Cowgirl Seeks Mountain Man (Bear Mountain Brothers Book 9) by Marley Michaels

Author:Marley Michaels [Michaels, Marley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

14

Miller

After calling Tate to let him know Rory is safe and sound here at the ranch, I slide my cell into my back pocket with a sigh and head over to the car Rory drove here. She and Ellie-Mae are inside, drinking and lamenting the men in their life—I know this because the more they drink, the louder they get, and I can hear every word out of the open living room window. What I’m learning is that we’re all a bunch of uncommunicative assholes who frustrate them to no end, but for some reason, they can’t help but love us, anyway. That part makes me smile. And it makes me sad at the same time because it confirms everything I already knew but was trying not to think about—I’m hurting Ellie-Mae just by being here.

Reaching into the driver’s side and popping the hood, I step back and wave my arm across the still-steaming engine to get a clearer view. The engine creaks and smells like burned oil. Inspecting it closer, I'm surprised Rory even made it here without breaking down. This old jalopy has definitely seen better days.

As I busy myself checking the oil—empty—and the coolant—leaking—I briefly contemplate trying to get this thing up and running so I can make good on my promise to Randy to be out of here by nightfall. It’s the only reason he agreed to let me stay behind with Ellie-Mae unchaperoned. He trusted that I’m a man of my word and that I'd return to the mountain as soon as his cousins arrived to take over from me and watch over my peach.

When he pulled me aside for a chat just before the brothers left, he told me he was sad to see me go, but that he wished me all the best. If he could have it any other way, he'd want me to stay here indefinitely—he’d even adopt me into their family the way they did Ellie-Mae. But he understands that the Mountain is in my blood and it’s my duty to honor it. So, he left me with a brotherly hug, because despite the tension that developed between us, he’s a good man who truly cares about everyone around him. Even the likes of me.

Lowering the hood back down, I head into the bunkhouse and clean the grease off my hands, grabbing a cold beer from the fridge before heading outside and sitting by the unlit fire pit. It’s from here I keep watch over the ranch house, making sure the girls are doing OK, while also spending some time alone with my thoughts.

When I told Jesse I was leaving last night, he gave me that multi-tool Ellie-Mae destroyed my tires with as a parting gift. Then he toasted me with a shot of moonshine to wish me well on my ‘mountainous journey’. We've grown close these past months, and I see him as a brother, so I'm going to miss his hairy mug. I’m gonna miss all the Barnes brothers actually, even Randy the overprotective, well-intentioned boss.

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