Page 1 of Reins

Chapter 1 - Cade

Unknown: Call me.

I stare at that damn text for hours. I don’t need to have the name attached, the area code alone tells me where it’s from.

Montana.

The state I’ve tried to run away from. Pretend it doesn’t exist, along with the family I left there.

Yet it’s calling me back to my fucking grave.

Dry Texas dust kicks up around my boots with every step across my yard to the barn. I may have left Black Gulch behind, but horses are in my blood.

“Hey, Bessy,” I croon to my red dappled mare, reaching into the bin for one of her apple treats. “How’s my pretty girl?” Scratching her jaw as she chews, I mull over that God forsaken text.

What the hell does he want?

It’s been at least half a dozen years since the last time I heard from him. Just to touch base now that he was a D.A., he’d said.

My ass.

He knew I became a marshall. Getting me off on all my charges way back when must make him think I still owe him something.

I hate that he’s right and he won’t let me forget it.

Even moving halfway across the country doesn’t get me away from trading favors. It happens in the office too.

It can be as basic as shifts, to full fledged cases or partners.

Lucky me, I have the stroke to be able to work alone.

“What do you say, girl? Should we go for a ride up to the spring?” I lean closer for her to nuzzle my shoulder with her velvety nose. “It’s just you and me, as usual.”

Would I like to have someone else to go with? Of course.

But one look at the scarring on my face, and women turn around then walk away.

It’s the permanent reminder of the mistakes of my past, still haunting my present.

Vibrating in my pocket accompanies the tinny bells of my ring tone.

Fuck.

I don’t even need to look at my phone to know who it is.

Montana.

My heart races, thumping in my ears as the sound continues.

“God damn it,” I mutter, pulling out my cell.

Yep. I was right.

“Pete,” I grunt into the speaker.

“Cade? How’d you know? I used my home number.” His voice is more gruff than the last time I’ve heard it.

Age catching up with him, I guess.