Page 2 of Untamed

Thick oak beams stretch up to high ceilings, sunlight spilling through the towering windows. Two oversized couches sit around a heavy wooden coffee table and Mamaw’s armchair sits perfectly next to the grand open fireplace. It's cozy, homey. The kind of space that draws you in and makes you want to stay a while.

I can still picture myself curled up in here with a book, or sprawled out on the floor watching movies with my family and best friend, Nova. Memories rush in—laughter, late nights, the comfort of being surrounded by my family. And just like that, any lingering resentment fades away.

Home.

That’s what this place is.

With its six ensuite bedrooms, a lounge, snug, an office, kitchen, dining room and an extra guest bathroom, the lodge is massive. Maverick moved out years ago, settling into the foreman’s cabin, which is situated between here and the bunkhouses, so it’s too much space for just my father andMamaw. But I know he would never sell, and I wouldn’t want him to.

I just wish he’d let me stay instead of pushing me to go to college out of state.

“The place hasn’t changed, has it?” Dad murmurs, stepping up beside me.

I shake my head, breathing out a contented sigh. “No. And that’s exactly how I like it.”

“Me too,” he responds wistfully, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on me. “I’ll have Gavin take your things to your room, so you can get settled. In the meantime, Mamaw is waitingverypatiently for you in the kitchen.”

Laughing, I spin on my heel, making my way down the hall. “I better not keep her waiting then,” I call over my shoulder.

Chapter Two

COLTER

Rolling the toothpick across my bottom teeth, slumped against the thick tree trunk, I stare out at the night sky wondering, and not for the first time, how I fucked up my life so bad to end up as no more than a ranch hand. Don’t get me wrong, it’s honest work and I appreciate Lincoln giving me a job and having a paycheck every month, but still. It’s a massive fall from grace.

The heat from the bonfire licks at my skin, laughter and loud chatter filling the air, breaking the otherwise silence of the vast open space. I should get involved with the other men, but I just can’t bring myself to care to join them in their conversation and cheer. Not because anything is wrong with them. They are mostly good guys, but I have always been more of a loner, preferring my own company to that of others, and to be honest, I am okay with that. It's better that way. When you expect the worst of people, there is no way to be disappointed.

“What about you, Colter?”

I glance up, my gaze landing on Maverick, the entitled son of my current boss, the owner of the multi-million-dollar Oakridge Ranch, Mr. Lincoln Becker. He watches closely, a smirk on his pretty boy face. My fists twitch wanting to smack the fuck out of it, but I refrain from doing just that, reminding myself that he isprivileged and has no idea of what the real world is like or how bad it can be. How one mistake can ruin your whole life—or in my case two.

Maverick may be out here rounding up cattle and getting his hands dirty with the rest of us, but he will never have to worry about money. Will never have to sell his soul so that he can eat or have a place to lay his head at night. It’s not his fault, he was born into this life, but still, I can’t help but be a little bitter toward him.

“What about me?” I finally respond, my voice gruff as I continue gnawing away at the wooden pick.

He rolls his eyes, and it takes everything inside me not to act on my earlier thoughts and punch the attitude right out of him.

“Do you have a hot pussy waiting at home for you?” he pauses, his brows furrowing. “Wherever home is. That reminds me, Colter, you’re a bit of a closed book. We don’t know much about you. Well, apart from you’re a big, brooding, good looking fucker that looks like he is two seconds from laying us all out on our asses.” He chuckles and the others follow. Fucking sheep. “Oh, and once upon a time, you were king of the rodeo before…” he trails off before clearing his throat. “Well, you know why.”

I snort, shaking my head and spitting out the toothpick. Yes, I do know why and it’s also not something I’m prepared to talk about. Straightening, I push myself into an upright position but stay seated on the grass.

“And that is all you need to know, Maverick. As for a woman at home waiting for me? Nah, I don’t. And this place is my home for now.” I grunt. That’s as much as he will get out of me. I have never been one for sharing, especially with people I barely know.

Maverick stares at me, as if he is shocked, I actually gave him an answer and I know without looking, that the rest of them are also watching me. I have been at Oakridge a couple months now, so they know me well enough to know that I keep myself tomyself. So, me engaging in any sort of conversation is obviously a revelation to them.

“Very well.” He finally speaks, breaking the silence.

Clearing his throat, he glances at the rest of the guys sitting around the fire where they resume whatever it is they were talking about before he decided to harass me. Watching them, the easy way they all converse with one another, I wonder why I can’t just do the same. Get involved. Be one of the guys. But then I remember why. People suck. And that’s exactly why I don’t cultivate relationships of any kind.

After a messed-up childhood with shitty parents, I have never felt the need to get close to another human being, always happier keeping to myself. As I got older, I would seek out women to fuck, and all, apart from one, were one-night stands. A warm hole for me to sink my cock into, take the edge off and find release. They knew where I stood, knew it was all I could offer, a night of pleasure, but still they threw themselves at me like I was God himself. And I guess once upon a time, back in my rodeo days, I was. Just like Maverick stated, I was the king of the circuit, undefeated and unbeatable. Until it all came crumbling down on that fateful day…

Shaking my head, I try to rid myself of where my thoughts are going. It’s a day I would like to erase from my mind completely, though I know that will never happen. Unfortunately, it’s imprinted on my mind permanently. The day that changed the trajectory of my life forever. Knowing full well I shouldn’t be competing in my fucked-up-state, I let ego get the better of me. And though I was lucky to make it out alive after being crushed by a horse, sometimes I can’t help but wish it had killed me.

“Doesn’t Mila come home today?” Kevin, one of the longest serving ranch hands, speaks, breaking me from my dark thoughts.

My ears perk at that. Ahh. The prodigal daughter has returned. The same daughter that Lincoln called a meeting about just yesterday, to tell us all in no uncertain terms that under no circumstances were we to touch his precious offspring. She was off limits to all of us. None of us were to go near her and if we did… well, then that would be the end of our employment at Oakridge.

Biting back a snort, I wonder briefly what could be so special about this girl that Lincoln feels the need to warn us tostay the hell away.

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