39
M y truck bumps along the gravel road from the creek bed back to the lodge.
I rove my eyes around my ranch, appreciating the beauty.
The green pasture. Bright blue skies. Jagged peaks of Meadow Mountain.
The long hot summer days are about to be drenched by summer storms. I spent most of the day adding gravel to places where rain creates big potholes and putting in automatic water tanks for our bull pens.
Every cell in my body screams to be at home with Ruby. Although she’s most likely in the barn. I haven’t been able to drag her away from Winslow. The look on her face when I gave her that colt—such awe and joy. I want to make her look like that every day for the rest of her life.
Because she’s turned my entire world around.
She’s the neon light I’ve been looking for.
I pull over on the side of the road, allowing the cattle to cross. Their deep lows fill the air. With the end of summer nearing, the cows are restless and want to move closer to the ranch.
In two weeks, Runaway Ranch will close for the season. The arrival of crisp air and shorter days brings new work. Checking winter forage inventory. Sending Wyatt’s horses to auction. Fixing up the ranch for next year. Even when it’s a hundred degrees, I can’t help but plan for the fall.
I can’t help but plan for Ruby. There’s so much more I want with her.
Because she’s staying. She’s home. This is her ranch now and building our life starts here. Before long, I’ll put a ring on her finger. Give her a garden. Finish her bucket list. Take her back to Wildheart and introduce her to my family. Have babies.
Fuck anyone who thinks it’s fast. I’ve been living in slow motion for the last ten years.
She’s shown me a million ways I could live my life, but all I want to do with it is worship her.
For all the directions she’s pushed me this summer, I’m still aware she hasn’t told me about her past. While I told her about Maggie, she looked up at me with an expression I had never seen before.
Dread.
My hands tighten on the wheel.
Either she’s lying about something or I’m lying to myself. Have I been blind this entire fucking summer, and the answer has been right in front of me? Ford’s words come back to haunt me. Is he right? Something’s wrong with her? The mere suggestion has a knot forming in my gut.
Fuck but I don’t want to push her. If something was wrong, she’d tell me, wouldn’t she? She promised me no one hurt her, and I believe her.
Muscles tensing, I blow out a breath and pull back on the road.
She’s given me the summer, she’s given me my ranch back, but more than that, she’s given me her trust. Her heart.
Messing with that isn’t an option.
She’ll tell me when she’s ready.
Five minutes later, I’m parking the truck at the Bullshit Box. When I stomp inside, all my brothers are here.
“Hey, Charlie.” Wyatt waves a hand. “Just in time for paperwork.”
Davis and Ford look up from their poker game.
“We workin’ or we dickin’ around?” I drawl, dropping into my chair.
“Almost done kicking Davis’s ass.” Grinning, Ford flashes me his hand. Royal flush.
“We got everything set for the farewell dinner?”
Davis nods. “Talked to Silas. He’s burying a pig and hoping like hell no one calls PETA.”
I chuckle, scrubbing a hand over my face.
Looking around the Bullshit Box, I survey the scene.
It’s clean. Organized. The filing cabinet has actual labels.
A stack of paid bills. The space heater is gone.
Our new security system is linked up to multiple TVs showing various angles of the ranch.
I watch Sam lead a group of kids to the Warrior Heart Home.
On another screen, Tina greets a new group—the last group of the year—with cold bottles of Pbr.
Pride fills me up inside.
Maybe we can do this and actually make money. Maybe next year we can start from a place that’s not fucked.
That’s the hope I’ve been looking for. Everything I need to move forward with my ranch.
It’s the push in my gut, the resolution to grow some goddamn balls and tell my brothers the truth. Make the last ten years up to them.
“So, listen,” I say, leaning forward in my chair and steepling my fingers under my chin. “I’ve been meaning to talk to y’all about something for a while now.”
“Royal flush,” Ford says with a smirk as he slaps down his cards.
Davis scowls. “Dick.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s about Runaway Ranch,” I say, and everyone stops what they’re doing. “We’ve been doin’ okay for a few months now. Since—”
“Since Fairy Tale,” Wyatt interjects.
I nod. “Since Ruby helped us out.” Letting out a deep breath, I curl my fingers into a fist and squeeze, pressing on.
“Y’all gave up everything to be here for me.
And I want you to know I’m gonna be okay.
The ranch is gonna be okay. So if y’all want out, go.
Now’s the time. Get on with your fucking lives. ”
Davis and Ford exchange a surprised glance. Wyatt’s eyes have drifted to the window.
The knot in my chest loosens.
“Y’all had lives before this. I appreciate it—what you did coming here and putting me back together—but it’s time,” I grumble.
“Y’all deserve to get out of Resurrection.
” I look around at my brothers, willing my throat not to close up.
“Davis, you’ve been pissed since you got here.
Wy, you can do the rodeo circuit full time if that’s what you want.
Break some more goddamn bones. Ford, I have no idea what the hell you’d do, but you can figure that the fuck out. ”
After a long stretch of silence, Davis studies me for a beat. Then he chuckles, says, “You’re an asshole.”
“Feeling’s mutual,” I assure him.
Ford gives a dubious grunt. “I can’t play baseball now. Too damn old.” He nods to me. “Besides, I wouldn’t go anywhere if I could, Charlie. Fishing and riding every day, I got it made.”
“I want to be here,” Wyatt adds, and my gaze flickers to him. A muscle jerks in his jaw. He’s hurt I haven’t talked to him about this. “This is my town. We’re fucking family, man. You’re not getting rid of us now that you got yourself a girl.”
I hear conviction in my brother’s voice and relief fills me.
My brothers want to be here.
It’s like the anchor of guilt in the pit of my stomach has finally been freed.
Goddamn, it’s nice to be back.
“I’ve been pissed,” Davis admits slowly, shaking his head. “But it’s not because of you, C.” He pauses, suddenly looking like he wishes he could walk back his statement. “But Wy’s right and you’re wrong. As usual.”
Wyatt and Ford swing their heads in my direction and laugh.
“Oh, fuck y’all,” I say, giving the room the finger, but there’s no fight in it.
Ford leans across the table to ruffle my hair. “Yeah, yeah, we love you too, dick.”
A rare grin twists Davis’s lips. “We want to be here. And I’m sure as hell glad that girl of yours pulled your head out of your stubborn ass.”
I snort.
“She staying?” Davis asks, still grinning.
“Yeah,” I rasp. “She is.”
“How long?”
“As long as I can have her,” I say. “When you know, you know.”
“Yeah.” Giving an approving nod, Davis drops his eyes to my boots, where I’ve scrawled Ruby’s name on the outsole. He looks up at me. “Don’t let her go, you hear me?” Davis clears his throat and digs through the desk drawers, pretending to search for something I doubt is there.
Strange. Ford and I share a look. If Ford seems confused about his twin’s statement, then I sure as hell am. There was something in Davis’s voice, an undercurrent of rough resentment. Only not directed toward us. As close as we all are, a brick wall would open up more than Davis.
“So, what’s next with y’all?” Wyatt drums his hands on the desk. “Take her home to Mama?”
I snort. “I take her home, we’re gonna lay down some laws real fast.”
No way in hell am I subjecting the sweetest girl in the world to Mama Belle’s sharp-tongued antics.
Wyatt smiles. “I don’t know what kind of spell that girl put you under, Charlie, but hell ...” A muscle works in his jaw and throat. “It’s nice to see you.”
“Good to be seen,” I reply gruffly.
Nothing’s ever felt this right. Ruby. My brothers. My ranch.
“Shit,” Davis growls, immediately punching the keyboard. His radio appears in his hands.
My head snaps up, whipping to the first security monitor. A long black Cadillac snakes its way up the gravel drive to my cabin.
A chill freezes my heart.
Ruby.
I shove out of my chair, my hands balling into fists. “Meet me at the house,” I say and take off running.
By the time I make it to the cabin, Ruby’s at the front door, hands propped on her hips, smiling politely at the black-suited man in front of her.
Me—I’m not that nice.
My hand balls into a fist.
“You’re trespassing,” I bark. Stomping up the porch steps, I step in front of the bastard and block Ruby with my body. “Get back in your car and drive.”
The man isn’t fazed. He stares at me with a cool expression. “In due time,” he says. “I was just talking to your pretty friend here ...” His eyes move from me to Ruby.
“Ruby,” she chirps, and I make a mental note to tell her later she shouldn’t be so nice to everyone. It’s one thing I love about her—her innocent sweetness—but it also terrifies the fuck out of me.
“Ruby,” the man repeats, his gaze zeroing in on her like a target.
Shoulders locking, I spin her away from him.
“Mr. Montgomery. It’s about time we met.” He extends a hand my way. “Declan Valiante.”
A gasp pops out of Ruby.
Fuck. It is him. The man on all those campaign posters. I recognize the silver head of hair and his rigid, robotic face. Gold-flecked eyes like a reptile.
I refuse his handshake. “You have no business here.”
“Oh, but I do.” He adjusts the sleeve of his suit. “I understand you’ve met my wife. My son, Colton.”
Ruby pales.
“I have,” I tell him, edging closer to Ruby. “And they’ve done nothin’ but cause trouble for our ranch.” A chuckle shakes out of me. “Sending in the boss. Things must be bad for business.”