Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
COLE
The familiar smell of hay and leather infiltrates my senses as I step into the barn.
Dust kicks up from the concrete floor and I glance down the aisle of stalls, looking for either of my brother’s.
They aren’t expecting me here—hell, I wasn’t even expecting to be back home this early into my career, but it’s impossible to predict how your life will go.
I left Silverspur Springs eight years ago when I was eighteen and fresh out of high school.
College was originally my plan, but only because I received a full ride scholarship for playing baseball.
That plan was out the window when I ended up receiving an offer from the Titans halfway through my senior year of high school.
The offer meant leaving the only town I had ever known to move eighteen hours away to play the sport I revolved my entire life around.
I was living the dream. The dream I had always wanted… but that was only until the first time I injured my shoulder.
Movement from the stall to my left catches my attention and a dapple-grey horse lifts its head over the stall door, extending its neck as it blows out a breath.
A smile drifts across my face and I step closer, recognition swelling in my chest. This stall was Diesel’s when I left and I’m happy to see he’s still the one who’s occupying the space.
“Hey, old bud,” I murmur, rubbing my palm against the front of his head. He nuzzles his nose against the center of my stomach, pushing against me as I scratch at the whorl in the center of his face. “Why aren’t you out with the others?”
“Because someone figured out how to unlock the damn gate.”
A grin tugs on the corners of my lips and I whip my head to the side, finding my brother Cash walking into the barn. My hand falls away from Diesel’s head and I turn my body to face him. “Hey little brother,” I say, my grin widening.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Cash steps over to me, pulling me in for a hug. “What the hell are you doing here?”
We break apart and I take a step back, shoving my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “I did it. I retired.”
“You did?” Cash lifts his eyebrows. “Shit.” He lets out a low whistle, his eyebrows sinking. “I thought you were gonna try for another season?”
I slowly nod, pausing to chew on the inside of my cheek. “I don’t want to do anymore damage,” I admit, feeling the tightness in my shoulder as I shrug. “I had six good years in the league. I’m more than grateful for that.”
“Yeah, that’s true,” Cash says slowly, nodding his head in understanding before he turns to the tack room door across from Diesel’s stall.
He walks over to it and I follow him inside.
It looks like I remember, the walls lined with saddle racks and various bridles hanging.
The far wall is lined with cabinets and a sink.
“Hand me one of those bridles,” he says as he grabs a bucket and begins to fill it with water.
I reach over, grabbing the one he motioned to, noting the grime on the leather as my brother moves to sit down at the table in the center of the room with his bucket and rag. He squirts some leather cleaner into the bucket and takes the bridle from me as I hand it to him.
“Anything else that needs to be cleaned?”
Cash points to one of the western saddles on the far side of the room. “I used that one this week.”
I walk over, pulling it from the rack and transferring it to one of the free standing saddle racks.
Heading over to the counter, I find another rag and share the bucket with Cash as we both work the cleaner into the leather.
The equipment typically gets wiped down after every use, then normally cleaned and deep conditioned once a week.
“I know it sucks that you had to retire earlier than you planned, but I’m glad you’re back,” he says softly, his blue green eyes shining at me. His gaze drops to my bad shoulder, his eyebrows pinching together before his gaze meets mine once more. “We missed having you home.”
Growing up, Cade, Cash and I always talked about running the family ranch together. We each had two years between us, Cade being the oldest, then me, and Cash being the baby of the family.
“I’m glad to be home,” I admit, tipping my chin as I work the conditioner into the saddle, sliding the rag around the sides, avoiding the suede seat. “I planned on comin’ back eventually and being in pain for two years has a way of making you wish you had the comforts of home.”
“How is your shoulder feeling?” Cash asks me, his eyes trailing to my joint.
Instinctively, I roll it, feeling the familiar stiffness inside, although after a few seconds, it moves with ease. “It’s okay.”
I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me at all, but without the repetitive moments of pitching, it’s been feeling much better than it did while I was still playing baseball.
Cash slowly nods. “Well, just don’t overdo it here on the ranch,” he says softly, immediately shrugging off the emotion. “We can use your help, but you’re no good without a working shoulder.”
I snort, shaking my head and rolling my eyes. “You sound like Cade now.”
Although the three of us are close, we couldn’t be more different than one another.
“He didn’t know you were comin’ back, did he?”
I shake my head at my younger brother. “No. I got everything squared away three days ago and flew in this morning and figured I would surprise y’all. I shipped most of my stuff and left all the furniture in my house while I rent it out, so there wasn't much to come now.”
Cash’s face lights up. “Does that mean you’re back for good?”
I swallow, a slow smile creeping across my lips. There’s a twinge of sadness lingering in my chest, knowing that my career in baseball is officially over. But there’s also a sense of relief. Contentment. This is where I belong now, with my family.
“It does.”
“Hell yeah,” Cash says, grinning back at me. “Cade and I were planning on goin’ to the Silverspur Tavern for dinner and drinks tonight. Let's celebrate you being home.”
“I dunno if I really feel like goin’ out tonight,” I admit as I finish cleaning the saddle and put it back on the rack on the wall. Cash is done with the bridle and he gets up to hang that up too. “I don’t think we really need to celebrate.”
“Alright, fine,” Cash agrees, nodding his chin. “At least come get dinner with your brothers. Cade will want you to come.”
“What about me?”
I glance over my shoulder to the door at the sound of his voice. “Hey!”
Cade steps into the tack room, his broody face cracking into a smile as he walks across the room and pulls me in for a hug. “Cole, what the hell are you doin’ here?”
“He’s back for good,” Cash says to him as he walks over to the sink to clean out the bucket we used.
“No way,” Cade draws as we break apart. “You aren’t gonna try and get another season out of your shoulder?”
“Nope,” I shake my head at him. “I had a good run, but this is where I’m supposed to be now.”
“Well, this is your home,” he reminds me, dipping his chin. “Where did Cash say I’d want you to come?”
“To get dinner tonight,” Cash cuts in, stepping up to the two of us.
Cade looks at Cash and back at me. “Oh yeah,” he agrees, nodding eagerly. “We’re all back together again.”
“Just like old times,” Cash says.
I look back and forth between my two brothers, warmth settling in my chest. “Just like old times,” I repeat.
The three of us were so close growing up.
When I moved away, that connection wasn’t severed, but it was strained.
Being back here with them, where I can physically help, it feels a hell of a lot better than the separation or the guilt of being away.
“So, does this mean you’re gonna come with us?” Cash questions me.
Cade raises an eyebrow, waiting for a response.
I let out an exaggerated sigh, but a smile cracks my face. “Yes, I’ll come.”
Cash lets out a whistle, wrapping both arms around the tops of Cade and my shoulders, pulling us in with him. “The Wild brothers are back together, baby.”
My head tips back, laughter escaping me as my younger brother starts hootin’ and hollerin’ as he finally releases the two of us. This is exactly what I’ve been needing.
Home.