Page 4 of Wild Rivals

I feel a muscle in my face twitch and my top lip curl before Autumn smacks me on the arm.

“Stop it,” she snaps.

I rub the spot she whacked. “First, ouch, you’re lucky you’re pregnant or you’d pay for that with my famous noogie. Second, stop what?”

She narrows her eyes at me. “You know what, Wy. Maddie is my friend. Stop being such an ass to her.”

I look around the space, noting the customers at two of the tables before dropping my voice low and saying, “How can you be friends with her after everything that’s happened?”

Autumn watches me for a minute, tilting her head before she asks, “Wy—you don’t seriously think she’s to blame, do you?”

“Is she not? Her family is the reason he was here in the first place. And back then, she was helping her dad with things around the ranch. That makes her culpable in my book.”

She shakes her head as she runs a hand over her growing baby bump. “Maddie isn’t to blame for someone else’s actions, Wyatt. Besides, it was a long time ago. Twenty years or so. That’s more than half my life. Nothing we do is going to change what happened. You need to get over it. I sure as hell am.”

I open my mouth to speak, to remind her of everything she’s been through, but the chime above the door rings out as another customer comes in.

Autumn scoots toward the edge of the couch, and I stand, offering her a hand up.

This isn’t the time or place to be talking to her about the past. Even if I know that I’m justified in hating everything that Maddie Hart and her ranch symbolize. The fact is, my family is expanding with Autumn being pregnant, which means I need to do everything in my power to protect them. Including stopping Maddie from getting that last lot of Evergreen land.

With my mind made up, I mouth a silent goodbye to Autumn and head on home. I need to firm up my proposal for the meeting I’ve called with Grayson and Kade in a couple of days.

4

MADDIE

Deacon, my eldest brother by three years, navigates his truck into the parking lot of the rodeo arena. A country-rock song plays over the stereo as he taps his thumb to the beat on the steering wheel. Sawyer, who is two years younger than me, and Rhett, who is the baby of the family and the one I’m closest to, are in the back seat talking in low tones among themselves. I’m not paying any attention to them though; I’m too busy taking in the bright lights and sounds of excitement that thrum in the air.

It’s been too long since we last did this. Since I last did this. I used to tag along to the rodeo every other week, but in the last year or so, I’ve taken on more responsibility with the events side of things at the ranch, and it’s been incredibly busy. My entire life has effectively been put on hold as I’ve learned the ropes, shadowing Daddy. But tonight, I’m letting loose—or as loose as I can when I’m around my brothers. They have a habit of finding trouble when they’re together, which usually means I have to step in and break them up.

With that thought, I scan the area looking for a certain six-foot-something cowboy who has a habit of causing me trouble. I just want one relaxing night with no drama, and I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.

The arena parking lot is filling up fast, and we’re crawling forward in search of a parking space. I love when the arena is busy like this. The atmosphere is electric, and you can practically feel the energy buzzing through the place. It’s exciting and filled with a delicious tension, the kind that has you on the edge of your seat or cheering so loud you almost lose your voice.

“You excited for tonight, Mads?” Deacon asks, turning to look at me as we wait for a truck in front of us to park up.

“I am.” I pause before adding, “But don’t go ruining it by picking a fight with someone and, for the love of God, ask a woman if she’s taken before you start flirting with her.” I cock a brow, daring him to deny it, because we both know, out of the four of us, he’s the one that needs the warning.

Last year, Deacon got into a fight with a guy from a few towns over because he was a bit too flirtatious with the guy’s girlfriend. Deacon ended up with a broken nose, and I’m surprised that’s all the damage that was done given he was fifty pounds lighter than the guy.

Deacon aims what I’m sure is meant to be a charming smile at me, holding a hand over his heart as if I’ve wounded him. “You got me confused with someone else, kiddo. I’m nothing but a gentleman. Besides, tonight is about getting to spend time with y’all.”

I shake my head and chuckle, turning my attention back out of the passenger side. Deacon likes to call this “sibling bonding time,” but nine times out of ten he’s bickering with someone about something. It’s more about us being there to have his back than spending time together; after all, we work the ranch together, so it’s not like we never see each other.

“Whatever you say, Deacon,” I mutter, a smirk dancing on my lips.

Doors being slammed shut mingle with the distant sound of music coming from the arena as it filters through my open window. We continue to crawl through the lot, and I take in everything as if it’s my first time all over again. Small groups gather at the back of trucks as some people linger to chat, while others walk toward the arena.

God, I need this.

I need to have fun and let loose a little. I’ve been focused on ranch business for too long. It’s almost as if I’ve forgotten how to have fun, because while I’ve been doing everything I can to help people make special memories, I haven’t made any of my own.

Deacon parks up before taking one last look in his rearview mirror and smoothing a finger over one eyebrow. When he’s primped, he grabs his phone and wallet from the center console and reaches for the door handle.

I roll my eyes, and he laughs, before climbing out of the truck and slamming his door behind him. God, I love him, but he’s so predictable. If he’s not getting into an argument with someone, then he’s taking a woman home. Those are two things I can always count on.

Climbing out of the cab of the truck, I push back my shoulders, a hint of something light and carefree washing over me. Up ahead, the bright lights of the arena block out the starry night sky, with a faint hint of fried food and the scent of hay filling the air. It’s a comforting smell, throwing me back to a time when I had zero responsibilities and coming here would be a weekly occurrence.