The stricken expression on Gary’s features was worth the late-night aggravation.
“What’s with this guy?” Ben asked.
Ashton turned away to speak to him privately. “He and I went to high school together. Gary was the kind of guy most of the kids hated. His dad had a huge ranch on the other side of town, and he always thought that made him better than everyone else.” He leaned closer. “Gary had new cars and plenty of money… until his dad drank away everything. The ranch didn’t survive, but Gary still wants to believe that the sun rises and sets on his lily-white, flat, uninteresting ass.”
“I see.”
Flashing lights appeared in the distance and the sheriff pulled into the driveway in his mammoth SUV and parked near the trucks.
“What mess have you gotten yourself in for this time?” Sheriff Holmes asked Gary.
“I needed to check the horses,” he said feebly, handing him the paper.
Holmes looked at it and handed it back. “You sure as hell don’t have to do it at eleven at night, and you certainly don’t need a horse trailer.” He was pissed as hell, probably because he’d been at home in bed and had been called out into this cold mess.
“He can go ahead and check the horses… and then I’m pressing charges for attempted robbery. He fully intended to take my horses regardless of what he was authorized to do.” Ashton crossed his arms over his chest and winked at Ben, who smiled back. “I’m tired of his shit. Let him cool off behind bars until Cheryl comes to bail his ass out.”
“He can’t do that—” Gary protested.
“Actually, he can. You brought a bulldozer to do a shovelful of work at nearly midnight. I’d say that’s suspicious enough. Now let’s look at those horses, and then we can get you tucked into a nice, warm jail cell.”
Ben snickered. “The sheriff is enjoying this, isn’t he?” he whispered. “How much longer do we need to be here? I’d like to get back to what we were doing.”
And just like that, Ashton could hardly wait to get the hell out of there.
“How about he checks the horses, gets his ass out of here, and writes a letter of apology to me, as well as to you for getting you out here at this time of night? Maybe you could put it up on the wall of your office for everyone to see?” Ashton asked Sheriff Holmes, who smiled. “Then we can all go home.”
The sheriff turned to Gary, who seemed less likely to faint by the second. “I also want to know the basis of this complaint. Ashton treats his horses like a part of his family, and the whole town knows it.” He stepped out of the way. “Gary, get on with your checking. Then you have one day to write two appropriately apologetic letters where you eat a ton of crow. And when we get back to town, you’ll tell me all about this anonymous tip, or I’ll take you in while your wife and kids watch.” The sheriff was obviously pissed.
Gary turned ghostly white, then stomped off with him toward the barn. A few minutes later he came out, mumbling under his breath because everything was just as it should be.
APPARENTLY THE sheriff thought that was enough for now, and Ashton watched Gary get into his truck. He motioned to the guys to move the vehicles, and Gary turned out of the barnyard.
“What do you think that was about?” Reg asked from behind him. “That guy is squirrely as all hell.”
“Always was.” Ashton turned to Ben, wondering if he might have some insight. “It was probably Henderson just causing trouble, but… do you think Dallas might have had something to do with it?” He figured it was best to cover all the bases.
Ben shrugged. “I doubt it. Dallas is more likely to take care of things in a more hands-on way. I don’t really see him making this kind of nuisance phone call. It’s not his style at all.” He relaxed a little and moved into Ashton’s personal space. “Come on. Let’s get you back to the house. I can tell that all of my hard work has been undone.”
“We got this,” Lucy told him.
Ashton got into his truck, letting his guys do their work. Then he drove back to the house with Ben, his leg throbbing the whole time. He was used to dealing with the cold winters in Wyoming, but they did a number on the muscles in his leg.
“Should I make some tea?” Ashton asked once they were inside.
“Not for me,” Ben said softly, his voice filling with doubt as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Look, I need to go to bed, and so do you. If you aren’t up for anything, that’s fine. I know you’re tired. Go ahead and make your tea. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He went down the hall, and Ashton wondered what he’d done. He decided that tea wasn’t necessary and went to his room.
Unlike before, Ben wasn’t waiting for him in the bed, and Ashton looked around just to make sure he hadn’t missed something. “Ben?” he said softly, walking into the hallway. Ben appeared in the door of the living room, wearing just a pair of boxers. “What’s going on?”
“I figured you were tired,” Ben said. “I wasn’t going to force myself on you or just assume that I should be in your bed. And then you wanted tea, so I figured you were looking for something to do other than just go to bed, so….” He shrugged.
Ashton leaned against the wall, then moved closer to Ben. “I want you in my bed. Okay? If I gave you a different impression, it wasn’t intentional. I just thought something hot might take some of the chill away.”
Ben came over and wrapped his arms around Ashton’s neck, pressing his body against him. “Is this hot enough? If you need some more, that can most definitely be arranged.”
Ashton nodded, kissing Ben hard enough that he nearly lost his balance.
“Come on. Let’s get you someplace where I can get you good and warm,” Ben said, taking him by the hand.
Once in the bedroom, Ashton got out of his clothes and under the covers. His leg ached, but that wasn’t important at the moment. He was much more interested in the warmth Ben was throwing off and the way his hands slid over Ashton’s chest. Ashton shifted to put an arm around Ben, and they both sighed. “Maybe this isn’t the best idea right now.” Fatigue and coming down from the night’s excitement had taken their toll on him. “I’m sorry.”
Ben scooted closer. “Don’t be. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since someone just wanted to sleep with me, without sex being involved?” He snuggled right up to Ashton, and Ashton closed his eyes, listening to Ben breathe softly. But as tired as he was, sleep didn’t come to him right away. He worried for Ben and for himself, wondering exactly what was going on and how he was going to keep Ben and everyone on the ranch safe.
Chapter 5
BEN SLEPT deep and hard, warm and comfortable in Ashton’s arms. He woke when it was still dark and slipped out of bed to get a drink of water. The house was cold, and he hurried back under the covers.
Ashton rolled onto his side, pulling him closer. Warmth surrounded him, and Ben went right back to sleep, something he wouldn’t have done before. When he was with Dallas, in his bed, he never slept because he never knew what he’d wake up to—including being secured and alone, not knowing why, or when Dallas would return. And all of it just because Dallas could do what he wanted. If Ben tried to stand up to him, the next time was worse.