AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did you eat before you came?” Even she could hear the accusation just beneath the surface of her voice. Authority did not go over well with her natural personality.
He lifted a brow, glancing in her direction out of the corner of his eye. “Fine, don’t eat. But if you pass out in the middle of the field, I’m going to let the turkey vultures get you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Eww. That’s a little dark, isn’t it?”
Mason eyed her once more. “I said it before. I’m not a babysitter. You’re an adult. You either want that inheritance of yours, or you don’t. I couldn’t care less what you do. But I’ll tell you one thing right now, I can’t handle this all on my own. If I have to find someone else to replace you, your uncle has already agreed to pay them out of the funds your parents would have given you.”
Her mouth hung open. “You’re joking.”
He took one last swill of his drink and then turned to put the mug in the sink. “Life’s hard. You should have learned that a long time ago. Thankfully, you still have a chance to figure things out. I suggest you listen to what your uncle is trying to teach you. I’m just the mouthpiece.” He moved across the room with sure, long strides.
“Wait!” Harley put her mug on the counter a little too fast and the coffee sloshed over the rim. She chased after Mason through the door, down the stairs, and toward the barn. Her hand landed firmly on his shoulder. “What’s wrong with you?”
That irritating brow lifted once more. “What’s wrong with me? Nothing. That’s why I’m the one in charge.” The corners of his mouth twitched, lifting upward.
What a jerk! She’d underestimated him, and it was finally showing.
Mason turned and strode once again toward the barn. “I’m going to take one of the horses and check on the cattle. I need you to clean out the stalls and feed the other animals before I get back.”
“Before—” Harley shook her head. “I can’t do all of that before you get back. It takes me hours to clean out those stalls.”
“Then I suggest you get faster.” Mason didn’t even look in her direction as he tossed that statement toward her.
Harley swallowed down a growl. This was what she’d wanted, wasn’t it? He was the one who could help her out of this mess. She didn’t have to like him. She just needed to get him to like her. Gritting her teeth and clenching her hands, Harley forced a smile as Mason readied his horse. She watched him mount and then ride off.
In any storybook, this scene would have made the heroine swoon.
All she wanted to do was throw a tomato at his head.
In due time.
15
Mason
Normally, taking a ride out into the surrounding fields was something that put Mason at ease. It was like reading one of his books. He could escape the life he was currently living and just exist in a sort of bubble.
This time it was different. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t make his mind go blank. He couldn’t forget that the second he got back to the ranch, he’d have to be on guard. Harley might be playing nice right now, but she had plans. Both Mason and Vern had agreed on that.
The horse beneath him plodded along as if nothing were different. They were going for a ride and she could enjoy the sights and smells of her home. Oh, to be an animal without a care in the world.
Harley’s face filled his thoughts, triggering memories of his dreams. She’d visited him there. Her green eyes flashing with amusement. Her soft touch setting his heart racing. Seeing her in person this morning had been nearly more than he could bear.
Fortunately, he’d managed to put up his barriers so he could avoid any manipulation on her end. Mason released a sigh as he adjusted his hold on the reins and forced himself to stay focused. The next couple of months would be long, but the reward at the end would be worth it. He could already hear the congratulations from his family as they added more assets to what they were building.
Contrary to what Mason told Harley, he took his time with the livestock. He wanted to give her as much time as possible to do the work he’d assigned to her so she felt at least a small degree of accomplishment. That was how things worked with his younger siblings. They all needed to have a moment where they felt like they were contributing and making a difference.
If Harley felt she was moving toward a goal, perhaps this whole situation would go more smoothly.
He hadn’t expected her to get to feeding the animals. The stalls in the barn were a job that would have been time-consuming enough. However, when he returned to unsaddle his horse, not only did he find the stalls in excellent condition, but it appeared that the animals had been fed and the workbench near the door had been organized.
Harley wasn’t anywhere in sight.
Mason had to prevent his heart from going into overdrive. She wouldn’t have run off, would she? That was a stupid thought. Of course she’d go running off. She’d done so before—a couple times to his ranch and possibly more times he was unaware of. For all he knew, she was sending him a message.
He put the saddle away and hurried out of the barn to check the surrounding areas. She wasn’t by the chicken coop, nor was she in the corral with the goats. She wasn’t sitting on the porch or beneath the tree in the front yard. Mason sprinted toward the house and made a quick sweep but didn’t find any evidence that she’d come inside since breakfast.
Thankfully, all the vehicles appeared to still be where he’d left them. Mason headed toward the pastures again, spinning around to watch for her in the direction from where he’d come. He’d taken too much time. He should have known better than to leave her unsupervised.
