Chapter Five

Nick thought about quitting. He thought about tossing his hat out of the ring and riding off before he was able to make a complete and total ass of himself. But then again he liked working for the Atkinsons. It was better pay, better food and better people than he'd found on any other ranch he'd come across and he truly respected the woman standing in front of him giving him this impossible order.

"If Nick is busy that's okay," Aiden shrugged, clearly picking up on Nick's displeasure at Elizabeth's request for Nick to go with Aiden into town.

Nick swallowed hard and fought to appear unaffected by the sound of his name leaving Aiden's mouth. What the hell was wrong with him? Aiden was a man which probably meant he liked women. Even if by some miracle Aiden was like him that still didn't mean that Nick needed to be entertaining ideas of the two of them together. It just wasn't something that worked. Two men could not be together and be happy. Folks wouldn't allow it.

The stare that Elizabeth fixed him with made it clear that she wouldn't take no for an answer, "Nick, are you too busy to do what I need done?"

If there was one thing Nick had learned over the last few months it was that Elizabeth did not put up with anyone ignoring her orders or questioning her authority, "No, ma'am," Nick assured her.

"Good," Elizabeth turned her attention back to Aiden, "Aiden, I understand that you're a grown man and don't need a chaperone but you're also new around here. Not only that but there were a few things from my order missing and I need Nick to run by the mercantile and pick those up for me."

"Okay then," Aiden mumbled, kicking at the dirt with his scuffed boot.

"Just put your clothes on the ranch's tab at the tailor. Mr. Peabody won't have a problem with that. Make sure you get at least three outfits, a good pair of boots and some decent work gloves."

Aiden nodded and then flushed with embarrassment when his oversized hat toppled off his head and landed in the dirt. Nick stooped down and picked it up, shoving it into Aiden's chest, "A hat that fits would probably be a good idea too," Nick grumbled.

"Yeah probably," Aiden agreed as he plopped the big hat back on.

Nick looked down at those wide dark eyes that seemed so unsure of everything around them and fought the urge to hug Aiden close and assure him that everything would be okay. Nothing was ever okay so telling him that would be a lie; not to mention that Nick didn't even know the man and this urge to comfort him was not natural for Nick. He was not a comforter.

"I'll go get the cart ready," he grumbled and then stomped off toward the barn, wishing Aiden had never found his way to Bakerstown or Atkinson Spread. What was it with these Atkinson's and helping everybody anyhow?

***

Elizabeth frowned as she watched Nick storm away. It wasn't like him to be so hot tempered or angry. Never before had Elizabeth had to use her signature 'ice queen' stare on the man.

"Have the two of you disagreed on something or are you having trouble getting along?" she asked Aiden. "I know it's not my business but I don't like having the tension around the ranch."

"No, ma'am," Aiden replied and then he smiled when she gave him a droll look. "I mean no, Liz," he amended, "He just doesn't seem to like me much."

Elizabeth was wondering why that might be when Thomas and Sally came storming out of one of the barns, "Damn you, Sally Cooper! Not a damn thing I do is good enough for you is it?!" Thomas demanded loudly. Elizabeth sighed. It seemed these two lived to argue.

"Maybe if you ever did things right it would be good enough," Sally spat back.

Elizabeth glanced at Aiden and saw the man scratching at his bare forearm and seeming to wish he was anywhere other than right here. Max was also standing behind the arguing couple, rubbing at his skinny neck and appearing miserable and out of place.

"Max, why don't you go on down to the river. Nathan, Lexi and Bryant are already down there," Elizabeth offered. The boy shot her a grateful smile and then took off like a bullet.

Thomas whirled on Sally and hovered over her with his fists clenched at his side and his scarred eye jerking with tension. Sally looked equally mad with her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed, "Maybe if you weren't so damned moody then what I said wouldn't seem so bad. Ever since you got that baby in your belly you've been impossible to please!"

"Well I sure as hell didn't put it there myself!" Sally reminded him. "And when your wife is feeling fat it is not okay to agree with her!"

Thomas grumbled and threw his hands in the air, "I didn't say you were fat!"

"You didn't disagree with me when I said I was," Sally countered.

"Because any response I gave would have been the wrong one... clearly even giving no response was somehow wrong." Thomas sounded tired at this point and Elizabeth was fighting back laughter, though she did feel sorry for the man. Sally was nearly impossible on the best of days and she had become worse the last few months since getting with child.

"So this is all my fault and I'm a horrible person?"

Thomas shrugged, "You said it."

Sally screeched and shoved her finger in his face, "If I'm so horrible then why don't you just skip coming home tonight and head to the saloon instead! You always liked those women better than me anyhow!"

Elizabeth saw the anger and annoyance leave Thomas's face and become replaced with hurt and guilt. She knew it was time to step in, "That's enough, you two," she warned as she came between them. "Thomas, you head into the south field and help round up the calves for branding tomorrow." Thomas appeared as if he wanted to argue but Elizabeth pointed across the field, "Go."

Thomas stomped off with his shoulders slumped to the barn, jumped on his waiting horse and took off into the fields with a thundering of hooves.

"You coming?" Nick's voice drew Elizabeth's attention and she realized he had brought the cart up behind them and was looking down at Aiden.

Aiden swallowed hard, appearing relieved, and then hopped up into the cart beside Nick. Elizabeth sighed. Well at least one problem was now solved. Aiden no longer seemed to dread the trip to town.

She watched the two men ride off and then turned her attention back to Sally. "What is wrong with you, Sally? That last jab was a low blow and you know it."

Elizabeth was surprised when Sally's anger whooshed out of her with a breath and she appeared to deflate right before her eyes. Suddenly she just looked tired. "This baby is going to be the death of me, Liz. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I just pace the floors and vomit and yell and vomit and cry and vomit—"

"I get the picture," Elizabeth assured her. "But that's still no reason to be so mean to Thomas. He tries to take care of you."

"I know he does...."

"So what was wrong this morning? It wasn't just the baby that was getting to you, there's something else."

Sally sighed and laid her hands over her slightly rounded stomach, "Thomas got a letter about three days ago."

Elizabeth nodded. She remembered Frank bringing it to the ranch, "And?"

"Apparently he had an uncle that he didn't know about and this uncle died recently and left Thomas a ranch. A big ranch. Just as big as Atkinson Spread, perhaps bigger."

"Well that's wonderful news, Sally! Where is this ranch? Have I heard of it?"

"Probably not, Liz. It's in Wyoming."

"Oh."

Sally rolled her blue eyes and nodded, "Yeah. So Thomas said he's not going to go claim the ranch because he doesn't want to force me to leave home," Sally appeared to be near tears. "But I can tell he really wants to go, Liz. I can see it in his eyes. I know why. I know he wants to have something that is his. Something that he can pass on to our children; a legacy."

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment and then she smiled and took Sally's hands, "I can't tell you what decision to make, Sally. All I can say is that you have to do what feels right. Texas holds bad memories for Thomas. You know that as well as I do. Wyoming could be where y'all build a life together free of the past that haunts him."

"But we'll never see you all again," Sally whispered.

"Of course you will!" Elizabeth exclaimed with a laugh. "It's Wyoming, not the moon. The two of you need to sit down and talk--I said talk not argue--about this tonight. Whatever choice you make you know you will always have a place to come back to here. This ranch is yours too."

Sally seemed to be in better spirits and she smiled gratefully, "Thank you, Liz."

"Mommy!" Seven year old Lexi came running around the ranch house, her brown dress soaking wet and her blond braids dripping.

"What happened to you? Didn't I say you couldn't go in the water?" Elizabeth demanded.

"But it weren't my fault," Lexi promised as she chewed on her lip, "Bryant pushed me."

Elizabeth sighed, "Sally, you should get on in the house. Ellie told me you were going to help her with laundry today. I have to go deal with my out of control youngin's."

The look Elizabeth shot Lexi had the girl squealing and running back around the house, warning her brothers and her cousin Max to hide. Elizabeth smiled and jogged after her.

***

"Are those two always like that?" Aiden asked with a shake of his head as he and Nick headed toward town.

"Pretty much," Nick grunted. "Of course I've only been around a few months."

Aiden glanced at the other man and felt his heart beat just a bit faster. What was it about Nick that tied him up in knots? He was rugged and attractive that much was for sure. But there was something in his eyes, a haunted look that Aiden recognized because he had seen it in his own every time he glanced in the mirror lately.

"What brought you out to Texas?" Aiden asked, turning his gaze back to the scenery of a non-blood heating variety. Nick might hate him but Aiden was not going to make this entire ride in awkward silence. He'd been a long time without having anyone to talk to and after the lonely night he'd spent in that bunkhouse with everyone acting as if he wasn't there, he was damn sure going to at least have a conversation with someone today.

"I was born in Texas," Nick replied simply.

Alright, it would seem that Mr. Tall, Dark and Brooding was a man of few words. That was okay. Aiden had once been told that when he got on a roll he could talk enough for three or four people. Actually the exasperated store clerk had told Aiden he was the only man he knew who could carry on a conversation with a fence post.

"How'd you come to be at Atkinson Spread?"

Nick didn't look away from the road as he replied, "Just happened to be looking for work and wound up there."

"How old are you?" Aiden asked.

"Thirty-one."

"Oh.... I'm twenty-four," Aiden replied lamely. It was hard to carry on a conversation with someone who barely spoke. Aiden figured it could actually be easier to carry on a conversation with a fence post.

Silence once again fell over the cart and Aiden took to counting the number of times that Nick clenched his fists on the reins. The man sure did do that a lot. Glancing at Nick's face, Aiden saw how tight his jaw was. The expression on his face made it seem as if he was having some inner battle with himself. Aiden wished he'd share.... It would be better than the silence.

Suddenly the front wheel of the cart hit a rock and Aiden was jostled sideways. His body slammed against Nick's and Aiden placed his hand out in an attempt to brace himself only to find his palm covering a rather impressive bulge in the front of Nick's trousers.

Aiden heard Nick's sharp intake of breath and felt the man's broad body tense. Aiden knew he should move but his body had stopped working. It was as if a bolt of lightning had just flashed in his veins. Nick was hard, hot and he smelled like an intoxicating mixture of hay, sweat, leather and a unique scent that was all his.

Aiden felt his own fingers twitch against Nick's groin and then something breathtakingly amazing and mind boggling occurred.

Nick responded.... Or at least the part of Nick pressed against Aiden's palm responded. It began to grow, twitching and hardening against his touch.

Aiden didn't know what to do. His hand took on a life of its own and rubbed once up the length of that ever expanding bulge.

That animalistic groan once again left Nick's throat and then Aiden felt himself being shoved sideways. His body was suddenly cold at the lack of contact with Nick's and he barely managed to catch himself before he toppled over the outside of the cart.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Nick practically roared.

Aiden felt shame color him red from his toes to his scalp. Fear also filled him. Would Nick kill him? Would Nick tell the boss what he'd done and have him fired? Or maybe hung? Hell did they still burn people at the stake?

Aiden curled up as tight as he could to the outside edge of the cart seat and pulled his hat low, hiding his red, burning face, "Nothing," he mumbled, "I was just..... nothing."