Page 99 of Reins

“Yea,” I grunt. “That’s because we rousted out their fence down here. They aren’t moving them any more.” I feel sick. My poor brothers just lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the span of an afternoon.

“There’s something else.” He pauses to take a deep breath. “Two things, really. Your nephew got married.”

That’s a dose of cold water. How in the hell is he old enough?

Shit. The man I stood eye to eye with at Hilltop that day still had a little bit of that gangly edge of youth but he carried a maturity in his stance.

“I didn’t expect an invite, Wade. They don’t talk to me much.” Never, really.

“I hate that, Cade. It’s a bunch of bull hockey and you know it. They’re ripe mad at you and Pete won’t let me say a damn thing because you said not to.” He makes another disgruntled sound that reminds me a lot more of a bear than a man.

“It won’t do any good now.” My jaw clenches, making Rosalyn reach to touch my thigh.

Just covering her knuckles with my palm makes me feel better.

I don’t deserve the strength she gives me.

“Sophia’s engaged, Cade,” Wade continues.

“Good for her.” I close my eyes and shake my head. Their lives are going on without me in it just fine.

“Well, she’s fucking stubborn. Mason tried to talk her into a bench wedding like Sawyer but she’s getting married at the damn rodeo in front of a huge ass crowd.”

I can’t fight the snort. That sounds like the little girl I remember. She was full of attitude and ambition since she was walking.

Born to rule the world, her mom used to say.

A pinch of pain hits my chest at the memory.

“I don’t think a rodeo wedding is a good idea, either. But I don’t think there’s a person in the world that was ever able to make Sophia do what Sophia didn’t want to do.” It brings a rueful smile knowing I’m missing out on their lives.

I love my niece and nephew fiercely.

It sucks I haven’t been able to see them grow.

Rosalyn squints, narrowing her eyes and pulls her hand away. Something shifts and I see her lower lip roll between her teeth.

What is that about?

“Cade. Mason and Dixon have both come to me at least a dozen times to see if we can nail down who in the fuck is messing with them before that happens. I’m sick of diverting their questions because I don’t have any answers. Y’all are my family too, even if your ass is a few thousand miles away.” His voice cracks, then he clears his throat. “I need your help, Cade.”

My chest aches.

I have a new life here with Rosalyn. She’s finally coming into her own.

There’s no way I can leave her. Would she even dare to go back with me?

Although rare, she still wakes sometimes whimpering to find me in the night from the monsters in her dreams.

When I glance down, I catch her finger digging into the skin of her thumb.

“Let me call you back.” I hit the end button without waiting for Wade to say anything.

But when I reach for Ros, she bolts.

Damn her fucking well trained horse. With just a basic squeeze of her knees, that mare takes off like a rocket, leaving me floundering to catch my cell before I drop it.

“Come on, Bessy, don’t let me down,” I grit, digging my spurs into her sides.