Page 72 of Freeing the Wild
“It could be Wade,” I say, “or, at the very least, important.”
“Fuck.You’re right.”He stands, adjusting himself in his boxers and moving toward his phone.He’s pissed at whoever is interrupting us until his gaze lands on the screen.
“It’s Penny,” he mutters, and I know that can’t be a good thing at six o’clock in the morning.
CHAPTER FORTY
Haden
“Part of A Barn is caved in, Haden.But I can’t get there.The drifts are too deep on the path between the two barns.”Penny’s voice is hurried and I’m moving before she’s finished talking.“There wasn’t even that much snow.It’s just so heavy and the wind has made everything pile up.”
Fuck.All this wet snow?I should’ve been at our own barns a half hour ago, and now I’m gonna have to go straight to Penny’s.
“Stay calm, okay?”I say.“I’m going to check on everything here, and get my guys going on feed and clearing the snow.But I’m calling Cole now.Maybe he can ask Asher to get the volunteers at the fire department to meet me out there.How many horses are currently in A Barn?”
“Four.No, five.Marlow is in there,” she chokes out.“I’m so worried about them, Haden.”
“I’m on my way, Pen,” I tell her as I pull my jeans on in a haphazard way, followed by a warm sweater and my boots.
I quickly text Cole to tell him what’s going on, before calling Dusty for a briefing as I finish getting dressed.Cole assures me that he’s heading over to Penny’s.He’s also going to call Asher and ask him to get some help out.
By the time I get back to the living room, I see Cassie dressed and holding out a travel mug full of hot coffee.
“What’s wrong?”she asks.My heart lurches as reality suckerpunches me in the gut and I remember Cassie’s not here forever.
I bend down to kiss her lips lightly as a thank you for the coffee.
“It’s Penny’s smaller barn.The snow must be heavier out there.She says part of her roof has caved in, and she’s worried the horses inside are injured or worse.”
Cassie looks at the clock on the wall.“And you’re going to help?”
“In about thirty minutes.I’m gonna run down to meet Dusty quick.”
“I can be there in a half hour.I just need to change.”Cassie shrugs with a sheepish smile, making her choice as she sips a coffee.
I shake my head.“No, you’re not driving in this.I have no idea what the roads are like.”
Cassie laughs my concern off.“I’m coming to help.So I guess you better let me know when you head out.I’ll dress warm and will be ready in twenty.”
“We could be there for hours.”I turn to face her, but she’s already pulling her boots on.I don’t know why I’m fighting her.We could use the help to shovel snow, at least.
“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t much to do these days.”She winks.“And you’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
Hell, the last thing I want to do is get rid of you.
I don’t argue.I know her well enough now to know there’s no point.Instead, I just nod and move closer to the front door.I pull my worn cowboy hat off the hook and place it on my head as I kiss the top of hers.I don’t want this to feel awkward, especiallyafter I just experienced the most incredible night I’ve ever spent with anyone.But I don’t know how to bridge these worlds that are so far apart, or how to protect myself from getting hurt.It’s just my shit luck that the only woman I’ve ever felt anything more than physical attraction for is already married—to a man named music.
I walk ahead of her from my porch to hers, shoveling a path for her as I go.I know a ranch hand will be around to plow the driveways soon, so I don’t take my time.I just give her enough space to walk.When we reach her front door, I lean my shovel up against her cabin wall.
“Are we gonna talk about this then or—”
Cassie shakes her head and laughs.“You’ve got time to talk about how I came more times last night than I have in the last two years?”
“Christ,” I mutter under my breath.The mischief in Cassie’s eyes has me wishing I had a lot more time.“And you’re hellbent on coming?Do you have the heart for seeing injured, possibly dead horses—?”
“Isn’t it better that I want to come?It’s almost like a date,” she says.I can’t help it; I smile at her.
“Better than fuckin’ and duckin’, I suppose.”
