Stables (Black Gulch Ranch #2)

27. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Dixon

Things are different now.

When I sit next to her, I slide my hand under her thighs and around her waist, then pull her onto my lap. Shuffling our plates closer, I pick up my cup and raise it in a small toast.

“That’s better.” I let my palm rest against her hip, holding her while she shifts to a comfortable position.

“So, who is Blue?” She stabs a sausage link, wraps those pretty lips around it, and looks at me before biting off the end.

I’m still hard from earlier, and seeing her pink mouth surrounding that piece of meat sends the blood coursing back south.

Patience. We have all the time in the world for me to shove my cock down her throat.

“He’s the brand inspector. He might have some suggestions on steps you can take to get your horses back. Wade’ll be here to file a trespassing charge.” I let go of her long enough to slather butter on the reheated biscuit that came from Mason’s before my fingers clasp around her side again.

She stops chewing and her face pales. “I—I, um, I can’t do that.” Noticeably gulping, she drops her fork to her plate. “I didn’t even want to press charges from before. I knew he’d be mad. This is just gonna make him come back.”

I can feel the shiver that runs through her body.

“I dare him to try,” I growl, tugging her closer.

She shakes her head, rotating her drink on its saucer. “Dixon, I know you’ll do your best. But no matter how much time we spend together, there will be some days we’ll just be apart. You have an important job. It isn’t like I can just sit at the hospital.”

“There’s other solutions that leave you safe.” The easiest would be to enlist Blue and Wade’s help to just get rid of Matt.

It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve dispersed our own justice for a friend. Growing up together has benefits.

And Char is much more than that to me.

“I have to spend so much time on training, it’s hard to get away. And now that my best prospect is gone—” She breathes in sharply with tears riding the lids of her eyes. “—I have to put twice as much into the others in hopes that they’ll sell as well.”

Leaning forward, I pick up the half piece of sausage and hold it up to her lips. “Starving yourself won’t solve anything. Eat.”

Her mouth purses, then she opens obediently letting me push the morsel against her hot tongue.

“Good girl.” I give her hip a soft pat.

I’m not sure how far to push. I could ask to see all of her bills and just pay them.

But I doubt that would alleviate her anxiety.

“The real question is, how long are you going to let him continue to try and control you?” I ask quietly.

That’s my job now.

“He’s going to keep pushing until he’s stopped.” I like my brother’s way of dealing. Matt would fit on the end of a rope behind my horse very nicely.

I’m not sure Char is ready for that though.

She collapses against my chest, her feet dangling over the linoleum. “I don’t know what to do.” Sniffles work through her words as her face buries into my shoulder.

If she needs my help to guide her, I can do that.

“Finish breakfast. Get your paperwork rounded up. We’ll get options from the guys once they get here. Then tonight, I’ll see if we can’t break that personal best of how many times you come for me.” I reach over and gather a few fluffy bits of egg to savor while she mulls my words over.

It doesn’t take long before her palms are pushing her up slowly, her jaw set.

There’s that look that caught my attention in the ER.

Determination.

“You’re right. One step at a time.” A small smile ticks her cheek up. “And you’ve promised a very sweet reward.”

“Only the best for my girl.” I give her a wink, then slide my thumb far enough up her thigh to stroke the snug fabric over the mound of her pussy.

A pink flush works up her neck, and I can feel her ass cheeks tighten on my lap.

I might not wait until tonight.

“What were the other options you mentioned?” She takes a dutiful bite then looks at me.

“There’s time for that later. It mainly revolves around where my duffel is going to sit.” I don’t want to push too hard.

But I also do.

Living out of a bag is inconvenient. My only other pair of jeans are still hanging in the bathtub. One way or another, some decisions will need to be made.

“Yea. I know that’s a thing.” She stares at her fork.

I was right. She isn’t quite ready for that yet.

Soon, though.

When her plate is empty, I slide her back onto her chair, then kiss the top of her head. “Get your stuff, I’ll take care of Paisley. Blue’s always early.”

She nods with her lips thin, and gets up silently.

There’s a part of me that wants to convince her to sell this whole place and come live with me.

My house is paid off, with plenty of room for as many horses as she wants.

Hell, she’d never have to work. Between the clinic and the ranch, I can keep her tied to the bed.

Fuck, that makes my dick throb.

No time for that. By the time I get Paisley cleaned up and the dishes taken care of, I can hear an engine and gravel crunching in the driveway.

Char comes out of the second bedroom with a fistful of papers and her eyes fly wide when there’s a heavy knock at the door.

I give her a quick nod, then step in front of her to swing it open.

Blue’s handlebar mustache has been graying more since the last time I saw him.

Shit, he’s my age.

“Thanks for coming.” I hold out my hand for his firm handshake. “What’s that silver crap?” I stroke my own chin and grin, stepping back to let him in.

“Funny. Don’t look in the mirror too close, you might be blinded by them white hairs of your own.” He points to my jaw, then turns and stops. “Ma’am. I’m Blue Price.” He tips his tan cowboy hat and glances at the papers in her grip. “Let’s see what you have, and I’ll offer any help I can.”

I know she’s in good company. Blue, Wade, and I go way back.

I’d kill for any of them, and they’d do the same for me. I hope they extend that courtesy to her also.

We might need it if Matt doesn’t quit his crap.

“Thank you.” Char rolls her lip between her teeth and glances at me before leading him towards the kitchen.

Paisley watches with pale cheeks from the floor of the living room, then slowly gets up and drifts towards Char.

When she tugs on Char’s leg, and I watch the grimace that goes over Char’s face when she lifts her, I know it’s time to step in.

Pulling the chair out next to Char, I make sure Paisley can see me pull the bowl of biscuits close.

It only takes her a moment before she’s reaching towards me to trade seats.

I’m lucky children are easily swayed by food.

Char gives me a grateful smile as she’s laying out all of her registration forms.

Blue fixes his blue eyes on me, then Paisley, then back with raised brows.

I glower at him, then hand Paisley a biscuit.

“So, this is all of them.” Char pats the papers laid out in a grid on the table. “His name is still on them. Mine is on the rest.” She looks over at me. “After a while he didn’t want anything to do with my horses.”

“Do you have any documentation that you’ve sent in revisions on these?” Blue shuffles through the lot. “These two have brands. They’re the best options to look for.” His jaw ticks as he studies them. “It’ll be like finding a needle in a stack of needles,” he grumbles.

“What does that mean?” she asks quietly.

My palm finds her thigh and I give it a light squeeze of reassurance.

Her fingers wind into mine, then her shoulders relax.

“There’s only a few places where we’d have any luck finding them. If they’re being shipped out of state on the books, they’d get a vet inspection. Or if they go to the sale barn.” He tilts his hat back with one finger, then leans away, stretching out his long legs towards the corner. “Otherwise, private sales are almost impossible to track.” The dark and gray whiskers on his cheek twist in a wry frown.

“What other options do I have?” Her thumb rubs up and down over my wrist in a rapid twitch, but holding a calm demeanor with Blue.

“Legally? Not much. The slim chance that you do actually find them, you’re pretty much stuck with buying them back.” He points at one of the papers in front of him. “Unfortunately, these aren’t exactly deeds. It’s more for breeding records. Now, if you want to press theft charges, that’s a different story. These work both ways. Just because his name is on them, doesn’t give him automatic ownership, either.”

His elbows find the table again, and he clasps his hands in front of his chest. “I’m sorry. If you want to tell Wade when he gets here that—” He checks the closest slip. “—Matthew stole them, we can start a criminal investigation and I can notify the local auctions.”

Her chin shows the tiniest of trembles.

Damn it all.

I know why she’s hesitating, and I hate that she’s scared.

Her decision is interrupted by a soft tap on the front door.

Paisley’s body goes rigid as she finds Char’s face with fear twisting her tiny features.

“I’ll get it. Paisley, you want to go with me, or stay with mommy?” I pick her up as I stand, waiting for her reply.

“Mommy,” she whines.

I don’t argue, but sit her gently on Char’s thigh.

When I swing the door open, Wade’s face is as red as his hair, and he pulls his brown cowboy hat off to wipe his brow.

“Hey Dix, sorry I’m late. I’ve been busier than a squirrel in acorn season.” He grins and props his hat back over his shaggy copper mane.

“Sounds fun,” I grunt, and lead him in.

Paisley pokes her head over her mom’s shoulder to watch us come in, then hides as Wade gets closer.

“Miss Charlotte.” He gestures to the end of the table. “May I?”

“Please.” Char nods, her palm idly smoothing Paisley’s shirt.

I find my seat, stretching my arm over the back of Char’s chair.

Wade pulls out his wrinkled notebook from the chest pocket of his uniform and tosses it on the table. “So, Dix said there’s possibly a trespassing and horse theft charge? Can you tell me what happened?”

Char folds her bottom lip in as her head swivels to each of us.

I watch her freeze, her grip tightening on Paisley until the toddler squirms.

It makes my teeth grit, knowing the doubt gnawing at her.

Both of my friends remain silent, but it’s me that finally breaks the silence.

“We nail that son of a bitch to the wall.”