Page 98 of Bucked Hard

I snap my tongue over my teeth. “Damn straight.”

“Now, let me go, cowboy. I’ve got twenty minutes to get cleaned up, dressed, and into town.”

I love that she’s got some of her things here. It’s only been days, but each item I’ve encouraged her to bring means more of her beloved possessions in my house. She scatters things about without any sense of order, and with anyone else, that would have driven me mad. But with Maria? I’ll take her beautiful disorder as long as it’s here with me.

I even went with her to her dad’s just this morning, helped her pack some clothes. More than she wanted, but less than I wanted. Then when we got back here, I unpacked and put all her things away in drawers I’d emptied for her. Hung her things in the closet. Because I need to feel she’s here with me. In our home.

“Don’t think Luther will mind you being a little late, baby. I’ve got that dog on a chain. I’ll be waiting out front with the truck runnin’. You get that cute ass dressed and let me take care of everything else.”

With another quick kiss, I let her go, and she runs to the house. I’m in awe, watching her every step of the way.

Maria’s dad sounds just a little concerned, and I get it, I really do. “I’m back at home now,” I say into the phone. “But she’s fine. Just dropped her at the diner. I’ll head back up there around six thirty, and I’ll take her phone.”

He called because she hadn’t answered her phone or replied to his texts. Which doesn’t surprise me. It’ll be here somewhere.

“Not sure why she has it,” he says. “She’s losing it more often than I’m losing my glasses these days.”

“Yes, sir.” I chuckle. He’s right; she’s not a phone girl.

I snapped at her about it last night, when she went on a walkabout to the barn while I took care of some farm business in my office. I came out, and she was nowhere to be found. Started calling her phone, which I insisted she keep on her whenever she left the house, and sure enough, there it was, sitting in a pile of her clothes on the bathroom floor. I searched in a panic then and found her in the barn, grooming Bella and singing to herself. Safe to say, I came down hard and then regretted it. But I need to know where she is, so I know she’s safe. Looks like I’ll have to have words with her again.

“I’ll see you two for breakfast, then?” Patrick’s ever-present cheerfulness comes through the phone. I spoke to him yesterday, invited him here for breakfast in the morning. I need to talk to my future father-in-law about making his daughter my wife. I want to do this right; I want his full blessing. I want everything perfect for Maria, and I know how much her family means to her. I show her father all the respect he deserves and then some, and I always will.

“Eight a.m. See you then.”

We sign off as I take the steps two at a time to the bedroom. It only takes me a couple minutes to find Maria’s phone, safely tucked into her underwear drawer and chirping away happily to itself with a string of notifications.

With a grin, I grab it and start to head back out the door. I’ve got chores to finish before I can head into town for our nightly dinner at Luther’s place. Truth is, I’m starting to enjoy those, and even Luther can’t complain about the extra business he’s getting.

I tap the screen, ready to clear away the unanswered texts and silence the constant beeps and dings. Otherwise, they’ll be annoying me the whole time while I work, partly because I hate that electronic noise, but also partly because it’s a reminder that I can’t reach her if I want to.

Then I stop. My boots are frozen in place on the wood floor just outside our bedroom door.

Yes,ourbedroom door.

I’m reading what’s on the screen, but I don’t quite believe it. My blood runs cold. I’m vaguely aware of the house phone ringing downstairs, but it’s a distant, unreal sound. The only thing that’s real is this. This message.

Dad: The paperwork for the scholarship is all faxed in. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. I’m going to miss you like crazy, but this is your dream, and I want you to see it through. Two years isn’t that long. You’ll see. I’m sure Ranger will understand.

Chapter11

Maria

The scent of grilling meat and deep fried everything suddenly turns my stomach. Luther is screaming at one of the cooks, and I half double over as I head for the bathroom, not sure if I’m going to make it in time.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Jeanette, the other waitress on my shift, sings after me. She’s not sorry. I could see in her face how not sorry she was. “I mean, you’ve only known him a few days, right? Better to know now before that smooth talker gets his hooks into you. He just texted me last night, looking to try and hook up. Of course, I gave him the brush-off. I knew he was with you, and I would never do that to you, honey. But, he’s been after me since high school, and boys will be boys, I guess.”

I slam the door behind me, drowning out her voice, then grip the cool porcelain of the sink and stare into the mirror, breath heaving, trying to calm my stomach. I do not want to throw up right now.

It’s a sign. First Dad calls with the news about my scholarship, and at the time, I wasn’t sure what to do. He said he’d fax in the paperwork, but that I should think about my future. The only reason I hesitated was because of Ranger. But now this?

Could I have really been this stupid?

Smooth-talking cowboy. I was such an easy mark. I slipped right into it with him like apparently so many that came before me, if what Jeanette says is to be believed.

God, I even asked if I could keep a toothbrush there.

As I look in the mirror, my eyes stare back with a sadness that reminds me of when my mother died.

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