Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter Eighteen

Three months later

Annual Harvest Picnic at Sagebrush Rose Ranch

“Have you told her?” Freedom looked across the top of her pink cloud of cotton candy at Jinx who looked a bit irritated.

He cleared his throat and feigned interest in spooning a heaping full of Mama June Harper’s famous relish onto his grilled hot dog. “Who?”

“Justice. Have you told her?”

He stepped away from the table with Freedom closely following. “Don’t play matchmaker.” He shoved part of the hot dog into his mouth. “You seem too invested in this.”

“I’m not playing matchmaker. I’m just pointing out how you watch her.” She pulled off some cotton candy, pushed it into her mouth then licked her fingers. Thankfully, things had calmed down on the ranch since the horses were poisoned. Kent Downs had seemed to be keeping his distance. Freedom guessed she and the businessman had reached a sort of silent truce.

“You mean the same way you look at Keller?”

She almost choked on air. “What? That’s insane.” Her laugh was a bit constricted.

He chuckled. “Do you two think you’re fooling anyone?” He cocked a brow.

Looking around to make sure no one was watching, she dragged him over away from the crowd. “What are you talking about?”

He swiped the napkin down his beard. “Freedom, come on. Do you think since we’re hands we’re stupid?”

“I-I…”

“Just thought you could sneak around for months, and no one would catch on? There’s nothing to be ashamed of. He’s not a hand. Hell, he’s a good man.”

The cotton candy suddenly didn’t taste so well. She dropped the remaining treat into the trash can. “I’m not ashamed.”

“Okay. Then why continue to hide your relationship with him?”

“Who all knows?”

Jinx shrugged nonchalantly. “Not too many. I’d say they have their suspicions, but they respect Keller, and you.”

“Is that what’s happening between you and my sister?” She looked up at him.

He snorted. “Justice wants nothing to do with me.”

“Are you sure about that or is that your assumption?”

He shoved the last bit of his hot dog into his mouth and said around the mouthful, “We’re not going there.” He took off walking.

“We’re not done with this conversation,” she called to his back.

He gave a semi-wave in the air.

She stood there a minute looking around at townsfolk gathering near the tables.

She checked her watch and headed for the barn with pep in her step.

Liberty had remarked earlier that Keller looked at Freedom like he was in love. Freedom wanted to confess her relationship with Keller but hesitated. It seemed the longer they kept everything private the harder it was to admit the truth. Whenever Freedom was about to speak, one of her sisters would come up with something important to share. Liberty had revealed her own secret—she and Wyler were back together. It didn’t surprise Freedom, as Wyler clearly adored Liberty.

As she headed down the path to the barn, she looked over each shoulder making sure she wasn’t spotted before slipping inside. Her heart picked up speed when she was swept up by strong arms.

“Freedom, you’re late. I’m about as restless as the horses,” Keller whispered in her ear.

“Sorry, but I got caught up.” She stared up into his smiling face.

He looked quite handsome in his button down and worn jeans. He pulled her over to the bales of hay which created a makeshift nest away from any prying eyes. “I thought I’d go crazy.” He leaned in and kissed her neck.

She sighed in pleasure. “You almost gave away our secret. Liberty caught you staring at me. We have to be more careful.” When his tongue came out to lick her skin she deepened her grip on his shoulders.

He lifted his head just enough to look down at her. “I don’t know why we’re still keeping this a secret.”

“Less mess.”

He moved to the other side of her neck, planting warm kisses on that side from her collarbone to her ear. He rolled the tip of his tongue over the sensitive lobe. She shivered. Although they were having sex every day, she couldn’t seem to get enough of him.

“And you don’t think it’ll be messy when everyone finds out that we’re married?”

After he popped the question, she thought about it and one night after a few drinks, she said yes. They went to a nearby county and got married at the courthouse. It wasn't her dream wedding, but the time with Keller was special. Plus, she did what Daddy wanted. She was back in the will. And with his help, she bought two new sires and planned to continue her breeding business. She also had a trainer working with Requiem to make him a racer.

“They never have to find out. Daddy knows and that is all that is needed.” He stiffened and she lowered her hands. “Keller…”

The only sign of emotion was that one corner of his mouth dipped into a frown. “I get it.”

They’d been through this a few times. “The secrecy isn’t just for my benefit. It’s for yours too.”

He took a wider step back. “True, because every man wants to feel like his wife is embarrassed to be married to him.”

And there it was. The lid was off. “Look at Cave and Wyler.”

“What about them? Do you think they care that the hands are jealous? It’s not very comfortable to be hanging out with my brothers-in-law and listening to them discuss their wives and I must stay silent.”

She closed the gap between them and laid her hand on his arm, feeling the muscle flex under fingers. “This ranch, my family, are like a barbed wire fence. We’re always in the spotlight.”

“How much longer are we going to do this? Sneaking around in barns and haystacks. Who is it that you’re really hiding me from? Your family or someone else?”

“What?”

“Everyone sees you flirting with Jinx. You don’t think I see it?”

She gave a chuckle at the ridiculousness of the statement. “You have to be kidding right now.” When he didn’t crack the slightest smile, she sighed. She remembered that Liberty had accused Freedom of flirting with Jinx too. “Jinx and I are friends. I have no desire to be anything but friends with him.”

His shoulders lowered some and he blew out a long exhale. “Look, I know you don’t. It just got to me that you were openly speaking to him in front of everyone and you won’t be caught twenty feet near me.”

His words dug a hole through her. She laid her hand against his warm cheek. “I haven’t done a very good job of protecting your feelings have I?”

He shook his head and something flickered across his expression—dangerous and feral. “It’s not your job to protect me. I volunteered for this marriage of convenience. Sometimes a man just needed to remind himself of facts.”

She lowered her fingertips to the neckline of his shirt. “I’m not ashamed of this marriage.”

“But?”

“When we divorce, no one will be the wiser.”

His frown deepened. “Free…” He couldn’t seem to finish his words.

“Keller, what do you want?”

He blinked. “Not this.”

She raised a brow. “Really?”

“Let me explain. I don’t want to keep sneaking around. We’re not doing anything we should be ashamed of. You’re my wife, at least right now,” he sighed. “I can’t stay long. I’m helping at the game stations.”

“Will you meet me at the scarecrow contest?”

“Why?” He seemed agitated.

“You heard me. Please meet me there.”