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Cassidy asked the horses to stop in front of my truck and I jumped out. He smirked again, handed the reins to our mom, and climbed down himself. “Mom, I’ll catch a ride home with Weston,” he stated and she nodded.
But instead of leaving, like I hoped she would do so I could chew out my brother, she pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze. At the both of us.
“What?” Cassidy and I said at the same time.
“There is a girl who’s smart, funny, and beautiful just handed to you on a platter and neither one of you is man enough to step up to the plate. Seriously. What more do you want me to do? Or am I just destined to have two bachelors for sons for the rest of my life.”
Cassidy’s mouth fell open in shock as I clenched my jaw. Before either of us had a chance to respond, she clucked at the horses, and trotted off.
At least she was none the wiser to my relationship with Tenley—even after a sleigh ride of cuddling. And I felt a little bit of reassurance that when I finally told her, there would be a very easy transition with our family because obviously my mom already liked her.
We watched her ride off in silence, standing still beneath the delicately falling snow.
And then I slugged my brother in the arm.
“Ow!” He winced, rubbing the sore spot.
“What’d you do?” I snarled and he rolled his eyes.
“You’re welcome, you know.” Digging in his pocket he pulled out a small gadget that I recognized and rolled my eyes. It was a stupid control that allowed you to shut off an engine remotely. Dealerships often installed these so if people missed too many payments, they could turn your vehicle off until you got back on track.
“For what? What would have happened if you hadn't shown up where we were right when we needed you? How did you know anyway?” I snatched the control from his hand and crunched across the freshly fallen snow to my truck.
“I planned it, you idiot. A sleigh ride is romantic. Besides, you think I’d let you and Tenley get stuck out in this cold?”
“Planned it how?” I popped the hood, snapping the rod in place to hold it up.
“Tracking your phone. Though I didn’t expect you guys to return to town so soon hence why mom was with me when I shut off your truck,” he replied, and leaned up against the side of the vehicle.
“Yeah, well, Butch decided to play hooky with a girl,” I grumbled, clicking the button to turn my engine back on. It rumbled to life as I pulled out the device that had caused all of this trouble to begin with.
“Wait, what?” Cassidy spun around to face me as I stepped away from the engine.
“We got up to the ranch, parked the truck, and guess who came barreling off the top of a stack of hay? Bringing half of the bales down with him and ruining my date.” I shut the hood, and Cassidy shook his head.
“You’re going to tell Pearl and Cash, aren’t you?”
“And have Butch tell Mom about Tenley and I? No thank you.”
“Why are you hiding things? Especially your relationship with Tenley.”
“Because I’d like one—” I cursed under my breath before calming myself down. “I’d like one date alone with her before everyone in the family and their dog knows about us. Which you’re going to keep your mouth shut about it too.”
He rolled his eyes as we walked around to opposite sides of the truck. “Obviously. So Again, you’re welcome. For a sleigh ride and for not saying anything to mom.”
Climbing in, I turned the engine over and it roared to life, the gauges flipping back to normal. Everything sounded and felt right as we began lugging down the road back home.
His intentions had been innocent and thoughtful, but the execution, especially bringing mom along, was anything but.
Cassidy pulled his hat off and set it on the dash next to mine. “So what are you going to say to Butch?”
“I have no idea. I’m not his dad so I don’t want to come across as one, but I mean, if he’s not careful…” My voice trailed off as I leaned my elbow against the windowsill, hoping that something kept Pearl out at the festival late.
“Seems like yesterday you were fifteen and brought what’s her name home? Macy? Megan?” Cassidy chuckled.
“Marly, and at least I didn’t try to sneak her home alone.”
“Oh, but you sure snuck out behind the barn alone later that day with her.” He grinned wickedly, and I rolled my eyes.
