Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)

40. PAIGE

40

PAIGE

When Baylee and I slip out of the bathroom, Jace and Beau turn to look at me. They’re both filthy, like they’ve been rolling around in mud and hay all day.

Jace chuckles. “I know girls like to go to the bathroom at the same time, but isn’t the powder room kinda small for y’all to be whizzing together?”

Baylee motions to her back. “Actually, I have a rash that I wanted to show Paige.” A rash? I give her a look, and she shrugs, like, What was I supposed to tell him? “Sean was helping me break in my new hammock, and we fell out.”

I choke on a laugh, and Jace shakes his head. “Hopefully, that’s all he broke in.”

“Jace!” I yell.

He holds up his hands. “What? Can I help that I want Baylee to be my sister-in-law?” Jace turns to my best friend. “You’re dating the wrong man.”

Her jaw tightens. “Maybe if Maverick wasn’t screwing all of South Texas, we could entertain that sister-in-law situation. But since he’s the biggest manwhore I’ve ever met next to you, that’s obviously not going to happen. So what if I want Sean to break my back? I don’t owe Mav anything.”

Gabriel trots in and tugs on Jace’s arm. “What’s ‘breaking my back’ mean?”

I slap a hand over my mouth and try not to laugh as Jace struggles to answer. Beau finally pipes up. “Little man, Baylee was talking about a horse she was thinking about getting, but he needs to be broken in.” He motions back to the living room. “Go play.”

“Nice save,” Jace mumbles.

“On that note, I gotta go.” Baylee hugs me. “Call me later.”

I nod and almost tear up again when she leaves. Sniffling, I turn to grab a glass of water. “Where’s Rhett? Is he on his way home?” Jace and Beau give each other a look. “What?”

Jace motions to the kitchen table. “Why don’t we sit?”

My eyes narrow. “What’s going on? Why were y’all gone all day? You didn’t even come home for lunch.” He ushers me over to a chair, and I plunk down, confused.

Jace sits next to me at the head of the table. “We have a situation.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Some of the steers are sick.”

“Okay? And?”

“They’re really sick. Rhett’s talking to the vet right now, but it’s not looking good.” The easy-going expression he was sporting a few minutes ago has vanished.

The door opens, and the three of us whip around to see Rhett walk in looking grimmer than I’ve ever seen him.

Gabriel and Austin leap off the couch and run to him. “Hi, Dad. Look at the dinosaur we made.” Gabe points to a block of Legos that looks like an octopus.

Rhett forces a smile. “Looks good, son.” He squats down to hug them, and in that moment, I realize that whatever he’s dealing with right now is bad. I catch a glimpse of his face, and it’s a slab of granite.

They scale him, and he picks them both up and carries them to the couch, where he sits like he’s too tired to walk a few more steps to the kitchen.

I want to run to him and sit in his lap too, but he hasn’t spoken a word to me since last night.

My throat closes up. I love this man with my whole heart and soul, but right now, I feel shut out. His whole life is wrapped up in those cattle, Paige. This is his livelihood. Get a grip. There will be time to discuss what happened last night.

Beau leans over to me. “Just give him a few minutes to get his bearings. It’s been a bad day.”

I’ve had a bad day too , I want to tell him. Pressure builds in my chest and the back of my throat when I think of that positive pregnancy test. Blinking quickly to keep the tears at bay, I nod, but the more time stretches out, the worse I feel.

Jace finally wanders into the living room and sits on the coffee table to face his older brother. “What did the vet say?”

Rhett shakes his head. “He’s worried it’s serious. The Hollybrook farm had an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis, and he says he needs to notify the state in case that’s what this is.”

“Son of a bitch.” Jace rakes his hands through his hair. “But I thought we isolated all the cattle who had a fever.”

“He says there’s a chance the rest of them are still within the incubation period and could start showing symptoms.”

I turn to Beau. “What does that mean?” I whisper. “Will they get better in a few days?”

“Hopefully, but until we get their test results back, it’s hard to tell if this is a minor respiratory thing or something more serious, like vesicular stomatitis, which is viral and super contagious. I’m hoping we’re just jumping the gun. Except…”

“Except what?”

“We won’t get the vet clearance in time for the auction. Especially if a state agency gets involved. Which means…”

“That we’ll default on the loan.” I cover my mouth.

He nods.

I push away from the kitchen table and run over to Rhett. “Go talk to Harlan. Ask for an extension. A week or two. He’ll give it to you. I’m sure we can sort everything out by then.”

My husband’s expression goes flat. “The man just told me last night that he couldn’t extend the terms.”

“But he doesn’t know what we’re dealing with.”

“He said he needs the money to invest in another project and can’t put it off.”

“But maybe he’ll change his mind if we explain. Your families go way back together, and I’m sure?—”

“Paige, he said no. How many ways do I need to explain that to you?” he barks.

I flinch, and my eyes flood. Embarrassed, I shuffle backwards. “You’re right. What do I know?” I run to our bedroom and lock myself in the bathroom.

All of a sudden, I’m fifteen years old again, wishing I had a window I could escape through.

A few minutes later, a knock at the door makes me jump.

“I’m sorry, Paige.” Rhett’s gruff voice is muffled. “I didn’t mean to yell at you.”

I force a lightness into my voice I don’t feel. “No problem. I’m just going to take a shower.”

He starts to say something, but I flip on the water. I’m not ready to hear what he has to say.

I strip out of my clothes and stand under the hot water, where I cry until there aren’t any tears left.

My life here—my marriage, this ranch, my future—everything feels like it’s crumbling.

And I have no idea how to save it.