It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was probably what I needed. I learned to depend on myself when things were hard. I learned what I could live without, like a cell phone, and what I couldn’t. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have the entire town and two moms looking over my shoulder, helping me to stand. I found myself.
Finding tack, I head back to my new main man, Bandit.
Will is watching me with a smirk and his arms crossed over his chest. I admitted to not working in a barn for a while, so I don’t mind him watching over me. These horses are the family’s livelihood, and I would rather get injured myself than hurt one of them.
“Hey there, handsome,” I coo as I slide the half door open and step inside the stall.
He huffs at me, telling me he won’t put up with my shit. I smile at him and get the bridle on, then tie the reins to the hook on the wall.
In the few short minutes it takes me to get Bandit situated, Will has a pad and saddle in his hands waiting. He lifts it to set on Bandit’s back, the muscles of his arms bulging. I can’t help but stare. They’re in my face and bigger than my head. What happened to the little boy I grew up with? Apparently, he became a man, and it’s damn distracting.
“Hey, my eyes are up here.”
My cheeks flame at being caught. “You got a concealed carry for those bad boys? They’re dangerous.”
Will chuckles as I start getting the saddle ready to ride. He stands right behind me, watching my every move as I buckle and cinch the straps. I adjust the stirrup, put my boot through it, and grip the horn to pull myself up. Will helps me with his hands on my hips, and a tingle of awareness passes through me.
This is weird.
I’ve never seen Will as a dating option. Ever. Whatever this is needs to stop. I have enough crap on my plate. I don’t need the Rojas boys fighting for my attention.
Will hands me the reins and places a hand on my leg. I lift an eyebrow at him and look at his hand, then back at his face. He smirks, but removes his hand.
“Bandit knows the property, so you won’t get lost on him. When you’re ready to head back, just tell him home and he’ll getcha back,” Will tells me, stepping back to give me room.
With a smile so big my cheeks hurt, I command him into a walk to get out of the barn then spur him into a canter.
“Hey! Eva!” Melanie Rojas sees me and waves on my way to the open field I’ve missed.
This field is how I got the nickname Wildflower. In the spring, this field is filled with the delicate blooms. I would spend hours out here, lying in the tall grass, making crowns of flowers, picking bouquets for Mel and Momma. The light purple balls are my favorite flowers.
Mel opens the pasture gate for me with a big smile. “You and your momma come up to the house for dinner tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod her a thanks and take off over the hill of the field.
The wind whips around me, setting my heart soaring. The rhythmic galloping of Bandit’s hooves on the dirt matches my pulse.
It’s been too long since I was in a saddle. I spent a lot of my teenage years right here, in the training corral, practicing for rodeos. I was a damn good barrel racer for a while. The Rojas family was always there to cheer me on. I worked my ass off to take care of the horse they let me use, Bandit’s mother. I was so excited when she got pregnant. Like it was my baby.
The thought turns sour, suddenly not as free as I was a moment ago.
My baby.
The reason I left. I ran so fast. Ian didn’t understand. He probably still doesn’t. It wasn’t fair to him. Guilt clenches in my stomach, regret closing my throat. Will he ever be able to forgive me?
Chapter Five
IAN
The phone on my desk rings for the tenth time today. The only times I get this many calls are when someone’s cows get loose and roam all over town. That’s not what these calls are about today. No, everyone in town is calling to tell me they’ve seen Eva on my family’s ranch. I’m not surprised to know she’s gone to my family. They’re as much her family as mine, but I don’t need the damn reminder every twenty minutes that she’s here and not with me.
The sweat hadn’t even cooled when she kicked me out last night. She wanted me just as badly as I wanted her, but once she got what she wanted, she was done with me. It hurt. It still hurts.
Now I’m irritated, snapping at everyone, and about to throw this damn phone through a window.
The ringing starts up again and I growl at it, stalking out of the office and toward my SUV without so much as a word to Stacey.
Damn woman has been here for less than twenty-four hours and she’s already messing with my routine. I couldn’t sleep after seeing her. I laid in bed and stared at the ceiling, hoping she would call, but knowing she wouldn’t.
I burned my bacon and my hash browns were soggy. I’ve been in a piss-poor mood since. Climbing behind the wheel, I let out a deep breath and start her up. It’s damn cold today. The skies are clear, bright blue with big white fluffy clouds, but since it’s December, it’s below freezing.
I set my cell phone in the cupholder and back out of the parking lot. I need to go for a drive and clear my head before I start a fist fight for no damn reason. Maybe Will will be in the mood for a fight today. No one pisses you off like a little brother, though I’m not sure Momma’s wrath will be worth it.
The drive through town is quiet, uneventful, and does nothing to calm my tattered nerves.
Fuck it.
Turning around in the middle of the street, I head toward my family’s ranch. If nothing else, I’m sure they can use an extra hand, and the physical work will tire me out.
Pulling in next to the car I know is Eva’s, I grit my teeth. I grab my phone and slam the door behind me, turning toward the barn. I catch just a glimpse of purple hair before it disappears down the hill where she used to make flower crowns as a child. At the age of ten, we “got married” in that damn field with one of those crowns on her head.
Itching for a fight, I stalk toward the barn, where I’m sure to find Will.
Johnny Curtis is mucking a stall when I walk past, but I don’t pay him any mind. This doesn’t concern him and Rick this time.
He nods. “Hey, Ian.”
I don’t respond. It doesn’t take me long to find my brother. He’s in the tack room conditioning a saddle when I walk in.
He turns around, not really surprised to see me. I’m here a lot.
“Get up,” I growl, my tone deep and dangerous.
He cocks his head, but sets his stuff down to stand up. I don’t give him any warning; I just swing at him. My fist connects with his jaw, snapping his head to the side. My breathing is too fast, and blood pumps through my veins to fuel my body, anger and pain wrapping around me like a vise grip. I hate this feeling.
Will shakes his head and comes after me, ducking down to get his shoulder in my gut, taking me to the ground. He lands a solid hit to my kidney, making me grunt. I split his lip with my elbow. We’re wrestling on the ground, no one paying us any mind as they go about their work.
“Are you kidding me?” Momma hollers.
Will turns toward her voice, leaving him open for another hit to the solar plexus. He doubles over, the wind knocked out of him.