Blazing Hot Cowboy by Daria Blake

Author:Daria Blake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FS Romance Press

CHAPTER NINE

CASS

I arrive at Hank’s parents’ house and have to stop my truck at the curb, waiting to pull in the driveway. A bunch of news vans and reporters clog the road as they leave. When the last of them is gone, I pull in and go to the door.

Hank’s mom meets me, her purse in her hand.

“Hi, Mrs. Blaze. Is Hank home?” I haven’t been here since before Hank left. Back then, I used to just walk inside like I was part of the family. The distance between Mrs. Blaze and me feels awkward.

“Cass, how nice of you to stop by.” Mrs. Blaze smiles warmly, but there’s something in her voice that gives me pause. She sounds sad as she opens the door for me. “Come on in. Mr. Blaze and I are heading into town. Hank’s out in the barn. You know the way.”

“Thanks.” I walk through the living room, into the large farmhouse kitchen and out through the back door. Hummingbirds crowd a bright red feeder hanging from the eave. The barn sits on the far side of the yard, a thick green lawn all around it. A couple of horses knicker at the fence as I pass.

I step into the barn and spot Hank. His chair is parked on the far side, just outside the big doors. He’s staring off into the distance looking serious and lost in thought. One of the family dogs gets up and pads over to me, tail wagging.

“Hey,” I say as I scratch the dog’s ears.

Hank sits up straighter in his chair. “Hey, Cass.” He looks tired and like he needs a shave.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, sitting on the bench beside him. “Is the pain very bad?”

“Only when I move.” He smiles and then he shakes his head, looking sheepish. “Nah, it’s not that bad. They gave me all kinds of prescriptions but I’ve been managing on the over-the-counter stuff.”

“That’s good,” I say, wishing things were very different. It’s easy to be angry at him when he isn’t sitting right in front of me, I realize. I need to be stronger. I slip my hand in my pocket and fish my finger around until I find his grandmother’s ring. I came here to give it back to him—no sense in me holding onto it, and I can’t get rid of it knowing it’s a family heirloom.

But he seems so defeated and low. Worse than when I saw him yesterday at the arena. It doesn’t seem right to kick him when he’s down. I pull my hand out of my jeans, leaving the ring inside.

“I guess you heard the news,” he says. “You didn’t have to come all this way just to see me, but I sure am glad you did.”

“The news? No. I saw the reporters leaving when I arrived. What’s going on? Are you thinking you’ll be able to get back on the road sooner than expected?” I try to sound like it doesn’t matter at all to me, but inside I feel like screaming at him.

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