Page 51 of Saddles

The only ways I’ve left were in the bottom of a bottle.

“Mason isn’t just my boss, he’s my best friend. It’d be hell for him to run that ranch alone. Well, maybe a little easier now that Dixon is on site more…” I don’t want to admit that half the reason I’m still alive is because Mason was in a worse mindset than I was for years after his wife died.

It’s like we propped each other up in our grief.

She blinks at me, then a little furrow forms between her blond brows. “But what about you? Have you taken any time off?”

“And do what? Get wasted and get in fights? Nah, I ain’t worth the trouble.” Crumpling my empty meal bag, I hold out my palm and gesture for her hollow container.

Her fingers knot behind her head as she stretches out on the bed, propped by the pillow, she stares at the ceiling. “Maybe we could just stay here forever. Would your boss just pay you to do that?”

A bare slice of her lower belly shows beneath the loose hem of her shirt. I have to fight myself to look away. “You’d get bored real quick. The nights get long out here. No internet either, what about your classes?”

The water on the stove is just about hot enough.

I need a damn bath. I’ve been holding out as long as I could hoping she’d be gone, but I just have to bite the bullet and do it.

“All I have left are elective credits.” She rolls onto her stomach and props her chin on her hands. “But I’m not even sure if I want to go back.”

These pots are so heavy when they’re full. After dumping them, I glance over at her. “Did you want to wash up tonight too? I need to, I could run a skunk off.”

Her fingers drift through her short hair. “Sure. I guess that’ll be a perk of being back in civilization, right?” The corner of her mouth sucks in between the whites of her teeth. “Fuck, I gotta figure out what I’m gonna do,” she says quietly before burying her face into the covers.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about it tonight.” I should know that it’s easier said than done.

I’ve been trying to get thoughts out of my head for years, hasn’t worked yet.

The chill of the room doesn’t offset the awkward ass feeling when I step around the small wall and shed my shirt and jeans.

Fuck that water is hot!

“Y’all right in there? That was quite the noise you made.” April giggles.

I let out a long exhale before I lower my nuts into the steaming bath.

“Just cookin’ my swimmers,” I groan. I was in such a hurry to get out of sight, I didn’t add enough cold from the tap.

The metal bars in my cock seem to suck the heat straight into my nuts.

“Well, it sounds painful. Do you want me to get a snowball?” She stifles another chuckle.

“I’m fine.” Lathering myself up, I pretend like the tinkling sounds of her laughter doesn’t have the blood rushing to my scalded dick.

After I dunk my head under, I can’t get out fast enough. Being naked in the same room as her is putting thoughts in my mind that shouldn’t be there.

Just stop.

In one movement, I pull the drain, stand, and grab the towel hanging nearby.

With a quick run over my hair, I wrap it around my waist, then step out.

The fire of her gaze makes the water seem like it was frigid.

“Ford, I don’t get why you hide away. You could get any girl…” Her voice trails off when I turn away.

“I don’t have anything to offer, April. Remember that,” I snap as I give the tub a quick rinse. No one wants a life like mine.

Sarah didn’t. Look what that got her.

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