Page 36 of Belong With Me

Shaking the thoughts free, I responded, “Van, Colton, and I have competed over the years.”

“You’re a barrel racer too?”

“Nah. I tend to compete in tie-down roping, Colton—”

“Let me guess, the rodeo?”

“What makes you say that?” I asked.

“Well, you said he was the best with the horses. If you and your sister compete in the other two events, then that only leaves the actual bull riding portion of the show. Then again, I’m only taking a wild guess.”

An irrational part of me poked its head up at the innocent observation about my brother. That she took enough notice of him to even bring him up, especially after what we just shared… I pushed that thought deep, deep down. “You’re right. He does. Not as much as he used to. None of us do actually. Now that we’re older, with responsibilities of looking after the ranch, we can’t really afford to get injured and lose the work we actually get paid for.”

She nodded before changing the subject. “How long has the farm been in your family?”

“Five generations,” I said, eagerly latching onto the change in direction of our conversation.

“Wow, that’s a long time.” Her head turned to look over at where I was trotting alongside her. “A lot of history too, I bet.”

“That’s why there are so many buildings on the land. Each of the generations built something.” I caught her looking around us, gaze landing on the stables, carriage house and even the old barn that Wyatt converted into a home. “What have you built?”

Tilting my head, I attempted to look busy checking the bridle. “Nothing yet. One day I will. My family and I will put our stamp on the land.”

“You mean you and your siblings?”

“Sorta.” I paused, glancing up, and saw her eyes remained on me. “Of course there will be something from the five of us, but also my wife and our children.”

“Ahh. I see.”

Did she? Really? Did she understand my need to ensure that somehow, I left a legacy for my children once I was nothing but dust? Or was she just being polite? Hell. Why was I even thinking about this? After all, she would probably be leaving any day now.

“I’d kind of want to put my own roots down too, given the chance,” she mused, her voice taking on a tone of something I hadn’t heard before. I was curious to know what it was, and I didn’t have to wait long as she continued, “You know, make sure that there is something about me that will be remembered for years to come.” Her gaze scanned over the hills to the mountains in the distance.

It was like the woman was in my damn mind. “What did your parents add?” Her question lingered in the space between us as I changed our direction to up and over the hill instead of along it.

“Dad added the rinks and the main house. The old homestead was over where Wyatt’s place is”—I nodded toward the converted barn—“but that was falling apart, so it got knocked down. Some of the bricks and stuff were used in the foundations of the house, to keep the history of it, you know?”

She nodded. “That’s a great idea. Creating something new from the bones of something old. Keeping the memories all the while creating new ones.”

Smiling at her, I kept going with my family’s tale. “Then the barn was added for a failed attempt at goats. But they didn’t work out with the dairy cows. They’d eat everything before the cows could get to it. So, we sold up the dairy herd and goats and went to beef cattle instead.”

“That’s what those cows are with the big-ass horns then? You breed them for beef?”

Once again, her curiosity made my chest swell. “Yeah, they are called Santa Gertrudis. They are pretty popular throughout Texas. It’s also where we get the nickname ‘The Longhorn State.’”

“Oh, I didn’t know that!” She paused then added, “So Wyatt moved into the barn?”

“Yeah, he converted it when he got married to Maddie. But she died a few years ago now, so he lives there with Aria.”

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured. Her tone rang with sincerity. “And the others?”

“The rest of us live in the main house. Colton’s just finished renovating the carriage house, so I expect he’ll be moving in there any day now. Thank God,” I muttered.

“Why’s that?” She grinned.

Her question rubbed me the wrong way, as was her interest in him. “He’s never really alone at night, if you catch my drift.” Let her stew on that. If she was going to notice him, I was certainly going to make sure she’d know everything about him.

“Ohhh.” Her voice trailed off.

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