Is she kidding me? “Why would he do that?”
“Because he wanted fair market value, and he didn’t trust me. Yet.” She winks. “Give Bull time. He’ll come back around.” Her confidence in Bull’s emotions does nothing to assure me he’ll forgive me. Wanting fair prices isn’t quite the same as scandalizing Bull’s past relationships or turning the dairy into mud.
Zara waltzes into the kitchen as Audrey finishes her story and offers additional advice. “Ignore people. Bunch of busybody know-nothings. When I was a teenager, everyone around here called me a slut.”
“You were a slut,” Roderick teases, winking at her.
“Yes, well, we all grow up and grow out of our phases. Just give people time, but most of all, give Bull time. He deserves it.” It’s a reminder this all blew up only last night.
Time. At this point, we only have to wait for the paternity test. If Bull isn’t the father, he won’t want to spend any more of his time with me anyway. If he is the father, he’ll have a lifetime to hate me.
15
90-Day Guarantee
Bull
The following day Scarlett had off from the Busy Bean, but I’m quick to exit the house once again. I’m still angry over what we’ve learned. Why didn’t she tell me? Did she not recognize me? Was the story so inconsequential to her that she didn’t recall it?
I wish I had answers, and I hate that I miss her in my bed. This is the exact reason I didn’t want to get involved with someone again. The Bovine Bridegroom does not need more heifer heartbreak. Scarlett was supposed to be a one-night stand, but I don’t fault her directly. When I found her still in Colebury, I could have walked away. I should have walked away. I shouldn’t have turned back for that damn café wanting to talk to her, wanting to know more about her. One and done. Why can’t I adopt Canyon’s philosophy?
Of course, now there’s the added complication of Sprout.
Swiping a hand through my hair, I stalk into the barn. The sun will be up soon as it’s summer, and the heat is already heavy. I enter the small office inside our dairy barn to find Blade and Canyon already present. Canyon is on the computer while Blade is flipping through a catalog. Our insemination technician will be here soon.
I’m pouring myself a cup of coffee when the office door swings open.
“Good morning, Eaton brothers.”
“Scarlett,” I hiss after she greets the room. Her false cheer blinds me. I’ve been trying to avoid her for the past twenty-four hours, but even with the forced smile, I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Where can I help today?”
“We’re working fence repairs,” I mutter, making it clear this work is not for her. We have Clayton and Blade on milk duty this morning.
“Look.” Scarlett sighs, swiping a hand through those loose red curls I love to fist in my fingers. “As long as the three of you are together, I just wanted to say again how sorry I am. We didn’t think. It’s not an excuse. Our ignorance isn’t even worthy of an apology. We were misinformed, and that piece shouldn’t have ever been a story.”
Canyon glances over at me, waiting out my reaction. Taking another deep breath, she carries on. “Bull already knows I have a history of screwups.” Tears well in her eyes, but she rapidly blinks them away. It’s a good thing because I hate when women cry, especially when it seems sincere instead of a ploy. When I glance away from her, she continues. “I’m not making excuses for myself. I’ve done you wrong, your family wrong, and I’m just so sorry I hurt you.”
My head lowers as I feel her eyes on me.
“I’d like to learn more. How a dairy farm works. Educate me on the process. Maybe there’s something I can do around here.” Her arm flails out. “I’m a selfish city girl, and I hadn’t considered how milking happens. I mean, I know milk comes from cows, but I didn’t know the hard work behind the process, or the real people, doing honest work. I’m sorry I was so shallow.”
When no one speaks, each of us avoiding eye contact, Scarlett babbles on.
“I figured putting me to work would teach me a lesson. Let me get my hands dirty and put my back into things and—”
“You can’t work here. You’re pregnant,” I blurt, unable to hold back my concern for her despite my anger. “You shouldn’t be putting your back into anything.”
Blade’s head shoots up, wide eyes looking at Scarlett while Canyon turns his gaze to me. His mouth falls open before clamping shut. When Scarlett licks her lips and bites the lower one, I need to look away again. Silence lingers.
“Fine.” Her voice lowers, defeated. “I know where I’m not wanted. I’ll just get out of your hair.” With that, Scarlett exits but the quiet tone of her rejection echoes in our small office.
“She’s pregnant?” Canyon blurts out the second Scarlett exits.
“When did that happen?” Blade adds.
“No thanks to you,” I mutter to both of them. “Remember that one night you dared me to ask her for a drink?” Canyon slowly smiles. However, it’s still possible that’s not the night Scarlett got pregnant, and I hate to think about such things. The emptiness in my stomach fills with an unsettling feeling. As much as I don’t want to consider it, the truth is she might be carrying that city schmuck, doctor dick’s baby, and maybe a paternity test sooner rather than later is a good thing. But it’s not going to change my mind. I want that baby, and I’m concerned about this test to determine the father. I don’t want her putting herself or the baby at risk.
“Are you letting her leave?” Canyon asks, shifting his gaze to the door.
“What do you want me to do?” I snap, exasperated by this entire situation. She hurt us. She hurt the farm. And she hurt me, but can I really fault her for doing her job? Yes, I decide. I can. What a shit job she had.
“I don’t think you should let her run off,” Canyon adds, turning for the window which Scarlett just passed, heading for the lane. Her bright red hair bobs as she hastily walks away.
“Why? Fuck her,” Blade says.
“Hey,” I mutter. That’s a little strong.
“We almost lost the farm,” he reminds me. It isn’t exactly true. People closest to us believed in us and not the slur of walking our cows through their own shit or producing unsanitary milk. We struggled with a few buyers, and there was the hassle of the inspections, but some of it was stuff we might have encountered on any other day. MoosHaveRights2 is a bastard of a group finding fault in the oddest of ways, and we still don’t understand how they got involved other than illegally sneaking on our land.
“You know I wish I’d known about Joey from the start. Her mother might be a bitch, but I still wish I’d been there. Known my child existed from day one.” Canyon’s voice lowers as he reminds us all of his history. He didn’t know he’d gotten a groupie pregnant until a ten-year-old showed up on the scene without her mom. It was complicated and changed everything for Canyon. “I don’t think you want to miss out on this.”
Glancing up at the window, I stare at the now-vacant drive. Did I really want Scarlett to go? What if the baby is mine in every sense of the word? Hadn’t I already told her I wanted Sprout no matter what? I’d meant it, but I was still angry.