They weaved through the different campfires set up throughout the camp ground, looking at all the blonde girls in hopes of spotting just one. Nothing. When they reached the epicenter of activity, the local bar, they decided to check it out. As soon as they opened the door of the country and western bar, the music and raucous laughter spilled out into the night.
“Let’s split up,” said Colt.
They went their separate ways, pushing through the rowdy cowboys in search of Eva. North felt like a bomb waiting to go off. Every time a man bumped against him, he clenched his fists in anticipation of a fight. All he kept imagining was Wade and his fucking silver buckle. A tap on his back stole his attention. When he spun around, ready for anything, it was Eva who looked up at him. The first thing he noticed was the top buttons of her blouse were left unbuttoned.
“What’s going on?” he demanded. “Why in God’s name are you in this shithole?”
“Wade bought me a drink.” She held up a bottle of beer and giggled. He snatched it from her and set it on the nearest table.
“Unbelievable, Eva.” North practically dragged her out of the bar. Colton must have spotted them because he was right behind them.
Once outside in the crisp, cool air, he cupped Eva’s face and made her look him eye to eye. “What were you thinking?”
She shrugged away. “I watched Wade ride, and then he bought me a drink. I’m twenty-two, North. There’s nothing wrong with going on a date.”
“A date?” North couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She’d known Wade all but a few hours, and now they were some sort of item? Eva was setting herself up for some serious heartache or much worse.
“I’m not twelve and I don’t need saving.” She walked away from him, heading in the direction of the trailer. “Both of you need to give me some space.”
Colton grabbed his arm before he could chase after her. “Relax. She’s in one piece.”
“But—”
His brother shook his head. North took a cleansing breath and began to follow behind Eva. Colt was right. If they pushed too hard, Eva would fight back harder. They had to play their cards right if they wanted to keep her out of trouble the entire week.
****
Eva was pissed off and thoroughly embarrassed. She didn’t even have a chance to say good-bye to Wade since the McReed brothers practically dragged her out of the bar. The only reason she agreed to go along with them was to avoid any more humiliation. They were worse than her father, like overbearing mother bears.
She stormed into the trailer, letting the door slap back into place—hopefully right in North’s face. She climbed up into the sleeping area, kicked off her boots, and disappeared under the covers. There was no way she wanted to argue all night. She just wanted to close her eyes and remember how good it felt being with Wade. He made her feel like a princess, buying her a drink and staying by her side most of the evening. She couldn’t believe he wanted her when there were so many beautiful women in Chester. Eva was shy, inexperienced, and didn’t own any fancy clothes. Wade was a champion rider with so much worldly experience. They could be a match made in heaven, but Colton and North were going to ruin everything.
“Stop being a sour puss.” Colton crawled up the mattress beside to her. The flimsy bed sank due to his weight, forcing her body to roll in his direction.
“Go away.”
He forced her to turn and face him, holding her wrist so she couldn’t strike out. “Don’t be running off after dark again, little miss, it’s not safe.”
“It wasn’t after dark, and I was with Wade, not by myself.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
Eva scowled, wishing she could get through to him, to make him understand it was her life to live. If she made mistakes, she’d learn from them. They couldn’t coddle her forever. “There’s nothing wrong with Wade. He’s a perfect gentleman. He lives on a farm just south of here when he’s not on the road.”
Something dark crossed Colton’s eyes. “I don’t want to hear about him, Eva.”
“Fine, let’s just go to sleep then.”
They were all exhausted, overly so. She only hoped things would be better in the light of day when they were all refreshed. And she needed to find out what events Wade was riding in tomorrow afternoon. She needed to apologize for her disappearing act and get to know more about him. He was reluctant to talk about his private life, so she was anxious to learn everything.
North joined them, flanking her other side. She felt like a sardine in a can with the two oversized cowboys stealing all the space—and the blankets. They started a silent tug-of-war until North finally agreed to share a blanket with her. He’d taken off his jeans and shirts. His bare skin felt hot, like cuddling up to a warm fireplace. She closed her eyes and leaned against him, breathing in his familiar scent. His presence put her at ease, her anger and worries fading away as she tried to fall asleep.
She was so busy hating Colton and North for cutting her date short that she forgot they were there for her benefit. They had their own lives to lead, and more problems at home than she could even comprehend. Eva still remembered the hurt in North’s eyes, and she never wanted to see it again. Maybe the break from reality back home would do them all good.
The next morning, Eva awoke when the guys started tossing and turning in the small bed. She opened her eyes, glad to see the beams of sunshine coming in the windows. A new day was exactly what they all needed.
“I’m starving,” said Colton, stretching out next to her.
North slipped down out of the bed. “Do we have anything to eat?”
“Mom stocked the fridge. We can make bacon and eggs,” said Eva.
After washing up and partially dressing, they fought for space in the tiny kitchen. There was a hot plate and limited running water. Eva added the bacon to the frying pan while Colt scrambled the eggs in a mixing bowl beside her.
“What’s the plan for today?” asked Colt.
“I have to tend to Bessie and Ruby this afternoon.” Eva didn’t mention her plans to hook up with Wade at some point. She decided her extracurricular activities were best kept from the meddling brothers.
“I heard they’re paying a hundred dollars cash in a pig wrangling competition this morning,” said North. He kept sneaking peeks at her, and she wondered if he knew what she was thinking.
“Knock yourself out,” said Colton, setting the bowl aside. He poked his head over Eva’s shoulder, using her as a shield from the bacon grease.
She tried to side-step, but he kept her in place. “Colt, everyone knows you don’t fry bacon in the nude.”
“Hey, I have my drawers on. Hurry up so I can cook the eggs.” They only had one hot plate, so breakfast would take longer than it did at home—and wouldn’t be nearly as good as her mother’s.
North set some sliced bread on the table and poured three glasses of orange juice. “Mrs. Ford sure thought of everything,” he said. “I still think we’ll need more money. The food won’t last all week.”
They all sat down to breakfast once the eggs were scrambled. Colt and North reached across her plate like they did at home, not worrying about their manners. Eva was famished, not having eaten properly yesterday.
“If you want to roll in the mud with the pigs for cash, that’s your prerogative,” said Colt.
“You just know I’d kick your ass.”
The brothers stared at each other between eating, some silent competition building up between them. They may be men, but they were really overgrown boys.
After dressing for the day, they all head out together. The crowds were already building around the different event paddocks. It was exciting, the energy snapping in the air. She’d always wanted to see a rodeo in Chester, but her father was never interested in anything to do with the city. He was more than busy with his cattle operation at home to care about anything else.
They approached the sign up desk for the pig wrangling, and she was surprised to see both brothers fight for the pe
n to sign up. She shook her head and went to find a good vantage point along the wooden slat fence surrounding the pen. It looked like half a dozen other cowboys had signed up along with North and Colton.
After nearly an hour of waiting, the announcer introduced himself and explained the rules of the game. She kept her eyes on the twins, ready to cheer them on. There wasn’t a free spot along the fence. Eva leaned over, her heart racing when the starting gun went off. Although they didn’t have pigs at home, she’d seen North and Colton do well corralling loose chicken and cattle.
The mud began to fly almost immediately. Colt rushed over and handed her his Stetson, followed by North. “You’re both on the clock,” she shouted. The other men were already in the melee, diving into the slop in an attempt to grab one of the slippery pigs. When North stumbled in the mud, skidding along his stomach, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Only his eyes were free from the sticky brown coating. Colt managed to grab a pig, but before he could carry it to the pen, it slithered out of his arms. The crowd was in an uproar, shouting and hollering the entire time. It was light-hearted fun, not serious business like the horse and bull riding.
The winner was the oldest cowboy, surprising everyone. The buzzer sounded and the competition was over for the day. As the crowd dispersed, the twins approached her spot at the fence. They were covered head to toe in brown mud—their exposed skin, hair, and clothing.
“You two are a sight. I wish ma could see you.”
“We didn’t win,” said Colt like a sulking child.
She couldn’t help but giggle.
He narrowed his eyes, reaching up under her shoulders to pull her into the ring with them.
“Don’t you dare, Colton McReed!”
It was too late. Within seconds they both had their arms around her to ensure she was thoroughly coated in the same filthy mess. “Ain’t a laughing matter now, is it, little lady?”
She scooped up an oversized handful of slop and tossed it at Colt. Within minutes the three of them were playing in the mud, trying to win some personal competition to stay the cleanest. They all failed miserably.
****
North fell on his ass too many times to count, his boots continually slipping in the pig slop. He hadn’t won his hundred dollars as hoped, but it still felt good to let loose and have some good old-fashioned fun. Life back home was sobering. He needed this respite more than he realized.
Eva squealed when Colt smoothed more mud on her arms, tickling her sides when she fought back. North froze in place, suddenly mesmerized by the sound of her laughter. He watched her squirm and smile, her long blonde hair streaked with mud. His chest felt tight, something he noticed getting worse the past year.
“Save me,” Eva pleaded as she wrestled with his brother.
He took a breath, pushed away his uncomfortable emotions, and rejoined Eva and Colton. She wrapped her arms around his neck after he pushed away his brother.
Eva looked up at him, the sun reflecting off her bright blue eyes. He’d never realized what a cute little nose she had. As he studied her closer, he was drawn to the swell of her lips.
“Had enough?” he asked.
“Maybe for one day.”
He wanted to stay there forever, holding her close and staring into her eyes. Instead, he pulled away and ducked between the fence rails to get out to the pen. North was fucked up. He had no right to be looking at Eva with anything impure in his head. Maybe his mother was right about him.
They all looked like spectacles as they walked back up the main street. North dipped his hat to a few staring ladies passing on the far sidewalk. It was the only clean thing on him. They were all covered in quickly drying mud, and he didn’t even have a red cent for his efforts. The trailer didn’t have a proper shower, so they had to use one of the public buildings to get washed up. After gathering up fresh clothes, they headed to the public shower stalls.
“Go on, Eva. We’ll stand guard,” said Colton.
She looked in the stall skeptically, finally stepping inside with her shampoo bottle and tossed her towel and clean clothes over the doorframe. This was no place for a lady, especially Eva, and North had already made that clear before they even set out on the road in the first place. The rodeo was for hardcore cowboys and drifters. Spectators were smart enough to stay at local hotels or in fully-equipped trailers, not relics from a bygone era like the silver bullet.
“No peeking,” she called out once the shower started. It was a crude little structure like the other five lined up at the rear of the barn. Judging by Eva’s unpleasant shrieks, there was no hot water, either.
“I ain’t peeking. Hurry up in there so I can have my turn.”
As he waited outside the stall with Colt, he scanned the area. There were countless gold diggers circling the events—bleached blondes with pumped up cleavage. He eyed a few with interest.
Eva was too damn good for him, and he dared not ruin the precious bond they shared. He just needed to get laid, to lose himself in the arms of a woman he could never lose his heart to.
Chapter Five
“She should have been back hours ago,” said Colton. He sat at the kitchen table alternately watching the window and the clock. Seagulls descended on the field where a hotdog vendor had parked during the day. Everyone was packing up for the night.
Eva had checked in on Bessie and Ruby every afternoon for the past two days. She was never late coming home.
“Like you said, she’s a big girl now,” North said dismissively. “You sure you want to go dragging her home again?”
“You’re usually the first in line. What’s up with you lately?”
Colton couldn’t help but scowl as he assessed his twin brother. They were too in sync for him not to notice a mood shift. This was a major one.
North propped both arms under his head as he lounged in the loft. “Nothing. I’m just starting to think that maybe Eva’s right. Maybe we should be giving her more space.”
“Are you playing with me?”
“What?”
Something had to be seriously wrong for North to suddenly stop caring about Eva. The little Ford girl was the only thing keeping either of them going some days. It was natural for them to want to look out for her.
“Since when did you not give two shits about Eva? You suddenly don’t care what happens to her?”
“Maybe I care too much,” he snapped.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
“It means nothing,” said North. “Forget it.”
Colton stepped on the bottom rung of the ladder leading up to the loft. He gave his brother a shove to garner his attention. “Something happen between the two of you?”
“Like what, Colt? I’m not an asshole, alright.”
He slowly exhaled his breath. He’d worried about his day, wondered if it would ever come. It seemed the more North was hurt at home, the harder he’d hold onto Eva. It was an unhealthy cycle, but one he couldn’t resist himself. Now his twin was starting to question his feelings, but he couldn’t.
“You know Eva’s something special. She’s different than us. She comes from a good family and—”
“Don’t!”
“I’m just saying…We have that bastard’s blood running through our veins. What the fuck could we offer a girl like Eva? You want her ending up like ma, popping pills to forget the pain?”
“I’d never hurt her!” North leapt down from bed and began to pace the tiny trailer liked a caged panther.
“You think that now, but we’re both holding onto too much baggage. One day it’s bound to come rushing to the surface, and I for one don’t want Eva around when it does.”
North crossed his arms over his chest, staring out into the fields. “I’m not like him,” he whispered.
“I know that, you know that, but is this really what you think is best for her?”
He watched his brother’s jaw clench. Colton could feel the war playing inside him because he’d battled the same feeli
ngs before. He’d decided it was best to leave Eva untouched, as if protecting her virtue could undo all the wrongs he’d committed. Maybe if that one element of his life remained pure, it would balance out all the nasty shit he had to deal with on a daily basis. North needed to come to the same realization.
“Let’s just find her before it gets dark,” North said. “I’m done talking.”
They set out on foot, watching the remaining crowds disperse towards the parking areas. His intuition led him to the Bronco riding event, and sure enough, he spotted Eva and Wade. Just looking at the cowboy made his anger flare. He clenched and unclenched his fists, attempting to maintain some semblance of control.
As they got closer, he could hear Eva’s laughter. It was the sound that kept him sane too many times to count. When he’d seek her out after an especially bad day at home, her sweet innocence chased away his demons. He didn’t want Wade sharing a minute of that sound.
“This what you expect to find?” asked North.
They both stopped dead before being spotted.
“Suppose it is.” Colton ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath in an attempt to douse his rising frustration. All he could envision was his fist contacting Wade’s face.
He debated what his next move should be. North was acting out of character so he had to make the decision on his own. The natural thing to do would be to chase away Wade and get Eva to the safety of the silver bullet. But to what end? Like Eva said, she wasn’t getting any younger and wanted to find herself a husband. But no man would ever be good enough for her in Colton’s eyes, and there was no way in hell he was worthy of her attention.
When the couple leaned in close, every muscle in Colton’s body turned stiff. Their proximity had a direct effect on his mood…and sanity. His earlier indecision was resolved for him when Wade kissed Eva. He swore a fucking floodgate of fury broke free inside him. North kept pace beside him as he stormed toward the rail fence where Eva sat with the cowboy.
“There you are,” he called out before Wade could strike again.
Eva looked like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Then she grew bold and narrowed her eyes at him. He knew that face. She was ready to ream him out for being overprotective. Colton wasn’t sure what the fuck his role was any more. It seemed somewhere along the line Eva grew up without him even noticing. Now she was a woman and a damn fine one at that.
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