Page 82 of Shared on the Ranch

Her mouth went dry.If he doesn’t know, they’ll tell him, and he’ll tell Chandler and Aaron and they’ll throw me out on my ass with a broken heart.

When she’d arrived at Discipline Ranch, she’d thought she was already as low as a woman could get. She now knew that wasn’t true. Worse than being penniless and jobless was being left alone after she’d finally, for the first time, understood what it was like to be loved.

Her eyes went from one beloved face to the other, tracing their features, trying harder than hell to burn them into her memory. Because after they heard… they’d never, ever look at her the same way again.

* * *

Chandler

She’s starting to scare me.As stoic as he was trying to hold himself, he couldn’t help but continue to sneak peeks at her to make sure she was okay. Her normally porcelain complexion had become drawn and haggard the longer they talked and he could swear she was going to pass out any minute.

He didn’t understand, didn’t know what demons lurked in her mind, but he had a feeling they were getting close to uncovering all of them. That should have made him happy, but all he felt was tense. His body was mimicking her own, and she was coiled so tightly, he worried she would come undone any moment.

Feeling eyes on him, he traded a look with Aaron and saw the same worry echoed on the master’s face. Somehow, knowing his concern was shared helped him relax.It’s okay. We’ve got this. And she’ll be all right, because she’s got us.

“Chyanne?”

At Lora’s questioning tone, the petite redhead took a deep, quavering breath.

“I… it was the end of my last rodeo. I…”

Chandler tightened his grip around her shoulders. The tears in her voice tugged at his big daddy heart.I’m right here with you. I’m not going anywhere.

“I won, but I was so mad.”

Lora’s brow furrowed. “Why would you be mad?”

Chyanne’s voice shook as she continued. “I… I did win, but I couldn’t even enjoy it because Lance, h-he got mad in the last leg and tried to unseat me from my horse.”

Though Chandler had stayed silent this entire time, this news caused him to forget about that and he turned toward her, demanding, “What?”

Aaron was echoing his own sentiments, his voice lashing out as hot and angry as Chandler himself felt. “How do you know? Why the hell would he do that? Do you have any proof, because—”

“Gentlemen, please,” Nate’s voice rang out, making both of them fall silent.

But Chyanne was buoyed by their reactions because when she continued, her voice was stronger. “Part of it was my fault.” Her voice dipped and she dropped her eyes, staring at the floor as she continued. “My horse that I rode at the time, Starlight, she had an accident. She recovered, but seemed to be sensitive about her left side. She still rode just as well, but she was always sensitive about her left. I should have ridden a different horse. They told me I should’ve, but”—she cleared her throat, looking embarrassed—“I’m a bit stubborn.”

Chandler bit back a laugh and Aaron on the other side attempted to muffle his.

“So, I rode her anyway. She was my horse, you know? She was loyal to me. Horses are so much better at that than people. But everyone knew the easiest way to spook Starlight. I don’t think anyone else would have done it on purpose, but Lance… right at the last leg, he got right up on us and leaned into Starlight. He coulda got ahead of us, if that was what he was after. But he took the time to dig into my horse, and she spooked. She nearly threw me from the saddle.”

He was holding her as tightly as he could, but he felt his own heart squeezing at the vulnerability in her voice.

“I… I was mad, so…”

Come on, baby girl. You can do it. We’re right here with you.

“I did win my division, but Lance won that final race. I was so angry, I was shaking. I… I wasn’t thinking very clearly. And when he was up there getting his award, I…”

“What, Chyanne? What did you do?” Lora’s voice made it clear she was just as invested in the story as he was.

Chyanne laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “I, uh, sort of put my head down and rushed the stage. I head-butted him off the stage.”

Lora’s eyes were wide and a look of delight crossed her face. “Like a bull!”

“Yeah.” Chyanne giggled. “Like a bull.” But as soon as the words crossed her lips, her expression sobered. “But… it was the last straw. I was fired after that, and my trainer quit. He told me I’d never work in the industry again. So…” The reluctance was evident in every line of her body as she met Nate’s eyes. “You see, really, you shouldn’t have hired me either.”

CHAPTER14

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