Today is the last day Georgie is supposed to be here. My heart… it’s breaking. Breaking for her. I want this woman to stay with me, with us. So much has happened between us over this last week. Not only has she opened my eyes and heart to something new, she’s made me want to be a better man. Not only for Abbie, but for her. Tabitha has shown her ass again since the confrontation here and I know Georgie understands the situation, but I’m not sure she really wants to be asked to stay. Who would want someone else's drama as their own? Or is it us that would bin the way of her life and traveling? She deserves to be happy, not to have to worry about this crazy woman or her family.

I let out a long sigh as I grabbed a hay bale and chucked it down into the open stall below. Hard labor never bothered me, I loved it, actually. It helped work off feelings and bad thoughts. My Nan used to say a tired mind was a peaceful mind. There were no truer words. We were having dinner with Georgie later on this evening since she was planning to leave early in the morning.

“Get a grip, man,” I muttered to myself. I was crying - for lack of a better word - over a woman who wasn’t even mine. God, I would promise You anything right now to have her as mine. I looked down at the bales of hay before me and lifted another one, tossing it harder than I needed to. There was a shriek from below and I heard Tango bark. Shit!

“Georgie? You okay? Shit.”

“I’m-I’m okay,” she stammered out each word and I grabbed the rail and hopped down into the stalls below. I moved to her quickly. She was on the floor, her face flaming red by the time I got to her. Daniel and Abe ran in from the back and I reached down to help her up.

“Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t see anyone down here before I tossed that bale. You sure you’re okay?” I searched her as she nodded. Her bare arms were smooth under my hand. “I’m really sorry.”

“Georgie, Tater has bad aim. You could have lost your head,” Abe taunted. I glared at him.

“It’s my fault. I should know better than to just walk in around here by now. Nothing’s hurt but my ass.” She grinned up at me when she said that and I leaned in to kiss the corner of her mouth. Damn, that wasn’t enough, though. I wanted to do so much more.

“Were you looking for me, Sugar plum? Hmm?” Abe said moving up to stand beside her. Georgie shocked me when she turned and pressed her back to my front.

“Sorry, sir, you’re not the cowboy I was looking for.” Her grin made me smirk, my ego getting a much needed boost. Abe was playing a game. He knew she was here to see me and not him. Asshole. He pouted and nodded solemnly.

“Your loss, toots.” He shrugged as he turned to leave us.

“Nah, I got the man I wanted. That is… if he wants me.” Her words made him stop and turn while they sent my heart to hammering. I wrapped an arm around her, my hand laying flat against her middle. Mine. She wanted to be mine. Had I heard her correctly? I spun her to face me, my gaze locking with hers as I locked my arms around her.

“I want you. I have since the accident. Well, right after it. You're all I think about. I can't- I can't get you out of my head.”

“Good answer, cowboy,” she spoke her last words against my lips. I pulled her up into my arms and kissed the stuffing out of her. It wasn't until a throat cleared that I remembered we were not alone. I chuckled and let her down, but kept my arm around her.

“It's about damn time. You two are slower than a snail on a salt trail. Just saying. Danny, go tell Ma and then get your butt back out here. We have work to do,” Abe said, giving us a salute.

“I'll be out there in a few. Don't corner that bull until I do. We’ll need Cody and Jon too,” I said, my hand moving up and down Georgie’s side.

“Wait, what are you doing?” She looked between the two of us.

“Well, we have a young bull that's a little too aggressive, so we have to fix that. We tried putting a ring in his nose, that didn't help so….” I trailed off trying to figure out how to word it.

“They're gonna cut his nuts off. Ever heard of Rocky Mountain Oysters? They batter and fry those puppies. They're some good eatin’.” Cody swaggered in with a big ass grin on his face. Georgie paled at his words. I tightened my arm around her.

“It's just a part of ranchin’ darlin’. It only hurts a little. We’re not gonna hurt him, too much.” I spoke the words as I pressed a kiss to her temple.

“I'll give him a local. It’ll help with the pain. A few quick slices and he’ll be done. Now, Cody, since you're such a knowledgeable smart ass today go put the bull in the chute so I can give him the meds that’ll knock him on his butt. Then it's a quick and easy job.” Abe didn't wait for Cody to answer, he just walked out back. Cody looked between us and grinned before following him out.

“Come on, darlin’, you can come watch from the fence. But don’t climb in the corral, no matter what. I mean it.”

“Okay, I won't come in,” she said. We moved to the door. She still looked a bit pale. This was life ‘round here. I'd have to make sure she understood all there was to ranching. Cattle and horses, hell even the goats we had went through this. I just hoped it didn't scare her too much. “I know this is- this has to happen, but I don't like seeing anyone or anything hurting. That's all.”

“He won't hurt long, baby, I promise. Abe is the best vet around these parts. He’ll get it done fast and as painless as possible.”

“Hey, let's do this. I still have to drive the truck out to the back forty and drop the hay bales.” I turned to give Jon a look and shook my head.

“Don't worry, I'll come help you. Georgie might want to come out and see the herd too.”

“Sure, I’d like that,” she said, smiling. I watched as she carefully climbed up on the fence and sat down. Her eyes went everywhere, but settled on nothing. For the first time, she was really taking this place in. My smile grew as I climbed up and over the fence.

“Remember, don't you come off that fence,” I said as I jogged over to the boys. The bull was staggering now as Abe and Cody cursed it for breaking free of the chute. In its defense that thing wasn’t meant to hold a bull of his size. As soon as he was on the ground we’d do this the old way, tie one leg back so he couldn't kick and Abe would do his thing.

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I have to say, watching the Cannon boys all work as a team was kind of mesmerizing. Though, sitting on a fence top hurts your ass. I've always seen people doing it in movies… maybe they had ass pads, but this was not for me. I climbed down and Tango and I walked around so we were closer to where the boys were working. My smile was wide enough that it was hurting my face again. Today hadn't gone like I had planned. I was going to talk to Tate and see how he felt. Then I'd make my choice to come clean or not. Thanks to Abe we skipped that and went straight to the heart of it all.

“Watch it! He's coming out fast.”

I heard the voices get louder so I looked up and saw the bull stumbling around. He still had a rope on his hoof. I slipped around and moved to slip between the last two rungs of the fence. I was just close enough to grab the outside of the loop. I kept my eyes on the bull and hurried to scramble back when he moved. I climbed the fence and as soon as the gate was open, he was out. I was watching him shake and stomp the ground when I was pulled from the fence. With a shriek I landed in Tate’s arms. His mouth met mine and with a moan I pulled back.

“What-”

“Don't you ever do anything like that again. If he’d have fallen over you'd have been crushed. That's a thousand pounds falling like a brick wall. Promise me,” Tate said. I could see the fear in his eyes. I cupped his face and nodded. I hadn't thought of that. I whispered softly as bile rose in my throat, causing me to swallow hard.

“Promise.”

“Come on, man, leave the woman be. We have shit to do before Ma gets lunch ready,” Jon called out. I laughed softly as I pecked my lips against Tate’s.

“Anything I can do to help?” I asked, running my hand along his arm. I stepped back and waved my casted arm. “That is if it takes one hand. I'm not so good if you need two.”

“Georgie, you can come help me. I can show you how to get eggs from the hen house,” Danny called out. I made a face.

“Do they bite?” I asked stupidly. “Wait-”

“No, they don't have teeth, silly. But they have been known to peck you with their beaks. You do know what a beak is… right?” The little shit was taunting me. I narrowed my eyes and went running after him. Laughing, he jumped up over the fence and did a chicken strut.

“You little turd,” I was still laughing along with everyone else. I shook my head and moved to climb up the fence, spinning to wink at Tate before I climbed over. “Come on, show me what end the egg comes out of.”

On the other side of the barn was a huge chicken house. It’s was clean, and it seriously was like the penthouse suite of chicken houses. I followed Danny in and closed the door behind me. I held the basket he gave me and followed him to the first box. He reached in under the hen and pulled out a handful of eggs. Three to be exact. My hand wasn’t that big, but as I moved to the box beside him I did just as he did. I pulled out a large brown egg and put it into the basket which hung over my cast.

“See, it’s not too bad. Most of them never give us an issue. Titan, though, she’s a total biotch. I’ll deal with her. Okay?” He pointed to the box at the end which housed a large black and tan chicken. I nodded. She looked pissy already. I laughed nervously as I continued to gather the eggs. Chickens weren’t so bad.

“How often do y’all do this?” I asked as I ran my fingertips over a smaller reddish colored hen. She fluffed her feathers but made no other move. Maybe she liked to be petted too? She was pretty.

“Once a day, sometimes twice. All depends on Ma. Sometimes she needs eggs, so we come out more than once.” He hadn’t slowed down since we came in and we were to the last boxes before I knew it. I smiled as I moved to the next to last box. The hen wasn’t having my hand violating her space. She cawed and pecked at the back of my hand and I pulled back.

“Listen Kentucky Fried, no need to get pissy. I just want your eggs. Kay?” I said as I shoved my hand back under her. She fluttered her wings and cawed again, but it was done. I had her three eggs. And then she flew at my head. I shrieked and swatted at her. She landed on the ground clucking and telling them all about how mean I was to her. I snorted and looked over at Danny who was laughing at me.

“Shut it, little boy,” I said, playfully swatting his arm. It wasn’t long before we were inside, rinsing off the eggs and putting them into another basket that sat on the counter. I was having fun with this. Maybe I could do this… only time would tell. But for Tate, I’d try as much as possible to do it.

“Okay, now… let’s go meet Bessie.” I raised a brow at Danny and let him lead me back out to the barn. I was kinda worried about what Bessie was….