Cowboy’s Healing Heart

4. Moment of Weakness

FOUR

MOMENT OF WEAKNESS

KRYSTAL

The tractor sputters and dies with a final, pathetic wheeze. I slam my hand on the steering wheel, cursing under my breath. This can’t be happening. Not today. Not when we’re already behind schedule on the cattle prep.

I hop down from the cab, my boots hitting the dusty ground with a thud. The smell of oil and hot metal fills my nostrils. Sweat trickles down my back, the midday sun beating down mercilessly.

“Piece of junk,” I mutter, popping the hood. A cloud of steam billows out, making me cough.

Footsteps approach from behind. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.

“Problem?” Shane’s deep voice carries a hint of amusement.

I grit my teeth. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

He steps closer, peering over my shoulder at the engine. His presence at my back sends an unwelcome shiver down my spine. I shift away, putting some distance between us.

“Mind if I take a look?” he asks.

I want to tell him no, that I’ve got this under control. But time is ticking, and we need this tractor up and running yesterday.

“Fine,” I say, stepping aside. “But don’t touch anything without asking first.”

Shane nods, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He leans in, examining the engine with a critical eye. His t-shirt stretches across his broad shoulders as he moves, and I force myself to look away.

“Looks like the radiator hose is shot,” he says after a moment. “We’ll need to replace it.”

I frown. “I was just about to say that.”

He glances at me, one eyebrow raised. “Of course you were.”

His calm confidence grates on my nerves. I cross my arms, watching as he reaches for a wrench, the expanse of his bicep flexing with the movement.

Damn it , why does he have to look so at ease?

“You sure you know what you’re doing?” I can’t help but ask, a hint of sarcasm edging my voice.

Shane glances up, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, come on, KD. I’ve worked on engines before. Trust me, it’s all just nuts and bolts.”

“So, you’re from New York.”

He nods, and a flicker of something passes through his expression—maybe nostalgia. “Yeah, originally from upstate. I spent a lot of time in the city, though, before joining the Marines.”

“Thank you for your service,” I say, my tone softening a bit. “What brings you here?”

“Andy extended an offer. Figured being out here would give me some space before heading back home.” His tone is casual, but there’s an undercurrent there, one that makes me curious about the details he’s not sharing.

“What about you?” he asks, shifting the conversation back.

“I’m on a six-month contract,” I respond, crossing my arms tighter as I study him.

“And when that’s done?”

“I’ll move to the next ranch. Just go wherever the work takes me. And you?”

“Return home.”

Our gazes lock for a moment, each of us holding back layers of our lives we’re reluctant to share.

“So, you sure you know what you’re doing?” I finally repeat, a teasing tone slipping back in.

Shane chuckles, breaking the tension as he resumes examining the engine. “I’ve worked on my fair share of engines, KD. Trust me, I can handle this.”

There’s that word again. Trust. It sticks in my throat like a jagged pill.

“Yeah, well, just don’t make it worse,” I mutter.

We work in tense silence for a while, the only sounds the clink of tools and the occasional grunt of effort. Despite my irritation, I can’t help but notice how efficiently Shane moves, his hands sure and steady as he works on the engine.

“Hand me that socket wrench, would you?” he asks, not looking up from his task.

I grab the tool, our fingers brushing as I pass it to him. A jolt of electricity shoots up my arm at the contact. I pull back quickly, my heart racing.

“Thanks,” Shane says, his voice low.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. “So, where’d you learn to work on engines anyway? Didn’t think they taught that in the Marines.”

Shane chuckles, the sound sending an unwelcome warmth through my chest. “You’d be surprised what they teach us. But I picked up most of it growing up. My grandfather had a farm and spent summers there as a kid.”

I raise an eyebrow. “A farm boy, huh? Wouldn’t have pegged you for that.”

He shrugs, a small smile playing on his lips. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, KD.”

Something in his tone makes me pause. There’s a weight to his words, a hint of something deeper. But before I can dwell on it, he speaks again.

“What about you? How’d you end up as a mechanic?”

I tense, memories of late nights spent pouring over manuals, of grease-stained hands and determination born of desperation, flashing through my mind.

“Necessity,” I say shortly. “Now, are you gonna fix this thing or what?”

Shane gives me a long look, like he wants to say more. But he just nods, turning back to the engine.

We fall into a rhythm, working side by side. As much as I hate to admit it, we make a good team. Shane’s calm efficiency complements my quick problem-solving. Before long, the new radiator hose is in place.

“Moment of truth,” Shane says, wiping his hands on a rag. “Want to do the honors?”

I climb into the cab, my heart pounding as I turn the key. The engine roars to life, purring smoothly. Relief washes over me, followed quickly by a grudging respect for Shane’s work.

I hop down, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Not bad, Kennedy. Guess you’re not completely useless after all.”

Shane grins, the expression lighting up his face. “High praise indeed. I’ll treasure this moment forever.”

I roll my eyes, but there’s no real heat behind it. “Don’t let it go to your head. We’ve still got a ton of work to do.”

As if on cue, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, my stomach dropping as I see the school’s number flash across the screen.

“Shit,” I mutter, stepping away from Shane. “I gotta take this.”

I answer the call, my heart racing. “Ms. Duncan speaking.”

The principal’s voice comes through, tight with barely contained frustration. “Ms. Duncan, I’m afraid we’ve had another incident with Ashanti. She’s been in a fight, and we need you to come pick her up immediately.”

My chest tightens, a mix of worry and anger swirling in my gut. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I end the call, running a hand through my hair. Guilt and frustration war within me. I should be there for Ashanti, but I can’t just leave in the middle of the day. Not when there’s so much work to be done.

“Everything okay?” Shane’s voice startles me out of my thoughts.

I turn, forcing a neutral expression onto my face. “Fine. Just some personal stuff I need to deal with.”

Shane’s brow furrows, concern evident in his eyes. “Anything I can help with?”

For a moment, I’m tempted. The offer of help, freely given, is so rare in my life. But I can’t. I won’t let myself be that vulnerable, that dependent on anyone else.

“I’ve got it handled,” I say, my voice sharper than I intended. “Let’s just focus on getting this work done.”

Shane holds up his hands in surrender. “Alright, just thought I’d offer.”

I nod curtly, already moving toward the next piece of equipment that needs attention. “Thanks for the help with the tractor. I’ll take it from here.”

As I walk away, I can feel Shane’s eyes on my back. The weight of his gaze sends a shiver down my spine, one I stubbornly ignore.

The rest of the day passes in a blur of grease and metal. I throw myself into the work, using the physical labor to push away thoughts of Ashanti, of the school, of Shane’s knowing looks.

By the time the sun starts to set, casting long shadows across the equipment yard, I’m exhausted. My muscles ache, and there’s a persistent throb behind my eyes. But at least the work is done for now.

I wipe my hands on a rag, surveying the yard. Most of the other workers have already headed in for the night. But as I turn to leave, I spot a familiar figure leaning against one of the tractors.

Shane straightens as I approach, his expression unreadable in the fading light. “Long day,” he says, his voice low.

I nod, too tired to keep up my usual defenses. “Yeah, it was.”

We stand in silence for a moment, the quiet of the evening settling around us. In the distance, I can hear the low moo of cattle being herded in for the night.

“Want to grab a beer?” Shane asks suddenly.

I blink, caught off guard by the offer. Part of me wants to say yes, to lose myself in easy conversation and cold beer. But I can’t. Ashanti’s waiting for me, and we need to have a serious talk about what happened at school.

“Can’t,” I say, shaking my head. “Got stuff to take care of at home.”

Shane nods, understanding in his eyes. “Another time, maybe.”

I hesitate, then nod. “Yeah, maybe. Goodnight, Shane.”

I walk away, feeling his eyes on me until I’m out of sight. The night air is cool against my skin, a welcome relief after the heat of the day.

As I make my way to my cabin, my thoughts drift back to Shane. His easy smile, his quiet competence, and his persistence. That man is getting to me.

I shake my head, pushing those thoughts away as I climb the steps to our cabin.

I pause at the door, taking a deep breath. I can hear Ashanti moving around inside, probably working on homework or drawing in her sketchbook.

For a moment, I let myself imagine a different life. One where I don’t have to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders alone. Where I can trust someone else to have my back. Where I can kick off my boots and take a long bath after a long day on horseback.

But that’s not my reality.

This is what I’ve got, and my daughter took down a fellow student with a fucking ninja move.

I promise I can’t make this shit up.

I stomp through the front door of our cabin, my boots leaving muddy tracks on the floor. Ashanti sits on the couch, her head down, shoulders hunched. She knows she’s in trouble.

“Ashanti Duncan, what were you thinking?” I demand, hands on my hips. “Fighting at school? Using some kind of ninja move?”

She looks up at me, defiance flashing in her eyes. “It wasn’t my fault, Mom. Devon started it. He was making fun of me again.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stay calm. “That’s no excuse for violence. You know better than that. You put another kid in the nurse’s office.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt him that bad! I just wanted Devon to leave me alone.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stay calm. “We’ve talked about this, baby. You can’t go around attacking people, no matter how much they’re bothering you.”

“But Mr. Shane said?—”

My head snaps up. “Shane? As in Shane Kennedy?”

She nods, and something twists in my gut. I didn’t even know they knew each other, let alone that he was teaching her combat moves behind my back.

“You’re grounded for two weeks,” I say, my voice hard. “No TV, no phone, nothing. Now go take a shower and get ready for dinner.”

Ashanti opens her mouth to protest, but one look from me, and she thinks better of it. She trudges off to the bathroom, shoulders slumped.

As soon as she’s out of sight, I grab my jacket and head for the door, anger simmering in my veins. How dare Shane overstep like that? Teaching my daughter to fight without even asking me? She could’ve seriously hurt someone—or gotten herself hurt.

The late afternoon sun beats down as I march across the ranch, kicking up little clouds of dust with each furious step. I pass Kelvin and Bethany sitting on their porch, but I don’t stop to chat like I normally would.

"Everything okay, Krystal?" Bethany calls out, brow furrowed with concern.

“It’s fine,” I snap, not breaking stride. “I’ll call you later.”

Tom gives me a puzzled look as I storm by the main barn, but I just shake my head. “Not now, Tom.”

My focus is laser-sharp, zeroed in on one person: Shane Kennedy.

I can feel my blood pressure rising with every step closer to the bunkhouse. By the time I reach his door, I’m practically vibrating with anger.

I start pounding on Shane’s door. “Kennedy! Open up, I know you’re in there!”

There’s a muffled curse from inside, and then the door swings open. Shane stands there, shirtless and damp, a towel slung low on his hips. For a split second, all coherent thought flies out of my head.

He must’ve just gotten out of the shower. Droplets of water cling to his tanned skin, trailing down the ridges of his abs in a way that makes my mouth go dry.

I shake my head, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “Don’t just stand there lookin’ pretty. We need to talk.”

Shane raises an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe. “Everything okay, KD?”

“No, everything is not okay!” I snap, the anger rushing back in full force. “What the hell were you thinking, teaching my daughter combat moves?” I demand, jabbing a finger into his chest. “She got into a fight at school today because of your stupid ninja lessons!”

Shane’s eyes go wide. “Whoa, KD, calm down. Daughter?”

“Yes, Kennedy. My daughter, Ashanti.”

“I should have known.” A slow smile crosses his face. “Look, I’m sorry. She asked me to show her some self-defense moves. Just in case, you know?”

“In case of what? Getting jumped by ninjas on the playground?” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “She put another kid in the nurse’s office today with one of your little moves.”

“ Shit . Was it that Devon kid?”

“That’s not the point, Kennedy.”

“Look, I didn’t think she’d actually use them. I just wanted to make sure she could protect herself if she needed to.”

“Well, now she’s grounded for two weeks, thanks to you.” I jab a finger into his bare chest, trying not to focus on how firm the muscle feels under my touch.

He catches my wrist, holding it there against his skin. The contact sends a jolt of electricity through me.

“I apologize if I overstepped, KD,” he says, his voice low and serious. “But you didn’t see her face after he tried to run her home. I’d rather Ashanti put that kid on his ass than let them bully her. His ego and wrist will heal.”

I open my mouth to keep yelling, but the words die in my throat. Shane’s looking at me with those intense blue eyes, sincere, apologetic, and advocating for my daughter. And with his chest still bare and damp, it’s getting harder to focus on being mad.

Before I can stop myself, I’m leaning in, drawn to him like a magnet. Shane’s breath catches, his grip on my wrist tightening.

Our faces are just inches apart. I can feel the heat radiating off his body and smell the clean scent of his skin.

Then Shane closes the distance between us, capturing my lips in a searing kiss.

It’s like someone lit a match inside me. The anger melts away, replaced by a hungry, burning need. I kiss him back fiercely, fisting my free hand in his damp hair.

Shane’s lips are hot against mine, urgent and demanding. His tongue slides along my bottom lip, seeking entrance, and I open for him without hesitation.

Fuck , he tastes good—like coffee and mint and something uniquely him .

I press closer, my body molding to his as if we were made to fit together. His hands slide down my back, leaving trails of fire in their wake, before settling on my hips. He pulls me tight against him, and I can feel every hard plane of his body.

A moan escapes me, swallowed by his mouth. I tug at his hair, angling his head to deepen the kiss. Our tongues tangle in a heated dance that sends sparks shooting through my body.

Shane breaks away, trailing kisses along my jaw to my neck. His teeth graze my pulse point, and my hips buck involuntarily. I feel every inch of his dick through his gym shorts.

“Shit,” I gasp, my voice barely recognizable.

He chuckles against my skin, the vibration sending shivers down my spine. “Like that, do you?”

I want to come back with something snarky to maintain some semblance of control, but my brain’s short-circuited. All I can think about is his mouth on me, his hands gripping my hips, the hard length of him pressed against my stomach.

“Shut up and kiss me,” I manage, pulling his face back to mine.

He obliges, capturing my lips in another searing kiss. My hands roam over his broad shoulders, down his chest, feeling the muscles ripple under my touch. I want more—need more.

But a tiny voice in the back of my head reminds me…

I’m in the bunkhouse…

I’m his boss…

I should stop this. I need to stop this.

But damn, if I can remember why.

So I do the only thing I can think of—I grab Shane by the towel and yank him inside, kicking the door shut behind us.