Page 2 of Taken By my Brothers' Best Friends

“Sure.” He shook his head and backed away. “Learn to drive, kid. Before you kill someone or yourself.”

I watched with fury burning me up as they all climbed back into the truck and drove away. It only got worse when my bumper fell off a few seconds later. I kicked it and growled. “Freaking jerk. I should’ve hit him harder.”

My phone rang from inside the car and I glanced around just to see multiple busybodies staring at me. Without a doubt, my brothers would have a full report of what had happened in less than half an hour. Swearing and hoping like hell I could beat the rumor mill in getting back to the ranch, I grabbed my bumper, threw it in the backseat, and sped away from the scene of the crime.

The Hellstone family ranch was fifteen miles outside of town, down a weather-worn road which threatened to take out the underside of my car on a good day, when I was being careful. I didn’t have time to be careful, though. I flew all over my seat as I hit potholes going way too fast. I was airborne for a few seconds and the tickle in my stomach made me laugh until I landed and bit my lip.

I couldn’t handle my other brothers bitching at me for one more thing. Since I’d come home from visiting them in HarmonyValley, they were worse than ever. It was driving me crazy. I could hardly breathe without them overseeing it.

I flew under theHellstone Ranchsign and down the dirt road that led to the main house. Slowing down just before being in sight from the house, I tried to come up with a story they’d believe. I didn’t have much time and I wasn’t working with much so I figured I’d tell them that the jerks from out of town had stopped suddenly in front of me and I hadn’t had a chance to stop before hitting them. They were outsiders, strangers, so I thought I had a chance.

For the second time that morning, though, I felt a great sense of doom settle over me like a heavy fog. Parked next to my brothers’ trucks was the same truck I’d hit. Standing just off the wide front porch with my brothers, were the three men I’d never wanted to see again. I didn’t understand how they’d gotten there so fast.

I’d barely gotten my car into park before I heard Mills shouting my name. “Great. Just great,” I muttered in despair.

“Vera Hellstone!” Mills stood in front of the out of towners with his hands on his hips. He waited until I was out of my car and slowly slinking toward him to really let me have it. “Of all the stupid things you could’ve done today, you decided texting while driving was the one you were going to choose? You’re going to kill yourself one of these days and we’re going to have to clean up the mess you leave behind. Do you at least have insurance on your car?”

I started to say I did but then I had a very clear memory of thinking I’d fix my insurance issue once I got back from Harmony Valley. The insurance issue being I’d forgotten to pay it and it’d lapsed. I had not fixed the issue after getting back home.

Mills read my panicked expression correctly and swore. “Goddammit, Vera. Money doesn’t just grow on trees. You can’tjust keep wasting money and expecting us to pay for all your screw-ups.”

Mills’ twin, Tate, looked at the three strangers and shook his head. “You guys have a baby sister?”

“Why are they even here?” I decided going on the attack was my best bet. “Did you seriously come all the way out here just to rat me out?”

Mills rubbed his face and stared up at the sky. “I don’t have the patience to deal with this right now. We’re hiring them on, Vera. They’re going to be living and working the ranch with us.”

I swallowed and took a step backwards. A smart woman knew when to retreat. “Well, I’ll let you get to it. If you need me, I’ll be booking a flight back to Harmony Valley.”

CHAPTER 2

Vera

Mills snagged the back of my shirt and stopped me in my tracks. “I don’t think so, Vera. No. If you think we’re going to pay for your car to be fixed, you’re going to start pulling your weight around here.”

Tate gripped my shoulders and turned me around to face the jerks from out of town. “These guys are some of our best friends from our time in the Navy. They’re going to be working here for a while and they need someone to show them around. Mills and I have to get to the upper pasture to check on the herd and West is with the vet already. Everyone’s busy, Vera, so that means you can do something resembling work today.”

I ground my teeth together and crossed my arms. “I would love nothing more than to show these nice fellas around but I’m busy.”

“Too bad.” Mills stared back at my car and shook his head. “Take your car to the shop after you show them around and tell Steve to bill us.”

If I expected the jerks who’d been so eager to get away from me earlier to speak up and mention they didn’t want me showing them around, I was sorely mistaken. The three of them just stood there, watching the interaction between me and my brothers. I could hear by the tone in Mills’ voice I wasn’t going to get out of it. Still, I had to try. “Where’s Maxine? Can’t she do it?”

“Just show them around, Vera.” Tate walked over to their friends and shook their hands. “Sorry we have to run off so fast. This isn’t ideal but there’s a heifer who’s close to dropping and she’s had trouble before.”

“It’s fine. We didn’t come to have the red carpet rolled out.” The big jerk in charge, the one who’d yelled at me, shot me a look. “We’ve received less than enthusiastic welcomes before. We can handle it.”

“We’ll try this again later.” Mills sighed and then narrowed his gaze on me. “Be nice.”

I scoffed. “I’m always nice.”

I shifted out of the way as my oldest brothers climbed into their truck and left me standing there in their dust with three men I already hated. I watched until the truck disappeared and then slowly turned to face my new tourists. They were already watching me, looks of expectation on their faces.

The grumpiest one stepped forward and extended his hand. “Dean. This is Lennon, and that’s Reed.”

I shot a glare at his hand and only stuck my hand out to shake his after debating with myself for a few seconds about how rude I was going to be. “Vera.”

The one he’d introduced as Lennon stepped forward and grinned at me. “It’s nice to meet you, Vera. This is fun.”

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