Authors: Esther E. Schmidt

Cyrus: Swamp Heads (7 page)

BOOK: Cyrus: Swamp Heads

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Anger, lust and sadness swirl together in my brain. Anger for his actions, lust from his last words of promise, and sadness because I have no idea how to handle this. Do I let him back inside? Should I trust him ever again with my heart?

Swallowing hard, I don’t turn but place one foot in front of the other. Reaching the gate, I grab my keys and get inside. A car door slams and that’s the moment I dare to look in his direction. Only to see his car drive off.

Chapter 07

I’m holding on to the rope as I’m standing in the water. All the gator’s teeth are showing even with the rope that’s wrapped around his jaws. I need to get the second rope around him too so I can pull him out of the water.

Just as I guide the long stick with the rope, I get it in place as he starts his death roll. Yeah, buddy… I got ya, not getting out of this one. I hold on to the rope with both hands, ignoring the burn in one of my hands, I brace myself as I walk back to drag the gator with me out of the water.

Feeling heat at my back, I don’t even have to turn around to know who’s behind me. The freakin’ idiot has made it his goal to bug me on a daily basis. It doesn’t help that Chester, his brother, is in on things. As is the rest of my whole freakin’ staff.

He wormed his way into their hearts just like he’s still in mine. Except I don’t want, scratch that,
need
him in there. It’s been three weeks and my anger still flares up every now and then. I’ve but spoken a hand full of words to him. Growls like; go away, leave, and no are the only things he gets out of me before I walk away.

Yet, he still keeps popping up. Like two weeks ago when Danssel showed up and started shouting about how he would ruin me. Cyrus pushed me behind his back and punched Danssel in the jaw. Then, just like you see in the movies, he went and grabbed him by the back of his belt and fisted his hand in his neck and shirt and threw his ass out the gate like he was emptying a bucked filled with horse shit. He waited for Danssel to turn over in the mud before Cyrus swore he would kill him if he ever came here or contacted me in any way.

I have to admit; my panties were wet seeing him step up for me. Although my only reply to him was ‘I could have handled it myself’. He just endures my nastiness and grovels. I don’t need the distraction. I work with gators. One in fact that’s snapping his teeth very close to me right now. I jump over as I turn and sit on his back. The gator is out of the water and I place one hand on his head and slide down to shut his jaw slowly. Reaching back to grab my knife, I cut the rope from around his upper jaw.

Putting the knife away to free my hand, I grab a roll of electrical tape from my pocket. Tugging the beginning between my teeth so I have a leader I lean forward and grab the gator’s jaws in my hand and guide his head up. One of my knees is still on his back, holding him in place as my other foot is standing next to the gator’s front claw.

Taping up, I hear Cyrus’ annoying voice. “Why the hell do you keep doing this shit alone? I told you to make this a two-man job.”

I’ve tried ignoring his ass for these last three weeks, but nothing seems to help so I might as well give up and treat him like every other person around here. I didn’t hire him nor is he part of the volunteer group, he’s just here.
All. The. Damn. Time.

“Because…I wouldn’t get a lick of work done if I schedule these things as a two-
man
job.” My voice is lacking emotion.

And yes, I emphasize the man part since that’s what he’s after. He wants me out of the danger zone. Not gonna happen. It’s my freaking company and I’ve been doing this since I learned to walk. My mom started this company. She was a woman who kicked ass and so am I, so I can freakin’ well do this job like she did all those years.

He grabs the rope that’s around the gator’s neck and pulls him up to the board that’s against the truck. I can easily do the job but I let Cyrus put the animal that needs to be relocated onto the truck while I reach for a towel.

I’ve opened up a cut I have on my hand. I got it three days ago when my knife slipped away and I wanted to catch it. Stupid, I know. It’s not that deep but with the work I do and the spot, it’s hard to close and will take forever to heal. Right now it’s bleeding again. Grabbing a water bottle from the front seat I wash it off. I see Cyrus’s leather gloves fall to the ground before he takes my hand in his.

“You’ve ripped it open again,
dagnammit
.” His voice sounds like the pain that’s throbbing through my hand.

I’m so tired between fighting him, handling the renovation and running the farm. Leaning my body against the truck, I just let him take over.

He lets go of my hand and reaches for the first aid kit inside the truck. Gently, he cleans up the wound. Well I have to give him some credit for the effort because the sting of the antiseptic has me cursing out loud.

He chuckles as he bandages up. “Lord, how I love your mouth,
Ma Poupée
.”

My body shivers at his words and I lie to myself that it’s the exhaustion in me. My eyes go to his lips and then his eyes and his gaze is locked on mine. It’s like everything arounds us falls away. His hands find my head and he eliminates the tiny amount of space between our lips.

My hands reach for his chest and I curl my fists into his shirt to pull him closer. The painful sting in my hand makes me hiss and pull back. The bandage is already showing the blood seeping through.

He brushes his thumb along my cheek before his hand leaves my face and his arm wraps around my waist. He pulls me against his body and shelters me in his embrace.

I feel his chest ramble out the words. “I’m sure you see this as a glitch triggered by exhaustion, because I could see it flashing through your eyes a moment ago, but that shit isn’t going to fly. You effin well know how good we are together.”

He’s right, on both accounts. Looking back, he’s even right about tricking me into spending time together. I never would have given him,
us
, a chance if he didn’t. Instead of going against him, I should be thankful he took a chance to get to know me.

Me. The one with the scars on her face and the rough mouth, always pushing people away. Always hiding and not fully living. He gave my Pa back the house even before he knew we’d get along or not. To be honest… he stole my heart and never gave it back.

“I know.” The second I breathe out the words, he pulls me back and his intense gaze locks with mine.

Tears glimmer in his eyes and his voice cracks. “For real?”

Lifting my hand to his soft beard I swipe my thumb along his cheek to wipe away the tear that falls. My breath hitches at the emotion that’s clear as day on his face. I’d be stupid to abandon and deny both our feelings while they run so deep inside each of us.

Instead of giving him words that I can’t seem to find, I kiss him again and try to avoid using my wounded hand. He pushes me back, caging me between his body and the truck.

He pulls back and the fierceness displayed on his face should frighten me, except it feels so right. “You have to realize; this is it. I’m never letting you go.
You’re mine now. Forever
.”

He makes me giggle before I can even reply to the promise in his words. “That almost sounds like a marriage proposal there, Mudfoot.”

He doesn’t even blink before he shoots back, “Maybe it is.”

I roll my eyes. “Careful there, Mudfoot. I might say yes.”

“You just did.” He growls as he takes my mouth in a kiss that assures me he is going to treasure me for years and years to come.

THE END

Stay tuned for the next book in the swamp series;

“Elsie” Swamp Heads #2

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