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“How long before Hazel and Cheyenne are back?” I asked, eyeing Takoda, still lying in the stall and chewing on turds. “I have to watch the dog until she gets back.”
“They should be back in about ten minutes, so you won’t be on babysitter duty too much longer for your girlfriend.”
I nearly choked on air. “Mygirlfriend?”
“Is that not who she is?” Dad’s brow furrowed. “I know you made her out to be some stranger, but your mom and I are fairly certain that ain’t the case.”
“That’s most definitely the case,” I sputtered. “I literally picked her up off the side of the road and took her to the cabin in the middle of the tornado—when all this shitty weather first started.”
“Right, but the two of you didn’t know each other before that?”
“No...” I narrowed my eyes at him. “How the hell would I have known her before this? And did you think that I was lying about everything to y’all?”
“I mean, I don’t know. We just thought that maybe you were worried about her background or something. We know that you put her in the room next to you and, well...”
“Well, what?” I demanded.
“Son, word gets around the house, and you ain’t had a lady home in years...”
My eyes widened. “Who told you anything?”
“Well, you know how Lindy is, and she’s good friends with Hazel—the two are chatty. They always know what’s going on. She mentioned there was something in the trash... A few, actually.”
“Oh mygod, I can’t even keep mysexlife from the family.” I groaned, running my hands over my face. “I’m twenty-seven years old, Dad. I can see anddowhoever I want, and it shouldnotbe a topic of discussion in the house.”
“Well, maybe if you didn’t live with your parents, siblings, and all the house employees, things like that wouldn’t get around. You can’t expect no one to talk. You ain’t had a girlfriend in years, and I think that’s not such a bad thing.”
“I don’t even know what to say to you right now.” I knew my face was bright red, on top of just being completely mortified that the entire house knew I was sleeping with Cheyenne. I had been playing it cool the whole time—well, kind of.
“I like her.” Dad shrugged. “You know, at first, I was real leery of having her stay at the house because I didn’t know her. But honestly, son, I think she’s the best woman you’ve ever brought around. I think she’s got a good head on her shoulders, and she fits in with the family.”
Great, but she’s leaving.
“We’re not together,” I said instead.
“Why not? It ain’t right to sleep with a woman and treat her the way you do and not be serious about dating her. I raised you better than that.”
“It’s not about that,” I snapped. “It’s about the fact that she’s just passing through to Arizona. Her life isn’t here—and you know as good as I do that women only want one thing. Youagreed.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Ineversaid thatallwomen just want one thing. I just agreed that you should be cautious about it all. I’ve been taken time and time again, but that don’t mean that every single person is going to screw you over and steal from you. I don’t think that’s a good outlook to have. You’ll never have a family if you keep that up.”
“She doesn’t want one of those, either,” I blurted out, hating how my mouth moved faster than my brain.
“That can change, and I think she’s falling for you—”
“Hey!” Cheyenne called out, her voice startling me so bad I ran into the stall door. Her eyes went wide as the clang of my shoulder against steel filled the barn, followed by Dad’s deep chuckle. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just didn’t see you coming.” I reached for my already sore upper arm, rubbing it out. “Took you long enough at town.”
“Uh, yeah. The power is still out in August, so we had to drive to another town. It just took a little longer.” She shrugged her shoulders, peaking into the stall where Takoda was chewing on horse manure. “That looks scrumptious there, boy.” A soft laugh escaped her lips, and I couldn’t help but smile. Cheyenne seemed...happy.
“Man, I just wonder how long we’re gonna be without,” Dad grumbled before patting me on the shoulder. “After you get done in here, saddle up so we can get those horses moved—the sooner, the better.”
“I suppose I’ll just saddle up right now.”
“Ah, good plan, son. Your girlfriend can wait ‘til this evening. She’ll be all right.” Dad shot us both a wink before sliding open his horse’s stall door.
I looked back to Cheyenne, who was red in the face. “Just ignore him.”
