Free Rode Hard, Put Up Wet by Lorelei James

damn close to nothin’ the other day when I checked on ’em.”
    “Completely gone. I couldn’t find replacements tablets.”
    “She keeps them in the cellar.”
    “I’ll know where to look next time.” Cash angled his chin at Carter. “Far as I’m concerned, you done everything I thought needed doin’, so there ain’t no reason for you to stick around today. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.”
    The two men stared at each other. “Fine. I’ll go. Just as soon as you tell me where she is.”
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    Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
    Cash laughed, a little harshly. “If Macie wants to contact you, she will.”
    “And when she does? What then?”
    Gemma stifled a groan at Carter’s surety where he stood as far as Macie was concerned, after knowing her for one day.
    “ If she does contact you, I’ll abide by her wishes. Until then, you’ll abide by mine.
    Stay away from her, McKay.”
    “You forgot one tiny detail. I don’t think Macie wants to stay away from me .” Carter retreated and loped to the barn. Before either of them said another word, Carter mounted his horse Deacon and galloped across the pasture, away from what probably would’ve been an argument as heated as the day.
    Cash swore.
    She tried to diffuse the situation. “What happened to you this morning? I woke up and you were gone. Was I snoring or something and chased you off?”
    “No. You looked so peaceful I let you sleep in. I woke up early to hang out with my daughter, but she’d already taken off.”
    “Where is she?”
    His eyes narrowed. “If I tell you, you gonna blab to McKay?”
    “No. But if he asks me, I ain’t gonna lie.”
    Cash sighed. “I called her cell when I couldn’t find her this morning. Evidently she found work at the Last Chance Diner. She’s cookin’ first shift today.”
    “She already found work? I hope I’m not the reason she felt the need to get a job when I told her she’d have to earn her keep if she stayed here.”
    “Don’t worry. Though your offer was mighty nice, ranch work ain’t her thing.”
    “Glad to hear I didn’t chase her away.”
    “Take more than that to scare either of us off.”
    Gemma stepped closer. She had an overwhelming compulsion to touch the smooth skin on his cheek, which was still damp from the exertion of early morning chores. She settled for curling her fingers around the window frame. “Is everything all right? You seem…I don’t know…different today.”
    “Just tryin’ to get the lay of the land, so to speak. I don’t want to disappoint my new boss lady.”
    “Nothin’ you’ve done to me, or for me, has disappointed me so far, Cash.”

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    He grinned. “Good to hear. What do you say we get the rest of these morning chores done and head over to the diner for lunch? I’d like to see my girl in action.”
    “Sounds good. I’ll grab the truck keys, and the salt, and meet you by the gate.”
    Something between them still didn’t feel right. Rather than press the issue, she’d see if it resolved itself – or if it was unfounded paranoia on her part.

    Carter tried not to fume as his horse cruised across the pasture. Problem was, he suspected he was mostly mad at himself. He should’ve trusted his gut feeling and gone to Macie like he’d planned last night. From the looks of it, Cash and Gemma had been so wrapped up in each other Macie probably spent the night by herself.
    How often had that happened to her? Was that the reason for her reserve?
    It was a detached attitude, a purposeful distance he recognized. Hell, even his own family considered him aloof. Last night, in the long hours he’d spent alone, he’d attempted to draw Macie from memory. He’d expected that seeing her in the flesh would lift the veil stifling his creativity. It’d worked at first. By the time he’d finished with the half-dozen or so sketches of her, none of them to his liking, it was nearly three in the