8. Chapter 8
Chapter eight
Maddox
I brace my hands on the fence as Ryder approaches me on horseback.
“How many?" I ask.
He maneuvers his old bay horse parallel to the railing, then removes the bandana from over his mouth.
“We’ve lost thirty head so far.”
“Fuck," I hiss. “Yeah. We got Clyde, Farley, and Aiden coming from the back side. Hoss and Waylon are on the east end trying to get a head count and see the damage.”
I remove my sunglasses, squinting as Cooper comes riding in from the right. “The pasture bordering the Bernard’s is clear.”
Ryder leans his forearm down on his saddle horn. “We still have over a thousand acres to check.”
“Shit.” Cooper fishes his phone out of his pocket. “I thought we’d cover more ground quicker. Ivy went to breakfast with Kota. I told her I’d take her to the hospital.”
“Can’t she just uber? Isn’t that what they do in the city?” Ryder mutters under his breath.
“You’re a dick, you know that?” Cooper nudges his horse closer to Ryder. “She’s your sister. Get your panties out of your ass and forgive her. She’s not Hadley.”
Ryder’s jaw clenches and with one swift kick of his boot he takes off.
“Grumpy motherfucker,” Cooper scoffs.
“Really Coop?” I step back from the fence. “You had to go there?”
“Someone needs to call him on his shit.”
I shake my head, turning to travel back to the office. Luckily all the bucking bulls are kept in a separate area of the property along with the breeding barn which has been my domain for the last two years.
On the way to my office, a Mayson Ridge fire department truck pulls up. My brother Brady, along with Dobs, another Mayson Ridge fireman step out.
Brady adjusts his cap before he nods at me. “How are things this morning?”
I shove my hands in my pockets with a shrug. “About the same as last night. Burned all to hell.”
Brady spent about three years chasing tail and staying drunk before he decided to get it together. It was slowly killing our mother, and after some serious talks and even a night in jail, he finally got his head out of his ass and applied for the fire academy. It’s the best thing he ever did for himself, and the last few months have been smoother. Less tension and more conversation like it used to be before the accident that catastrophically hit our family.
“Chief wanted us to do a recheck. He’ll be sending someone out later to do the inspection and determine the cause.”
We fall in step with each other as I lead them over to the side by side.
“You can take this. Key is in the cup holder.”
“Thanks man.” He slaps my shoulder. “Beers later this week?”
I know my face shows surprise because his expression turns solemn.
“Sure," I agree. “I’ll swing by after I stop by mom’s. She needs her filters changed.”
They take off toward the scene of the crime while I head to my office. I can already feel the tightness in my chest. That ache that’s been persistent for the last ten fucking years.
I love my brother, but he blames me. And I guess my punishment comes in the form of loving her. It’s a vicious circle.
Loving the one woman I can’t have. Because he had her first.