Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(96)

He stumbled backward over an old milking stool and landed on his butt. He couldn’t speak because he wanted to throw up.


“Carter? You okay, bud?”


“I have to get rid of them.”


His brothers exchanged a look. Cord said, “Get rid of what?”


“The pictures of Macie.” He pointed to a stack of frames against the far wall. “There are more like that.”


“More?”


“They were gonna be part of my show. The biggest part.”


“You’re f*ckin’ kiddin’, right?”


His bleary-eyed gaze zoomed to Colby. “No.”


Colby stared at him in silence for several seconds. “There are things between a man and woman that should stay private, and I ain’t just talkin’ about sex. Lines you don’t cross. Stuff you don’t share with nobody.”


“I didn’t get it until now.”


“At least you figured it out before you put up them pictures. I see they didn’t teach you everything in college.”


“I know it’s stupid, but I’m just so crazy in love with her I wanted everyone to know it. To see how lucky I am. To brag that this…perfect woman is mine. That she picked me.


That she loves me.”


“What do you care that the whole world knows that?” Colt said. “Jeez, Carter, the only important thing is you know.”


Colby and Cord both gave Colt an odd look.


“I-I have to get rid of them. Burn them. But I don’t know if I can. Because it is her, lookin’ at me, and it’d be like I was destroyin’ her or a part of her…”


Cord’s gaze hooked his. For once no accusation or condescension burned in his eyes.


Just compassion. “I’ll do it.”


Carter nodded. “Thanks. I have to make this right. I don’t even know where to start.”


“A shower would be good,” Colt suggested


“Then I’m thinking you need to eat a helping of crow.” Colby grinned and smacked Carter on the back. Hard. “A big helping of Big Crow.”


Carter groaned. “No. Anything but that.”


“Look at it this way, at least your face ain’t gonna look any worse when he gets through with you this time.”


Chapter Thirty-eight


Gemma sagged against Cash as they watched Carter McKay’s pickup zip down the gravel road. “You okay?”


“Yeah.”


His arms tightened around her but he said nothing for several minutes. Finally, he kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad Macie wasn’t wrong in fallin’ for him. I’d hate to think…”


She waited for a response that was a long time in coming. “Hate to think what?” she prompted.


“That my daughter would believe all men she allowed in her life would let her down at some point. God knows I did.”


“Cash, you’re working on changing that. Macie knows you’re trying, that’s why she’s sticking around. Even before Carter showed up full of apologies, you and I both knew Macie wasn’t goin’ nowhere. She wants to be in your life. She wants to count on you. We both know that kinda trust ain’t gonna happen overnight. Nothin’ worthwhile ever does.”


He sighed. “I hope they can work it out. My girl deserves a chance at happiness.”


“Speaking of chances… I was a little surprised you didn’t bust Carter’s chops and gave him a second chance.”


“Takes a big man to admit he was wrong. Takes a bigger man to apologize and swear to make it right. Besides, where would any of us be without second chances, eh?”


Gemma knew the smartest thing she’d done was taking a chance with her heart, and getting a second chance at love. “Every day you give me a new reason to love you, Cash.”


“I still think I got the better end of the deal. You see the best in situations and people, not the worst. How you saw beyond a vagabond rodeo Indian cowboy with ties to nothingand no one—”



Gemma spun in his arms. “I saw a good man with a good heart. I still see that.” She kissed his chin. “Neither one of us is perfect. We’ve both been rode hard by life; we’ve got a lot of miles on us. But we ain’t used up yet.”


“Thank God. The way I look at it, we have a good forty or fifty years left together.”


He waggled his eyebrows beneath his Stetson. “So, purty boss lady, you wanna mess around a little before we start chores?”


“Always. But there is one thing I want to talk to you about.”


“Sounds serious.”


“It is. I want to stop using condoms. I don’t like the damn things.”


Cash went utterly still before he leaned down and locked his gaze to hers. “What are you sayin’, Gem?”


“If I get pregnant, then I get pregnant. If I don’t, it wasn’t meant to be. I know I’m old and the risks are huge, but I kinda feel like this might be a second chance for both of us.”