Leaving Home by Chase, A. (life books to read .txt) 📗

wanted to be home, and I didn’t feel like wandering around with a sick man, trying to find his hotel.”

Margie snorted, and Peter looked at her, surprised that such an unladylike sound had

come from her.

“He wasn’t sick. He was going through withdrawal. Did you find any kind of drugs on

him?” Margie scooped the eggs onto the plate, then added some bacon before bringing it

over to him.

“Yes. I gave him two before we went to bed. I think he’s in a lot of pain. He’s a

bullfighter for the rodeo, though he said he does mostly PBR events now. Maybe Chaz is

recovering from an injury.” Peter waited until Margie had joined him before he started to eat.

Peter loved the fact that Margie ate with them instead of taking her meals in the kitchen when the rest were in the dining room. Les told him that there were several families out east who treated their housekeepers and maids like servants.

It didn’t make sense to him to treat people like that. Just because they worked for

someone didn’t mean they were less than the people paying them. Margie was more like a

mother to all the men who lived or worked on the ranch.

“I’m a little surprised he didn’t need more than two to stop the withdrawal. He didn’t

look good when you arrived.” Margie seemed to be thinking about something.

“Maybe he just wanted to take the edge off. He might not be as bad off as you think,”

Peter suggested.

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Margie tilted her head in silent disagreement. She chose to change the subject. “Are you

working today?”

“Yes. I have to call a few companies to get some information from them. I need to pay a

couple of bills as well.” He remembered something. “I also have to make sure I order some more feed to be delivered.”

“Well, finish up your breakfast and get to work. I have to clean the master suite today. I warned Master Les and Randy I was going to do it while they were away.” Margie pushed

her chair back before she stood.

Peter laughed. “I hope they hid their supplies.”

“You are bad.” She slapped him in the arm, but smiled as she took her plate to the sink.

After eating everything, he climbed to his feet. Peter carried his plate over to her. She took it from him, but he stayed there.

“As soon as Chaz is up and moving, I plan on running him back into Cheyenne to drop

him off at his hotel.” He wanted to reassure Margie that Chaz wasn’t going to be staying

there much longer.

Margie rested her hand on his arm. “Peter, I’m not worried about Chaz being here. Not

really. We can take care of ourselves. I’m worried about you getting too caught up in saving him. Some people don’t want to be saved, no matter what they say.”

Peter took a deep breath. “I know, but I couldn’t just leave him there, Margie. What if

someone had robbed him, or worse?”

“You’re a good man, Peter. Do what you feel is necessary, and if it means you offer him

a room for as long as he wants, then I’m fine with it. As long as you get permission from Master Les about it,” Margie qualified.

“Thank you, Margie, but I’m pretty sure, once I drop him off at the hotel, that’ll be the last I see of Chaz O’Brien.”

Margie hummed, and Peter wrinkled his nose at her before he left to head to the office.

He shared it with Les, which actually meant it was pretty much Peter’s personal space. Les liked to work outside on the patio, if he was doing paperwork. Most of the time, though, he was out in the arenas, working with riders and horses.

Peter was happy to see Les’ new business, training showjumpers and their riders, was

going strong. It kept Les in the sport he’d grown up loving—once he’d been one of the best

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show riders in the world. Then an accident had taken away the chance to compete, and Les

had come out west.

Of course, it was the best thing that could have happened for a lot of people, and Peter

was one of them. Les was one of the best men Peter had ever met, and he wouldn’t risk doing anything that might hurt Les or the people he cared about. So if he decided to ask Chaz to stay longer, he’d talk to Les first.

Before Peter could reach the office, he spotted Chaz coming from the guest wing. He

waited at the intersection of the hallways. Chaz looked good after a full night of sleep, though his eyes were still pretty bloodshot and he moved stiffly as he headed towards Peter.

“Good morning, Chaz. I hope you’re feeling better.” He smiled at Chaz.

Jumping slightly and grimacing like he was in pain, Chaz glanced over at him.

“Morning, man. I’m doing better than I was yesterday, that’s for sure.”

“Glad to hear it.” Peter motioned towards the kitchen. “Margie should still be cleaning

up. If you’re hungry, I’m sure she’d make you something. I know she folded your clothes

and left them in your room.”

“Yeah. I saw them. I hope the coffee’s ready.” Chaz yawned slightly. “I need it to wake

up.”

Peter chuckled. “This is a ranch. Of course there’s going to be coffee. Randy can’t

function without it first thing in the morning. Margie makes a good strong brew.”

“Good.” Chaz turned to head down the hall. He paused, then glanced back at Peter.

“I’ll come and find you when I get dressed. We can go back to Cheyenne, and I’ll get out of your hair.”

Nodding, Peter said, “I’ll be in my office. Margie can show you where it is when you’re

ready.”

Chaz continued on to the kitchen, and Peter made his way to the office. After shutting

the door, Peter leaned against it, congratulating himself on not staring at Chaz’s ass as the man had walked away.

He had to remember that Chaz had problems, and Peter still had his own issues to deal

with. He’d been in Cheyenne to try to visit his mother in