Page 113 of Reins

“John said that you might be confused. Cade is pretty good at spinning tales, isn’t he?” This awful woman keeps up the chatter. Her words start to blend in with the crowd she drags me into.

Why can’t I fight back? When my phone vibrates in my pocket, I know it’s Cade.

It’s enough to give me a flare of strength.

Finally, my feet listen and I stop. “No,” I squeak. “I’m not going.”

That’s when I feel it. The hard poke of the barrel into my side.

“You don’t have a choice. This is for your own good.”

Chapter 54 - Cade

Sweat runs down my back and makes my shirt stick in the sweltering June heat. It’s just as much work searching the vendor tents as it is trying to avoid running into any of my family.

All while circling back to the stands over and over to check on Rosalyn.

Wade meets up with me again behind a row of white arts and crafts tents, pulling off his hat to run his forearm across his head.

We’re all fucking hot.

“The ceremony is any minute. If it’s gonna happen, it makes the most sense during the vows.” His lips are thin as he looks past me. “No one has seen anything yet.”

“What about either of the Baileys? If they show up, that’d be a sign.” My fingers twitch in the desperate need to close them around Eli’s throat.

But Wade’s expression is grim. “Not yet. Come on, I got a spot we can watch the wedding…if you wanted?” He raises his brows with the question.

“I’d like that.” I swallow around the sudden lump in my throat.

“Just keep your head down,” Wade sighs. “They’re still hot to trot that it’s you behind all this shit. I don’t know why you’re letting that run…”

“Because if they knew it was Eli and John, it could bring down even more danger on all of them.” My jaw clenches. “And you know it.”

He lets out a long exhale. “Yea, I do. Fuck, Cade.” His meaty palm slaps my shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Wanting to be a part of my family is a constant sting. Yet here I am on the sidelines, spying from the shadows like some kind of fucking creep because of a course of actions put in place over a decade ago I had no fault in.

Eli took this from me.

I dip the brim of my hat as Sophia rides past. Her smile and focus isn’t on me, but the man behind her on his horse swinging a rope in a feigned chase.

The absolute joy in her eyes makes my heart swell and ache over the time I’ve missed. I was there to pick her up the first time she fell out of a saddle. Her cheeks were stained with dirt and tears. It took some coaxing but she got back on.

Those kids were my little riding buddies. Her and Sawyer would double up on that old buckskin mare and we’d run the pastures for hours.

Maybe one day I’ll get to rekindle this relationship.

I can just barely see Rosalyn from here. She’s riveted to the arena where Dixon stands middle stage.

My damn brother I can’t even talk to.

They’re here in fear of me.

“Soon,” I mutter as the ceremony finishes. “I’m gonna fix all this shit.”

“Damn right.” Wade nods. “I’m gonna make a sweep around before it gets dark. Can’t believe nothing happened.” Shaking his head, he strides away. His hat floats higher than most of the people in the crowd, making it easy to follow his path.

My gaze drifts past him along the edge of the barricade.