The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:) (13 page)

“Come on, Mick,” she said, laying some notes in the leather wallet. “Let’s go home. I need to talk to Chad, clinic or no clinic.”

B
y the time Cassie returned home her mood had improved, and though she still wanted to talk to Chad about what she’d seen, the weirdness she’d felt at the end of her conversation with Jason had dissipated.

It was mid-afternoon, the clinic was in full swing, and when she stopped by Hannah’s cabin she found her hard at work preparing a feast for Marty’s dinner.

“I figured after such a crazy day he’d be really hungry,” Hannah explained as Cassie stared at the culinary delights waiting to be cooked. “I’ve made enough for you and Chad as well. I know domesticity isn’t your strong suit.”

“You are such a doll, Hannah,” Cassie murmured, marveling at her friend’s talent. “Thank you. We will both be very grateful at dinner time.”

“What can I do for you?” Hannah asked. “Did you stop by just to say hello?”

“No, I’m going up to the barn and I wondered if you’d like to come with me, but I see you’re busy.”

“I can come up for a minute or two, I know you don’t want to be up there alone.”

“I promised Chad,” Cassie sighed, “but I’ll have Mickey with me, he’ll protect me for the short time I’m there. I just want to check on the horses and drop off the halter and carrots.”

“If you’re not back in ten minutes I’ll come up,” Hannah promised.

“That’ll work,” Cassie nodded. “I’ll catch you later.”

As she drove slowly up towards the knoll she wondered if the nanny cams had been installed, and as she parked at the side of the barn she called Mickey to her side.

Dropping the carrots in the feed room at the front she wandered forward to hang the halter on the stall door, but as she began to loop the leather around the bar she stopped; her pulse quickening she stared inside.

A single red rose was laying inside the stall on top of the shavings.

Heart pounding she dropped the halter and ran back to the car, Mickey charging alongside her. Jumping in she sped down to Chad’s barn, slowing somewhat when she approached the busy area, then moving quickly from the car she looked around frantically, finally spotting Chad off to the side in the main ring. Not wanting to run through all the horses and people to reach him, she grabbed her phone, praying he had his in his pocket.

“Hey, Cassie?”

“Thank God you picked up,” she exclaimed, realizing her voice was quivering.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you spare me five minutes?” she begged. “It’s really important.”

“Sure, of course, where are you?”

“Here, down near the barn,” she replied. “I could talk to you in my car, or…” she paused, “the tack room.”

“There are too many people running around to talk in the tack room. Stay where you are, we can just zip up to the top of the driveway, but Cassie, are you okay?”

“Kind of, maybe, not really,” she stammered.

“I’ll be right there,” he promised.

Returning to her car she ordered Mickey into the back seat, then watched as Chad jogged across the ring towards her.

“Hey sweetheart,” he frowned. “You’re white as a sheet. I’ll drive, you sit.”

Climbing into the passenger seat she looked across at him as he started the car and headed up the drive.

I do love you. It’s so good to be back here and near you. How did that guy twist my head around so much?

Pulling the car to a stop above the mayhem below, he stared across at her, his eyes dark and his face somber.

“I’m all ears,” he said.

Cassie hurriedly told him about the two things foremost on her mind; the missing halter, then returning to find the rose on the shavings.

“I don’t know if the guys from Sampson Security told you, but when I saw them this morning it was after I’d discovered the halter was missing, and I asked them to put a nanny cam inside the barn until the permanent cameras were installed. With any luck, whoever that left the rose might be on film,” she said hopefully. “That rose really freaked me out, it all freaked me out, everything’s freaking me out.”

“Come here,” he said, opening his arms across the center console. Leaning over she clutched his shirt as she rested her head against his shoulder. “You’re really scared,” he remarked.

“Kind of,” she admitted. “I think I’ve been stupid.”

“Hold on,” he frowned, and pulling out his phone he texted Marty.

Have to deal with something. Please take over Susie Patterson.

Sure thing.
Marty texted back

Chad drove the car up to the house, and with a comforting arm around her shoulders, and Mickey leading the way, he took her inside and settled them on the couch; Mickey, bone held firmly in his jaw, laid down on his rug in front of them.

“Why do I think you have more to tell me?” he asked quietly.

“I guess I do,” she admitted.

“Why do you think you’ve been stupid?”

“First, why were you holding hands with Miss Sugar Tits?” she asked, an edge to her voice. “I feel so weird, Chad,” she added abruptly, not giving him a chance to offer an answer. “I saw you two in the tack room and it really spun me out. I drove into town feeling totally off, and then…”

“And then?” he pressed.

“I ran into Jason Lewis,” she murmured. “I was still upset about seeing you holding her hand, so…”

“So?” he pushed.

“So he asked if he could sit with me while I had coffee and I said yes.”

“Go on.”

“It was nothing really, he was just very, uh, complimentary, and when he left I felt even more weird. Then I came home and found that stupid rose.”

“I see,” he said, his voice low and deep.

“Why were you holding hands with Sugar Tits?” she asked again, lifting her eyes and locking his.

“Molly,” he declared, “her name is Molly. She was very upset after Marty talked to her. I went into the tack room for something and found her crying. I couldn’t just leave her, so I sat down with her and-”

“and held her fucking hand,” Cassie snapped. “I’m sorry,” she said instantly. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. One minute I feel all soppy and the next I’m pissy. I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“I do understand,” he said tenderly. “It’s not okay, but I do understand. You didn’t let me finish.”

“I know, sorry, sorry,” she muttered.

“She told me she’d just been dumped by a guy she’s been in love with for years, and when Marty told her she had to clean up her act or leave the clinic she fell apart. I didn’t take her hand, but you must have looked in just at the moment she took mine.”

“Oh,” Cassie breathed.

“It really bothers me that you jumped to such a wrong conclusion,” he frowned, “and that you shared coffee with that guy, but we can talk about that later. Right now I have to call the Sheriff and get him up here,” he said soberly, “but that was real smart, askin’ for those nanny cams. Maybe you’re right, maybe there’s somethin’ on them.”

“Chad, I’m sorry, I’m sorry about everything. Everything’s so perfect with us I’m afraid something’s going to come along and ruin it. When I saw you with Sugar, oops…sorry…Molly, it made me crazy.”

“We’ll talk about all this later. Right now I’m callin’ the Sheriff, then I’m gonna give you a real big hug, and…”

“And?”

“Not sure,” he frowned, touching the screen on his phone.

“Jason Lewis is staying at the Pepper Tree if the Sheriff wants to talk to him,” she said quickly.

“That makes things easy,” Chad replied.

After hearing what Chad had to say, the Sheriff promised he’d leave for the ranch immediately and have one of his deputies pick up Jason for a chat.

“Okay, sweetheart,” Chad sighed, putting his phone on the side table, “crawl into my lap.”

Feeling younger than her years, and as vulnerable as she ever had, Cassie curled up against him. His strong, loving arms wrapped her up, and as a wave of emotion swept over her she stifled a sob.

“Hey, you can cry if you want,” he crooned. “There have been some unsettlin’ things goin’ on around here, scary things.”

“I feel like a little girl,” she whimpered. “I don’t know why. I’m tough and strong and all that, but I’m not, but I am. You know what I mean?”

“Sure I do,” he purred as he stroked her hair. “Don’t worry, this’ll all get sorted out.”

He held her quietly for a few minutes, then breaking away she stared up at him.

“Chad, please will you spank me?”

“Now?” he frowned.

“I don’t know why but it calms me down. Please?”

“You feel really young right now, don’t you?”

“Oh, my gosh, so young…so young and so foolish,” she admitted.

“You were both of those things, but I understand why you felt hurt seein’ what you did.”

“So, will you put me over your knee?” she whispered.

“I fully intend to spank you later,” he said firmly, “but sure, I can warm you up. Pull your jeans down.”

“Why does this help me so much,” she mumbled as she stood up and unzipped her pants.

“I think that’s a complex question,” he remarked as she slid over his lap.

“Not too hard,” she muttered.

“Excuse me? If I’m gonna spank you, I’ll spank you as I see fit.”

The warm, sweet wave of submission washed over her like a soft shower, and sighing deeply she sank into his lap. They both knew it was why she’d made the inappropriate comment, she wanted him to put her in her place, and as his hand smacked down with a sharp, stinging slap she grabbed a cushion and buried her face.

Chad watched the pink blush burst to life, and as his palm rose and fell he made sure the slaps carried a significant zing. She needed his hot hand burning her bottom as much as she’d needed his engulfing, protective hug; both had their role to play in making her feel safe and loved.

As the spanking continued she began to wriggle and squirm, and he could read her predictable writhing, it was time to bring the quick trip over his knee to a halt; as if on cue the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house.

Mickey jumped from his bed to run to the door, and as Cassie hurriedly pulled up her jeans Chad went to greet the Sheriff. Dropping back down on the couch she smiled her hello as the burly lawman ambled into the living room.

“First bit of news,” the Sheriff frowned, “there’s no Jason Lewis at the Pepper Tree, and no-one by that name has been there in the last month. You sure he said that’s where he’s stayin’?”

“Yes, absolutely,” she nodded.

“Then I guess he lied,” the Sheriff declared.

“Let’s head up to the barn,” Chad said, “we can take the Rover. You wanna come, Mick?”

The dog barked and ran to the door that led to the garage.

“Don’t you have to go back to the clinic?” Cassie asked. “If you do, I can show the Sheriff.”

“This is more important, and it’s about to end for the day so it’s fine. Marty knows how to bring the lessons to a close for this first session.”

Heading out to the garage they climbed into the SUV, and as they headed to Cassie’s barn she related her chance encounter with Jason while she was in town. Chad pulled the Rover to a stop, and Cassie led them through the barn aisle to the last stall, Mickey running ahead.

“Right in there,” she declared, then picked up the halter she’d dropped when she’d run out.

Chad slid the stall door open and stared down at the innocent looking rose laying on top of the shavings, the very place where he’d lodged the bit in her mouth, and indulged in the licentious lovemaking.

“I doubt we’ll get any prints but maybe we’ll get lucky. He might have pricked his finger on one of those thorns,” the Sheriff remarked.

Pulling on latex gloves and retrieving a plastic bag from his pocket he walked slowly forward, studying the shavings around his feet, then leaning forward he picked up the rose and dropped it in the evidence bag.

“The nanny cams?” he asked.

“I’m not sure where they were put,” Chad replied as he stared around the ceiling.

“I see one, right there,” Cassie declared pointing to a small black box on one of the rafters, “and over there as well.

By the time they’d scoured the area they’d uncovered four cameras, but had no idea how to retrieve the information.

“I’ll call the company when we get back to the house,” Chad frowned. “None of us expected we’d be looking at film already.”

Mickey had been sniffing around the back of the barn and unexpectedly began barking.

“Sherlock,” Cassie grinned. “That should be his name.”

“Let’s go have mosey,” the Sheriff remarked. “He must’ve picked up a scent.”

As the Sheriff walked ahead, Cassie grabbed Chad’s arm.

“What do you think about that rose?” she asked.

“It’s very worrisome,” he frowned. “What troubles me the most is the halter and rose…it’s the stall we were in. It makes me wonder if…”

“I know,” she groaned. “You don’t think someone was spying on us, do you?”

“If someone was lurking in the barn I don’t think they could’ve seen anything, but they sure as heck could’ve heard us,” he grimaced.

“It couldn’t have been Jason who left the rose,” she remarked, “he was with me.”

“Did he leave first?”

“Yes,” Cassie frowned, “he did. I had to wait for the check.”

“And when you came home, did you go straight to the barn?” Chad pressed.

“No, I stopped at Hannah’s, but how could he have driven up here without being seen or heard?”

“That part I don’t know, but I think it’s just too coincidental. Did he flirt with you? Be honest, it’s okay, just tell me,” Chad insisted.

“Yes, Chad, he did.”

“Okay, he’s my prime suspect.”

“You might wanna come look at this,” the Sheriff called from behind the barn.

Moving quickly to join him they found him staring down at some tire tracks.

“Is there a motorbike on this property?” the Sheriff asked.

“No, definitely not,” Chad replied.

“Looks like one was here,” he said. “Could’ve come over the back of Madden’s farm. It’s a direct run straight off the main road. There’d be some gates, but otherwise a dirt bike could do that run no problem.”