Page 12 of Wild Omegas
A blush creeps up Josie’s cheeks. “Happens as you age, I think.”
“And now we’ve met twice.” It seems stupid once I’ve said it but it makes Josie’s smile warm brighter. For a moment, it feels like the rest of the world has fallen away while she looks at me like that. I never want it to end.
A dozen memories flash by my mind like a movie reel. Christmases on the ranch. The time my father helped deliver a baby horse and Josie and I stood by in awe. Watching fireflies on summer nights and stargazing in the winter with her grandfather and his telescope.
Does she remember as clearly as I do?
“So we have,” she finally says before shifting almost uncomfortably in her seat. “Do you ride?”
The sudden topic change catches me off-guard. Our moment of suspended time is over in an instant. I know she can’t mean riding horses since I work with them all day, so she must mean the rodeo competition again.
“I’ve been known to join the competition from time to time, yes.”
Her eyes light up. “Really? That’s wild.”
“Have you ever tried?”
She balks. “Me? Ride a bull? Hell no.”
“Really?” I click my tongue and laugh a little. “You struck me as the risk-loving type.”
“Did I?” She looks incredulous but even she can’t help but laugh. “Well, risks in the city are much different than out here I’d say.”
“Not much of a country lady?”
Josie glances out the window. “Not as an adult, it would seem. But it’s growing on me.”
Her words give me a hope I’m not sure I can explain. A hope forwhat? That she’ll stay? She’s already staying. No, it runs far deeper than that.
I want her to stay long enough to get to know her. To build something.
“I did used to love visiting all the time as a kid, though.” Josie has a faraway look in her eyes and a smile on her face. “My cousins and I, we got up to all the trouble in the world. And my grandparents always said that Wild Skies never lets you go for long.” She points out the window toward the road that will take us all the way back to the ranch. “Guess they were right. Do you believe it, too?”
Wild Skies has felt like more a home to me than my own for far longer than I can remember. Maybe that was the ranch itself or the generosity of the Rose family. Or maybe it was Josie all along. “I’m still here, aren’t I? Yeah, I believe it. Josie.” I turn to her for a brief moment before we hop on the long, winding road with no signs and even less cars. “Let us help you run the ranch. I know your ankle is better now, but we’ve been here for years. You’ll need our help.”
Her body stiffens. “I’m not pushing you out.”
But you’re pushing something away.“I get the impression you’re not sure what to do with us.”
“Three alphas and an omega on a ranch in the middle of nowhere,” she says with a dry laugh. “Maybe that’s why.”
The elephant in the room. Can’t blame her for being worried about it. I shake my head. “It doesn’t have to be a thing. All I’m saying is: Wild Skies Ranch is our home. It’s your home. You need help running it. We’ve been keeping it going for a while now and we’re not going anywhere.”
Her gaze is on the horizon where the early morning sun is starting to rise higher. “I know. I’m not pushing you all out.”
“You’re pushing us away,” I clarify.
Josie’s body stiffens and I know I’ve gone too far. “I have to. Work the ranch, fine. But otherwise let’s not get entangled. Thank you for bringing me out here today.”
Shit.I hate myself immediately. But sometimes wild mares need to see help is there even if they don’t want it. And I haven’t forgotten the purpose for our trip today and what it implies.
I’ll help Josie even if she doesn’t realize she wants it. Whatever or whoever she’s running from will no longer be a problem for her if it’s the last thing I do.
CHAPTER 7
Josie
I needto put a stop to this before it gets dangerous in about three different ways.
