Chapter Nine—Montgomery

Mont had been up since sunrise, due to the fact that he hadn’t been able to sleep in the first place. He’d been on edge since the day before, thinking about how it felt to ride behind her on the horse; her small body cowered into his as he pulled them to safety.

If anyone needed to feel emasculated, they would benefit from being around Swayze. He felt like a girl, getting worked up over a simple touch, but damn it if she didn’t feel and smell so good.

Mont groaned, throwing one of the bags of feed over his shoulder to toss into the bed of his pickup. He’d spend the next two hours loading and unloading feed for the horses, and then he had plans to go over to Swayze’s house to set out a trap for the raccoon.

“You’re up early,” Kaden yelled from the fence.

Mont looked over his shoulder at his brother walking toward him, pulling on a pair of work gloves. “I’m gonna head on over to the back field. I need to fix a tear in one of our fences. Looks like some asshole plowed over it in a four-wheeler.”

“Okay. I’m gonna go load up on feed, then head over to Swayze’s. They have a raccoon terrorizing them and the old lady next door.”

When Kaden didn’t respond, Mont looked over his shoulder. “What?”

Kaden ran his hand over his tired face. “You’re still bothering her, Mont? I mean, I get it, she’s cute and tells you no, but maybe there is a legit reason she says no.”

Montgomery turned to shut the tailgate and glare at him. “This again? When are you gonna get over it? I don’t obey your rules; you’re not my daddy.”

Kaden curled his lip. “No, and it wouldn’t matter if I were. You just left me after they died. I had to deal with everything on my own, and now you’re gonna bring this girl you barely know into our lives—”

“That’s what it all comes down to. You’re pissed I left after they died? I had to get out of here, Kaden. I couldn’t live here in their memory every day and be miserable like you. I needed to leave to get over it.”

“But I was left to do everything while you went off and banged girls and rode bulls. Now you’re trying to bring some crazy runaway into our lives—”

“Get over it,” Mont said. “I’m not a kid anymore, and I don’t have to listen to you. I’ll do what I damn well please. Now, you go fix that fence, and I’ll get the feed.”

Kaden took a step toward Mont, those dark eyes like their dad’s looked furious, but Mont knew that already. “If she brings hell down on this family’s name or this business, you’ll regret it.”

Mont tilted his head upward, suddenly all the fun he found in life floated away. “What are you gonna do, Kaden? Fight me? We both know how that’ll end. Now, you can get over it or continue to do everything alone.”

Kaden swallowed hard, obviously biting back what he was going to say. He left without another word to Mont. He knew Kaden didn’t like Swayze, he hadn’t since she moved to their town, but his sudden aggressiveness aggravated him. He was nearing thirty and didn’t need his brother planning his love life.

He’d get over it eventually.

***

“What in the hell?”

Mont looked back over his shoulder at Swayze standing at her backdoor. The girl looked stunning even at seven o’clock in the morning. He’d have to come over in the morning more often if she’d keep coming to the door in those T-shirts.

“Good mornin’, sunshine. I’m just setting this trap out for ya.”

He stood, looking down at the cage trap and then back at her irritated, makeup-free face. “Thanks, and all, but did you have to do it at seven o’clock in the morning? Ryker is still asleep—we had a rough night.” She stopped herself, almost as if she had told too much.

“Oh yeah, why’s that?” he asked, turning to look at her.

“Uh—I mean, he just didn’t want to sleep last night.”

Mont considered her face, and the lie that rolled off her tongue. “You suck at lying,” he finally said.

She gave him a deadpanned look. “Whatever. Thank you for the trap. How much do I owe you?”

He scoffed. “I have tons of these lying around the back shed. Don’t worry about it.”

She nodded. “Well, do you want a cup of coffee?”

He’d already had a cup three hours before, but he’d drink another to spend some time with her. “I’d love some. Thanks.”

Swayze stopped mid-step, and with her back to him, covered her face with her palms. “I’m still in my night shirt. God, I forgot. Let me go change.”

She opened the back door, leaving it open for him to walk inside. She had the bare necessities to live with: a refrigerator, stove, and microwave. No dishwasher or fancy containers or decorations. Her cabinets needed fixing and a coat of paint, which he made a mental note to fix if she’d let him.

She walked back around the corner in a pair of workout leggings and a T-shirt barely long enough to cover her bottom. That dark hair he dreamed of running his fingers through lay against her back in thick layers.

A small, pink coffee pot sat in the corner of her counter, which made him smile. She didn’t seem like the pink type. She caught him looking at it and cringed. “Got it in college and could never let it go,” she said. “You can sit.”

Mont took a seat on the barstool surrounding the small table. It was something watching her walk around the kitchen, grabbing coffee cups, filters, and water. He could almost understand why he’d noticed Kaden watching Abigail a few times in the kitchen.

“You know I don’t mind,” Mont said.

She brought him a cup of steaming coffee, her brows furrowed. “Mind what?”

He took the coffee, taking off his baseball hat, putting it on the table. “You wearing those shirts.”

Swayze sat across from him, looking over the brim of her mug. “I’m sure you don’t. It won’t happen again.”

“If you say so,” he mumbled.

She made a small sound like a moan after she finished her first drink and closed her eyes. “I love coffee. I would never be able to parent if I didn’t have it.”

Mont leaned against the table. “I bet you’d be a great mom either way. You’re doing great so far. Ryker is a good kid.”

That seemed to make her smile.

Mont studied her from over his cup as she held hers up to her mouth. He couldn’t help the way his eyes took her in, her delicate hand holding that chipped mug, even the scar that ran across the back of her hand. He immediately wanted to ask about it.

“What do you have planned for today?” Mont asked instead.

“Nothing much. Probably potty training and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”

Mont leaned back in his chair. “Sounds like fun. You know the Fourth is coming up next Tuesday, and I thought you’d want to come by the place for fireworks and barbeque?”

Swayze nodded, putting her cup down. “Yeah, that sounds like fun.”

“Maybe a late-night four-wheeler ride?” he asked.

“Yeah, we’d love to.”

Silence took over the small kitchen, and the only sound was their coffee mugs being sat down on the table. “Where did you get that scar?”

Swayze followed his gaze to her hand. “Oh—I don’t remember.”

Mont found that hard to believe because a scar that big was caused by something traumatic. He’d had many bumps and bruises throughout the years. “Really? Looks like a knife wound to me. Doesn’t seem like something you forget.”

Swayze pressed her tongue against the side of her cheek. “Well, I don’t remember.”

They had a stare off for a few minutes until Swayze looked at the hallway where Ryker walked out, rubbing his eyes. “Momma. Bite. Momma. Mont! Fish! Fish!”

Swayze stood up. “Let’s get you some breakfast.”

“Mont! I wanna fish!”

“Hey, Little Buddy,” Mont said, standing. “We’ll go fishing another day.”

“Fish!” he screamed.

Swayze sighed, trying her best to wrangle in his growing tantrum.

Mont watched as she tried to get him to stand up, his feet outstretched in front of him.

“Hey,” he said, walking over to Ryker. “You stop that fit throwing, boy. You respect ya momma. Go sit on the couch, and we’ll get breakfast.”

Ryker’s shocked face turned to a pout as he marched over to the couch to sit down. Swayze watched in awe for a second and then turned to look up at him. “I can handle myself.”

Mont nodded, reaching to grab her hand to look at the scar. “Looks like it,” he said. “Why can’t you just accept some help, huh? I don’t mind; you should let me.”

Swayze jerked her hand from his. “Thank you.”

He didn’t miss the sarcasm in her voice. “I’ll be by to get ya tomorrow morning for work.”

Giving her one last glance over his shoulder, he caught her watching him leave. Something heavy settled in his stomach at the brief moment of longing in her eyes. She did like him, or at least the way he looked, but was too bullheaded to admit it.

Good thing he spent the last five years taming bulls himself. It’d take someone like him to wrangle Swayze into safety.

***

“Smells good,” Mont hollered from the doorway. He’d been in the back field unloading feed and dishing it out to the animals for the last three hours. Pulling off his sweat soaked cap, he placed it on the table by the front door.

“It’s ready. Just pulling the garlic bread out of the oven now,” Abigail yelled.

Mont noticed Kaden’s work boots sitting by the couch, but he didn’t give a damn. They’d have to deal with each other, problems or not. Kaden stood by the back door, arms crossed, staring at Abigail as she cooked.

“I’m starving,” Mont said, taking a seat.

Kaden snorted.

“What?” Mont asked.

“I’m sure hanging around at Swayze’s house really took a lot out of you, huh?”

Mont ground his teeth together, catching a glimpse of Abigail’s worried face. “I was feeding the horses and picking up feed. I put a trap out and had a cup of coffee. Last time I checked, I could do whatever I wanted to do. Let’s not have this argument twice in one day.”

Kaden scoffed. “Of course you can. Momma and Daddy never got on to you about anything.”

Abigail placed their glasses on the table. “It’s ready.”

“You don’t know shit. I got my ass handed to me several times by Daddy. What’s up yours today? You need to get laid or something? I’m sure it’s an understatement. If I was Abigail, I wouldn’t want to give you any. You’re never in a good mood.”

Kaden slammed his fists against the door, making Abigail jump. “Watch what you say,” he snapped. “This has nothing to do with anything other than you leaving me here to do everything. It always lands on my shoulders.”

“I’m here now!” Mont said.

“After five years of doing what you wanted, yeah.”

“Better late than never,” Mont said.

“Yeah, of course you’d think that. I’m just supposed to forget that you abandoned me? The ranch? Our family’s reputation?”

Mont pressed his fists against his forehead on the verge of screaming when Abigail interrupted, “Um, do I need to leave for this? Are y’all gonna bang on your chests now? Y’all are gonna wake Kathryn up from her nap, and then I’m gonna be the mad one.”

Kaden glanced at Abigail, and she gave him a warning look.

Mont snorted, shaking his head. “Actually, I’m gonna go home and eat.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Abigail said. “I made enough for everyone.”

“Let ‘im go,” Kaden said, pulling out his chair.

Mont flipped Kaden the bird and walked toward the living room. Kaden’s boots still sat by the couch, so he grabbed them and chunked both out into the front yard.

Sure, it was childish, but he felt a hell of a lot better.