by Em Petrova
It was no secret their mother loved them all at home. And since their father had passed, she didn’t get out much. She was more than capable, but Lane always figured she was tethered to the ranch where she’d been happy with her husband and family. If Lane went ahead with his plans, he could only imagine the tears that would flow—from her and the other women.
Yet he had to go where his heart was.
He reluctantly picked up his fork and stabbed a bite of chicken covered in thick gravy and tried to focus on the banter around him. Buck Jr. had stuffed a biscuit whole into his mouth, and crumbs were falling out all over the place. His mother had a hand cupped under his chin.
“You’re worse than the horses.”
“Pig,” he said around the mouthful, and made the mistake of snorting with his mouth full. A coughing fit followed, and Channing whisked him away from the table, pounding his back.
“Not the first biscuit up the nose at this table,” his mother said. “Remember when I banned you boys from making that sound while eating?”
Buck bobbed his head. “I remember Lane once had a carrot up in his sinus for a week before he sneezed it out.”
Lane grunted and smiled despite his melancholy. “I think Wyn was the worst.”
They all looked at her, expecting sassy backlash. But she sat there quietly, toying with her food. What was up with her lately? Lane needed to corner her, and soon. If someone else was bothering her like that asshole porn producer, then he and his brothers had another vigilante mission.
Maybe after the show ends we can make a little extra cash by hunting people down and showing them how to act.
He looked from Wynonna to his mother, who wore a concerned crinkle between her brows as she watched her only daughter. Something was definitely up if their mother’s radar was going off.
“After we eat, I could use some help at my place,” Buck said, his stare resting on Lane.
Great—now Lane’s radars were blaring. It wasn’t often Buck asked for his help over one of their brother’s. He was closest to Ryder, having been only fifteen months apart. Lane cut his glance toward Ryder to see if he was taking offense to being passed over, but he was involved with their young daughter Merry and not paying attention.
“No problem,” Lane said.
Buck gave a single nod and returned to eating. When Channing and Buck Jr. returned, the boy’s ears were red.
Lane leaned close. “You get a tellin’ off?”
The boy nodded.
Lane clapped him on the back. “Get used to it. A man can’t even eat a biscuit whole without getting in trouble.” He picked up his own fluffy biscuit and jammed it whole into his mouth. Buck Jr. doubled up with laughter, and Lane got a mix of disapproving looks and smiles.
When he gave a snort, a crumb shot straight up his nose and he barely swallowed the huge gulp and stumbled away from the table before a huge sneeze racked him. Now the table was really rocking with laughter.
“Serves ya right.”
“Your Uncle Lane is a bad influence.”
“See how long that biscuit’s in your sinuses.” Wynonna’s distinctive drawl made him turn with a grin. He extracted his hanky from his back pocket and walked a few more paces away from the table before blowing his nose.
He came back and sat down. Buck Jr. clapped him on the back. “Is your nose clear?” He wrinkled his own.
Lane did the same. “Think so.”
“Wyn, you want to come with me to town? I need a few things,” their mother said.
She looked up with surprise as if her mind had been far from the table. “Uh, no. Thanks, though. I’ve got some things to keep me busy.”
Before Lane went up to Buck’s, he’d follow his little sister to see what was troubling her. He might be the only brother she’d confide in.
As soon as the meal was devoured and the table cleared, Wynonna shot like a rocket for the door. But Lane was hot on her heels. He reached it first and shoved open the screen for her to pass through.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, Lane Calhoun.”
“Same as you, Wynonna Calhoun.” He bumped into her and sent her tripping onto the porch. She hip-checked him, and since she was nearly as tall and strong as he was, he gave a stumble that made her laugh.
He met her gaze. “Walk with me.”
Her shoulders drooped but she followed. They crossed the yard and set off around the barns. Hooves sounded just out of sight, and she stopped, on high alert. Mav, the ranch foreman came into view.
A weird energy filled the air as Mav and Wynonna spotted each other. Lane swung his gaze between the pair, trying to puzzle out what exactly was going on. Either they’d had a huge fight or they’d landed in bed together. With Wynonna, either was possible. And while Mav wasn’t as old as some of the guys she’d been with, the ex-soldier was easily in his forties.
Lane considered leaving the pair alone, but then Mav tipped his hat, wheeled his horse around and went off in the opposite direction.
“What the hell was that?” Lane asked as soon as he was out of earshot.
“Mind your own business.” Wynonna lengthened her strides but she couldn’t outrun him. Lane grabbed her arm and held her steady.
“You know you can always talk to me. What’s going on with you? You’re moping.”
“I’m not moping,” she cut across him.
“And quiet. I’ve only heard you give sass a few times lately.”
“You haven’t been around a lot.”
“Maybe, but I know you better than anyone. Are you in trouble?”
She blinked. “Are you asking if I’m pregnant?”
He jerked. “I wasn’t even thinking that, but… are you?”
She slapped him across the face, which only made him laugh. He put her in a headlock. She struggled a minute and then fell still.
“Don’t know how I could be pregnant when I’m not having sex. Besides, I’m not ready for kids. Leave that to Kash and Ridge.”
He released her, and she straightened with a deadly look in her eyes. The same slightly slanted eyes she shared with him. “Look, Wyn, don’t get your reins tangled. I’m just making sure you’re okay. That you don’t have any more porn kings on your back.”
She shoved him in the shoulder hard enough to rock him. Maybe she wasn’t as out of sorts as he’d thought. Except, when she’d seen Mav, things had gotten tense.
“I’m not seeing anyone, and I don’t want to. I’m good with being single for the moment.”
He gave a slow nod. “As long as you’re happy.”
“I am.” She sounded miserable.
He stepped up to her and wrapped her into a big hug. She held him back for a minute before knocking his hat off. It rolled away, and while he was stooping to grab it, she made her hasty escape. He watched her go for a minute and then set off walking toward Buck’s place.
He figured he needed some time to let his mind settle, as well as the big meal he’d eaten. Each step he took he thought of Delaney. Of the show and his siblings possibly losing their contracts if he wrangled his way out of his. Without the extra income, the ranch would be their only support, along with rodeo winnings. But the rodeo money wasn’t a steady income, and a tough year for them would mean they wouldn’t make ends meet.
With all the young mothers and kids on the ranch, that wasn’t a possibility. He pushed out a sigh and walked on.
When he reached Buck’s new home, he spotted his brother right away in the side yard, splitting wood.
“So much for Sunday being a day of rest,” Lane said, sidling up and pulling his gloves on. A second ax leaned against a stump, and he hefted it. Buck acknowledged him with a grunt, and the two set to work.
For long minutes, Lane let the rhythm ease into his muscles and work the kinks of stress free. The Oklahoma breeze trickled over them, cooling the sweat on his face. Buck paused to backhand the perspiration from his eyes.
Lane continued to swing the ax, splitting log after lo
g. “You plannin’ on using this for winter?”
“Yeah. Costs a fortune to run a gas line up here for heating and electric costs too much. It’s a crap job, but after a dozen Sundays or so, I’ve got all the wood I need for winter.”
Lane turned and looked at the growing stack. “Yeah, you look ready. Not that cold yet.”
“No, but soon. Before you know it, Christmas’ll be here.”
Lane thought of spending the holidays without Delaney at his side, wrapped in his arms in bed at night. He didn’t even know if she could get away from work—surely babies were born on Christmas Day.
He shrugged that off. It didn’t bother him that she wouldn’t be there twenty-four seven to spend time with him. As long as they made the most of their moments together when she came home.
Today she was working a long shift, and he wondered if she didn’t take the longest possible hours to avoid spending it alone at home. Damn, he wished he could be there with her. Maybe tonight he’d drive out, take some clothes and his checkbook to write out a fat check to Nick for his property.
But if things didn’t work out with her, he’d own a ranch next door.
He pushed out a sigh.
“Heavy thoughts, brother.” Buck’s voice was tinged with amusement.
“Happens to us all at times.” He set a stick of wood straight up on the stump they were using to chomp on and brought the ax head down on the top. It split neatly in two.
“What’s the story with you and Delaney?”
Lane looked up. “Dunno. Is that why you brought me up here?”
“Well, I needed the help and everybody else said no.” He grinned, and Lane snorted. “You still got some biscuit in your nose?”
“Nope. Can’t believe I got suckered into this.” He split another stick of wood, a grin playing around the corners of his mouth. It actually felt great to work, and maybe he did need to talk about his plans with Buck.
“I can tell something’s weighing on you. We all can.”
“I’d be more concerned about Wyn if I were you.”
“Yeah, she’s acting weird too, but that could just be Wyn. Remember when she went through that phase where she would sing everything she said in some George Jones tune?”
Lane chuckled. “Yeah. ’Bout drove Dad nuts.”
“He hated her changing the lyrics to the old tunes.”
“What’s eating at you?” Buck probed.
Lane stopped chopping. He stared into the distance for several heartbeats. Finally, he swung his gaze back to his brother. “I want off the show.”
Buck stared at him. Clearly he wasn’t expecting that. “Okay,” he said slowly. “Why?”
“Pain in the ass. I want my life back. I’m sick of cameras following me to the john.”
“That’s not all, is it?” Buck asked.
“No. I’m thinking about leaving the ranch too. Getting my own spread.”
At that, Buck dropped the ax. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” Lane’s insides were shaking like a Jell-O strapped into a saddle.
“Where would you go?”
“There’s a place for sale next to Delaney’s property.”
“Ah. We all thought things were deeper than you were letting on. Do you love her?”
He nodded. “She says she loves me too.”
Buck’s smile was genuine. “That’s good. I’m happy for you, bro.”
“We’ve got a lot to work out, though. And we haven’t discussed it too much. There’s her son to think of. He and I didn’t get on to start, and I don’t know if we can fix that.”
“Anything can be fixed. But leaving…” He whistled low. “Mom’s gonna be in the fetal position.”
“Don’t make me feel worse. But with six kids, one or two are bound to fly the coop, right?”
“And if you leave the show, we could all lose contracts.”
Lane swallowed. “I know.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m fed up with cameras all the time too. I don’t want my children growing up thinking this is how everyone lives. But we’ve got the taxes coming due and I think a second tractor’s inevitable.”
Lane leveled a look at him. “There’s always shit we’re gonna need around here. And even if I go and buy that place out by Delaney, I still care about this ranch. But like you said, this has to end someday. We won’t be on season ninety-two of the Rope ‘n Ride show with us scuttling around with our walkers and wheelchairs. We can come up with money in other ways.”
“Rodeo money’s still good for now.”
Lane’s heart pounded. “I want outta that too.”
Buck gaped at him and then issued a rough breath. “Holy fuck. You’re serious.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re at the top of your game.”
“Best time to get out. Finish the season and people only remember me standing up there getting my prize, not coming in last because I lost my mojo.”
“Damn, Lane. This is heavy shit. You’re talking about a whole new life.”
Lane swallowed hard, but this time it was happiness bobbing around in his chest. He could hardly wait to begin a new life with Delaney.
“You’ve changed since meeting Delaney.”
“Nah. Just gettin’ back to basics. Finding what’s important to me.”
They exchanged a long look. Buck nodded. “I get it.” He held out a hand, and Lane clasped it, feeling better than he had in weeks now that the burden of the telling was over.
Buck pulled him in for a bro hug. “I’m behind ya.”
“Thank you.”
“No, I mean I’ll stand behind ya when you tell the others. I don’t want to get hit by any flying objects.”
They shared a laugh and picked up their axes again.
* * * * *
Delaney stomped the muck off her rubber boots and headed around the barn to the hose. Exhaustion was clinging to her this morning, and she thought about turning the cold water on her face and waking herself up.
But she sprayed off her boots and went to the chicken coop. She’d left this chore to last, hoping it would help soothe her frayed nerves.
Doing this all herself was sucking the life from her. She loved her son, loved the animals. But without help—without Lane—around, to hold her up, something needed to go.
The past few days she’d been thinking of selling her small ranch and getting an apartment in town. Close to work without the trek to even get a pizza. But the idea stung her country girl’s heart. She liked driving country roads and not seeing a neighbor.
She took a scoop of grain and the chickens flocked around her. She scattered the feed and watched them peck wildly as if they hadn’t eaten in a month.
She knew the feeling. When she’d gotten Lane alone, she’d attacked him in the same way. And then they’d confessed their love to each other.
The moment had thrilled her and filled her with dread. They’d left things at that—no plans for the future discussed or more I-love-yous. Maybe that was the magic of youth—they didn’t care about making plans right away. But she was a planner, with years of experience behind her, and flying by the seat of her pants wasn’t her.
“That’s all, my lovelies. Enjoy the sunshine.”
When she made it to the house, she was surprised to find Brant in the kitchen helping himself to leftovers. He heaped a plate and stuck it in the microwave as she entered.
“Don’t you ever eat?” she asked without a hello.
He turned with a grin. “Hi, Ma.”
They crossed the room to embrace. He was tall, much like his father. But leaner and with her coloring. She hoped as he aged, she would always see the young boy he’d been within the man’s face.
She swiped at a tear as they broke apart.
“You’re crying?” He sagged at the knees to see her face.
“Dust in my eye.”
They shared a grin at her lie. “I’m glad to see you too. Especially alone. I didn’t know what I’d be walking
into.”
She stiffened. “Don’t you ever want me to be happy?”
“Sure, just not with someone who’s barely older than I am.”
She felt like screaming. She was far too tired for his antics. She’d barely gotten home from her long night of delivering several babies when she had to get up again and feed the animals. Her next shift started in two hours, and she didn’t have time for a nap.
She stared at her son. “Lane makes me happy.”
“Look, I get it. He’s a hunky star and he swept in and fixed all the broken things around here.”
“I can’t believe you’d think I just needed some hunky handyman. Like I need a rescuer or something.” She didn’t want Lane for those reasons, but he’d taken a burden off her that had been undeniably welcome.
The microwave beeped, and her son took the plate out and set it on the counter. As he began to shovel it into his mouth, she stared at him.
“Is that what you think of me?” she demanded, hand on hip.
Brant softened under her anger. “No, Ma. I know better than anyone what a strong woman you are. You raised me alone, and that wasn’t easy. You have a good career, and you’re dedicated to it. I’m just wondering how Lane fits into it all.”
She’d been wondering the same thing, but she wasn’t about to divulge that. She turned to walk out of the kitchen. “I need a shower. I work in two hours.” Suddenly, she remembered his friend was supposed to join him for Thanksgiving. “Where’s your buddy?”
Around a mouth of food, Brant said, “Driving up this afternoon. When will you be home?”
“Around nine if no babies decide to make their debuts. You’re on your own for dinner.”
“We can manage. You got a turkey, though, right?”
“Yeah, it’s in the fridge. Didn’t you see it when you were rummaging around?”
“Didn’t notice.” He grinned, and she couldn’t help but smile at him. Whatever their differences of opinion about Lane, they were still family. They always found a way to make things work.
In the shower, her thoughts turned to her lover, and she ached for him. For his hands on her body and his cock slipping into her. His fiery kisses that made her feel more alive than she had felt forever.