Rocky Mountain Freedom (29 page)

Her friend’s face lit up. “You bet. Actually, could I get a copy maybe? Something to email to Joel?”

“I can go one step better. I’ll take some pictures you can use for a special present for him—when you finish this summer, or maybe Christmas or something. Would you like that?”

Ashley found herself being impulsively hugged. “I would…” Vicki paused, setting Ashley free and stepping back slightly. “It makes me happy to think you’re going to be around Rocky. I’m glad I came out to cook for the summer, but when I go back home I won’t just have Joel, I’ll have you. That’s pretty huge for me.”

Warmth she hadn’t expected struck, and Ashley squeezed Vicki’s hand. “Means a lot to me as well. And I’m not saying that because I love your baking.”

Vicki’s smile turned to instant dismay. “Oh, shit—
baking
. I’ve got cookies in the oven.”

She whirled and sprinted back to the cookhouse. Ashley laughed as she pulled out her camera and headed around camp for another round of shots.

So far hanging out at the horse camp had worked well. The distraction of the guys had been lovely, but she was also getting tons accomplished. The first of her paid projects had been handed in the previous Friday. There were two more sets of digital work to finish over the next month, including promo brochures for Karen, and then she’d switch focus to more hands-on painting.

She figured once she went back to Rocky she’d toss herself full-time into producing everything she’d need for her show. Starting in August would be soon enough, giving her all of July to finish gathering material.

Including, if she had her way, not only shots of Vicki, but of Cassidy and Travis as well.

Inside the hall the ladies getting organized for this week’s excursion had gathered around the wall map. Dani explained the layout of the camp and some of the trails they’d be taking over the week. Chatter was brisk, laughter bubbling up often in the group of friends.

Cassidy carried in a basket filled with extra gear, and the mood in the room subtly changed. Something rolled uncomfortably in Ashley’s gut, and she sat back to figure it out.

Such small things, really. Normal reactions that never in a million years would have bothered her before. A couple of the women smiled in Cassidy’s direction, and he nodded back politely.

A lingering glance, a whispered conversation between two of the ladies as they eyed him…

For a second Ashley swore something foul had flown into her mouth. The realization she was experiencing jealousy didn’t make it much better.

She didn’t
want
other women admiring Cassidy. Or flirting with him, or—yet there was nothing specific she could complain about because none of their behaviour was wrong, rude or extreme.

In fact, with the sexual norms she’d grown up around, if Cassidy wanted to take the lot of them on, who was she to argue? A couple of months ago, Ashley might not have noticed.

But now? The idea of clawing the other women’s eyes out was far too pleasurable.

She pushed herself off the wall without thinking and headed across the room.

“Will you be one of the guides for the ride?” one woman asked Cassidy.

“Afraid not. But you’ll have the rest of the team to help you out.” Cassidy pointed toward the hands.

The woman who’d spoken smiled sweeter. “We might need extra attention this time around. You should consider coming along.”

He didn’t get a chance to answer. Ashley slipped between them and casually wrapped herself around his hard torso. “Hey, babe, I’m having trouble with the power in our cabin again. When you’re done with the campers, can you come help me?”

Surprise widened his eyes as his hands instinctively curled around her waist. “Ashley?”

She tilted her head back and went up on tiptoe to kiss him full on the lips. Even if it was brief, it was intimate enough to stake her claim. When she pulled back and slipped out of his arms, she took in the watching campers as if noticing them for the first time. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interrupted. Have fun on your trip. The weather is supposed to be super nice while you’re gone.”

Moments later she’d escaped into the hallway where she slumped against the wall and kicked herself. Dumb. Stupid. Idiotic.

Not what she’d just done, hanging all over Cassidy in public, but getting possessive in the first place.

She’d never been the jealous type, but there was a very pronounced sensation inside—and she wasn’t sure if it only was from wanting to stamp
property of
labels all over the man. Because she wanted to label Travis with the same tag, and how messed up was that when she really thought it through?

The door opened and a pair of concerned-filled green eyes trapped her. “Ashley? What’s up?”

She wiggled uncomfortably. Shit. She wasn’t going to get time to come up with a good excuse for her behaviour. “I’m sorry.”

Cassidy was at her side in a couple of steps, lifting her chin and forcing her to look at him. “Now I know something is wrong. Are you hiding from me?”

“I’m pissed off at myself,” she whispered, curling her fingers around his biceps. She stiffened her spine and admitted the truth, as embarrassing as it was. “And yet I’m not. Kissing you in public was my version of waving a big ol’ warning flag.”

Luckily he grinned, leaning over her with one hand on either side of her head. “I thought it was pretty hot, actually. You have nothing to worry about, woman. I’m not interested in kissing anyone other than you…”

He paused. Made a face.

Ashley laughed softly. “…and Travis. I know. It’s a fucked-up situation, but damn if I can complain too hard. I like being with you guys.”

“We like you too.
I
like you.” Cassidy pressed her to the wall and kissed her. Far more commanding than her gentle peck moments earlier. This one demanded a response, and oh boy, she answered. Tongues tangling, her grip tightening on his arms as he slowly rocked against her.

Guilt at her earlier actions faded under the best kind of distraction possible.

The kitchen door to their right slammed shut, jerking Cassidy away from her lips. He sighed. “I suppose I’d better get back to work.”

Ashley slid her hands up to his shoulders then down his back slowly, appreciating every second of touching him. “We can pick this up again tonight,” she suggested.

“Once the campers are gone? Hmm, great idea.” He brushed her hair off her forehead and tucked it behind one ear. “Now, stop distracting me. Between you and Travis, it’s a miracle I get any work done at all.”

Ashley waited until he’d paced out the main door, mostly so she could watch his ass while he strode away.

The scent of peanut butter cookies drew her toward the kitchen, and she slipped in to discover Vicki glaring at the cooling racks as if they were possessed.

“Did you burn the cookies? They smell good,” Ashley reassured her.

The look of disdain previously aimed at the baked goods whipped upward. Vicki crossed her arms and managed to look far more intimidating than her five-foot-nothing height should. “You…”

She made a disgusted noise and stomped to the fridge.

Ashley paused.
Okay
—this was not the happy, friendly woman she’d been talking with less than fifteen minutes earlier. “Me…
what
? What did I do?”

Vicki spun to face her. “I saw you in the hallway with your tongue down Cassidy’s throat,” she blurted out. She slapped her oven gloves against her leg. “God, if you’ve had enough of Travis, at least have the decency to call it off with him before you start fooling around with anyone else.”

Shit. Ashley kicked herself for not dealing with this sooner. “It’s not what you think.”

“No? Because it’s fine with Travis for you to be kissing Cassidy?” Vicki snapped.

“Actually—yeah.”

Vicki’s face was priceless. Her expression went from furious to confused to understanding then embarrassment in under fifteen seconds. “Oh,
jeez
, I should have known. Damn Coleman boys and their kinks.” Vicki shook her head in disbelief. “They’re both sleeping with you, aren’t they?”

Plus a bit more, but the “bit more” wasn’t Ashley’s to share. “Yes, I’m with both of them, and they’re okay with that.” She snuck forward a little more hesitantly. She and Vicki had a budding friendship, and she really didn’t want to ruin it. “Are you upset with me?”

Vicki shook her head. “I just…” Her cheeks had gone bright red. “I’ve got to be the most naïve person on the entire goddamn planet. Does everyone have threesomes or something?”

“I highly doubt it,” Ashley reassured her. “And I didn’t plan on this one, it kind of happened. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Travis.”

Two cookies were held toward her. “Here, peace offering. Sorry for all the terrible names I was calling you in my head,” Vicki said.

Ashley took the cookies, cradling the warmth in her hand. “You might need to add a glass of milk to be truly forgiven,” she suggested. “And some more chat time, if you’re available.”

A reluctant smile broke free as Vicki pulled out a chair. “Sit, and I’ll make us chocolate milk. I’ve got enough time before lunch prep for a visit.”

“We can have our cookies, then I can help you and Ted with lunch,” Ashley offered.

Tentative friendships took nurturing. Both the sexual ones and the nonsexual. Ashley nibbled on the edge of a cookie and wondered when her life had gotten so full.

So complicated.

Chapter Twenty-One

July rushed past in a blur of activity. Campers came through on a weekly rotation; supplies arrived and were transferred from one camp to the other. Travis soaked in the pleasure of working with a group of easygoing men and women as everyone fell into a routine.

What was more incredible was the time he got to spend with Ashley and Cassidy, which was neither routine nor relaxed. He never knew what to expect with Ashley—that hadn’t changed, not even when it wasn’t just the two of them fooling around, but them with Cassidy.

There were still times when he caught a shadow in her eyes, and he figured she was thinking back to her cousin. For the most part, though, she was the life and the joy in their days. He wasn’t sure how he’d survived without having her around for so long.

Cassidy as well. Not for the
stress relief
the man offered, but for the conversations and sharing that had begun to stretch late into the evenings.

The stars were already high overhead when Travis stoked the fire then sat back to watch them closer. Cassidy strummed a simple chord pattern as Ashley accompanied him on the second guitar she’d had shipped in during a supply run. An old-fashioned folk melody wrapped around the campfire, enveloping them with its peaceful rhythm.

Cassidy still had to eye his fingers closely, but Ashley had no such limitations. A mischievous smile creased her lips as she played and watched Cassidy with approval. Travis thought both of them were incredible, firelight reflecting off their light colouring and making them shine as if under a spotlight.

Even as he admired them, Travis considered the new skills he’d learned over the past months. Maybe nothing so obvious as playing an instrument like Cassidy, but important nonetheless.

Lessons about how he could let others give to him without it meaning he was weak. He didn’t have to always be right, or be in charge, and the lessons were slowly untangling fears built during years of holding back.

Ashley turned her gaze on him, and he fell into the endless blue depths of her eyes without worrying about hiding what was inside. If what he felt showed on his face, so much the better. Caring for her had always been easy.

Letting her see it? A hell of a lot harder, but he was trying.

Cassidy strummed on after Ashley’s fingers fell silent, her stare fixed on Travis. “You got something on your mind, over there?” she teased softly.

“Thinking about you going back to Rocky. You sure you need to leave on Saturday?”

She nodded. “I know there are only a couple weeks of camp left, but I need to get going on my bigger projects. And I want to get settled into town—start making it home.”

He liked that part of her plan even as he hated the idea of her being gone. “We’ll miss you.”

Cassidy’s fingers stilled. He put the guitar away, and silence settled over them, brushing away the music. Travis understood. There wasn’t much to say beyond they didn’t want her to go.

Ashley slipped to Cassidy’s side and crawled into his lap. She rested her head on his chest and stroked his jaw gently. The fire created the music now, blending with the fainter sounds of the horses settling in the barn.

Peaceful. Relaxing.

All of it shattered in an instant.

“When you’re done here in mid-August, you coming straight to Rocky or do you have to go somewhere else first?” Ashley asked.

Cassidy didn’t answer her immediately.

She frowned. “You are coming back to Rocky, aren’t you?”

The thought that once again Cassidy had plans to disappear didn’t sit too well with Travis. “Of course, he is.”

“Didn’t have it in mind. I was thinking about heading south. I can get back on with the ranch—”