Page 14 of The Roper & the Author

“I’m flying to Amarillo today for a roping competition,” he said as if she didn’t know.

She nodded and tried to act positive, but despair almost overwhelmed her. He was leaving. They wouldn’t even have a chance to develop any kind of relationship.

“I hope I’m still here when you return,” she said quietly.

“Me too.” His voice was sincere and his gaze even more so.

“Are you ready to pick up the pace?” Easton asked.

“Dále. You two can weight lift me into the ground, but I can outrun you.” She smiled. “I hope. I don’t have any elevation on my island. The altitude and uphill spots might kill me here. But the views will inspire me and make it all worth it.”

“You’ll do great,” Walker assured her. “We’re in no hurry.”

They fell into an easy pace and jogged through narrow trails and dirt roads that circumvented and crisscrossed their property. They were very proud of their gorgeous and chilly-looking lake. That struck her as ironic as it was as small as a pond; she could see land on the other side of it. At home, water stretched as far as the eye could see.

The mountains rising above their property through the pine, aspen, cottonwood, and pine trees, as they named them, awed her.

Marci drew them both out about roping and bull riding as they ran. Hoping it wasn’t obvious she’d only watched videos of one of them, she tried to ask Easton extra questions to fill in the gaps in her knowledge, wishing again she could be alone with Walker.

Hervaquero guapo. Why did he have to leave? What if she never saw him again?

Chapter

Five

As they finished their run,Marci, Walker, and Easton walked back toward the barn and the main house. She’d kept up pretty well. Only slightly winded from the high elevation.

“Where istu casa, Walker?” she asked, glancing askance at him. He gifted her with that slow smile and she almost tripped over her own feet.

She was dying to see where he lived, how he decorated, and get insight into his life. Then she needed to officially meet his horse and go on a ride together. It was a beautiful plan.

“Walker and I each have cabins through the trees,” Easton said.

“Oh. You don’t live at the main house?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Do we have time to see them?” she asked.

“Sure. If you’re okay with not seeing us spar today.”

“Hmm. That’s a rough choice. Could you spar later? Oh shoot, I keep forgetting Walker is leaving us.” She frowned. “We’d better have you spar now. I can see the cabins later, but I can’t watch you fight later.”

The twins exchanged a look and then Easton shrugged. “You want to watch me thump my little brother?”

“Ha!” Marci burst out. “I don’t know if that would happen. Walker is far too strong looking.”

Walker grinned.

“We should spar,” Easton said, his jaw tight. “So I can prove I’m the alpha.”

“Yes, and Walker’s the sigma.” Marci nodded her head.

“Let’s spar so I can prove the alpha is better than the sigma,” Easton said.

“We’ll see.” Marci winked at Walker. She hoped she wasn’t upsetting Easton, teasing them about the alpha and the sigma. That wasn’t her purpose, but she could never claim anyone was better than Walker.

They all walked back to the large barn, through the back door, and up to the sparring ring. Marci sensed a funky tension between the brothers and hoped this sparring wasn’t a bad idea. Easton was only flirting with her. There was no way the playboy was actually interested in her. But maybe Easton was the type who had to win at all costs, even against his brother. She didn’t like that. A character flaw for certain. He could learn and overcome that, but Walker was already humble and confident. No need to prove himself. The sigma for sure.

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