Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter One

Freedom slammed the screen door and strolled into the farmhouse kitchen, stopping dead in her tracks. “I should have known,” she snarled at the petite brunette wearing an oversized T-shirt that landed a few inches below her ass. She was stirring creamer into her coffee cup and looked over at Freedom with a narrowed gaze.

Impatience flowed hot through her veins. After finding out that Keller was the new ranch vet, she’d been biting at the bit, ready to draw blood.

“Excuse me?” the twat muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Who the hell are you ?” Freedom arched a brow.

The woman swiveled on her bare heels and her pretty face twisted in annoyance. “Who the hell are you ?”

“Your worst nightmare.” Freedom had no tolerance for ignorance. She arrived at the Abbott Farm to manage matters that should have been dealt with long ago. Seeing a half-dressed woman in Keller’s kitchen only made those matters worse.

The twat raked her blue eyes over Freedom. “Did you take a wrong turn, princess? I suggest you turn and find your way back to where you came from.”

Freedom smiled as she moved around the messy kitchen island and grabbed a skillet from the stove, weighing it dramatically in her hand. “This will do.” She raised the cast iron pan. “Get ready for a dose of a country girl’s impatience, sweetie.”

The young woman, not a day older than twenty-one, with large eyes now wider with fear, had stepped back a few feet, clutching her cup as an ineffective shield. “I didn't know he was married. I swear.”

Freedom snorted. “Something in that practiced statement tells me you wouldn’t care if he was married.”

A soft chuckle made both women look at the man leaning against the door frame, who was as tempting as a freshly baked croissant that Freedom should be enjoying at home instead of tending to a cowboy.

“I couldn't have orchestrated a reunion like this even if I tried,” he said smoothly, grinning.

Keller Abbott appeared completely carefree, at least based on his expression. With disheveled hair, a bare chest, and jeans that left unbuttoned and unzipped, he caused Freedom to stare in unwanted admiration. During her leisurely examination, she’d lowered the skillet a few inches. If he’d changed at all he’d only managed to get better looking.

"Still lacking in taste, I see." Freedom glanced at the girl who seemed less terrified now that her lover had come to her rescue. “Did you go shopping for this one over at Slick Charley’s or on the street corner of Low Town? I must say, they keep getting younger and younger.”

"Excuse me?" the woman stammered, regaining the courage Freedom had witnessed at first.

“You heard me. I don’t think I stuttered,” Freedom said. “Nice tattoo, by the way. A chisel and hammer would have done a better job.” Normally not this sprightly so early, Freedom's anger hadn’t diminished one iota on the drive over. She’d been having a wonderful morning until she almost choked on her saliva when Jinx told her the news about Keller. Now to walk in and find his flavor of the week, clad only in his T-shirt, made her stomach roll.

“Freedom, put the skillet down,” Keller urged.

“And why should I do that?” She kept her gaze steady on the girl. “Obviously she likes being hammered.”

The hussy gasped and set the cup down with attitude, wrapping her arms over her waist, practically fuming from every pore. “Keller, is this your problem?” The woman sliced her gaze over Freedom. “This… lady with the bad boob job.”

“I’ll forgive you for not knowing real tits from fake ones. I’m sure you haven’t seen a pair your entire life, Miss-Itty-Bitty.” Freedom grew up with four sisters. She could do this tit-for-tat all day.

“Jesus, Freedom. What fucking time is it?” Keller bit out, anger finally marring his previously serene expression.

She’d always had a unique talent for ruffling his feathers.

“Nine,” both women said in unison.

“I don’t really give a damn, but it’s way too early for a cat fight.” He strolled over, grabbed the pan out of Freedom’s hand and laid it into the sink. “Freedom, this is Kimmie—”

“Kimmie, huh? I think I’ll call her Miss No Tits,” Freedom craned her neck to look at the girl, “and you must be mediocre in the sack because if you were any good you’d still be in bed because if he hasn’t told you, Keller loves a good morning blow—”

“What the hell is all the noise?” Keifer Abbott came strolling into kitchen, appearing as irritated as his older brother, blinking sleep from his eyes. The gap in his boxers came open, giving a peekaboo greeting at his morning salute. Despite being almost a decade apart in age, Keifer and Keller looked remarkably alike. Aging had been good to both. Keifer’s brows lifted when he settled his gaze on Freedom. “Well, well…look who we have here. Shame I wasn’t invited to the party.”

“Keifer Abbott. What are you doing in Sagebrush Pines?” Freedom said as a grin tilted her lips. She had a deep fondness for the boy—now obviously very much a man—who once had a kid-like crush on her.

He crossed the distance, picked her up, and swung her around for a tight bear hug. After he set her down, he stepped back and gave a wink. “I thought since my brother moved back onto the farm, I should come along to help keep him out of trouble.”

“You should have talked your brother out of coming back, Keif. That would have been keeping him out of trouble,” she sighed, feeling the heat of Keller’s narrowed gaze on her.

“He was adamant on coming home. Something about the mountains, the fresh air and some sweet Rose sister—”

“Don’t let him pull your chain,” Keller interrupted, casting his brother a death glare. “I’ve always wanted to come home to the farm. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

“What is going on here?” Kimmie whined as she speared each of them with an unladylike scowl. “Where’s my phone? I’m calling an Uber.”

“No, you’re not,” Freedom said, shaking her head wryly.

A frown carved its place on the girl’s face as she lifted her phone higher. She spun in circles searching for service. “Figures,” she snapped. “I should have known this was a mistake when I saw the dead rattlesnakes hanging off the line.” She rolled her eyes.

"That’s what we do to keep the rodent population down around these parts," Keller remarked nonchalantly. “The vultures come, eat the snakes’ guts and also the rats.”

Kimmie wrinkled her nose. “That’s—that’s disgusting,” she sputtered. “I want off this farm.”

“What did I miss?” Keifer whipped his silver blue gaze around the room.

“Is it too much to ask for a ride back into town?” Kimmie’s head tilted. “I feel like I’ve entered some back-country, Crocodile Dundee twilight zone.”

“Let me get dressed and I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” Keifer said with a charming smile. Yeah, he definitely was dangerous with a combination of looks and appeal. Just like his big brother.

“Back to reality? Please,” she cast Freedom a pointed stare before she sashayed down the hall, slamming the door.

“Sorry, Keifer. I upset your girlfriend,” Freedom confessed without apology. “Tell her I take back the itty-bitty titty committee remark.”

He lifted a brow and sighed. “I don’t even want to know.” Then he went after Kimmie.

“Proud of yourself?” Keller didn’t look a bit pleased with the entire scenario.

“Not entirely. Simple mistake, which is your fault.”

“My fault?” he grunted. “You coming in here like a raging wildcat wielding a skillet like a tennis racket threatening to beat Keif’s girl over the head and you find that I’m to blame? Of course you’d see things like that. Still as irrational as ever.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and took a long swig, wincing. “I’m too old for your shenanigans, Freedom.”

Although she’d never admit it, she felt a bit taken back—maybe happy—that the twat wasn’t sleeping with Keller.

She took another long, visual perusal over him. Time had only improved him. He had more silver hair than black, a few lines around his eyes, and thick whiskers covered his broad jaw. Mother Nature had seasoned him well. If anything, he was taller, broader, and more handsome than she remembered. But back when she knew him, he didn’t bear the scars that riddled his skin. She didn’t want to stare too long but as if a bright light held her gaze, she couldn’t help herself. “Then why are you here?” she said sassily.

“Sam made me an offer I couldn’t turn down.” He reached into a bag of chips and grabbed one, tossing it into his mouth. She remembered that he’d always had a craving for junk food.

“Tell Daddy you’ve changed your mind and you can no longer accept the job.” She leaned against the counter feeling a bit uneasy seeing him again after all these years. The last time she saw him she was eighteen and na?ve as a baby kitten born on Independence Day.

“Afraid I can’t do that.” He leaned his back against the edge of the island and crossed his bare feet at the ankles. The fringed holes near his front pockets gave a sneak peek at crisp black hair. Did these cowboys not know how to dress properly? “I shook on a deal, and I plan to keep it.” He wiped his salt covered hands down his jean-clad thighs.

“That’s not going to work.” She impatiently tapped the toe of her boot.

“Did I ask for your approval?” He cocked a thick brow.

“Do I care if you asked?” she said.

“You really are unreasonable.” He scraped his fingertips over his whiskers.

“This will never work, Keller.”

“Did you come here to bust my balls or kill someone with a frying pan? I just want to know so I can plan my morning.” He shook his head in exasperation.

“Innocent mistake. I thought she could have been an intruder.” She flipped the ends of her hair over one shoulder and hooked her thumb into her front pocket.

“You’ve certainly saved the day. What would we do without you taking out a half-naked, one-hundred-pound woman who has a Tweety Bird tattoo on her ankle?”

“All in a day’s work. You don’t have to thank me.”

“I have a life to get back to. I’ll see you at the ranch,” Keller said as he waved over his shoulder and strode out of the kitchen.