Page 1 of Belong With Me

Four Years Ago

Prologue

Ryder

“Only three more weeks, my man.”

The feel of my older brother’s hand clasping my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts. I was wondering where I was going to take my sweet Anna-Beth on our honeymoon, since I still hadn’t actually decided where to go. “I know, three more weeks and I’m going to join the club of married men.” I laughed, nervously.

“That you are.”

“Any suggestions for me? Don’t give me any of that ‘don’t go to bed angry’ crap either. I’ve heard that a million times.” In my book, the only way I’d put my woman to bed is with her feeling happy and satisfied.

Beside me, Wyatt stepped forward, releasing my shoulder as he moved. All the while, keeping a very close eye on his bundle of joy, his daughter, Aria. My eyes followed his gaze, and we watched as his three-year-old was led around our main arena by our younger brother, Colton, with her two dark brown pigtails peeking out the bottom of her pink helmet. The smile on her face was one of complete and utter happiness while she sat proudly atop her pony. He offered her words of encouragement here and there, and she blossomed at his attention.

“It’s pretty darn great. Marriage, I mean.” He put a boot on the rail and climbed to sit on top of it. “Especially once things change from just the two of you and you have a kid. Man, the day I found out Maddie and I were gonna have Aria, I think my heart nearly exploded.” Even though he’s sharing a happy sentiment with me, I heard the sadness in his tone. After all, Maddie was no longer with us. Sadly, for us all, she passed away before Aria turned two.

While he’s talking about the joy of finding out he was going to be a father, what he wasn’t saying also came through. Loud and clear. Wyatt didn’t know Maddie was pregnant for the second time when she died of an underlying heart condition. We’re not even sure if she knew, but I know it weighed on Wyatt’s shoulders pretty heavily.

Our sisters, Savannah and Mackenzie, took on the roles of aunty like ducks to water from the moment Aria was born. Both happily offered to help out in any way they could. Minding her while Wyatt worked, or taking her to preschool. Even Colton and I looked after her when we could, although, without that motherly touch, it never went quite as smoothly.

I tried to envision Anna-Beth’s stomach being large and round, pregnant with our child. Although it wasn’t something I had given much thought to before, I couldn’t say it didn’t make me insanely happy. After all, to create a new life with the one person you loved most in this world was something truly beautiful to behold.

“Faster, Uncle Colton. Make the horsey go faster.” Aria’s little voice carried over to us where we watched against the edge of the arena.

“That’s my cue.” Wyatt chuckled, before jumping down and started towards her. “That’s fast enough, for now, angel.”

“But, Daddy,” Her lips jutted out in a pout. “I like when Uncle Colton makes the horsey run.”

“Makes it run, huh?” Wyatt shot a look at Colton, who didn’t even look at him as he answered.

“Nothing more than a fast walk. That’s all. Don’t pitch a hissy fit with me. I ain’t that stupid. At least not with her,” he called back. I believed him. He was so careful with our niece when she was around the animals.

Turning away from their exchange, I got back to work, forking the hay across the ground of each of the holding pens in the stables. The repetition of the work allowed my brain to relax, and thoughts of my fast-approaching wedding rushed in. Although I wanted to have the wedding here on the family ranch, Anna-Beth didn’t want that. No, instead we were going to one of the churches in Fort Worth for the ceremony.

I had my suit all ready to go, since I wasn’t allowed to wear my nicest jeans. The trip into the city was long that day as she dragged me from formal shop to formal shop, trying on so many damn monkey suits that in the end I agreed to whatever she said looked the best. The fact was, all I wanted to do was make her happy, and if dressing in one of those for the day did that, then I would do it.

There was one thing I wasn’t budging on though. I was a cowboy, through and through, and there was no way I was getting married without my hat. I conceded and agreed not to wear my well-worn one. Instead, the new Stetson I purchased just for the occasion got delivered via courier this morning. I would have to wear it each evening to break it in, so it didn’t end up cutting off circulation to my brain during the vows. Hell, imagine if I couldn’t say “I do”?

Lifting my hat from my head, I used the back of my forearm to wipe the building sweat away from my forehead. Pushing on, I kept at it for a couple more hours, ensuring the horses had their troughs full for when they were brought in a little later. Waving to Colton as he mixed the horse feed, I headed into the house and straight for my bedroom to shower and get dressed.

Just as I slipped on my boots, my phone vibrated its way across the dresser. A smile spread across my face as I saw the caller ID.

“Hey, babe, I’m just about—” My voice cut off at what I heard coming from the other end.

“Oh, Ethan.” My stomach sank. “Yes, like that. Just like that.” An all too familiar moan sounded down the phone line. My blood ran cold; it must have been an accidental dial.

There was only one Ethan who lived around here, and he and I had locked horns ever since we both started competing in roping at the local rodeos. He may have come from a family used to buying whatever they needed, but they sure couldn’t buy him talent.

“Don’t worry, no one leaves Sanderson Ranch unsatisfied,” he told her, leaving no doubt in my mind exactly who that disembodied voice belonged to. Ethan Sanderson. She was having an affair with him. Surely, the woman I loved wouldn’t have called me on purpose. Her cell must have been bumped with her being completely unaware or Ethan had purposely called. Not that it made what I was feeling any easier to take. Whether it was accidental or not, I heard what she was doing. There was no pretending it didn’t happen.

I lowered the phone and stared numbly at the framed photograph of Anna-Beth and me on the dresser. It had been taken by Kenzie just after we got engaged. Ending the call, I took the photograph in hand and looked at it. My thumb brushed over her face. The face of the woman I had loved since she agreed to our first date.

I placed it face down on the timber, no longer able to bear looking at our smiling faces. Just how long had I been living a lie? How long had I been deluding myself by believing that she loved me?

Body moving on auto-pilot, I found myself in the living room, my heart lodged in my throat. The pain of her betrayal was so fresh and raw If catching her cheating was this bad, I didn’t want to know how lost Wyatt felt, but if this was the hollowness heartbreak caused then I didn’t want it. Not when it felt like my heart had just been yanked from my chest, there was something akin to a crushing sensation that was making it hard to breathe. Never again would I allow myself to fall victim to this ache. I was going to lock my heart away.

But for now, I needed a goddamn glass of whiskey. Maybe even a bottle.

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