Page 60 of The Hardest Part

“Reed Archer.” Emily spun around and walked backward for a step. He’s Griffin’s brother.”

“Griffin has a brother? Why didn’t I know that?”

You were sittin’ not a dozen feet away from him, girly.

He showed up for his brother’s wedding, surprisingly, but considering everything that transpired that night, it was likely Arien couldn’t recall meeting him. Then again, maybe she never got the chance to.

“What happened?”

“Not now,” Tanner muttered low. “Okay, pretty girl?”

“Gotcha.”

He heard them first. The continuous, low rumble of “moo” created a constant hum in the background of hooves hitting the ground, snorts, bellows, and the sound of the boys guiding the herd home. Cattle are better when handled calmly. The ranch’s cattle are all used to being handled horseback, and they’re used to the boys being quiet around them, but sometimes a cow has a mind of its own.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Griffin Archer knew a thing or two about herding cattle. He’d been sitting saddle from the time he could walk. More than his physical capacity, it was his indomitable will that was his strength. Kellan didn’t make him his lead rider for nothing. The guy didn’t know the meaning of the word, quit. It simply wasn’t in his vocabulary.

A critter broke away from the herd and took off, going back in the direction they had come from. In the blink of an eye, Griffin went chasing after him. The steer ran fast. He rode faster. His arm raised overhead, he twirled the rope, moving only his wrist. Billy counted in his head,one, two, three, four,waiting for him to throw the rope. The lariat soared through the air, capturing his target.

Arien looked awestruck, watching him. “Damn, he should be in the rodeo or something.”

“Nah, that ain’t real cowboyin’. It’s just showin’ off.” Flipping her hair back, Cassie held her chin high. “What you’re seein’ out there? Now, that’s the real thing.”

Archer turned his horse around and trotted their way. Cassie hopped over the fence and ran toward him. He swooped her up into the saddle, peppering kisses all over her face. She didn’t appear to care that he was covered in dirt and grime, or stank of cattle and sweat. With her arms clasped around his neck, and her smile a mile wide, Billy had never seen her look happier.

“Miss me, baby cakes?” His lips quirked up into a devious grin. Kellan dismounted and handing the reins to Tanner, he kissed his wife like he hadn’t seen her for three years, never mind three days.

But then sometimes, a day can feel like a year. Billy knew that all too well.

With his hands gripping her ass, Kellan smashed Arien against the bulge in his jeans. Whimpering, she climbed him like a tree.

“Yeah, I’m thinkin’ you did,” he rasped with a loud smack to her bottom.

“Asshole.”

“You know it.” And he kissed her again.

“Go on, you two. I got work to do here.” Looking on, Tanner shook his head and chuckled.

No resentment.

No jealousy.

Billy saw nothing but absolute love for his brother and the wife they shared shining in his eyes. He squeezed Emily tighter. “You know what that means.”

“Yeah,” she said on a sigh. “I do.”

“I’m so happy I got to see you.” Gazing into the green eyes that loved him, he tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

He didn’t want to let her go, but for him and Tanner, the day was just beginning. Griffin was getting off his horse. Billy should take the stallion off his hands. Instead, holding onto Emily, he watched him get down on his haunches and kiss Shiloh’s tummy.

Cassie’s face crumpled, but Griffin didn’t see it.

“Think they’re ever gonna be okay?”

Billy held her to him tightly one more time.

Lighting another cigarette, Cassie walked away.

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