Part 9 (1/2)
Chapter Nine.
Drew heard the slam of a door somewhere downstairs and groaned. She stiffly rolled out of the bed. She had been in it too long. She needed to get up and do something, or she'd lose some of her flexibility. It wouldn't matter how much the men fussed, she wasn't going back to sleep until she had done something worthwhile.
She made her way to the shower, cursing her stiff muscles. The hot water in the shower did wonders for her, and she felt almost her old self again afterward. She dressed and walked down the stairs to find Marshall staring at the coffee pot, waiting on it to finish brewing.
”Was that you slamming the door?” she asked.
It startled him, and he jumped a little then turned around.
”s.h.i.+t, sorry. I forgot you were sleeping. Jeb's going to have my hide for waking you up.”
”I was already up and getting in the shower, so you didn't bother me,” she lied.
He looked relived to be let off the hook.
”Want some coffee?” He pulled a second cup from the cabinet at her nod.
”Shouldn't you be getting into bed instead of drinking coffee?”
”I'm still up for another twenty five, thirty minutes. Besides, it never has affected me that way. I can drink a pot of it before bed and sleep just fine.” He grinned at her and poured her some.
She took it from his hands and smiled a little at the touch of his skin along her fingers. While she had loved having Jeb with her in bed once she'd gotten over being mad, she had still missed Marshall being there, too. She would take time to study all of it later but not right now. Right now, she would enjoy it while it lasted.
”Let's go sit on the couch and check the weather.” Marshall ushered her into the living room toward the couch.
They sat down and Marshall turned on the TV. He flipped the channels until he came to the weather channel.
”I'm a.s.suming everything is still fine with the ranch. You would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?”
”Everything's fine. The weather is clearing off, and it feels like the temperatures are rising some.”
”Shh, here's the weather.”
They listened to the promise of sunny skies for the next few days, but the temperatures would remain in the single digits during the day. Some of the snow would melt at those temperatures.
”Great, as soon as we can get out the drive, we need to make a trip into town to load up on things. I guess you and Jeb need to check in with the sheriff as well.”
”One of us will go with you, and then the other will go with Kenny the next day. We aren't leaving Kenny here by himself while there is someone out there s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around.” Marshall had draped his arm around the back of the couch, and now he rubbed her shoulder with his hand.
”I guess that sounds like a good idea.” She sighed. ”I wish we could figure out who it is and put a stop to this.”
”We will. It just takes time.”
Drew pushed off of Marshall's knee and the couch to stand up. She needed to do something, so she would cook a stew. They could all eat off of it all during the night and the next day. Plus, she was going to talk to Jeb about letting her pair up with one of them and help make rounds. She felt fine, and the b.u.mp on her head was going down. She winced when she felt of it. If it hurts, don't touch it, stupid.
”What are you doing?” Marshall asked when she pulled out a big pot and set it on the stove.
”I'm going to make a stew that we can all eat on as we get hungry. It can warm on the stove for hours before it will get too old to eat.”
”Need help?” he asked.
”Nope. Think I can handle this just fine.” She grinned at him.
”I'm going to go on up to bed, then. You can join me later if you feel tired.” He waggled his brows.
Drew felt the telltale heat of her blush creep up her neck and cheeks. Marshall chuckled and walked out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, she heard him clomp up the stairs.
He had no idea how enticing that sounded to her. She wanted him, and she wanted Jeb, both separately and together. Yep, she was a s.l.u.t. She sighed and concentrated on cooking for the next thirty minutes. About the time she'd finished and put the lid on the pot, Jeb stomped on the back porch then walked into the mudroom and peeled out of his hat, coat, scarf, gloves, and boots. He walked sock-footed into the kitchen.
”d.a.m.n, something smells good.” He walked over and sniffed over her shoulder as she set the spoon on the spoon rest.
”It's stew, but it won't be ready for about forty-five minutes. If you're hungry, I can fix a sandwich now.” She moved toward the fridge to get out the fixings for a sandwich, but Jeb stopped her.
”No, thanks. I'm not hungry right now. I'll wait for the stew.” He sighed and pulled her into his arms. ”What are you doing out of bed?”
”Jeb, I can't stay in that bed another minute. I'm fine. The b.u.mp is going down, and I want to help. I can make rounds with one of you, and that way everyone will get at least six hours of sleep.”
”Absolutely not!” He pulled back from her and held her by the upper arms. ”You could get hurt again. I'm not taking a chance.”
”Might I remind you that I'm the owner, and you're the foreman? We had this discussion. I'm boss down here, and you're the boss up there. Remember?” She smiled a wide, fierce smile.
”d.a.m.n it, Drew.” He let go of her and made a little circle with his hands, brus.h.i.+ng through his hair in obvious exasperation. ”You just won't see reason, will you?”
”I've been taking care of this ranch and myself for four long years without your help. I can handle myself. With one of you with me, I'll be fine.” Drew crossed her arms over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
Jeb huffed and puffed and finally gave in. She saw it the second he did. His face changed from one of outrage to one of resignation. She smiled but kept it to a bare minimum, not wanting to gloat and p.i.s.s him off again.
”Fine. You'll be with me. Marshall and Kenny will work together. I don't trust that you won't get your way with Marshall, using your feminine wiles on him.”
”Great. Do we go out now or later?”
”In about an hour. I just checked everyone. Nothing going on out there. Snow's stopped, and the temperatures have warmed up slightly.”
”Marshall and I watched the weather earlier.” She repeated the forecast and grabbed Jeb's hand to pull him to the sofa where they could watch TV for a while.
Jeb immediately pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He took what he wanted. He wasn't one to beat around the bush. She opened to him immediately, craving what he had. His tongue slid alongside hers, then brushed against the roof of her mouth and around her teeth before it coaxed hers into his mouth. She sparred with him for dominance, but in the end, he sucked her tongue into his mouth and bit it. Drew yelped but grinned when he let go of it.
”We have plenty of time for more. Let's go upstairs and wake Marshall up.” Drew giggled, grabbing his arm.
”Whoa, he needs his sleep. Besides, you don't know how cranky he gets when he doesn't get enough.”
”I'll kiss him and make it better,” she teased.
”What in the h.e.l.l has gotten into you today?” he asked with the beginnings of a smile.
”You and Marshall.”
She all but pulled him up the stairs behind her and burst into her room only to find the bed empty. Marshall wasn't in her bed. He'd gone back to his room. She deflated a little bit and frowned.