Page 85 of Dusty Spur Ranch Cowboys
He smiles. “I’ve hauled hay bales heavier than you.”
“That almost sounded charming.”
“I’ll work on my delivery.”
A laugh escapes before I can stop it.
He smirks. “I was beginning to think the smoke had scared your sense of humor clean off.”
Fire engines sweep through the front gate with sirens echoing across the valley, and flashing lights flicker over the ranch as we make our way toward the house.
Smoke clings to our clothes when we step through the mudroom, and Emmett guides me into the kitchen before pulling out a chair. “Sit.”
“You’ve become awfully bossy.”
“I’ve earned it.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve argued with every instruction I’ve given you.”
He disappears down the hallway, returning a minute later with a first-aid kit tucked beneath one arm, a towel over his shoulder, and a bowl of cool water balanced in one hand.
I arch an eyebrow. “You’re prepared.”
“I live with Sadie. If I waited until after an injury to look for supplies, she’d probably fix me herself with glue and optimism.”
“I almost want to see that.”
“You really don’t.” He sets everything on the table before crouching in front of me, bringing himself to my eye level as though he doesn’t want me feeling cornered. “This’ll sting.”
“I’ve survived Willy’s cooking.”
He eases my hand into the cool water, and the burning lessens enough that I finally unclench my jaw. “Better?”
“I hate how effective you are.”
“I’ll treasure that compliment.”
His thumb stays beneath my wrist as he supports it without squeezing too tightly, as though he doesn’t want to risk hurting me any more than I already am.
The touch catches me off guard because I can’t remember the last time anyone treated me with that kind of care, like my pain matters enough to handle gently.
I meet his gaze. “You’ve done this a lot.”
He nods. “Ranch life helps, but Sadie deserves most of the credit.”
“Accident prone?”
“Creative.”
I laugh. “That’s a dangerous answer.”
“The week before school started she convinced herself she’d invented a faster way to climb a fence.”
“I’m guessing she hadn’t.”
“She reached the top, but forgot she’d also need a faster way down.” He finishes the bandage and turns my hand over, checking every finger before giving a satisfied nod. “Can you move them?”
