Page 9 of Fragile Heart

Chapter Five

ETHAN

The sun is bright and warm where it hangs nearly directly over us. There’s not much breeze, and the sky is clear of any kind of cloud. We’ve been in the saddle nearly five hours, moving two separate herds of cattle to more favorable places for finding water. By all accounts, I should be exhausted. But riding with Cottonwood always manages to clear my head. Give that horse an hour and some open space, and she’ll have me feeling in control again.

“Hudson and I are going to The Outpost after the evening crew gets to the restaurant. You want to grab drinks tonight?” Beau asks from where he rides beside me, his hat low over his eyes. He’s ditched his flannel just as I have, leaving him in a dark blue tee.

“Caleb’s out on a fire,” I say, shaking my head.

Cottonwood misses a step, and I run my hand along her shoulder, easing farther back in the saddle to help her manage the climb down the mountain.

Beau grunts. “That explains why you stopped at the house before saddling up. I thought you had just forgotten your own coffee.”

I roll my eyes and change the subject.

“I think Mom’s making lunch for the masses, though, so you’re welcome to stay.”

Beau legitimatelymoans. “Hell yes. I hope it’s her mac and cheese. She makes the best I’ve ever had.” He turns to me, pursing his lips. “Don’t tell Hudson I said that, though. He’ll spit me over a fire.”

I laugh, the sound rusty, and pull my phone from my back pocket.

On our way back. Should be there in ten.

Mom’s response is faster than I expect.

Perfect. Mac and cheese will be done in about five.

I glance over at Beau. “You sure you don’t have some sixth sense that tells you what Mom’s planning?”

He’s never guessed wrong about whatever Mom is making. Ever. I learned to stop betting against him by the time we were sixteen and I’d lost a couple hundred dollars over it.

“Hell yes. That just made my entire Saturday.” He whoops, fist-bumping the air.

After a few minutes, I offer, “Emily mentioned she’s taking Phoebe out today.”

Beau frowns, shifting the reins to his other hand. “She mention why? Phoebe doesn’t like riding the way Emily always wants to. She’s too calm.”

I shake my head. “Nope. And when I pressed, she made it awkward.”

“That sounds right.” Beau grins. “Well, at least that saves me from needing to come out tomorrow and work her. I’ll get back on a better schedule with her now that calving is done.”

We settle back into silence, just like we have the last several hours. I love working the cattle with Beau. He’s damn good at it, yes, but he also doesn’t force conversation. He’s content to let the quiet of the pasture and mountains around us fill the space between topics. It’s probably something to do with him being a Beta when the rest of us—Hudson, Caleb, and I—are all Alphas. So are three of our permanent hired ranch hands. Beau is just… calmer than everyone else. It helps on days like today, when I’m so on edge I’m ready to jump out of my damn skin.

Just as the clearing opens up around us, the barns on the far side of it, Beau says, “Heard Caleb had a date in Jackson last night.”

“How the hell did you find that out?” I ask, instantly defensive.

“Hudson heard a couple of the girls at the restaurant lament about it last night,” he says, keeping his voice light. “They’ve been eyeing him up apparently.”

Goddamn small towns. I stretch my neck, trying to keep myself from falling back into that festering rage that’s been eating at me. It bubbles up anyway. Cottonwood tosses her head as I choke up on her reins unintentionally. I force a deep breath and relax my hands.

Shit, maybe it’s time to consider a rut suppressor. At least until Camden is in school. Maybe by then I’ll be ready to talk about moving on from Kayla.

And Brielle, that voice whispers.

I urge Cottonwood faster, trying to outrun my thoughts. Beau sighs but keeps pace.

“Didn’t realize it was a no-ask subject,” he mutters.

---