Cowgirls and Alphas

Chapter 8

*Warning! References made in this passage*

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Drake’s POV

When we’re all done eating, Jason lets out a satisfied sigh. “Gentlemen, while we clean up dinner, why don’t you get your things. Lottie can show you to the guest room. When we’re all done and you’re settled, we can go over a game plan for the next two weeks.”

“Sounds good, Jason. Thank you again for dinner, Mrs. Lola. It was delicious. Is there anything we can do to help before we grab our bags?” I ask.

Lola shakes her head and smiles, “No, thank you for asking though! You guys go ahead. We’ve got this.”

I lead Jackson and Eric out to the truck. Once we are far enough from the house, my two friends gang up on me.

Eric gets in front of me with his arms stretched out. “What the hell was that about?! Why did you growl at me for sitting next to Lottie? I’m always on your left! It had nothing to do with being next to her. Although, I did enjoy her company. She was nice to me, unlike SOMEONE I know.” I scowl at him before Jackson gains my attention.

“Yeah, and why were you so adamant on learning about her and her family? Don’t get me wrong, I meant it when I said I wanted to get to know them. They seem like good people. But you could have asked those questions as easily as I did.”

I push past them and hustle over to the truck. “I don’t want to get into this right now.”

Jackson grabs my arm, making me turn to him. “You never keep things from us. If you’re worried about others hearing you, mind link us.”

I glare at him and sneer, “If I wanted to do that, I would have.”

Jackson matches my tone, “What could possibly be going on that you won’t tell us about?!”

“It’s got something to do with Lottie. Right? Did you sleep with her or something? Is she one of your weekend flings?” Eric insinuates.

I shove Jackson away and grab Eric by his shirt. “Don’t you ever talk about her like that! I’ve never met her until tonight, but I doubt she’s like that,” I say using my alpha voice.

Eric raises his arms and turns his head to the side, showing submission. “I’m only trying to piece the puzzle together. Like Jackson said, you never keep things from us.”

Letting him go, I turn to get our bags from the bed of the truck. I’m wordless as I toss Jackson and Eric theirs before slinging mine over my shoulder. We all take a few deep breaths before talking again.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what is going on. Give me a day to try and figure it out. When we’re on the mountain away from the Wrights, we’ll talk about it whether I’m sorted out or not. Deal?”

They nod their heads in agreement. “Just don’t be a jerk to us about it, okay? You can’t get mad at us if we are in the dark on the issue,” Jackson adds.

“Fair enough,” I exhale. “Let’s get inside. I’m sure they’re waiting on us.”

We find that everyone is still in the kitchen cleaning up. Jason and Lola are washing the dishes while Lottie wipes down the table. “Are you sure there isn’t anything we can help with?” I ask.

Lottie looks up. “Positive! We’re almost done anyway.” She takes the rag she’s using to the sink and turns her attention back to our group. “Come with me. You guys will be up on the third floor.” We follow her out to the living room where there is a staircase leading upstairs.

I try and pay attention to my surroundings, but she is all I can focus on. There are so many things that I want to know about her. Simple things like what’s her favorite color or food? Deep personal questions like does she want a family someday? Or what are her interests outside of the ranch? I also can’t help but want to wrap her in my arms. I want to know how her hand would fit in mine as we walk around. What it feels like to kiss her tender lips.

Lottie’s sweet voice pulls me from my thoughts. “The door on the right is the bathroom. And here is the room you’ll be in.” She opens the door directly in front of us and walks in. “The bunks should fit you guys. My dad made them because he understands how uncomfortable it is sleeping in a ‘normal sized’ bed. I’m sure you go through that a lot too.”

I quietly laugh, “That we do, thank you.”

She smiles at me. “When you’re all settled in, come down to the office, and we’ll get to work.” Lottie then zips out of the room, closing the door behind her.

“Wait... Where’s the office?” I ask while setting my bag on one of the top bunks.

Eric looks at me, puzzled. “Lottie just showed us. It’s the door we passed beside the stairs. How did you miss that?”

“He was too busy checking her out to notice anything else,” Jackson answers before I can say anything.

“Oh! Yeah, I don’t blame ya. She’s really pretty.” Eric says, wagging his eyebrows.

I want to growl at him, but I refrain. I promised I wouldn’t get mad at them over this. “Shut up. Let’s go,” I grunt, walking out of the room.

When we get to the office, Jason, Lola, and Lottie are in there, looking at a map on the left wall. “Is that where your cows are, Jason?” I ask as I walk up to them.

“It is. This red pin is where the cabin is. And the white pin is where the cows are.” Jason explains, pointing out the spots.

As I study the map, I see a couple of black pins across the paper. “What do the black ones mean?”

This time Lottie answers, “Wolf attacks. We put pins on all the attacks that have happened in the area.” She pauses and points to a specific pin. “That is where our cows were attacked. It was like walking up on a horror movie scene.”

That makes my head whip in her direction. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

She stays focused on the pin. Her eyes are distant like she’s seeing everything all over again. “Me, Mom, and Dad. Thank God my siblings stayed in the cabin.” I start to get worked up. She should have been at the cabin with them too! She was in too much danger being out like that.

Jason speaks up, “Two of my brothers are up there now keeping an eye on things. Once you guys are there, they can stay and help if you need it.”

I shake my head, “I appreciate it, but we can handle it. All we need is you to take us to the cabin and we can take it from there.”

Jason wraps an arm around Lola. “Lottie will have to do that. I’ve already got an appointment scheduled in the morning that I can’t miss,” he says looking at his wife. He almost looks sad. I wonder why?

“I’ll also be the one who stays in contact with you while you’re up there. If you need help or need groceries or anything, I’ll be there.” Lottie states. I look back at her again. I don’t like the sound of that. She’ll be too close to the danger that is happening. I need her here where it’s safe.

I look to Jason. “Could one of your brothers drive us up and be our contact instead? I don’t feel comfortable with the thought of her being the one to come help.”

“Excuse me?” Lottie snaps. I turn to her and see she has folded her arms across her chest like she’s upset. “If you have a problem with me, talk to me. Not him.” I’m kind of stunned by her boldness. Why does she think I have a problem with her?

‘Because you made it seem like she’s not capable to help, i***t,’ Ivar scolds me.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. I was only thinking about your safety. I would feel terrible if something happened to you,” I try to reassure her.

She maintains eye contact with me and stands straighter. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m well aware of the dangers and can handle myself. I’m doing this because I work for my parents and being your contact is the job I have been given. Am I right, Dad, or did you have something else in mind?”

Jason shakes his head, “No, that’s what I’ve asked you to do. My brothers are either out of town or have jobs they need to get back to. I worry about you going up there as well, Lottie, but you’re the one that can go at a moment’s notice. If I didn’t think you could handle going up there, I wouldn’t send ya.”

Lottie nods in response to her father, then looks at me. “What time do you want to be at the cabin? It’s an hour and a half drive to get there.”

“I’d like to be there at 8 in the morning,” I answer her, still taken back by how bold she sounds. My mom is the only woman who has ever talked to me like this. It’s weird. I don’t know how to process it.

“Great, be ready to leave at 6:30,” She ordered, then walked out of the office.

‘Mate is feisty. You better say sorry tomorrow. I know we both don’t want to lose her over this.’

I’m still too stunned to move my eyes from the door when Lola starts talking.

“She’s always been quick to assume people think she’s unable to do things.”

I gape at her. “I swear that’s not what I meant. I only want to keep her safe.”

Lola kindly smiles, “We know because we feel the same way. Just give her a moment to calm down. I bet in the morning, she will be ready to hear what you have to say.”

Goodness, I hope so.