Page 4 of Pasture Findlay Farms

I lean forward to peek through the hay bales. My eyes widen in horror when I see Jameson stomping into the barn, Archie hot on his heels. With one glance at their faces, I understand their fury, threatening to tear through the barn like a raging storm with no end in sight.

My mouth drops open and William holds a hand up to his lips to keep me from making a sound. He stands perfectly still for a moment. Then, moving in silence, he reaches for my clothing. He slides my underwear and jeans toward me followed by my tank top. My bra and button-down aren’t anywhere to be found. I step into my pants in absolute silence save for the sound of my heart pounding in my chest.

William struggles back into his own clothing too and I feel my insides churning. I'm not sure if I can hold it together or not. A wave of nausea washes over me and my body seizes up in shock.I think I might be sick.

We watch from behind the hay, both of my brothers seem out of breath. The light from the party filters in through the open barn door and illuminates their haggard, bruised faces. Archie has a black eye and it makes me wonder what the other guy looks like right now. A terrible feeling swirls in the pit of my stomach.

“That guy. That fucking asshole of a guy. Waylin! I can’t stand him. Him and his brother walking in here like they were invited or something.” Archie paces as he talks and I swallow back my tears.

My eyes fly to Williams and he shakes off the insult mouthing the words,it’s okay. But we both know it isn’t. There isn’t anything okay about this entire situation.

Where the hell is Olivia, she’s always been good at keeping these two in line.

Jameson runs a hand down the front of his clothing and he tucks his shirt back into his pants as he talks. “I don’t like those guys any more than you do, but what’s the point of you getting in a fistfight with the dude?”

“The point is he’s insulting my girlfriend. He’s messing up the only chance I’ve ever had at really being happy with someone.” Archie balls his fist.

I arch an eyebrow in surprise.What is he talking about?

Jameson continues. “Would you shut the hell up about a girlfriend? Clean yourself up and go find her. We’ve got bigger things to think about. Robinson Ranch isn’t going to be able to take the farm from us, we’ve got our paperwork for the county ready to go. They only came here to get a reaction from us.”

“I sure as hell gave them that,” Archie lets out a sarcastic chuckle and I note the sense of urgency in his voice.

As they talk, I look for my bra. My eyes widen in horror when I see it draped over a bale of hay behind Jameson’s head.Dammit, I knew we should’ve gone out to our spot in the pasture. Do you know what isn’t sexy? My brothers walking in. Please, please don’t let them see the bra.

William puts a steadying hand on my shoulder and points to my boots as we try to wait them out. I want my brothers to be on board with this relationship, and this certainly isn’t the way to go about it.

As my brothers rant about all things Robinson Ranch, I make a move toward my boots, getting them out of sight. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding when I get the boots in my hands, but as I step back, the old floors let out a sharp creak beneath my feet.

In an instant, the barn falls silent. All I can hear is the music from outside and even that seems to have taken a turn for the serious.Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue by Toby Keith, are you kidding me?

“Hey, who's in here?” Archie calls out, pounding his fist against the wall of the barn. “Better not be one of those Robinson boys, tell you what.” He rolls up his shirt sleeves.

Jameson turns toward the hay. “Come on out. This is off limits, the party is in the tent.”

My blood runs cold. We’re caught. This is it. This is how my brothers are going to find out about the new addition to our family. What a beautiful story for a baby book. I cringe at the thought of my family’s disappointment and I already know it’s coming. I look up at William, he’s pale as a ghost. His fingers are pressed to his temples and nods in slow resolve. I take a deep breath.

This can’t get any worse…but then it does.

CHAPTER5

DAKOTA

“Look what we have here.”Archie walks past Jameson and plucks my hot pink, lace bra off of the hay bale. He holds it up, swinging it around his hand. “Oooh, this looks like fun. I’d like to see the tits that fill this up. Come out before I pull you out.” He chuckles and I realize my brother is a real asshole sometimes.

“This is ridiculous.” My voice is hardly a whisper, but I stand, pulling my shoulders back. “I’ve had enough.”

“No,” William reaches for my hand but I jerk it away.

Ignoring William’s urging, I step out from behind the hay. My thin white tank top hugs my unsupported chest, but I push away the discomfort. I don’t have a single thing to be ashamed of. “That’s mine, thank you very much.”

Archie throws my bra on the ground like it’s on fire. His jaw drops and his eyebrows pinch together in disgust.

“What in the backwoods hell is happening?” Jameson mutters, turning away from me. “Put that on. What the hell is wrong with you?” Jameson picks up my bra gingerly by the strap and throws it toward me, averting his eyes while I put it on. “What are you doing back there?”

“Really Jameson? The thought of your baby sister who is a full-grown adult being with a man is so unbelievable to you that you have to ask the question even when you catch me half-naked in a barn. Come on, you’ve got to be kidding me.” I let out a humorless chuckle.

I look back at William and he purses his lips. Then he takes a reluctant step out from behind the hay, nodding to my brothers. “Gentlemen.”

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