Chapter Twenty

Cricket

B oston whinnied his impatience, so Jase slid his stall door open and walked toward the exit. Boston followed like a puppy and I held Hank’s reins tight as I followed them. Walking into the arena, Jase closed the gate and left Boston standing in the middle. Boston was having none of it. He followed, going so far as to settle his head on Jase’s shoulder. “Buddy, I know you missed me, but I gotta help Cricket. Do I have to tie you?”

Boston blew air out and threw his head up and down. I watched in fascination as the two seemed to have a conversation. “Stay,” Jase said.

After making sure Boston stayed where he was, Jase made his way to me, adjusted the strap around Hank’s waist, then faced me. “You ready?”

“Not in the least.”

“You want to try and mount your horse?”

“Not in the least,” I repeated.

Jase grinned and wrapped an arm around my waist, leaning down to kiss me gently. “You’re gonna do great. Face the saddle, left hand on the horn and lift your left leg.”

I did as he instructed, my body shaking with fear.

“When I lift you, swing your right leg over. Make sense?”

“In theory.”

“Okay, on three. One, two, three.” He lifted me, and I threw my right leg over… exactly like I did when getting on a motorcycle. Hank didn’t move, which made this whole thing a hell of a lot easier. “Good job, baby.”

Jase helped me adjust my stirrups, then settled my feet where they should be, patting my leg as he smiled up at me from the ground. “How do you feel?”

“A bit like I’m on a really big Harley.”

“Not a whole lotta difference,” he said. “I think you’ll like it just as much.”

“We’ll see,” I said.

“I’m going to watch you walk around a bit before I get on Boston. He and I are gonna hang in the middle and I’m going to have you go around us. Okay?”

I nodded, and my lesson commenced.

“You’re a natural,” he announced after about twenty minutes or so.

“This is actually kind of fun.”

“Told ya.”

I nodded. “You did. And it’s so nice that you’re not rubbing that in my face right now. You are such a good man, Jase.”

“Thanks for noticin’.”

I rolled my eyes. “What now?”

He mounted Boston like he was stepping onto an escalator, gathering his reins in his right hand. “Follow me. We’ll go slow. ”

“We better go slow, ’cause if I fall off, I will kill you.”

He grinned and led Boston to the arena gate, leaning down to open it, then walking out. My horse followed without me having to guide him, which helped me relax a little. It was almost as though Hank was assuring me that he had me and I was safe.

The ranch backed up to protected forest trails and I was in awe as we rode through the foliage. It was several degrees cooler under the shelter of the trees, and I was super glad I’d worn a jacket. Jase pointed out some of his favorite side trails that he promised to take me on when we had more time, and by the time we started our loop back to the barn, I was kind of bummed the ride was ending so soon. It was a beautiful day, with a gorgeous man, and I didn’t want it to end.

We reached the end of the trail and Jase brought Boston to a gentle halt, causing Hank to follow suit. I could see the barn off in the distance, and between us was a meadow covered with small yellow flowers, with a narrow dirt path that led all the way back to the ranch.

“Let’s dismount here and walk ’em back the rest of the way. I want to show you something special,” Jase said.

He threw his leg over Boston and slid off like something out of an old western. Damn, he was sexy. I knew that after all this riding, and riding I was gonna be sore as hell in the morning, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my hands off him regardless.

“Here, let me help you down,” he said, taking a hold of Hank’s reins, and instructing me on how to properly dismount without breaking my neck.

“Great job,” he said, smiling. “See, you’re a natural.”

“I was scared out of my mind, but that was so much fun!” I said, still slightly out of breath.

At that moment I had a realization. I was vulnerable with Jase and found it easy to admit to him when I felt scared, which was rare for me. Minus , on the other hand, made me feel safe, and therefore adventurous. Both sides of his personality may prove to come in handy .

“C’mon, let’s cut over this way,” he said, leading us off the path, to a clearing near the back side of the stables. We tied the horses to a nearby hitching post and walked to a picnic table located near a large uprooted tree.

“Why are we stopping here?” I asked, and we sat down.

“First off, I wanted to show you the baby elephant tree, and I thought it’d be a nice place for us to sit and talk.”

“ Baby elephant tree ?”

“Yeah, check it out.” He pointed to the root end of the tree, which was unearthed, and on display for all to see. “See how the gnarled roots look like a baby elephant, sitting down, with it’s trunk in the air?”

Without needing to squint or use my imagination, I instantly saw the seated figure of the baby elephant, as if it was skillfully carved from the tree trunk. “Oh! I totally see it. It’s so cute.”

“Duke’s grandfather planted this tree about 120 years ago, back when this was all farmland. Apparently, the soil wasn’t particularly good for growing and sustaining crops, so when he died, and his father took it over, he turned it into a ranch and raised cattle. Within a few years, this place was one of the most profitable family owned cattle ranches in the state.”

“Where are all the cows now?” I asked.

“As you may imagine, Duke was sort of the black sheep of the family. His father was a real hard-ass, who expected his only son to follow in his footsteps. But Duke was far more interested in riding bikes than ropin’ steer, so when his father died, so did the cattle business. Duke never had any intention of being a cattle baron and sold off the remaining heads and most of the equipment days after his father’s funeral. He probably would have sold the whole ranch, if not for the horses; he’s always had a soft spot for horses.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I can sort of see why,” I said, looking over at Hank and Boston. “I just can’t imagine walking away from such a successful business.”

“Can’t you?” Jase asked. “Isn’t that exactly what you’re thinking of doing? Leaving Mann and going into business with the Saints?”

“Not really. Mann Industries isn’t my company, and my position there isn’t what I want to be doing two years from now. With the money Cutter is offering me to work with the club, I could start a business of my own, and be running my own empire in five years.”

“So, you have thought about the money?” he asked smirking.

“It’s a million dollars, Jase. Of course, I have,” I exclaimed.

“We never really talked about it, and I didn’t really want to get into it while we were at the hotel.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Let’s just say I thought it wise to avoid discussing payment for services rendered with a woman, while having sex in a hotel room.”

“You are smarter than you look.” I smiled.

“Cutter would disagree with you.” He chuckled. “It’s actually one of the reasons he wants us together on this.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Jase took my hands. “The baby elephant tree fell over ten years ago. Its environment couldn’t give it what it needed to grow and flourish, so when the strong Savannah winds came, down it went. It stood in one spot for over a hundred years, and then one day, it didn’t. Normally you’d cut a tree like that up for anything from firewood to furniture.”

“Why hasn’t Duke done that?”

“It’s too special. Duke’s grandfather planted this tree for his grandmother, his father proposed to his mother underneath it, and he proposed to Pearl—”

“Jesus, Minus,” I said, leaping to my feet. “If you’re—”

He laughed, taking my hands, and sitting me back down. “No, no, I’m not proposing. That’s not what I’m saying.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying Cutter is right. We are great together. And, I’m saying your brother is right, we’re dangerous together. Either way, we have something special and undeniable between us. Cricket, I love you. I think I always have, and I know I always will. I don’t know if you feel the same, but I told you I would be honest with you, so there it is. I love you, and I want you to be a part of my future.”

My breath left my body as he leaned in to kiss me. A flood of warmth washed over me, and I felt more connected to him than I ever had to anyone before.

“I love you, too,” I said, and he held me tighter as he deepened his kiss.

“Before you say anything more, know that I’m going to accept Cutter’s offer. I’m going to be the next president of the Burning Saints, and I’m going to run the club my way. I want you by my side, but I understand if you—”

I stopped his lips from moving with my own. I kissed him with more passion than I’d ever felt in my life. I loved Jase “Minus” Vincent freely, and with abandon. I wanted all of him, to be part of every facet of his life. If he was going to lead a motorcycle club into a new era, I wanted to do it with him, as partners.

“I’m in. Now, less talking and more kissing, you idiot.”

* * *

Minus

I could have sat there kissing her forever. In fact, I’d gladly have died right there on the spot if that moment, frozen in time, was to be my eternal reward. But I knew I had a long way to go before I’d earned my ticket out of hell, let alone a pass to heaven. Besides, I had a pressing matter I needed to discuss with Cricket.

“Hey, I’ve got something I want to give you,” I said, producing a small black box.

“I swear to God Minus…,” she began to protest.

“Would you relax?” I said, handing it to her. “It’s not an engagement ring.”

“What is it?” she asked nervously.

“Just open it, you lunatic,” I ground out, and Boston whinnied in reply. “See, even he wants you to open it.”

Cricket finally flipped the lid open and screwed up her face. “What the heck is this little thing?”

“That is a GPS tracker. Gunnach Technologies makes them. They are top of the line, super-small, undetectable to all known bug sweepers, and can be tracked via a phone app. I always want you to have this on you, so I always know where you are. After what happened with Warthog, I’m not taking any chances. I know it’s kind of creepy, but I swear I’ll only track you in case of emergencies, all right?”

“I trust you,” Cricket said.

“Good, because now I am gonna pull out a ring,” I said, and Cricket started to stiffen once again. At some point, I was going to need to know if it was the thought of marriage that made her react like a cat at bath time, or if it was the thought of marrying me specifically. “Don’t worry, it’s for the tracker. It’s an antique poison ring, and I’m going to put the tracker inside,” I said, sliding the silver ring on her delicate finger.

“It’s beautiful,” Cricket said. “Where did you get this?”

“You can thank Pearl. I asked her if she had any jewelry that could be used to hide something small, and she said this looked like something that should belong to you.”

“I’m going to start crying. It’s gorgeous, and I’ll be happy to wear it,” she said.

“Good, because I want you to leave this on whenever humanly possible. If you lose it, or it gets stolen, let me know right away, and I’ll replace it with the backup unit.”

“I understand,” she said.

“Good, let’s get the horses back, so we can get ready for dinner. Your presence has likely given Pearl an excuse to cook something special.”

“I take it that’s good news?” Cricket asked.

“No, that is very good news,” I replied and pulled her close. “Hey.”

Cricket smiled up at me. “Hey.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Just checkin’.”

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me gently. “Can’t wait to get you naked later.”

“We’ll make dinner quick.”

She laughed, and we headed back to the barn.