Page 41 of Wild and Unruly
“I just wish he’d do something to get his head on straight again,” I say instead, not really wanting to continue this conversation about Mason and what he should be doing, notafter the way he lashed out this week. It was emotionally draining.
“Did you guys fight?”
“More like he yelled, and I just let him,” I say, turning to give Stetson a sad smile and shrugging. “What am I supposed to say? That he’s acting like a fool for letting his life slip by and not fighting for a better one? That he needs to quit the pity party and live his life? I don’t know what he’s been through, Stetson.”
We’re quiet as we walk for several minutes, my truck settled in the lot far behind us, but I don’t think either of us cares.
“You do know what he’s been through, though, Bonnie,” Stetson says after a moment, surprising me. “You went through it too. You had to give up your life when he got injured. You lost your dad. Your mom basically lost her own life to take care of him. He’s not the only victim.”
I shake my head, stopping on the sidewalk to face him. “He lost the most.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Stetson shrugs, probably anticipating that I was going to feel defensive over my brother. “If he’s not working toward a better life, if he’s just sitting there, allowing failure to be the only option, then it’s his fault for the life he has. He doesn’t get to blame you.”
Tears swell in my eyes, and I turn my face away, wiping discreetly at my cheek. “I should head back.”
I take a step, and Stetson reaches out, grasping my hand in his and pulling me back. His eyebrows furrow, and he takes in the look on my face. Concern and something else flash across his features. “I’m not trying to upset you, Bo. I just feel…” He pauses, looking to the side, and I watch his jaw tighten. He turns back to look at me, his eyes glowing with emotion. “I feel protective of you. I don’t like you getting hurt.”
I shrug with a sad smile. “Truth hurts.”
He watches me for a moment as if contemplating his next words. His mouth opens and shuts a few times before he decides against whatever is on his mind, and he pulls me close, tucking me under his arm and kissing me.
I let my thoughts drift away and put my focus and attention on him. On us. I just want to focus on this alone. I don’t want to think about work, or the article, or whatever awaits me in Kentucky. I don’t want to think about Tommy Smith or my brother or the drama that is sure to unfold there when I decide to take Tommy down.
I want to think about his hands on my arms, on how they roam lower and around my stomach, on how his tongue reaches out to part my lips, on how my gasp is swallowed up by his mouth, and how my bones feel as if they’re melting, and I have to rely on him to stay upright.
My hands grip his shoulders, my feet moving closer to him as he kisses me until there’s no air left to breathe.
I’m about ready to find a building to lean against when he pulls away from me, pressing firm kisses to my lips every few seconds as if it’s helping him come down from the high we just built together.
“I really want to keep being with you tonight,” he says against my mouth, and I open it to reply. “But I’m going to walk you to your truck now.”
15
stetson
Today was goingto be the first practice session with Bonnie. After she agreed to compete with me at the rodeo, I was expecting her to back out, maybe say that she didn’t think it through and wasn’t ready for that.
But after church let out this morning, I looked at my phone to see a text from her asking when we were starting.
Because I was dying to see her again, I told her today in hopes that she would come out to the ranch, have lunch with us again, and then we could ride all afternoon.
She beat me back to the ranch.
She showed up in her Wranglers and boots, ready to ride, but got pulled into conversation with the other girls for a while before we could get out to the barn.
Now, we were warming our horses up in the arena before we got started. I can’t stop looking over at her. With her head tucked under her hat, her rope tied to her saddle—one shebrought from home—and her face set in concentration, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen something that sexy in my life.
I was the one having a hard time focusing. And when she tilts her head up, feeling my stare, all I can do is grin at her.
She smiles back and slows her horse to a walk, signaling that she’s ready.
Dani and CT volunteered to help us out, and Logan was right behind them, loading in the cows and getting the first one ready in the chute. I walk my horse over to Bonnie, slowing mine down to a stop. “You ready?”
She takes a deep breath and nods, smiling over at me. “I’m good. Didn’t expect an audience.”
I look to where she motions and see the rest of my family and the Trevors family all gathered in the crow’s nest to watch. It’s a bench seat that lifts you higher so you can see over the arena gates.
“Well, it’s practice for the real deal,” I say, embarrassed that my entire family is here while simultaneously grateful for their support.
