower time.
Ready to go but half afraid to see what was left of her apartment from the midnight orgy, dressed in her favorite worn, snug Levi’s with boots, two-layered tank tops and ball cap, Lacey quietly closed her bedroom door. Keys and hair tie in hand, she tip-toed down the hall, stopping at the same archway where she’d yelled obnoxiously only a few hours before. There were two empty tequila bottles in the middle of the floor and another half full on the table. Two or three cases worth of empty beer cans made up the shaky pyramid on the coffee table and she could swear the pile of throw-up was really close according to the stench assaulting her nose.So much for needing coffee to wake me up.
One, two, three…
She scanned the room twice, counting only four bodies unless there was one hiding. She’d peeked in both girls’ bedrooms as she walked by so she knew they were both empty. Wasn’t there a third guy earlier? She was fairly certain of it. He’d been the only one that cared enough to acknowledge her tirade. No matter, the partying all night had to stop. She worked for a living. Okay, it wasn’t a normal nine-to-five job, but she loved what she did.
Her parents told her time and time again she didn’t have to live away from the ranch but at twenty-five, there was really no question. She needed her own adult space. Only thoughts of not having to deal with this orgy-slash-no sleep bull made her parents offer sound occasionally appealing. If her dad had some kind of little cottage on the property or a loft apartment, she’d probably be game.
Stepping over one mostly naked man she didn’t even want to explain how she knew to be Mason Donovan, arms and legs tangled with her first roommate Jenna, with her lace bra wrapped around his head like a tiara. She just shook her head. Really? At least the other man was face down with his T-shirt and boots still on, saving a little bit of his dignity. She wasn’t sure who he was because she didn’t make a habit of going around town asking every cowboy to pull down his jeans to see if he possessed the match to any markings, natural or otherwise, on their ass. Maybe someday she’d just buy a house of her own and get away from all the madness.
Once inside her Chevy 4 x 4, windows went down first. The way the sun peeked up over the mountains with no clouds in the sky it looked to be a beautiful, warm fall day. Pulling out onto the quiet streets of Rock Creek, Lacey made her way to the Lazy L, so named after her daddy’s favorite saddle horse when she was just a girl. Coincidentally, the horse was named after his only daughter, too, which was Lacey.
The closer she got to Lazy L, the more she knew she was not ready to see her mom. So, to stay true to her word, she would park closer to the barn where she was meeting her dad. A little sweat and a few hours of chores might just put her in a better frame of mind to face Lynette Connelley over the full breakfast the woman made for her family every morning.
Before Lacey could take two steps away from her truck, her daddy was there to give her a welcome hug.
“Hi, Daddy.”
Lacey curled into the open arms of the only man who ever gave her unconditional support. The warmth of his hugs always chased away the cobwebs and shadows lurking around her heart. Leo Connelley was a hard-working man who made his first priority taking care of his family. He didn’t often let it show how hurt he’d been by his three sons choosing not to take over the Lazy L, but that was okay by Lacey. Growing up, taking over the whole operation was all she’d ever wanted and her dad knew it. It was her mother who’d always expected more of her. She knew, though, that there was nothing better than the happiness she saw light up in his eyes when he talked about his land.
“How are you, baby girl? Did you get breakfast yet? Your mother’s in there cooking everything she can find in the pantry.”
“No, I’m good for now, Daddy. Thanks. I stopped at the diner and grabbed a couple of breakfast rolls and a coffee to get me started. Cobb asked me to tell you hi.”
“That old fart never misses a morning at the Corner Cafe. One of these days I’ll have to meet him there.”
“Give me a heads up and I’ll meet you both there. Those cream cheese rolls I had this morning are to die for.” Lacey reached for the cowboy hat that’d fallen from her head.
“So, what’s on the chore list first?” Lacey asked.
As father and daughter made their way to the barn, her dad filled her in. “Your mother has me replacing a couple shrubs today that died off, over along the west side.” He pointed toward the house for a brief second. “But first, a broken fence out in the North pasture takes precedence.”
He slid open the big wooden doors, motioning for her to go ahead. “I can’t afford to lose any yearlings this far into the season.”
“Hasn’t been that long since we replaced that fencing with brand new, has it Daddy?”
“No, and that’s what bothers me so much.”
* * *
Jordon Cross satat his kitchen table reading the newspaper after picking up his two helpless, hungover buddies, only a little disappointed he hadn’t seen the third roommate a second time. After dropping Kaleb at his parent’s house, he and Mason had returned to his own ranch just outside of Rock Creek. He didn’t say much to Mason about the previous night. There was no point, he was still half asleep. But he sure as hell was gonna mention it over breakfast after Mason got out of the shower.
“Speak of the devil.”
The drunk himself sauntered in the room with sunglasses on, looking like shit.
“How ya feelin’, buddy?” Jordon smirked because he knew the loud sound of his voice had to be pounding out a hole in Mason’s head really good.
“Damn it, man. Don’t talk so loudly, will ya?”
“Not my fault y’all got stupid and wasted.” He knew Mason was the partier of the group and Kaleb was just weak-willed so he usually went along with whatever Mason did. Regardless, they were his friends so he always had their back.
“Don’t forget the got laid part.” Mason laughed then winced, putting his palm to his forehead. “Shit, don’t make me laugh; it hurts.”
“I made bacon and eggs. Eat something; it’ll help your head. Coffee’s on the counter.”
Mason didn’t argue; he was probably starved. They’d only eaten some pizza early the previous night before they decided to go to the bar. Once the man’s plate was full and he was seated at the table again Jordon resumed his questioning.
