Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter Six

The auction had gone off without a hitch. In fact, she and Keller had worked splendidly together. They got to the site early just as she’d wanted and had a chance to examine every potential thoroughbred. They must have looked like a perfect couple because a handful of people referred to Keller as Freedom’s boyfriend. And she wasn’t mad at the insinuation. She’d noticed how many interested glances he received from the ladies, which wasn’t a shocker. She couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off him either as he inspected the horses with confidence. How he spoke to the other ranchers, even giving them his opinion if they asked.

She and Keller had even shared a few laughs.

At one point he’d placed his hand on the small of her back as they headed into the auction building and she’d felt a zap of electricity all the way into her toes. As everyone looked at them in curiosity, she’d felt her heart flutter and reminded herself to keep it together.

By the end of the day her plan was to forego the usual closing night festivities and take a long hot bath and get sleep, but Keller had talked her into attending the event.

The committee usually put on quite a shindig with live music, dancing, great barbecue, and lots of fun, but controlling her hands from touching Keller all day had worn her out.

Checking her appearance one last time in the full-length mirror, she was satisfied with the yellow off the shoulder sundress that had a fitted bodice and flowing skirt. Her ankle boots finished off the look.

The dangling diamond earrings seemed a bit too formal for the look she was going for, so she exchanged them for a simple pair of rose gold hearts that had belonged to her mother. Freedom had very few memories of her mom and now she wasn’t sure if the image she had was from the pictures she saw or memory. However, being a motherless daughter had always saddened Freedom. There were always things a girl needed to tell her mom that she couldn’t share with anyone else.

Pushing the morose thoughts aside, she left the bedroom and made her way down the curving stairs and stopped mid-stride when she saw Keller standing in the great room. He was unbelievably sexy wearing a soft red button down with the sleeves rolled high on his forearms, the shiny belt buckle, and dark jeans that showed off his lean hips and long legs. She’d stopped denying the attraction early that morning when the urge to kiss him had become so strong that she had lost her train of thought during a conversation with him.

He looked up and saw her. He smiled and her body quivered.

Swallowing the fact that something blossomed inside her, she continued down the stairs, holding onto the banister so she didn’t topple onto her head. He met her at the bottom step, standing with one hand resting against the doorframe, his angular body slouched, and one lean hip cocked in those nice fitting jeans. His gaze traveled over her, lingering confidently on the tops of her breasts that were modestly covered. He didn’t even make it to check out the skirt.

When he returned his gaze to her face, a tight smile spread over his lips. “I like that dress, and your hair down.” He gave a twirling gesture with his fingers. “It’s a change from the braid you usually wear.”

She’d almost gone for a braid but decided to leave it down. Having a head full of curls, sometimes they chose not to behave but she was having a decent hair day. She twisted a long lock around her finger. “Let’s hope it behaves.”

“I like it.”

Despite wanting to keep her distance, something about his compliment made her feel exceptionally beautiful. Sure, everyone thought the Rose sisters already knew they were beautiful. Yet, growing up with four other sisters who were perfect, Freedom hadn’t always had the self-confidence that she had now. Her hair was the curliest of the sisters. She had freckles back when freckles weren’t all the rage and her lips were a bit on the thinner side. She also tended to be on the curvy side where her sisters got their mother’s slender figure.

Being the youngest sister she’d also been treated like a baby. She’d lost her voice among overly opinionated sisters.

“Here,” he said as he pulled something from his pocket. She extended her hand, and he laid a small velvet pouch into her palm. “I think you should remember it.”

Curious, she tugged on the ends of the ribbon and took out the infinity ring that he’d given her during their summer. “You kept this?”

“After you chucked it at my head? Of course I did. I didn’t know it wouldn’t go right back on your finger but instead would be with me all these years.”

She couldn’t help but sense a bit of regret in his words. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to feel obligated to wear it, but it belongs to you.”

She slid the ring onto her right hand's fourth finger and admired its simple beauty. She regretted throwing it at him a few times, but she was hurt back then. Now, thinking it over, she understood she had been immature and could've handled things way better. "I guess I was kind of angry that night."

“A bit. I’ve seen bulls in the ring less angry.”

Freedom touched the silver infinity symbol, still warm from where he’d had it in his pocket. A strange familiar feeling surged through her, catching her so off guard that the words fell off her lips, “If you hadn’t cheated, I might still be wearing this to this day.” She started to backpedal but the opportunity didn’t come.

“Wow, even after our conversation the other night you still don’t believe me,” he said in a chilly tone. “If you’re wanting to be spoon-fed an explanation every day, you’re going to be disappointed.”

She slumped her shoulders. What could she say? She was even tired of hearing herself mention the past. “I promised that I’d let that part of our past go. I guess…”

“You guess what?” One brow lifted over his curious gaze.

“I guess I was reacting from a place of emotion,” she admitted.

“Just remember, if you toss the ring at my head again, I’m not carrying it around another fifteen years like a fool.” His laugh was a bit chafed.

“I won’t.” And she meant her words. She wasn’t sure she’d ever take it off.

“I’ve never been to one of these events. Am I dressed okay?” Keller held out his arms. “You’re dressed up like we’re heading to prom.”

“The prom?” She snickered. “You’re fine. You look handsome.” Without thinking she ran the tips of her fingers down the shirt. His chest muscles flexed under her fingertips. She removed her hand.

“The beard okay?”

What seemed like a simple question had deeper underlying meaning.

“Don’t worry. The beard is nice.”

He leaned in, so close she thought he might kiss her.

“You’ve got something on your face,” he said.

“What is it?” She wiped her hand down her chin.

“A smile. I haven’t seen one on you in a long time.”

“Certainly, you are mistaken. I smile all the time.”

“You really don’t know yourself very well, do you?”

“And you do?” She put him on the spot.

He shrugged and the material of the shirt tugged against his broad shoulders. “I’d like to think I once did. I remember the girl who used to be carefree, curls in the wind as she rode like she didn’t have a trouble in the world. Where did she go?”

“She’s still here. I guess it depends on the mood and the company.” She wanted to tear her gaze off him but refused to run away.

He snorted. “You really know how to scar a man, don’t you?” He strolled past her to the wall of photographs, finding a specific one. He seemed particularly interested in the photo taken when she was about ten and Daddy had just bought her a horse, Gem. “You do have an amazing smile.” He touched the frame as if he wanted to connect to her past.

“I did have a great childhood, not without hardships but with many blessings.”

“You really are into horses and ranching.”

She narrowed her gaze on his profile. “No, I’ve enjoyed pretending all these years, dressing up like a cowgirl and hoisting myself into a saddle,” she stated sarcastically.

He turned to face her, and she swallowed hard. For the life of her, why couldn’t she find him as ugly as deeply as she found him infuriating.

“Don’t misunderstand me.”

“Oh, I misunderstood your statement, did I?” In irritation she twisted and rolled the ring.

“What I meant was, you rebelled against what was expected of you. You spent more time at the library as a kid than on the ranch and ended up collecting more books than horses and trophies.”

She blinked. “And how do you know I spent so much time at the library?”

He scratched his temple with his thumbnail “Because I was in there too, but not for enjoyment. I hated academics but to get into veterinary school I knew I had to study my ass off or there was no way I’d be accepted. I’m not book smart but I’m logical. You were always there, at the library, sitting at the same table, nose deep in a book. I wondered how it was possible for a person to find so much thrill in a book.”

“You’re right to an extent. I was escaping parts of my childhood and delving into fantasy worlds.”

“I thought you had a blessed childhood?” He used her words against her.

“I did, but you know my sisters. Imagine being the youngest. By the time any opportunity for an opinion got through them all no one cared any longer about the subject. Silence became my normal.”

“Come on now, Free. Everyone labeled you as the intellectual one. What happened to those big glasses you used to wear?” His eyes twinkled. “I miss those things.”

“Laser surgery corrected my vision.”

He turned back to the shelf and scanned the row of trophies. If he was looking for one with her name he’d be searching for eternity.

“You won’t find any trophies for me,” she said.

“No, but this…this is the accolade we all want.” He picked up the framed certificate for her top of the class achievement. She had graduated Brown University with a 4.0 GPA. He ran his thumb over her name on the piece of paper and she felt lightheaded.

“Shall we go?” She needed fresh air before the waves of the past washed over her making her want things she had no business wanting.