Raising Kane (Rough Riders #9)(64)

It’d quit snowing, but the wind still blew like a bitch. He’d opened the gate before they’d gone in the barn to fetch the ATV.


The path he usually followed to the cattle shelter and stock tank was impossible to see, so he drove along the fence line, keeping an eye on the odometer to gauge how far he’d gone. He knew this ranch like the back of his hand, but blizzards f*cked up everything and he could get turned around ass-backward in a helluva hurry if he didn’t pay attention.


Kane cranked the wheel to avoid getting stuck in huge drift that resembled a foamy, curling ocean wave. Ginger’s arms tightened around his midsection when they caught air.


Then he saw the wooden shelter, which really wasn’t any more complex than a snow fence. Except they kept bales of hay stacked on one side just for situations like this. The cattle were milling around, waiting for the food fairy to appear. He shouted over the howling wind. “I’ve gotta spread out some hay.


Sit tight.”


“Can’t I help?” she shouted back.


“Sure. Come on.”


They trudged through the snowdrifts until they were at the backside of the shelter. The structure offered some respite from the wind, but not much. Kane scrambled on top of the haystack and kicked away as much snow as he could. Then he hefted two bales to the ground. He hopped back down and took out a pocketknife. He sliced the twine on the bales and yelled, “Spread it out. Along the length of the shelter.”


Without a word, Ginger spread out the hay and didn’t panic with the cows started to surround her, looking for food.


Kane knocked down eleven bales. By the time he finished, there were only three bales left to break apart. Since Ginger was doing such a fantastic job, he headed to the stock tank.


Frozen. Dammit. The solar panel was supposed to store enough energy that this didn’t happen, and it was the fourth time it’d happened this winter. He dug through the snow until he unearthed the crowbar he’d left for just this purpose. He broke the top layer of ice and yanked the biggest pieces out. Thirsty cows came to drink. While Kane tried to catch his breath, he counted cattle. Seventy-five. Two were missing.


He squinted across the horizon and saw nothing but acres of white. He hoped the cows were hunkered down someplace safe and he wouldn’t find their bloated corpses come spring thaw.


Kane turned around and saw Ginger cornered by one of the more curious cows. He jogged back and came up behind it, slapping it hard on the right flank. The old girl’s head swung round and she bellered at him. “Don’t you be getting sassy with my girl, or I’ll turn you into hamburger, you old sow.” Then he reached for Ginger’s hand and led her out of the tight mass of hungry cattle. “Let’s go. We’re done.”


“Good. I’m freezing.”


By the time they returned to the barn, over three hours had passed. And Ginger seemed grumpy.


Maybe because the sky looked to be clearing up and their alone time was coming to an abrupt halt?


He’d just have to make the next couple of hours memorable.


First thing Ginger did after peeling off the layers of clothes was check her phone.


“Any news?” Kane asked.


“One message from Hayden’s teacher. They’re opening I-25 at two this afternoon, so that’ll put them back at the school around five.”


Kane glanced at the clock. Almost eleven. “That gives us a little time.”


“All I want is time to warm up. I don’t know if I’ve ever been this cold.”



“Then you’d better strip them clothes off and crawl in bed.”


“Kane—”


He was right in her face. “No arguin’ with me. Do it. Now.”


Ginger’s hazel eyes sparked defiance for a second. But she whirled around and stomped to the bedroom. About halfway down the hallway, she tossed out, “This’d better be good, McKay.”


Any leniency he might’ve had vanished with that challenge.


He snatched a bottle of lube and his other supplies from the bathroom. He locked the bedroom door and saw the outline of her body beneath the covers. “Ginger, I’m givin’ you a choice. Handcuffs or rope?”


Slowly, the covers peeled back. Her hair appeared first, since it stuck straight up from static electricity. “You’re serious.”


“Yep. Choose or I will.”


Ginger smoothed her hair back and studied him. “Rope.”


Kane lifted his hand and let the length of rope dangle from his fingertips. “On your knees, arms above your head, palms on the mattress.”


It might’ve surprised him that she turned over and assumed the position without argument.


He used a slipknot to bind her wrists, a binding that’d be easy to get out of, if she knew the secret. But if she didn’t, well, that gave him more time to play.


“You look gorgeous, all stretched out before me.”


She didn’t respond.


“This is where you say, ‘thank you’.”


“Thank you.”


“See? That wasn’t so hard. Now widen your knees. That’s good.” Kane climbed behind her. He skimmed his hands over her body, starting at the crease where her ass met her thigh, and moving up her back. “You are cold.” He levered his fully clothed body over her naked form. He placed a kiss on her nape, loving how quickly goose bumps bloomed across her skin.