Rope 'n Ride Box Set Books 1-6

by Em Petrova

  Ridge came out of the barn, a bag of feed over his shoulder. As Ryder looked on, the bag split and feed poured over his shoulder and down his chest.

  “Son of a bitch,” he drawled, dropping the whole mess on the ground a few feet from Ryder’s shovel.

  “What the hell happened here?” Ridge pointed at the shovel blade.

  “New lawn ornament.” Ryder jumped off the manure pile and whacked his gloved hands together to loosen any crud there.

  “Maybe Ma won’t mind adding this to the display. Why don’t we plant a posy or two and call it good?” Ridge sounded chipper but Ryder knew him, and that crease between his brows meant he was barely holding onto his temper. He was likely performing for the cameras.

  Which was a load of horseshit bigger than that pile Ryder had been shoveling. They weren’t even acting like themselves anymore. Over the past few months, Ridge had suppressed his true self the most. It was only a matter of time before he snapped.

  “What the hell’s this?” Buck asked as he came out of the barn. He paused in his stride and looked at the feed everywhere and the broken shovel. Before they replied, he shook his head. “Never mind. I’ve got five sick cows on the ridge. C’mon.”

  Adrianna jogged with her camera to keep up with them. When they jumped into the truck, they automatically made room for her. As they bumped across the field, nobody spoke.

  “There’s Lane,” she said from the back seat.

  “What’s he doing out here? I sent him to town for a tractor part,” Buck almost snarled.

  “That old rust-bucket’s broken down again?” Ridge sounded just as irritated, since he was the grease monkey of the family. He often lay under farm equipment late into the night trying to get it running for the morning work.

  Buck gave a nod, his gaze fixed on Lane galloping toward them. He stopped the truck and Lane reined up, his horse flipping its head. Throwing a glance into the back seat, he offered Adrianna a nod.

  A nod that was far too familiar. Ryder threw a look at her over his shoulder but she’d turned her head away—the action more telling than anything. Damn, had Lane learned nothing from Wynonna’s indiscretion with the production manager?

  Hands. The hell. Off.

  Ryder issued a groan under his breath, but Buck heard and threw him an I-know look.

  Leaning to speak over Buck, Ryder said to Lane, “What’s the trouble? We thought you were going to town.”

  “Haven’t made it yet. West’s holding off an oil rig on the top field.”

  “Oil r—?” Ryder’s words never made it out of his mouth because his teeth met on his tongue as Buck slammed on the gas. The truck barreled across the field.

  “Hold on, Adrianna,” Ridge said. “Might want to set down your camera for this.”

  “Are you kidding? I can totally see this footage making it into an episode.” She was obviously the happiest person in the truck, and no wonder.

  “What’s the episode called—the Crappy Attitudes episode?” Ryder said. Nobody laughed at Ryder’s words.

  Separately all the mishaps of the day so far were equivalent to a mosquito bite, but added together it made for a big headache that two pain pills couldn’t touch.

  On horseback, Lane streaked by, gaining a few feet of lead on the truck. Most likely showing off for Adrianna. What sort of crap would they be dealing with between those two? Accidental pregnancy or another huge blowout over a case of jealousy?

  Ryder was leaning toward the pregnancy—he’d seen how Lane looked at Adrianna.

  “Oil rig?” Ridge said from the back. “I thought we got Ennis off our backs months ago.”

  “Apparently we missed something,” Ryder said through his clenched jaw. “Knowing Ennis, he’s found some loophole in the will and is coming in through that window.”

  “Slimy fucker. We could end him under the wheels of a tractor and use the digging attachment to bury him.” Buck’s words shocked them all.

  Ryder wanted to laugh but all the tension inside him prevented it.

  “Wow, remind me not to get on your bad side,” Ridge said.

  “Sorry—make sure you erase that, Adrianna. I’m just edgier than normal.”

  Ryder exchanged a look with Buck. He didn’t know much about the trouble with his and Channing’s baby, but his guess was an appointment was upcoming and Buck was freaking out. Who wouldn’t be?

  If it were Ryder, he’d go to the ends of the earth to ensure his family was safe and whole.

  Joy popped into his head—not that she’d ever left. He’d been burning with a need to blister her ass for leaving him in that hotel room. And leaving him with the Franklin hellions. He’d awakened with a numb arm, a face caked with lip gloss and his hair sticking up at all angles and held by various rainbow clips.

  At least he’d finally found out what a unicorn’s hair really looked like.

  But Joy… He’d felt a true connection to her and thought she had too. They’d shared a lot of hopes and dreams while sitting in that hotel room managing the kids. And he’d believed she’d stopped caring about her father’s say in her life.

  Yet here he sat without her. Hell, he didn’t even have her cell number to text her.

  When Buck guided the truck to the crest of the ridge, Ryder not only spotted the five sick cows dotting the landscape, left behind by the roaming herd, but the tall, intrusive oil-drilling equipment.

  The metallic gleam against the natural beauty of the land sickened him.

  Buck floored it. They hit a hole and the truck dragged.

  “There goes your exhaust.” Ridge twisted to look behind them. In the side mirror, Ryder saw a pipe laying in the grass.

  “I hardly care about the truck, Ridge.” Buck’s tone held a note of deadly calm that worried Ryder more than anything. He’d seen Buck flip out, and nobody wanted that. Besides, today Ryder didn’t know if he was capable of holding back either. Two Calhouns unleashing their fury on the world?

  They’d end up in jail.

  But it’ll make a good episode.

  The truck stopped several feet away from the rig. West stood there with arms crossed and legs braced wide. Nobody was getting through him.

  All the truck doors slammed and Lane made it a second later, leaping off his horse and letting it walk itself to cool down. It started a slow trot away from the group.

  “Who the hell are you?” Buck demanded of the rig driver.

  The slim man rubbed a knuckle under his nose, looking a little alarmed to see the posse who’d come for him. Ryder and his brothers closed the circle around him.

  “I’m a friend of Ennis Calhoun.”

  The brothers exchanged a look. “This land doesn’t belong to Ennis. He’s signed papers to verify it,” Buck said.

  “He sent me up to check on something.”

  Ryder took a step closer to the guy. “We don’t want any trouble. So you’d better be on your way.”

  “If you know what’s good for you.” Ridge moved forward too.

  “You can’t lay down threats,” the driver retorted.

  “We can if you’re trespassing, which you are.” Lane stepped forward, and Adrianna revolved around him like a satellite, probably catching the chiseled lines of his jaw as he threatened the rigger.

  “Just when were you contacted by Ennis to come ‘check on something?’” Buck was the last to take a step in—West was already a mere foot from the driver.

  The guy held up both hands. “I don’t want any trouble here. I’m just doing what I was paid to do.”

  “Which is?” Ryder folded his arms just to keep from punching the guy. In what universe did people take money to drill on someone else’s land without all the correct permits in place?

  “Ennis Calhoun has asked me to tap one of these veins that heads off the Calhoun ranch.”

  “Then go tap it on the other side of the border. It’s about a half mile that direction.” Ryder pointed.

  He pulled a paper from his shirt pocket and unfolded it to rev
eal a hand-drawn map of the Calhoun land. Of course the borders were all wrong and in Ennis’s favor, since he actually did own the adjoining piece of property.

  Small and worthless as it was. Landlocked and without water, it couldn’t even be sold. Most likely without oil too. Otherwise, he’d be drilling there already.

  Buck eyed the paper before snatching it from the driver’s hand. He crumpled it in his fist and handed it to West, who pulled out a lighter he always carried in case of emergencies and lit it on fire.

  “That’s what we think of your map. Tell your boss to keep his people off the Calhoun land. Next time we see you here, it will be down the barrels of our shotguns.” Ryder spat at his feet and turned to Buck’s truck.

  West kicked the ashes at his feet with a motion that swept them toward the driver. He grinned at the man and gave a shrill whistle. His horse came running, along with Lane’s.

  “We’ve got cows to tend,” Buck said. They all got into the truck, not bothering to wait for the driver to get into his rig. A few minutes later it rolled out.

  All afternoon they played ranch vets. After worming the cattle and giving them extra water, they seemed to have sparked up a bit. But Ryder couldn’t shake the thought of that rigger having been so close to the cattle.

  “You don’t think Ennis caused this sickness, do you?” he asked Buck, low.

  His brother glanced at him. “You mean laying out poison or something?”

  He shrugged. “Wouldn’t put it past him. Hell, he’d come into the house and carry off Ma if he thought he’d get what he wanted. This is all we need—another battle. We’re in Bryce Canyon next week.”

  “Y’all will be. Channing and I won’t.”

  Ryder studied him. “Getting checked?”

  “Yeah. She’s far enough along to see more of the baby.”

  “No matter what happens, things will work out. We’ll take care of everything.”

  “I know.” He sounded choked. “I feel bad about Asher, though. He needs the win as much as I do.”

  If Asher wasn’t going to the rodeo, neither were his girls. It was terrible of Ryder, but all he could think about was having Joy nearby without the little Franklin girls standing between them.

  Talk about the Crappy Attitudes episode. This wasn’t him—not by a longshot. At least the camera was pointed away from him at the moment. With luck, they’d leave him alone at the next venue too, because he was going after what he wanted.

  And that was Joy.

  Chapter Seven

  For the past few days, Joy hadn’t been sure she was even coming to Bryce Canyon, Utah. Boy, was she glad she had. She adored the area. The scenery stole her breath away.

  But someone else was stealing her heart.

  Damn it all, Ryder Calhoun wasn’t leaving her mind anytime soon. Which was why she’d had her stuff packed and loaded into the truck before her father had even mentioned the trip.

  Lucky for her, she had a clear view of the object of her desire. She stared at his broad shoulders and hard back that led to this trim waist. His trademark pony-skin chaps hung off his hips and his hat was set back on his head in such a way that she knew whoever he was speaking to could see right into his eyes.

  For once she didn’t think about him schmoozing some Buckle Bunny. Now that she knew him better, she realized he was beyond that kind of behavior. And he hadn’t made her question even once that he wanted her. At his side. In his bed.

  If she caught his attention, he’d be all over her regardless of who looked on.

  She wanted to call out to him but didn’t. She just watched him covertly until he moved off into the crowd with his brother and a cameraman. A burning sensation in her chest that she could only call longing made her turn away from the site where he’d disappeared.

  Only to find Wynonna a few paces off, holding court to a group of fans, men and women alike. This particular rodeo was a big deal in the barrel-racing world, and she was letting everyone know she was a queen. Standing tall, shoulders thrown proudly back and a dimple riding in her cheek, she used her hands to talk. She wore a T-shirt that said “Education is important but barrel racing is importanter.”

  Joy burst out laughing. The sound carried, drawing Wynonna’s head up. She dimpled further and waved Joy over.

  When they were together, some of the crowd dispersed, and they were able to talk.

  “You all ready for your event this afternoon?” Joy asked.

  “I don’t have any nerves, which is a good sign.” Wynonna had some of the same mannerisms as Ryder, and that longing came back with a vengeance. “Have you seen Ryder yet?”

  “Seen him, yes. Spoken to him, no.” She had to look around to make sure he wasn’t standing behind her or something. Disappointment steamrolled her.

  “We love Bryce Canyon. Brought our camping gear and we’re set up already.” Wynonna grabbed Joy’s arm. “You should come to the campsite with me.”

  “I couldn’t do that.”

  “Sure you can. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

  Joy eyed her. “Are we?”

  Wynonna snorted. “I’m over the whole Ethan thing.” She lowered her voice to say his name. But a shred of pain crossed her beautiful features. “Besides, I know you had nothing to do with that story, and thankfully it died out as fast as a Brittany Spears’ hit. You can meet me at the concession stands and we’ll walk to the campsite from there, okay?”

  What was she going to say? She wanted to go. Even if she weren’t dying to see Ryder, she was drawn to the whole family. Just being in their presence filled an emptiness she hadn’t known she had before. The hole was probably from a lack of family herself. She’d always wanted siblings, and Wynonna and she had struck an instant friendship. While she hadn’t hung out with the Calhoun brothers, she suspected they’d tease and pick on her like a sister. They were that kind of family.

  “Okay, I’ll meet you at the concession stands.”

  Wynonna hugged her and there were a few clicks from various cameras taking in the moment. She had no doubt tomorrow their embrace would be all over the papers.

  By the time she’d survived several events including Cody’s terrible ride and subsequent show of temper, she was ready to escape to the Calhouns’ campsite.

  “Those judges burned me bad,” Cody ranted.

  Her father had moved away to give an interview, leaving Joy to deal with the surly cowboy.

  “You can’t always have a perfect ride. There are no guarantees in this sport.” She scoured the crowd for Ryder. He’d given his all—again—and come out on top of his own ride. But he hadn’t looked her way. He seemed distracted.

  Or done with me.

  She dragged in a deep breath. “Look, Cody, it’s not the end for you yet. Tomorrow will be better. And you can show everybody then.”

  Apparently she’d said the right thing, because he smiled at her.

  At the very moment when Ryder made his appearance. Joy’s body came alive at the sight of his rolling gait—swinging arms and the jiggle of fringe on his chaps more alluring than anything in the world right now.

  Her breath caught and her nipples hardened to sharp points. She locked her gaze on his face and wished she hadn’t.

  He wore a thunderous expression that made her wonder why he hadn’t earned his own nickname of Thunder. She took a hasty step his way, but he turned and went back into the crowd, leaving her to stare after him and wonder if leaving him back in Cheyenne had ended things before they’d started.

  Cody was talking about his chances tomorrow, but she couldn’t hear him anymore. She rested a hand on his arm to stop him. “I have to go. If you see my father, tell him I’m with friends.”

  Without waiting for him to react, she went after Ryder. She made it to the concession stands but didn’t see him anywhere. Wynonna was waiting for her, though, and she felt a kernel of hope behind her breastbone.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  Joy nodded. The walk to the site was long but took longe
r because too many people stopped them to chat. By the time they made it there, Joy was losing her patience. And she had a lot of patience, so that was saying a lot.

  The scents of wood smoke and hot dogs greeted them. Several of the brothers looked up with surprise before offering their smiles of welcome. West and Ridge were having an argument about who banked the fire better.

  She couldn’t help but search for Ryder, though.

  “Here have a hot dog. Ketchup and mustard are on the table.” Lane flashed his pearly-whites. A young woman was near him, filming. Joy wondered if they ever got used to the intrusion in their lives. Ryder didn’t like it, she knew that much.

  She squirted a strip of both condiments down the center of her dog and settled on a lawn chair in front of the fire.

  “So your dad’s Thunder Humphries,” Ridge said, his own mouth full of hot dog.

  She nodded and took a bite.

  “Musta been weird growing up in the rodeo.”

  The Calhouns had grown up on their ranch and only gotten involved in the rodeo later. She nodded. “It’s like going to a big family reunion all the time. You know everybody and catch up, but you never really get close.”

  He nodded. “Not the easiest, I imagine. Have you ever competed?”

  “I used to barrel race in high school but I wasn’t very good.” She threw a look at Wynonna, who had made herself a mountain pie and was juggling it onto a plate West was holding.

  “Not many are as good as she is. Too bad she knows it. Her head won’t fit in the tent.”

  She chuckled, the hot dog halfway to her mouth, when she spotted Ryder. He rounded the tent.

  Shirtless.

  Her muscles reacted instantly, and she jumped to her feet. His hair was wet and a few drops of water lingered on his shoulders. She wet her lips.

  “Joy.” Her name came out choked as he strode toward her.

  He caught her hand and removed the dog from it. He passed it to his brother, who shrugged and added it to his plate. Joy blinked in stunned reaction as Ryder grabbed her by the waist and kissed her.

  A few whoops from his family sounded, but Joy was oblivious to anything but the man holding her. She made a noise of surrender, and he growled in answer. Angling his head to thrust his tongue deeper. Working his fingers on her waist, spreading across her lower back and hitching her against his warm, steely body.