Page 25 of Fighting With The Cowboy

But then his ass turned eighteen and wouldn’t you know, he wanted to be a bull rider. Well, he was one, and a damn good one. So, he chased the circuit. Made quite a killing from what I heard. But after a bad fall a few years back, I stopped watching him ride.

Markus, though, still kept in touch with his childhood friend. He didn’t talk about Troy much, but I at least knew he was in good health.

“He’s retiring.”

I dropped the dish in the sink, causing a splash of suds to land all over my arms. Slowly, I turned to look at him, a brow lifted.

“I thought Troy was going to die on the field, not ever leave it?”

“He’s tired. He also did have a nasty run in with a bull. His family, and I, convinced him it was time for him to retire. I told him he had a job here if he wanted. I sure could use his hand with the horses.”

That was not what I wanted to hear. I mean, I had grown over that crush, right? I should be able to not want to climb him like a tree and see what his lips taste like, right? It made sense.

I was well past the time of wanting him. Hell, I had a daughter. Not by a man who stayed. He chickened out and skipped town when he found out I was pregnant. But with the support of my brother, and our parents, MaryBeth had a good life.

Sure, she didn’t get spoiled, but her first big birthday present was a pony that’s named Rainbow. It’s a black horse, but that’s what she was into, and it stuck. And every few days, she helps me take care of her, from a safe distance.

I didn’t need Troy in my life. I didn’t want him underfoot, causing havoc in a world that was my new normal.

But I knew my brother. Markus and Troy were thick as thieves and if Troy was done, he was coming back home to Pecos, Texas, and he’d be around the house and the ranch, all the time.

“Just don’t go stirring up trouble with him, please?” I begged, glancing back at him over my shoulder while I returned to finishing up the dishes. I knew soon enough Cook would be here, needing me to start with the lunch duties. “You two caused enough in your youth.”

“With the help of our rugrat,” Markus told me, pulling on my ponytail. I swatted at his hand, causing him to laugh. I didn’t always tag along to bother them. Mostly, I did. But I loved picking on them too. It was annoying to see Markus try to talk toa girl at the fair or some event and I’d saddle up, saying or doing something to cause him to yell at me.

It was priceless.

I did the same thing to Troy, but full-on different reasons.

It’s how I got pegged more as a rugrat over the years and how they came to hate me being around them.

But I got attention from the one boy I wanted, even if it wasn’t good.

With a sigh, I hung my head. Those thoughts weren’t going to get me far. Troy was not the boy I remember. And if he was, he would never look at me beyond being Markus’s kid sister, the pest, the rugrat. I’m sure he’d stay as far away from me as I would of him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three hours later, I was at the barn, brushing down Rainbow, my thoughts in a turmoil over Troy. I didn’t know when he was coming back home. For all I knew, he could be home right now, just waiting for a chance to come bother the family.

“Rainbow, what’s with men being pains? They make us fall for them and then end up breaking our hearts.” She neighed before nudging my shoulder in agreement.

“Thank you, I’m glad you feel the same way I do. Troy should have stayed following the circuit. Or retired somewhere other than our small town. There’s nothing here for some hotshot man like himself. And even if he does stay, every woman in this town will be after him, chasing his tails like he’s some type of god given gift.”

I sighed, resting my head on her side, letting her breathing soothe me. Because that thought was the worst of them all. I wanted to be grown up, woman enough, to be over this stupid crush of a man who saw me as nothing more than an annoying kid sister.

But something deep inside told me I wasn’t as over it as I wanted. And that if I saw him hanging around all the town floozies, I would literally break in a way I wasn’t ready for.

“I hate this, Rainbow. I’m just not ready for it.” She nipped at my shoulder, causing me to grin. I finished brushing her then took her nose and gave her a kiss. “Thank you for listening. I’ll have MaryBeth out soon enough so she can give you some love.” Rainbow kicked her feet in happiness. MaryBeth might be only four, but these two had a bond. Not that I was putting her on a horse yet.

I walked back to the house, my hands in my pockets, my thoughts racing a mile a minute.

I knew I had to just be strong, to deal with whatever was going to be thrown my way. I also knew I had to pray that the moment I saw Troy again, that all those teenage feelings flew out the window.

“You got this, Anelise,” I told myself, opening the back door to the kitchen. “Markus?” I called, stopping into the doorway to the dining room.

I was dead wrong if I thought I could fight my feelings. Because sitting in a chair was Troy, looking as damn as good as he ever did.

But even worse, he had MaryBeth on his lap, making her giggle.

And the scene stole my breath.

Along with any last lingering piece of my heart.