Page 40 of Untamed
“I’m on the road most of the time.”
“That seems lonely,” she says, like she’s asking a question, but not really. She sighs and looks at the newly patched wall. “Do you think Lemon Lou will be mean?”
“He’s a bull, kid.”
She watches me walk out of her room, falling close behind me. I want out of this house. “So?”
Running my hand over the back of my neck, I adjust the bag on my shoulder. “I’ve never met a friendly one.”
Morgan blows me off, like I don’t know a goddamn thing about livestock. “Lemon Lou is nice.”
“He’s also still a calf,” I point out, as if it should be obvious. “And if he was nice, I wouldn’t be fixing the hole in your wall.”
“Good point. He once pooped in my closet.”
“I’m not fixing your closet. That’s on you.”
She lets out a giggle, covering her mouth and then points to a door to our left. “That’s sissy’s room. Wanna see it?”
No. Yes. Fuck me.
Everything inside me screams for me to walk out of that house, but something about that room roots me in place. Hundreds of thoughts haunt my mind, but it’s the ones of how many guys have been in there that sends a rush of jealousy through my veins. Her bed’s pushed up against the wall, near an open window I imagine her staring out, watching sunsets like I saw her doing last night by the river and the wildfire burning in her eyes.
Clearing my throat, I walk down the hall. “Sissy’s birthday is on Monday. I made her a card.”
Don’t think about it.You know I am though. I can’t stop myself knowing in just a few short days, she’d be legal and none of this would matter.
I nod. “Go play and leave me alone.”
My harshness does nothing to deter her. She follows me regardless. Kind of like her sister.
It’s when we’re outside and her mom calls for her that she takes off running. I’m just about to get started on the barn for the day when Archer finds me. “We need to have a talk.”
Immediately I know where this is heading, so I nod and say nothing.
“I’m only going to warn you once, son.” Archer pauses and levels me a look that screams,I’ll kill you for looking at my daughter. But then he says, “Maesyn’s trouble. Do yourself a favor and stay far away from her.”
For the first time since I met this man, I want to punch him in the face for talking about his daughter that way. She might be trouble, but the bitterness behind his words irritates me. It’s like she’s too much for him to bother with.
He’s waiting for my reply. I shrug, keeping my eyes on his. “I haven’t touched her.” I know it’s a lie, something I never do. I was raised to only tell the truth, regardless of the consequences you fear. But you can lie to protect, and if it means keeping Maesyn out of trouble, I’ll do that for her. For God knows what reason.
I don’t know if Archer believes me, but he nods. “Keep it that way.” And then he motions for me to follow him toward the bullpens.
Did you catch the look in his eyes? He’s probably going to try to kill me now.
