Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“I’m fine. We’re all fine. The ranch is fine-“
She doesn’t get to finish because her phone starts to ring. She gets up and grabs it off the counter. She huffs as she answers. “Yeah?”
All I can hear is her side of the conversation. “I’ll be right there.”
She’s stuffing her feet into boots as she hangs up the phone. “I have to go out to the barn. Prancer is trying to bust out of his stall.”
“What? Frank can’t handle an ornery horse?”
She walks to the door. “Frank won’t deal with Prancer since he bit him a month ago. I need to go settle him down. You leaving? Staying...?”
“You want me to go to the barn with you?”
She laughs. “I think I can handle it.”
I knew that’s what she’d say, so I stay seated. “I’m going to hang out here. We have a few things to hash out.”
She rolls her eyes and lets the door slam behind her on the way out. As soon as she’s gone, I pull out my phone and open the notes app. I start making notes. Porch, roof, paint inside. I look at the yellow stain on the ceiling and add roof leak. I walk room to room making notes of things to get fixed. Sassy may not want my help, but I can’t just stand idly by and let their house fall down around them. When I get to the office, I see the stack of papers on the desk. I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s a complete intrusion of their privacy, but I can’t help it... especially after seeing the heading. Breeding Bidders Auction House Contract.
I read the page and notice Sassy’s signature at the bottom. I stumble on my own feet. Everything is happening at once. I can literally hear the blood rushing to my head and something like a train whistle sounds in my ear. Woozy and dizzy, I lean against the desk to hold myself up. I hear the front door open, and I go to the office doorway.
Sassy is smiling until she sees my face and the paper I’m holding in my hand. I hold it up. “What the fuck is this?”
She reaches for the paper, but I pull it from her reach. “Answer me, Sassy. What is this?”
She doesn’t like my tone, and I’m not aware enough to give a fuck right now. “It’s none of your business, Cole. Why are you snooping anyway?”
I’m caught off guard when she lunges, pulling the paper from my hands. She folds it up and stuffs it in the pocket of her shorts. “I told you I’m taking care of things around here, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Sassy
I should probably be ashamed, but I’m not. I’m not doing the auction for some random reason. I’m doing it to save the ranch that’s been in my family for generations. I’m doing it so my father doesn’t lose the one thing he loves more than anything.
But I can tell that Cole doesn’t see it that way. I’ve heard he has a temper, but I’ve never seen it before. Right now, he looks as if he’s going to spontaneously combust. But I’m not scared. I know he would never hurt me, although he may yell a little.
His voice gets even louder. “Taking care of things? You call this taking care of things? You’re auctioning off your body to God knows who. Do you have any idea what kind of man...”
I hold my hand up to stop him. I’m trying to remain calm and act as if I have complete control of the situation even though the thought of all of it still makes me nervous. “I know, Cole. I know exactly what can happen... just like I know what will happen if I don’t do it. I can’t let my father lose his ranch. I didn’t know he took another mortgage out a few years ago. We’re behind on payments, and we’re going to lose this place. I’ve done everything I can. I’ve sold everything I have to sell, and this... me... is all there is left. Now if you’re going to sit here and pass judgment on me, then just go. I don’t need to hear it.”
He moves toward me and puts his hands on my shoulders. I feel his touch as if it’s a bolt of lightning that courses through my whole body. I try to remain calm even though just being this close to him has my nipples hard and my legs trembling. “Sassy, honey, you don’t have to do this.”
I bite my lip. If Cole had come last week to talk to me, would I have signed the paper? Probably. Because I know that deep down the only reason he is offering his help is because of how he feels about my family. He really is a good man. But I can’t let him help me. I’ll be in his debt forever, and eventually, one day, he’s going to marry and have kids. I can’t tie myself to him and watch all that from the sidelines. It will kill me.