Read Online Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) by Kimberly Krey - Free Book Online
Authors: Kimberly Krey
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room had slowly slipped into darkness as they’d watched their movie, and now, only the muted TV screen lit the space between them. Though the two were sharing the same couch, Cassie sat nestled snuggly on her side, legs tucked beneath her, while Shane had settled into his corner, a couch cushion away. The box of doughnuts rested between them. “So what is it like, back at the ranch?”
Shane had already tossed his button-up shirt, and was now tugging at the neck of his undershirt as if it were choking him. “Well, uh… loud when everybody’s there. Plenty of chatter and games. Lots of food. The family has a good time together.”
“You liked growing up there?” she asked, and for a moment she could see a child-like sparkle in his eye at the question.
“Oh, it’s the perfect place to raise a family. None better. Something about the lay of the open land against the blue sky. The hay field when it’s tall and green before reaping. I learned how to work hard from a young age. Rode my first bull when I was seven years old.”
She gasped. “You’re kidding. Seven? A bull, like in a rodeo?”
The smile that owned him then caused a rush of adrenaline to surge through her body. “Yeah. My older brothers were already competing. They’ve got a youth division and all. But it was more than that.” He picked up the box between them, set it on the coffee table before leaning his elbows onto his knees. “There’s not a whole lot of calm moments around there, yet there’s always this … sense of peace.” The warm look in those hazel eyes repeated every word he’d said; this cowboy loved life on the ranch.
Cassie considered that as she scooted closer to him still, working to casually close the gap between them. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or perhaps the trauma she’d endured over the last twenty-four hours, but suddenly she craved being close to him and was in no mood to silence the voice that urged her on. She inhaled his masculine scent as she neared him, musing the pine and wood smell had placed her under some sort of spell.
“What about the girls?” she asked. “Do they help with the cattle?”
“I never did have a sister, but my mom, grandma, and aunts have all helped out in different ways. Most enjoy riding, just not to round up the cattle. I have an aunt who’s real involved during calving season.” He eyed her. “Not at our place. They have their own ranch miles from ours. Sometimes Reese and Jade help out with that too, plus they both like caring for flowers, planting gardens, that type of thing.”
Cassie took another sip of her chocolate drink before setting the cup on the side table. “Lucky. I suck at keeping plants alive.”
He smiled. “Maybe you were just putting your roots down in the wrong place.” He held her gaze while his sentence stretched into lonely, aching places in her heart.
She gulped. “Maybe.”
Shane straightened up. “So how was it growing up in Seattle?”
“Different.” She chuckled. “You can hardly walk with your head up with as wet as it is outside. But I love the rich, green life everywhere you turn. And the fresh seafood restaurants, like I mentioned. I like the city too. All the hustle and bustle of everyone around. Keeps me from feeling lonely, I guess.”
He looked at her questioningly.
“Oh,” Cassie said, “I don’t have much of a family. Never had any brothers or sisters, and I was raised mostly by my grandmother, so it was kind of quiet.” She sighed. “My grandma passed a few years ago, but she taught me to work hard, too. Just mostly with schoolwork and my job. I’ve been working since I was fifteen.”
Shane frowned. “What happened to your parents?”
“Nothing. They’re good – healthy and everything – just didn’t want to stop their mission work to raise a child.”
“What do you mean by mission work?” he asked, grimacing.
Her defenses kicked into gear. “My parents have donated nearly their entire lives to
Shane had already tossed his button-up shirt, and was now tugging at the neck of his undershirt as if it were choking him. “Well, uh… loud when everybody’s there. Plenty of chatter and games. Lots of food. The family has a good time together.”
“You liked growing up there?” she asked, and for a moment she could see a child-like sparkle in his eye at the question.
“Oh, it’s the perfect place to raise a family. None better. Something about the lay of the open land against the blue sky. The hay field when it’s tall and green before reaping. I learned how to work hard from a young age. Rode my first bull when I was seven years old.”
She gasped. “You’re kidding. Seven? A bull, like in a rodeo?”
The smile that owned him then caused a rush of adrenaline to surge through her body. “Yeah. My older brothers were already competing. They’ve got a youth division and all. But it was more than that.” He picked up the box between them, set it on the coffee table before leaning his elbows onto his knees. “There’s not a whole lot of calm moments around there, yet there’s always this … sense of peace.” The warm look in those hazel eyes repeated every word he’d said; this cowboy loved life on the ranch.
Cassie considered that as she scooted closer to him still, working to casually close the gap between them. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or perhaps the trauma she’d endured over the last twenty-four hours, but suddenly she craved being close to him and was in no mood to silence the voice that urged her on. She inhaled his masculine scent as she neared him, musing the pine and wood smell had placed her under some sort of spell.
“What about the girls?” she asked. “Do they help with the cattle?”
“I never did have a sister, but my mom, grandma, and aunts have all helped out in different ways. Most enjoy riding, just not to round up the cattle. I have an aunt who’s real involved during calving season.” He eyed her. “Not at our place. They have their own ranch miles from ours. Sometimes Reese and Jade help out with that too, plus they both like caring for flowers, planting gardens, that type of thing.”
Cassie took another sip of her chocolate drink before setting the cup on the side table. “Lucky. I suck at keeping plants alive.”
He smiled. “Maybe you were just putting your roots down in the wrong place.” He held her gaze while his sentence stretched into lonely, aching places in her heart.
She gulped. “Maybe.”
Shane straightened up. “So how was it growing up in Seattle?”
“Different.” She chuckled. “You can hardly walk with your head up with as wet as it is outside. But I love the rich, green life everywhere you turn. And the fresh seafood restaurants, like I mentioned. I like the city too. All the hustle and bustle of everyone around. Keeps me from feeling lonely, I guess.”
He looked at her questioningly.
“Oh,” Cassie said, “I don’t have much of a family. Never had any brothers or sisters, and I was raised mostly by my grandmother, so it was kind of quiet.” She sighed. “My grandma passed a few years ago, but she taught me to work hard, too. Just mostly with schoolwork and my job. I’ve been working since I was fifteen.”
Shane frowned. “What happened to your parents?”
“Nothing. They’re good – healthy and everything – just didn’t want to stop their mission work to raise a child.”
“What do you mean by mission work?” he asked, grimacing.
Her defenses kicked into gear. “My parents have donated nearly their entire lives to
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