Page 176 of Knot my First Rodeo

"You looked real cute between those cowboys." Peter's smile widens. "Been watchin' you prance around this ranch, too. Feedin' chickens. Muckin' stalls. Ridin' horses."

"You’re a fucking psycho." The insult leaves my mouth instantly.

His smile slips.

"You don't mean that."

"No, I really fucking do."

His hand tightens on my arm.

"I've been puttin' in the work, baby." His grip tightens. "You think I came all this way for nothin'?"

I yank against his hold, but he doesn't let go.

"When I get patched, you'll come home with me. We'll make it official.”

I stare at him, and for a second, I'm genuinely speechless.

Then I laugh. "You've lost your damn mind."

His expression darkens.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Act like you're too good for me."

"I am too good for you, and I'm not coming back."

His jaw tightens. "Autumn."

"No." My pulse is beating so hard I can hear it in my ears, but anger is catching up fast. "You don't get to show up here and decide things for me. We broke up, you fucking moron. You decided to sink your knot in that club whore, and that was a wrap for me."

I try to pull away, but he jerks me back to him.

“That’s just what us guys do, babe. The other old ladies know it. We fuck the whores, then go home to our loving old ladies.”

“Doesn’t fucking matter. We’re over. Done. Finished. I have scent matches now, and a pack. So take your ass on out of here before the sheriff gets here, or worse, my guys.”

His grip shifts, and I use that moment to turn just enough to bring my knee up into his cock. Peter doubles over with a curse. Honestly, he’s overreacting now. There’s no way I hurt that tiny thing that bad.

As he lets me go, I shove him away from me with everything I've got, and he stumbles backward, shock flashing across his face, followed by anger.

I don't wait, I turn on my heel, praying he doesn’t hurt River, and run. The barn doors fly past in a blur as the house comes into view.

"Clint!" The scream tears out of me before I even realize I'm yelling.

"Tripp! Briggs!"

Chapter

Fifty-One

Briggs

I've heard Autumn cuss out a stubborn goat, sing badly while doing dishes, and yell at Tripp for teaching the barn cats bad habits. I've heard her cry, moan, call my name in a dozen different ways, but I've never heard her scream like that.