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)
Sassy
The last two days have been busy. I’ve been getting everything lined out. I went to the bank and paid off the mortgage my dad had taken out. I paid off the balance I owed at the feedlot, I hired a crew to start on the barn’s roof next week, and I went into Jasper and bought a herd of cows, hired another ranch hand, and found a nurse for my father.
I tried to make sure I only spent the money on the things we had to have, but I did splurge while I was in town and bought myself a new pair of jeans, blouse, and even a dress. The whole time, I’ve had my phone glued to my hand. I’ve been waiting to hear something – anything – from Cole, and by the morning of the third day, I know I need to go and talk to him.
I put on my new jeans and a V-neck T-shirt. I apply some mascara and lip gloss and then brush my hair until it shines. The whole way over to his house, I have to fan myself, wondering how it’s going to be when I look into his face. I know I’m not going to be able to look at him without thinking about what he did to me the other night. That seems to be all I’ve thought about.
I pull into his driveway and spot his truck sitting next to the barn. I pull in next to it and get out. Every time I’m here, it takes my breath away. His ranch is what dreams are made of. I barely get a few steps out of the truck and I see Cole walking out of the barn. His walk is self-assured and confident. He’s got his dark denim jeans on, and his hat is low on his head. I take in the way he has his shirt rolled up to his elbows, showing off his muscled forearms. Already, my heart is starting to race, and he’s like 15 feet from me.
“Hey, Cole.”
He stops suddenly and turns to me. He doesn’t smile or even acknowledge me, and my nerves settle in. I go around his truck and stop a few feet from him. “Do you have time to talk?”
He nods but still doesn’t move.
Nervously, my hands fidget together. “Okay, uh, well I wanted to tell you that I got things lined out with what had to be paid. I wanted to give you back what was left, and I hoped maybe we can talk about a payment plan or something.”
I can’t read his expression, but his voice tells me that there’s no arguing with him about this. “You’re not paying me back.”
I put my hand on my hip. “I have to.”
He shakes his head. “We’re not talking about this, Sassy. Forget it. We don’t ever have to talk about it again.”
My heart stutters in my chest. What does he mean we don’t ever have to talk about it again? Is it the money he’s talking about or all of it? I mean, we’re married. We didn’t have to be; that was his choice, but it still remains that we’re married. “So we’re not going to talk about what exactly, Cole? The money, the other night, the fact that we’re married? Or have you already forgotten?”
He takes a step toward me and then stops suddenly. His hands are in fists at his sides. “The money. We’re not going to talk about the money. I haven’t forgotten that we’re married, and I sure as fuck haven’t forgot about what happened when you came on my tongue the other night.”
I can feel the heat rise in my face, but I push forward. “Right. So are we going to talk about it?”
Before he can answer me, Cole’s foreman, Jake, comes out of the barn. “Boss, wait a minute-“
He cuts off when he spots me standing here. He eyes me from the top of my newly cut hair to my boots and then back up again. “Sassy, is that you? Well, aren’t you a sight. You sure have grown up.”
I lock my hands behind my back. I’m always nervous when people compliment me. I guess it’s because I’m not used to it. “Thank you.”
He nods and starts walking toward me. For the first time since Cole saw me, he starts to move. He positions himself between Jake and me. “What do you need, Jake?”
Even though Cole sounds rude, it doesn’t faze Jake. “The feedlot called. Their delivery truck is broke down in Jasper, so I’m going to town to get our order. You need anything while I’m there?”
Cole shakes his head. “No, I can’t think of anything.”
Jake nods and looks past Cole to me. “What about you, Sassy? Need anything? I can drop it off at your ranch on my way back through.”