A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3)(5)

After the bull was in, Lump handed over the wad of hundreds. Wyatt counted it, and we all shook hands. Lump pulled out a piece of badly typed paper that said he sold it, explaining that signing it would mean he couldn’t say we stole it. Adam’s advice.

He reluctantly agreed and off we went to Adam’s, where it would be stored until Christmas. Unfortunately, it meant I had to take care of the stupid thing. William was so lucky he was worth it!

As Adam and his ranch hand were unloading the bull, Adam whistled.

“What?” I said, hoping I didn’t just make a huge mistake.

“William’s got an eye for animals, I’ll say that.”

“Why? What’s awesome?”

“Look at this little guy. Good stock. I might have to get a free stud visit for helping secure him.” Adam grinned. Always the business man.

“Um. Okay. I’ll give him food and everything, then I need to get home and wipe the disgusting memories from my mind from that creepy old Wyatt.”

“You are a hell-uv-a negotiator, Jessica.”

“Is that...?” I listened for a minute with my hand at my ear. “Is that respect creeping into your voice?”

Adam laughed. “Maybe. I’ll admit to that, I guess. I might gotta take you along next time I need some cattle.”

“You might gotta?” I shook my head at him.

“You didn’t even see her hard ball, either,” Lump said with a smile. “She was trying to play a weepy role, but when she really wants something, stand back! I have seen her argue for a leather jacket in Mexico for half an hour, walking away with the best price of the day.”

“Of the day? Try century!” I acted like I was cleaning the dirt off my shoulders.

“You sure got a good price,” Adam said with a smile. “What are you going to do with your remaining $500?”

I hadn’t realized he knew how much cash I had. “Put it in the bank until it’s time to hand it over to you...” My voice was matter-of-fact. “Easy come, easy go.”

“Smart. Not like a woman,” Adam said, glancing at Lump for a reaction.

I punched him in the arm and he laughed as he moved away from me.

“Alright, git to work!” Adam said with a whoop. “High-heels ‘n all. You gotta get that bull situated before you leave here.”

“Yes sir,” I saluted.

Lump smiled and followed me, unbuttoning her pants so she had some breathing room.

Chapter Two

It was a week before Christmas and I was trying to get all the presents wrapped and organized. I was expecting William any minute, but not in an excited kind of way. He’d said he wanted to talk to me. Didn’t say what about. He sounded strange, too, but wouldn’t say why when I pressed him.

I was freaking panicking! I had no idea what I’d been doing differently, and he didn’t usually have serious talks that he wouldn’t explain upfront.

As I opened the door, hoping I wouldn’t be dumped out of the blue, since I thought things were going really well, my stomach dropped. The poorly disguised mask of pain on his face twisted my intestines.

“Hi, sweetie,” I said giving him a kiss.

“Hi Jess.”

He came in and sat on the couch, looking at, but not seeing, all the presents.

“Jessica. I would like to have an honest conversation with you.”

Fear was spilling down my spinal column at those words. It meant he had bad news of some sort. I nodded mutely.

“I would like you to be perfectly honest. I can’t stress that enough. Please don’t lie, and I won’t lie to you. I would always like that to be our philosophy. You can tell me anything. Even if you don’t think I will want to hear it, okay?”

What did I do wrong?

“I am going to just come out and ask you. Please answer directly and honestly. No action will be taken until we talk through it, okay?”

Tingles were working up my butt to my back. Fear was clawing at my gut. Still mute, I nodded again.

“Are you having an affair with Adam?”

All the breath went out of me in a whoosh. I couldn’t help but laugh. “What?”

“Please Jess,” he begged like a man wanting the executioner to just end his life quickly. “Just answer the question.”

“God no! William, no! 100% no. I haven’t touched him besides a hug hello. You’ve seen that. Where are you getting that idea?”

William had always fought jealousy with Adam, but he had always realized it was his insecurity. For him to succumb to that fear, and believe it over his trust for me, something had to be acting on his logical side as well as his emotional.

Which was why my no didn’t convince him.

“A couple of my buddies, different one’s mind, have seen you going by yourself to Adam’s ranch. They say you leave a while later.”

He obviously didn’t know about the bull, but this was probably worse.

“William--”

“And Jessica,” he cut me off, “I know you have been hiding something. You haven’t been completely open with me, and I can’t for the life of me figure out what it is. Then I heard about your...visits.”

“William... I don’t know what to say.”

“Just tell me the truth.”