Epilogue Beck West
Working title: Beck
The first thing I felt was pain in my head. The second? More of it—centered in my skull, it radiated out from there through every limb.
A man of my age shouldn’t try to keep up drinking with the ranch hands.
I groaned and cracked one eye open. The room spun. Sunlight stabbed my eyes like tiny knives.
“Beck,” I complained to myself, “you absolute idiot.”
Last night came back in disjointed flashes. Ash grinning like the devil. Chris slapping cards down over and over in poker games that multiplied. A mason jar in front of me, constantly kept full of alcohol.
The ranch hands had chanted, “Initiation Time! Welcome to the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch.”
Of course, I wasn’t going to show my weakness. Besides, I could handle my liquor. But not whatever in the heart of Hades these assholes created. It wasn’t my usual Macallan, but some mixture of moonshine, homemade right here on the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch.
My phone chirped with an incoming text, then another, and another.
“Fuck. Someone, please stop the noise.” I patted my pocket to see if my phone was there. It wasn’t—because no pockets, no jeans or boxers were on my body. I jerked my aching head up and confirmed. Naked as sin.
From somewhere to my left came the phone again, sticking out of my jeans pocket on the floor.
I winced and pulled it over toward the cot and retrieved it.
The West Brothers group chat had exploded while I was sleeping off the hangover from hell.
Holden: Can one of you volunteer to take Monica to some event she has to go to in October? Her ex will be there, and she doesn’t want to show up alone.
Pic attached.
I opened the photo.
Well, damn.
Lilah’s sister was pretty. Not my usual type, although blood rushed south anyway. Besides, I had no plans to leave Montana anytime soon, so a trip to New York this fall was out of the question.
Before I could even process a response, another text pinged.
Atlas: DIBS.
I snorted. Typical. I lay back on my bunk and groaned. I was way too dehydrated and way too naked to deal with anything.
Wait. Where were all the other ranch hands? Shit. My first official day working as a temporary ranch hand, and I’d missed leaving with the guys at dawn to run the fences.
I scrambled upright and instantly regretted it. My head throbbed, my stomach flipped, and my morning wood was still enthusiastically present.
I wobbled on my feet when suddenly the bunkhouse door opened.
A scream hit my ears, and a bucket clattered to the floor. Cleaning supplies bounced everywhere.
In the doorway stood the most stunning woman I’d seen in… fuck me, maybe years.
The first things I noticed were her slender neck and creamy skin, and breasts filling out a white t-shirt with the words “Forest Grove Little Miss Firecracker” on it. Then I saw her huge doe eyes widen as they dropped all the way down my body.
We froze. Her mouth opened and closed, opened again. My cock twitched, which wasn’t helping.
“I’m the new housekeeper. Oh, my God! They told me everyone would be out working by now.” She stooped to retrieve all the cleaning supplies. While I grabbed the nearest object to cover with, a pillow with an eggplant design on it. It wasn’t mine. I’d never seen it before in my life.
“Uh, I’m usually more dressed than this,” I explained.
She slapped a hand over her eyes, mortified. “I’m so sorry. I thought the bunkhouse was empty.”
She spun and rushed out, slamming the door behind her.
I threw on jeans and yanked a shirt over my head. In the bathroom, I splashed water on my face and brushed teeth. I grabbed my coat and dashed out the door.
She was there, waiting, leaning against the wall like she hadn’t just seen me in my full morning glory.
Her gaze flicked quickly away.
“I’m awfully sorry about that. I think we’re both new here on the ranch, and the guys played a trick on us.” As if to prove my point, laughter came at us by way of the barn.
Her entire face turned a bright shade of pink. “It’s not like I haven’t seen a nice ass before, just unexpected, is all.”
“You think I have a nice ass?”
“Well, to be fair, I didn’t exactly see the backside of you.” Her eyes fluttered and toured down my body, slower this time.
“Let me help you there. I gotta get to the barn, so you can feel free to get a good look as I walk off.” I cast the best damn smolder I could muster. “By the way, I’m Beck West.”
She grinned. “I know.”
I stood there, waiting for her name, which never came.
“Well, go on, take your walk. I’m a busy person too, can’t stand here all day and gawk at you,” she scolded.
Damn, she was spunky, and beautiful. And apparently knew who I was. I walked away feeling the heat of her stare behind me.
When I reached the barn door, I twisted my head and saw her still there. She waved at me with a gorgeous smile and a giggle that blew on the breeze to my ears.
Two things entered my mind. First, I needed a good prank to get the guys back. Second, if I could find out her name and take her out on a date, I might thank those fuckers, too. Because without them, I might not have met little Miss Firecracker.
I hope you enjoyed this peek at Beck West’s story. Check out a new series coming in 2026, featuring the West Brothers: