Page 20 of His to Keep

“Damn grateful, too. You want me to ride with to Texas or stay back, or do you want me go to Texas?” Trey asks. I look from my brother to the man beside me. Amos better get the hint that I’m not ready for Trey to leave. We’ve been apart too long. He’s stayed away during the last few years, and while I now know why, I still freaking hate that so much time has been lost to us.

“I’ll go, as long as you’re good to stay here and help out?” Amos follows up.

“Got no problem with that,” Trey replies. He dips his head until only I can hear what he’s saying. “Get it out, sugar. He’s been worried, and while I talked him out of following you to the warehouse, the same can’t be said for myself.” I whirl around, my jaw hanging open yet again. Did I just hear what I think I heard?

“You followed me?” I’m greeted with a tug of a smile on his lips.

“Sure the fuck did. Would do it again, too. You do realize all of us Johnson brothers, present company included, will do anything to protect those we love.” He’s so proud of himself, going as far as to spread his feet shoulder width apart, crossing his arms over his chest, and giving me his undivided attention. Trey Johnson is absolutely goading me into an argument. I’m not going to fall for it. I wait him out, Amos waits me out, and we’re at a stalemate. Mothertrucker, I’m surrounded by alpha cowboys. I’m well and truly screwed.

“Fine, you win. We’ll talk about your little stalker moments later.” Trey gives me a full smile with a wink. Our combined come is sliding down the inside of my legs, or I’d say he’s turning me on all over again.

“You got this, sugar.”

“Amos, you were right. I hated that you and Trey were so adamant I go away to college, but it was for the best. Do not ever expect those words to come out of my mouth again.” I raise my hand palm out. Amos is trying not to laugh, Trey not so much. He’s awarded a glare from me yet still doesn’t stop. “The only reason I agreed to go away is because I refused to be the reason you lost your friend. You’ve given me everything, you’ve set your own life aside, you raised me, loved me, and devoted too much of your life to me. The least I could do is leave instead of ruin your friendship with Trey. Then I found my passion, and I didn’t hate going back after every visit. And while I love our land, legacy, and farm, I’m not sure I want it as a full-time career.” I take a breath and regain my strength to tell him what I’ve been doing since coming back home.

“I knew that, Sienna. It’s why I pushed you so hard.” Amos’ words are a balm to my soul.

“Then it won’t be a surprise to you that Genevieve and I started a business together?”

“Not at all.” Amos shakes his head. “What is it?”

“I design and make pottery, Genny paints for the most part, and I help out when I need a different creative outlet. We’re sold out and have pre-orders. Our company name is Two Chicks. Genevieve is the mastermind behind the business front and, well, I may ask for my inheritance soon enough if things continue going as well as they have.” I cross my fingers and hope I haven’t pissed Amos off.

“You’ve always been a dreamer, Sienna. Proud of you. I’d come in from the pastures, and you’d be making mud pies. Only they were more bowl like, and blades of grass would be inside them. Then you’d grab a fork from the kitchen and draw intricate designs. Somewhere along the way, you grew out of that phase. Hated like hell you lost that piece of you for a while but figured it was part going from a child into a teenager. Glad you found it, baby sister. I’m happy for you.” I remember those days like yesterday. Amos may have thought I quit being creative, but the truth is, you could always find me drawing or doodling on some piece of paper.

“Thank you. I’m sorry. I should have told you.” Trey’s hold on me tightens.

“Nothing to apologize for. Don’t expect either of us to tell one another our every move. The bison deal, I didn’t ask you about, and that’s got some of our family money in it. Not enough to fuck us over, but I should have asked.” Amos shrugs his shoulders.

“Amos, I don’t care what you do with the farm as long as it stays in the family. You’ve always had the best in mind. You’re doing a great job. You know, in case I haven’t told you lately.” My fingers tug on the cuffs of my sleeves.

“I’m not apologizing. I’d do everything over again in a heartbeat. Sienna has some truth to her words, though. You’re damn hard on yourself, doing better than most. Give yourself a pat on the back or however the fuck that saying goes.” I roll my eyes with Trey and his little saying.

“Appreciate that. I’d hug you.” Amos stops. “Yeah, think we’ll wait on that. I’m going to the barn till the coast is clear. Love you, sis.”

“I love you, big brother.” And that’s that. Amos heads out, and I’m left with Trey, my rock and the man who owns my whole heart for my whole life.

“Okay, that went well, too well. Did you tell him before he came home?” I snuggle into Trey’s side, my ear going to his chest, feeling and hearing his rapidly beating heart.

“Nope, but I have a feeling it won’t be long until your brother finds a woman who will have his head spinning,” Trey says.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because, sugar, he needs a woman to shake things up, and it’s high time he found someone for himself,” he says matter-of-factly.

“I love you, Trey Johnson,” is the only response I have. He’s right. Amos is one of the best guys out there, and the right woman would be perfect for him.

“I love you, too, Sienna Ellison.” His lips brush across mine, once, twice, and then he’s deepening our kiss as if he can never get enough of me. The feeling is entirely mutual.

EPILOGUE

SIENNA

Three Months Later

“Come on, Champ, it’s time to go home,” I tell Champ, who’s walking beside me. We’ve just left my brother's place and are heading toward Trey’s house. The distance is only a couple of miles away, an easy enough walk when the weather is cooperating and I’m not rushing to and from work. Today just so happened to my day off from working with Genevieve. In fact, we both took a couple of days off after this last launch. Then, true to our words, we dove right in to making a storefront. Amos sat me down and told me what I had in my inheritance after going away to college. My brother being the selfless person he is paid for what my scholarships didn’t. The farm has made a profit for many years, and instead of giving me a portion in cash, he figured it’d be better to leave the money from Mom and Dad in an account to let it mature. And mature it did. There was enough to pay for the warehouse outright along with the renovations we wanted. Genny about lost it, though, feeling like she wasn’t contributing, and in the end, we came to an agreement within our partnership.

The warehouse would stay in my name. The two of us obviously still co-own Two Chicks, and in the future, if she wanted to buy into the warehouse, we’d make it happen, fifty-fifty. That appeased her. Genny also said she’d make that happen and has since been looking at other avenues of income she can sink her teeth into. I roll my eyes at least once a week. I didn’t buy our shop for her to work herself to death in hopes to feel like she’s doing enough. I bought the place because it’s a great investment, and with money sitting in the bank doing nothing, I may as well make it worth our while. Plus, I love the idea of not having to pay someone rent day in and day out. Next week, the storefront will open, and after weeks of working our tails off, we both decided the rest of the week was ours. Online orders were put on hold, and soon enough, we’ll have to take commissions if the storefront takes off, like I’m sure it will.

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