Page 13 of Forgiveness
CHAPTER SEVEN
Chet
Chet stood inthe shadows watching his girl clean out the stall, working side by side with that biker asshole. He made sure not to make any noise this time as he crept back to watch Maggie make a damn fool of herself with that bastard.
When Chet had first seen them together at the bar, everything went red.How the fuck could Maggie want him over me?A well of anger pulsed inside him as he watched them clean out the stall. Neither of them spoke, and Chet wondered how long it would take Maggie to wise up and realize that Flux was nothing more than a man whore who only wanted to use her. When she finally grew a fucking brain, he had no doubt that she would come crawling back to him, begging for a second chance.
Of course, he’d take Maggie back—she was the love of his life, but she’d be punished for her indiscretions. Although, he couldn’t really count on her wising up any time soon, especially since he’d seen that vulgar display of their lust just a short while before. So he’d have to make sure that she’d see the light—sooner rather than later.
How could she let that vermin touch her?If he hadn’t made some noise, he was positive they’d have done it right there and then, in the hay with the stench of shit all around them. And to think that she rebuffed his advances only to roll around in a barn with that dirty biker just like a slut.Oh Maggie, you’ve really fallen since you broke away from me.
Chet had known Maggie was his from the second he saw her take on a barrel race. Her intensity was admirable, and he knew he’d enjoy taming her spirit and making her his protected and coddled play thing. She’d be the mother of his children and his future wife.
Just like any good stallion, all Maggie needed was a little taming.
But she wasn’t going to get it from the low life pawing at her like a damn animal. Maggie was better than that, which Chet had tried to show her during their brief but oh-so important time together. He knew she’d only run away from their relationship because she was scared. What they had was something real, and it spooked her because she was worried about changing into something she didn’t yet understand.No worries, honeycakes. I’ll make sure you’re not scared anymore.He’d help her and guide her in the ways he needed her to be—so that she could be better for them both.
If only Maggie would let him.Stubborn little bitch.
Chet pushed down the anger and tried to find an outlet for his rage that didn’t involve throwing himself headlong into a fight with Flux while Maggie was in the way. She didn’t need to see that side of him. That would hardly encourage her to trust him. And in order for his molding to work, Maggie needed to know she was safe, thathewould take care of her completely so long as she abided by his rules. He was much better for her than that narcissistic asshole would ever be.
Honestly, Chet didn’t see why all the girls went crazy for a shiny motorcycle, a vulgar biker with more tattoos covering his body than skin, and a stupid leather jacket and vest. Flux was an A-class jerk who treated women like playthings. Chet had heard talk about the biker and had even seen him in action during the last two rodeos they’d worked together. It was unbelievable and sickening, yet the women still lined up, just waiting to be used by him.Why the hell are women so weak?Chet knew the answer: Deep down, most women craved a strong man to take the lead, harness them, and take care of them. They didn’t need a macho man for one good, solid fuck before being discarded for the next girl in line. No, they needed a loving man who could take charge and let them be free to do what women did best—please their husbands and have babies.
Chet shook his head. He had carnal desires, but at least he had the class to take that kind of business to a hooker instead of leaving it for a decent woman to pick up the pieces.
His lip curled with disgust, and just thinking about what an abomination Flux was made Chet wish he would’ve fucked with the biker’s shiny pride and joy. Maybe without his toy, a woman like Maggie would rip the blinders off, and the loser’s appeal would take a nose dive. All that asshole had going for him was the bad boy vibe and a damn Harley-Davidson.Big fucking deal.Flux was as far from a gentleman as it got, and it was up to Chet to make sure Maggie understood that so she would appreciate a real gentleman—him.
Chet shook his head. As long as he was playing secret babysitter, his girl would be safe, but eventually he’d have to lay down the law and make her see things his way. He figured at first Maggie wasn’t going to like that, but after some time she’d learn just like every animal he’d broken from the time he was old enough to wield a rope.
“Excuse me, Chet? Can I help you?”
Chet swung around from his main focus and stumbled out of the barn. “Shut the fuck up,” he hissed as he motioned the lowly employee to follow him.
They went away from the barn and back to the arena, then Chet stopped and his frown turned into a deep scowl.
The worker tucked his hands into his pockets and took a step backward from Chet.
Fucking coward.“Now what the hell do you want?”
“Just wondering if you needed anything. You don’t usually show up here this late,” the man stammered.
“I need you to mind your own business and get the hell outta here. Got it?” He sneered and the employee stumbled farther back, his eyes widening. “Do I need to put that in a simpler language that you can understand?”
“Uh, no, you’re…”
Chet watched the stable hand grope for the right word, then he walked away, cutting him off. He hid himself behind one of the work sheds as he waited for Maggie. The image of Flux rolling all over his girl, his large hands touching her everywhere made his jaw clench.He had his hands on her ass and she … she was touching his too.A low, feral sound leaked out between his lips.
Hardly the noise of a gentleman, but he was driven to distraction by the memory of Maggie dangling her wares and then cruelly ripping them away from Chet.She acted like she was so innocent. What a damn liar and tease.Since Maggie had taken a break from him—that’s the way he saw it—he hadn’t touched another decent woman as he waited for his girl to come crawling back to him. Of course, his visits to the occasional hooker didn’t count because, after all, men had needs. Chet had abstained from decent women so he wouldn’t hurt Maggie’s feelings, but after he’d seen how disrespectful Maggie had been to him, she now needed to understand what it was like to watch him with other women. It was only fair, and when Maggie saw all the southern charm and gentlemanly attention she’d be missing, she’d trip over her feet in a rush to get back together with him, especially when the biker kicked her gorgeous ass to the curb.
Chet pulled out his phone from his jeans pocket. When he’d seen Maggie making a damn fool of herself over Flux at the bar, he’d reached out to a woman he’d met at the rodeo a few nights before. She’d been flirting up a storm with him and they exchanged numbers, but he had no intention of calling her until just a few hours ago.That’s what you made me do, honeycakes.Chet flexed his fist and looked around for something to hit at the idea that his girl had kissed that walking STD. He spat to the side and brought up his texts.
It looked like his date would be right on time. The last thing she’d sent him was a small heart emoji a few hours before. He’d asked her to have a burger with him back at the motel. Of course, he could’ve sprung for something nicer, and for Maggie he would’ve absolutely gone to the trouble, but this wasn’t about wining and dining this woman, it was about rubbing Maggie’s nose in it. And there was no way to do that if she wasn’t there to see it all go down, so having dinner at the motel where Maggie was staying was ideal. He couldn’t wait to showcase their little flirt-fest in front of her.You asked for it, sweetheart.
Chet was just about ready to pocket the phone when it vibrated, and he took another look at the texts. With any luck it was his Maggie begging him to take her back right now.
Rebecca:I can’t do dinner tonight. I’m sorry. Something came up.
Chet watched the little floating bubbles from Rebecca’s screen and clenched his phone as he tried not to panic. She was still typing, which might mean that he could turn this around in time. He just had to buck up a little bit. He rolled his shoulders and took a long breath. The little bubbles abruptly stopped again. Then started. And … stopped.
