Page 16 of Forbidden Cowboy
What the hell is Hope doing with Wyatt?
After last night I thought I’d made myself damn clear we’d be building the kissing booth together.
“I was going to ask who the lucky lady was, but I have a feeling I know exactly who she was.” He grabs the next log in his leisurely chilled speed.
“You don’t know a damn thing,” I growl.
“Funny story.”
“I’m not in the mood.” I toss the next log.
“When we were young, Ma would tell us to stick close to home. Never head west. Never cross the west fence line.” He leans on the area of the fence I haven’t ripped down yet, crosses his ankles, and lowers his hat to shade the sun. “But we’d sneak away anyway.”
“Should I start a campfire and get some marshmallows to roast for your tale?” I mutter.
The wood pile is decreasing without my brother’s help.
“See that brush right over there.” My dumbass, nosey brother points at a patch of trees that begin on the Wilde side and end a few miles up the Fox side. “One day, we chased our big brother into that brush.”
I know where he’s headed with his story. The brush was the secret entrance Hope and I shared.
“Into the brush and over the fence. I mean, it was a rush to break the rules.” Wheeler tells stories like he lives in an irritating cool, calm, and collected manner that stretches out for what feels like days. “And to see our big brother break the rules.” He whistles. “What a rush. But then we saw why, and she was pretty as a spotted horse in a daisy pasture.”
My hands pause around the last log. The wood bites my flesh. “Wheeler—”
“I’m on your side.”
I tilt my head to send him a forewarning glare. He meets me with a sincere smile.
“The feud is stupid. Overkill. I don’t care if Pa and Mr. Fox beef it out at every town rodeo. I’m on your side. Beck’s on your side.”
I can’t control the dumbfounded look I know is plastered over my face. I never expected any of my brothers to jump on board.
“In all honesty, the way you hurt Hope, if I’d been older and bigger, I would’ve kicked your ass.”
“I stayed away to protect her.”
“Look how that turned out. You went and married the first girl to bat her lashes at you. And we all knew she was in it for the money.”
I’d been too blinded, trying to run away from my feelings for Hope to notice.
“A little powder, a little paint, makes a girl look what she ain’t.” My brother’s full of useless quotes today. He sounds like grumpy Wayne.
“I’m not making that mistake twice.”
Wheeler pushes off the fence and struts over to hit my shoulder. “Attaboy! Just tell me what you need from us.”
“Right now. Silence. We do this on Hope’s terms.”
“I totally understand.” He makes a zipping motion over his closed mouth. “My lips are sealed.”
“I’m going to the lumberyard.”
“Go get your girl.”
I toss the last cedar log in the pile and swap transportation modes with my brother. He climbs on my horse's back, and Coral and I get behind the truck's wheel.
I throw the truck into gear when I see movement by the brush. My heart sparks, expecting to see Hope.