Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Jason coiled the rope around his hand and elbow as Tate led Rylee off toward the path between the two properties, the same as he’d done every morning that week.
Brent’s truck pulled into the drive as the two of them disappeared into the trees. Brent hopped out, looked at the spot where they’d gone, and strode toward Jason.
Jason tossed the rope to the dirt, a cloud of dust lifting into the air, before he headed for the barn. Brent came up behind him, but he didn’t turn around. They had a few clients coming today, and Jason had a number of things to set up before they arrived.
He grabbed a rodeo saddle and turned to find Brent leaning in the doorway, a brow arched and a small smile touching his lips. “So, I take it that it’ll be just the two of us? Again?”
Sighing, Jason continued toward the door and brushed past his friend. “It appears that way.”
“And Tate? Is there a reason he can’t be here?” Brent followed Jason. “This is his business, right?”
At that, Jason paused. Then he turned to face Brent fully. “Technically, the business belongs to both of us.”
Amusement shone in Brent’s gaze. “Yeah,” he drawled, “but last time we talked, you were asking me about starting a business that’s all your own. You never did tell me what it was, though.”
Jason adjusted his hold on the saddle. “I don’t know if that’s something I want to do.”
“Oh, that’s a load of you know what,” Brent said. “Your heart isn’t in this as much as my heart isn’t in competing. That’s why I’m here. I like teaching kids. I’m good at it. And Tate is good with the adults. But you?”
Jason remained quiet. He didn’t have to add to this conversation anymore. Brent was going to continue making assumptions and pointing out stuff he knew nothing about. Sometimes people talked too much and Jason simply preferred to let them get it out of their system.
Brent sighed. “You might be good at training because you’ve done it for most of your life. But honestly, I can tell your heart is somewhere else. Have you talked to Tate about how much time he’s been taking off?”
Jason shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”
“The heck it does—”
“Rylee needs his help. Her house needs work and he’s good at that stuff. If he can help her with that, then I’ll hold down the fort here. Besides, I have your help, don’t I?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Sure it is. We hired you because you’re good at what you do. You said it yourself. And that means Tate can prioritize other things when he needs to.”
Brent sighed and glanced over to the trail where Tate and Rylee had disappeared. “I suppose it makes sense.”
“What?”
“Why he’s helping out instead of doing this.” He spread his arms out wide. “This company is his baby. He’s always put this first. But now?”
“Rylee,” Jason said.
“Yeah. Rylee.”
Jason smiled. “He deserves the win, Brent.”
“Yeah. He does.” His friend shoved his hands into his pockets and took another few steps toward him. “But what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Your happiness. You can’t keep putting your brother first.”
“I’m not.” Jason moved the saddle to his other arm and met Brent’s eyes straight on. “Tate’s spent years running this place while I stood behind him. He’s earned a few months of being distracted. Doesn’t mean I plan on standing there forever.”
Brent’s brows lifted. “Meaning?”
“Meaning I’ve got plans of my own.” Jason started for the door. “Just haven’t gotten around to telling him how far along they are.”
“Well, I’ll be.” Brent fell into step beside him, grinning. “There he is.”
“Come on. Jonny will be here soon. We need to get a few more things out before he gets here.” Jason put the saddle onto an A-frame they set up for riders who needed to work on their technique.
They set to work. Brent gifted Jason with that companionable silence that Jason appreciated more than anything else.
There were very few people in town who could stand the silence, but thankfully most of them had grown to appreciate Jason’s view.
When he had anything important to say, he spoke his mind.
There was no need to fill the void with useless chatter.
Maybe that was why Brent froze when Jason turned to him and asked, “How did you know that Faith was the one?” He didn’t normally ask Brent about his relationship with his sister. There were certain lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Yet his sister’s relationship had developed in front of him, as Tate’s had. It had looked so easy for each of them to find love with someone who accepted them exactly as they were.
Brent blinked, coming back to himself. “I don’t know. I think it just sort of happened.”
Jason’s brows furrowed. “There had to be something that made you realize you wanted to pursue her. You two weren’t exactly friends before you started dating.”
“No, I suppose we weren’t.” A faint smile tugged at Brent’s lips. “But I’ll admit, there was something that drew me to her. It was like her soul spoke to mine.”
Jason coiled another loop. “Her soul spoke to yours.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Does my sister know you talk like this?”
Brent barked out a laugh and shoved his shoulder. “Give me a hard time all you want. Doesn’t make it less true.”
“Didn’t say it wasn’t true.” Jason went back to coiling the lead rope. “Said it sounded like the inside of a greeting card.”
“Fair enough.” Brent leaned against the rail. “But you believe in God. Don’t you?”
“Course I do.”
“Then it’s not that big a leap. If He knows what’s in a man, He knows who’d be right for him despite the flaws and blind spots. Someone who can tell what you need before you can. Heck, it goes both ways.” Brent shrugged. “That’s all love is. Faith that you found her.”
Jason coiled the rope slower.
Brent went quiet for a moment, then a smile stole over his face. “Why? Is there someone you’ve got your eye on?”
Jason went stony real quick.
Cece’s was the face that filled his head and the last thing he’d say out loud.
He had no idea how Brent would take the news that the woman he wanted was, as far as this town was concerned, the enemy.
And Tate would have a field day with it, which was the whole reason Jason hadn’t gone to his twin.
Not once in his life had he kept something from his brother.
That was the hardest part. Not the sneaking around. That.
From the second he’d learned why Cece was in Rocky Ridge, he’d known he’d have to protect her.
Was that what Brent was getting at?
The sound of tires crunching along the gravel road drew the attention of them both. Jonny was arriving with his father. They both climbed out of the truck, but Jonny was the only one to approach with a beaming smile. “Hey, Brent!”
Ruffling the kid’s hair, Brent chuckled. “Hey, kid. Go get your helmet and let’s dive right in.”
Jason knew what he was trying to do. He was attempting to get the kid out of earshot so he could ask more.
Or press on what he’d already attempted to learn.
But Jason wasn’t having any of it. “I’m going to get a few more things set up for the next kid.
Damon will be riding my horse around the corral when he gets here and I want to warm her up. ”
Brent nodded, but didn’t say anything more.
Good.
He didn’t need to be a gossip like the folks in town. When Jason was ready to share this side of his life, he’d do so. Until that time, he fully planned on keeping it all to himself.
One good thing did come out of speaking to Brent, however.
Jason wasn’t going to sit by and let the world pass him by.
Brent might think that Tate’s happiness and Jason’s happiness went hand in hand.
What he didn’t know was that the business was already further along than anybody knew.
But the girl of his dreams would only be in Montana for a short while.
Priorities being what they were, Jason would focus on what was most important.