Chapter 20 Part 20
Asher
Asher walked up the steps of the porch and halted in the living room. Seeing Maggie was on the couch, he frowned. “How did you get down here?”
“Colt popped in around nine, and carried me down,” Maggie said. Her voice sounded different, and she wasn’t really looking at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Maggie said. Asher looked around the living room, but the walker was empty. “Melody’s taking a nap. Eden just went up to put her down.”
Asher looked out the window, and sighed. The bur oak tree was visible from where Maggie sat, so she’d obviously seen him and Lorelei sitting there. He sat down next to her and placed the book on the table.
“Lorelei was here earlier,” he said.
“I saw,” Maggie said, nodding her head.
Asher looked intently at her. Was that jealousy he detected? He didn’t like it. He was a trustworthy person, and she had no reason to be jealous. It was true that she didn’t know him that well, so he would explain, but only once.
“You saw me and Lorelei,” he said, softly.
“I did. It really isn’t any of my business,” she said, and looked down again.
Asher sighed, and took her hand in his. She tried pulling away, but he didn’t let her. “I’m going to explain this only once, and then this conversation is over. Do you understand?”
“Okay.” He could see the defiance in her eyes, and he liked that, but not the way she was looking at him as if he couldn’t possibly explain himself out of this one.
“When I kissed you the other night, that meant that I was interested in a relationship with you. When I’m interested in someone, I give that person all my attention, all my thoughts, everything. Things between me and Lorelei were over a long time ago; I just didn’t realize it. She came over to talk, and to give me that book for my birthday.”
Maggie’s eyes widened. “It’s your birthday, and nobody told me?”
Asher chuckled. “It’s tomorrow, and it’s no big deal. We’ll eat dinner at the main house, have some cake, and that will be that.”
Maggie closed her eyes, as she exhaled. “She wants you back, doesn’t she?”
“It doesn’t matter if she does or not; we’re together, and I don’t cheat. Ever. It’s a cowardly thing to do, so know that I won’t ever cheat on you. You can ask anyone if I would, and everyone will say no. You are my focus now, you and Melody. I like you, Maggie. I’d like to see where this goes,” Asher said.
“You don’t know anything about me,” she said.
“Exactly. Isn’t that the point of starting something? To get to know each other, and see where it goes?”
Maggie looked up into his eyes, and she could see him baring his soul. “You still should’ve told me about your birthday.”
Asher laughed, placing his arm around her shoulder. “Tomorrow will be the first time in six years that I’ll spend my birthday at home. Not much point in celebrating when you’re lying in a tent with five other men.”
“Asher Fitzgerald! I’m telling Dad!” Eden’s voice was loud in the living room.
“Then I’ll tell him about that time you took Mr. Jefferson’s tractor,” Asher said.
Eden gasped, clutching her hand at her throat. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“You stole a tractor?” Maggie looked at Eden with shock.
“They dared me,” Eden said, chuckling. “I was thinking leg of lamb with all the trimmings, and chocolate fudge cake for tomorrow.”
“Sounds great,” Asher said, and stood up. “And please tell Colt, no prank gifts, please.”
“I won’t be telling him anything. You know when he’s got some idea stuck in his head, he’ll do it no matter what.”
Asher shook his head. “I need to get back to Comet. If I’m not back by dinnertime, send a search party up to Horse’s Bend.”
“You riding that new stallion?” Eden looked disapprovingly at Asher.
“Someone has to. It might as well be me because we both know Blair ain’t saddling him anytime soon.”
Everyone watched with bated breath as Asher saddled Comet. The stallion stomped his hoof once, but Asher placed a hand on his flank, and spoke soothingly to him. He led the horse out of the barn, his lips moving, but nobody heard the words. He gripped the horn of the saddle, and swung himself up. The horse snorted loudly, flicked his mane, and stomped his hooves.
“Easy now, Comet. If you settle down, I’ll take you out, and show you the ranch,” Asher said, his hand rubbing the horse’s neck. He pulled his hat lower over his brow, and clicked his tongue.
Comet started off in a full gallop, the wind whipping across Asher’s face. It felt like freedom, Comet’s hooves thudding over the grassy hill, and up the trail. He could hear the shouts from his brothers, but soon, their voices died down.
Comet slowed to a walk after a while, and Asher laughed loudly, patting the horse, and complimenting him. He steered the horse toward the stream, and climbed off as he let him drink. With the reins in his hand, he led the horse onto a trail leading into the woods.
Asher inhaled deeply. He’d missed the wide-open spaces, the simmering heat, and the smells of nature in the woods. He missed the companionship a horse brought, and he smiled as he realized that now he’d look forward to finishing his day and going home.
He imagined teaching Melody to ride and taking Maggie on picnics. He could see a ranch wedding playing off in his imagination before he snapped back to reality. Marriage? He was losing it. Tomorrow he’d turn 27, so he guessed it was time to think about settling down.
He stayed in the woods for two more hours before he finally took the long way back to the ranch. He checked fences, and surveyed the camps where the cattle were grazing. Happy with what he saw, he turned back, and raced Comet down the hill. Three of the ranch hands were watching him as he slowed Comet down near the stables, grinning, when he handed the reins to Rick.
“He’s tired and hungry; rub him down well, and give him some apples,” Asher said, as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.