Saved by Daddy (MxM DDLB) | Completed

Chapter 20

"Here, Emil."

I grasped the large bottle with both hands and eagerly gulped down the cold water, then panted as I lowered it to my lap. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, seeing colors flash and feeling my mind spin every which way. A warm, sweaty hand rested on my head a few moments later, so I peeked at Dallas.

"Thank you for the water."

"You're welcome. You're not used to such heat, are you?"

"Nope, not at all. I mean, I was kept in an air-conditioned home for four years straight. I'm sure I could have handled it better before then."

Dallas' hand dropped from my head as he took a seat next to me on the bench. It was made of two oak log halves that had been sanded and then lacquered to make them smooth.

"Perhaps," he murmured, his ice-blue eyes trained on the pens in front of us.

They were about one hundred feet away with both horses and bulls inside the pens, although they were segregated for good reason. Dallas had explained that at least half of those bulls were bucking bulls, which meant that most of them were often aggressive and ornery. The other half were used in Western movies with the other cattle out in the pastures, although occasionally the movie people would ask for bucking bulls. The horses were also used in movies and in rodeos for barrel racing and roping calves, so many of them needed to be healthy—in tip-top shape, really.

Denver was animatedly talking to one of the ranch hands that worked for Dallas, which made me smile. I sipped the water again, very relieved to have a rest. I had been helping Dallas, even though I was doing a very small fraction of the same task. And I think I made him work longer because he was keeping an eye on me, so that made me feel terrible.

"Um," I started quietly, and felt the bench tremble as Dallas turned towards me. "I'm sorry for making your work slower than usual."

Dallas snorted. "It's nice to take it a bit easier once in awhile."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," replied Dallas, his lips lifting for a small grin. "So don't apologize, Emil."

I smiled a bit. "Okay, Dallas."

"Good," he rumbled, then he twitched when we saw a bull buck as it was being loaded. "Emil, I'm going to—!"

"I'll be fine here, Dallas. You should go." I said with a firm voice. "I really will be fine."

Dallas nodded and hurried off towards the group of tough men and women herding the bulls in that chaotic pen. Denver noticed his father hastily striding towards the pen and glanced at me, waving his hand. I waved back. He was just checking on me.

I blinked and set the bottle down on the ranch house's porch, then I sat back with a soft sigh and flopped onto my side for a moment. It felt good to just lay down for a bit. The shade was warm but comfortable because of the breeze. The trees rustled and the sounds of animals mixed with human shouts, which all sort of blended together as I zoned out. Thanks to a much heavier gust of wind, I watched the dust blow across the ground and fly up into the air. In a flatter area, I watched a mini tornado appear for a second and disappear.

What did Denver call that again? Dirt Devil? No, that's a vacuum cleaner brand. "Dust Devil" is the correct term for it, I think.

I rested my eyes for a moment and then startled awake when a hand rested on my head. Denver's pretty ice-blue eyes had widened ever so slightly to match with my very wide emerald-green ones. He chuckled and leaned forward to kiss my cheek.

"I'm sorry for awakening you, sweetheart. You looked very peaceful. Did you have a nice nap?"

"Nap?" I wondered aloud. "I just closed my eyes."