Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders 11)

“You sure it isn’t an imposition for me to stay here, Mr. Big Crow?”

“Call me Cash.” He slung Ava’s duffle over his shoulder as they started to walk. “No. We’ve got room. Without sounding like a prude… Since our kids are around and curious as little monkeys, I’m afraid I’ll insist you two stay in separate sides of the bunkhouse.”

“That’s fine,” Chase inserted. “Me’n Ava are just friends.”

“Yes, just friends,” Ava reiterated. “I’ve never been out West and Chase is my tour guide in exchange for my videotaping skills.”

“That’s smart, havin’ a record of your rides so you can go back and look at them.” Cash said.

“Hey, every little thing helps, right?”

“Right. We’ll get started in the mornin’ after I finish chores.”

“Sounds good. When is Colby coming?”

“Day after tomorrow when the stock is scheduled to arrive. Might be a long couple days for you, Chase, with the amount of stock I’d like you to test out.”

“I can’t wait. Seems I’ve been in a holding pattern for too long.”

Cash nodded. “It’ll be good to find your seat again.”

Then Ryder was jumping up and down in front of them. “Can I help ya pick a bunk? Please?”

“Sure. But no top bunk, okay?”

“’Kay,” and he was off like a shot.

“Ryder is a little enthusiastic about you bein’ here, if you haven’t noticed.” Cash glanced at Ava. “Any questions?”

“One that I hope isn’t too weird.”

“Shoot.”

“Does the bunkhouse have Wi-Fi?”

“Yep. Them young bucks that come here can’t be away from the cyber world for two whole weeks.”

A planked porch ran in front of the bunkhouse. Two doors denoted the two sides. One door was open and Ryder popped his head out. “Got it all picked out!”

“Cool beans.” Chase ducked inside. The room was rustic. No air conditioning. No running water. A ceiling fan spun above and another fan placed in front of the window pulled cool air from outside. “This is a great place, Cash. Same set up on the other side?”

“Yeah. A communal bathroom with showers on the back side.”

“You really have sixteen bull riders here at a time?”

“We’re always booked, since I only have sessions four times a year.”

Ryder sat on the bed farthest from the window. “I’m hopin’ maybe my dad will let me sleep out here on this bunk tonight?”

“Nope.” Cash held up his hand and Ryder’s protest died before it began.

Chase wandered to the other side of the bunkhouse to see how Ava was faring. He doubted she’d ever stayed in a place like this.

But she’d picked a bunk and set the lamp on the table, closer to the window.

“How’s it goin’ in here?”

Ava whirled around. “Great! I feel like I’m at camp. I might sneak a flashlight and read under the covers tonight just to make the experience complete.”

Cash stuck his head in. “Anything you need, Ava, just let Gemma know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Cash, thanks.”

“I need to do a quick cattle check if you wanna ride along,” Cash said to Chase.

“And open gates for you,” Chase said dryly.

“Yep.”

“Can I come?” Ava asked. “I’d be happy to open gates.”

“The more the merrier.” Cash patted Ryder’s shoulder. “Come on, son, load up the dogs.”

Ava asked a million questions, none of them the invasive ones ranchers hate, such as: how many head of cattle do you run, or what’s the size of your acreage. She and Cash had been so engrossed in conversation Chase had gotten stuck opening gates. But he didn’t mind. With Ava focused on listening to Cash, he could focus on her.

Beautiful, vivacious, funny, he wondered if she ever felt out of place. She slipped into any situation with ease. Although he tried to ignore the voice of reason that reminded him Of course she adapts easily because she’s an actress, Chase couldn’t discount it completely. Still, Ava seemed genuine. She hadn’t batted an eye at crawling in Cash’s dirty feed truck. He’d even caught her ruffling the dog’s ears as she’d talked to Ryder. The woman absolutely knocked him for a loop. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met.

Why was that? He’d been involved with beautiful women before. Did he find Ava so appealing because they’d agreed to just be friends? He didn’t try to be charming just so he could get into her pants? He could really be himself? Chase had racked his brain trying to remember if he’d ever been just friends with a woman. Not in the last decade, that was for damn sure. Yet, he knew if he gave the signal, she’d be all over him and their budding friendship would end.

See? That’s your problem. You automatically put her in the role of the aggressor—even when the choice to change the parameters of your relationship…is yours.

Was he really that passive when it came to sex?

Yes.

Ben’s advice, Be a man, still rankled. Mostly because it was true.

Hard to swallow, that he wasn’t as aggressive in all areas of his life as when he was on the back of a bull.

But right now, for the next few days, his time spent on a bull was all that mattered.

Later that night, a cool breeze drifting from the window, the sound of crickets and the occasional garbled hoot from an owl lulled Chase to sleep.

A series of loud knocks jolted him from slumber. The door creaked as he peeled his eyes open.

“Chase? Are you awake?”

“I am now,” he grumbled. “What’s up?”

Rapid footsteps on wood were his only warning before Ava jumped on him.

“What the hell?” She burrowed into him, shaking from head to toe. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared. I kept hearing these weird noises. Things brushing against the side of the bunkhouse under my window. Then this spooky howling started, followed by the most god-awful shriek. And I thought, what if it’s a mountain lion and it jumps right through the open window to attack me?”

“Hey now, take a couple of deep breaths.” Chase tucked her into his body, pulling the blanket over them, lightly running his fingertips up and down her spine.

Her chest pressed against his as she inhaled. A soft puff of air teased his chest when she exhaled.