Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)

16. RHETT

16

RHETT

I’m preparing to track down our biggest bull when Sheriff Reynolds pulls up our drive.

“It’s about damn time,” our ranch hand Wayne grits out as we trudge across the yard.

“I got this. Can you get my horse saddled and tell Jace to be ready to ride in ten minutes?”

“You got it, boss.”

Sheriff Reynolds is a grizzled old cowboy with a gray handlebar mustache and a kind smile. But one thing he’s not is a hardass, and that’s what I need right now.

He holds out his hand to me, and we shake. “Howdy, Rhett. Heard y’all are having problems again.” I explain the situation, and he sighs. “Any suspects?”

“Just the obvious ones.”

“The McAllisters?”

“I paid them a visit the first time this happened.”

“What’d they say?”

“Cash denied it was them.”

He twirls one end of his mustache. “Do you believe him?”

“Hard to say, but if it wasn’t him, who’s the asshole letting my cattle out?”

Crossing his arms, Reynolds stares across my fields. “Who else wants to mess with you?”

“You know as well as I do that my father was an asshole. I’m sure we’re on a lot of people’s shit lists.” I lift my baseball cap and wipe my forehead. “The only other person I can think of is Mayor Gold. She wants half our acreage for that damn highway. But I can’t really see her prowling around here at night in her designer heels, cutting our fences.”

He chuckles. “She’ll never get that approved. Eileen needs to drop that proposal. All she’s doing is pissing off the ranchers.”

Jace rides out of the barn, leading Apollo to me.

I turn to the sheriff. “I need to track down my best bull. But tell me, do I need to pay my neighbors another visit?”

He pats my back. “Son, you and I both know that’s a bad idea. Let me do my job. I’ll write up a police report and get statements from your ranch hands.”

I level him with a stare because that’s the same answer he gave me last time. “Then get me some answers and arrest the asshole who’s doing this. I can’t afford to lose any more steer.”

As I head to Jace, Reynolds calls out, “Hey, before I forget, congratulations!”

“For what?” I grab my horse’s reins from my brother.

Behind me, the sheriff laughs. “For getting married.”

Son of a bitch. I forgot I got married.

When you come eye to eye with a pissed-off two-thousand-pound bull, it makes you reconsider your choices in life.

A series of questions run rapid-fire through my mind.

Like why did I think it was a good idea to approach this big fucker on foot?

Why didn’t I tell the boys I loved them this morning?

And why didn’t I fuck Paige last night when I had the chance?

If I die right now, it’s my own dumbass fault. I blame my sleepless night and exhaustion for being stupid.

Out of my peripheral vision, I spot Jace circling us on his horse. At least one of us is smart enough to stay in the damn saddle, but I didn’t want Apollo to get hurt on this outcropping. I can’t afford another vet bill right now.

We’ve been trying to catch Diablo for two hours. We rode so far, I’m pretty sure we crossed county lines. Typically, we would surround him and redirect him, but he’s done a good job living up to his name.

“On the count of three,” my brother says, “I’m gonna lasso this asshole, and I want you to get the hell out of there.”

I nod and hope the big guy doesn’t bolt toward the ravine and drag Jace with him.

He counts down, and I leap out of the way just in time for Diablo to charge down the hill. Jace’s horse slips but manages to stay upright, thank the good Lord.

I race back to Apollo, and a minute later, I’m hot on Jace’s heels. I ride to his opposite side and lasso the bull. It’s not tight. He’ll be fine, but this way there’s less of a chance he’ll injure Jace or his horse.

By the time we make it back to the ranch, it’s late. Yawning, I motion to the bunkhouse where our crew is waiting for us. “I want the guys to take turns doing patrols every two hours tonight. We need to catch the asshole who keeps cutting our fences.”

Jace nods. “I already radioed Wayne. He’s organizing the ranch hands.”

“He’d make a great foreman. If we had the money, I’d give him the job tomorrow.”

“Are you really ready to give up all that power?”

I chuckle and scrub a dirty hand across my face. “And all the prestige.” When we reach the barn, I glance out at the pasture. “It’s gotta be the McAllisters.”

“I don’t know who else would go through all this trouble. Plus, Cash hates you.”

“Not sure why. He was the one fucking my wife, not the other way around.”

He snickers. “Well, you did kick his ass when you found them together.”

“Which he should’ve fully expected.”

We get the horses unsaddled and brush them down before we hand them off to one of our guys, who’ll get them settled for the night. Jace goes to the bunkhouse to make sure the patrols are set up.

That’s my job, but since I was up all night, Jace does me a solid and fills in for me.

Exhausted, I drag myself into the house. Beau’s sitting at the bar. “How are the boys?” I ask as I head to the kitchen to wash my hands.

“Fine. But…”

When he doesn’t say anything, I turn to him with my hand on the faucet. “Is Austin still puking?”

“No. He’s better. The kids are sound asleep. Just checked on them ten minutes ago.”

“Great. I was so worried about him today. That fucking bull gave us a run for our money. We had to chase him down the damn highway. I wouldn’t be surprised if we made the news.”

“Glad you caught him, but listen. Paige didn’t wanna stay at the cabin.”

Shit. Paige. “What happened?”

“Well, after she chewed me out, she made me drop her off at Baylee’s.”

Christ. I’m never gonna hear the end of this from Sylvia. “Did you tell Paige that Austin was puking his guts out all night? That our fences got cut? That we had to chase down a dozen cattle?”

He winces. “Not in those words exactly.”

“So let me guess, she’s pissed I ditched her.”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

This is why I never wanted to get married again. No one understands how much responsibility I have here. Our entire livelihood is wrapped up in those cattle. The boys and this ranch have to come first if we want any hope of surviving. Maybe things will be different in a few years, but I don’t have anything left to give a woman right now.

I rub the back of my neck. “I’ll go get her tomorrow after my appointment with Harlan.”

He clicks his tongue. “See, that might be a problem.”

“Why’s that?”

“She kinda said she didn’t think she could do this, but that you could call her if you need her to meet up for appearances.”

“When you say this , do you mean our marriage?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t think you should wait to go talk to her.”

I blow out a breath. “On a scale of one to ten, how pissed is she?”

He tilts his head. “That’s just it. I wouldn’t say she’s pissed exactly, though she wasn’t thrilled you left her at a cabin with no cell signal, TV, or car. But I think you hurt her feelings. I mean, you left her to go talk to Amber.”

“When you frame it like that, I sound like an asshole.”

Beau lifts his brows. “Not to be a dick, but it was your honeymoon.”

I feel a vein throb in my neck. “It’s a fake fucking marriage. We both agreed it wouldn’t mean anything. Paige and I have mutually agreed upon goals and a deadline. It’s not like I left my real wife behind after one night to talk to my ex.”

He scratches the back of his head. “Can I ask you a question? You said you’d keep things platonic. Did you cross any lines this weekend? Because I don’t really understand why she’d cry if you guys kept this strictly business.”

I freeze, the guilt I’ve held at bay all day hitting me like a sledgehammer. “She cried?” Goddamn it. I knew this was a bad idea. I stalk over to the drawer where I keep my keys. “Text me if the boys have any problems. I’ll be back.”

“Gonna go get your wife?” He smirks.

“Fuck off.” Of course I’m gonna go get my wife.