Their Rancher Protector

by Sasha Summers

  That told Kyle everything he needed to know. Hayden wasn’t going to offer it up anymore, not unless Kyle asked. He didn’t want his little brother to feel bulldozed or bossed around.

  “Let me have it.”

  “Keep it simple. Tell her, straight out, how you feel.” Hayden pulled the truck keys from his pocket. “None of these fireworks or flash mobs at the rodeo or any of that nonsense.”

  The image of the good people of Granite Falls doing a flash mob had Kyle in stitches. “Thanks for that imagery.”

  Hayden grinned. “You know they’d do it. It wouldn’t be pretty—but they’d do it.”

  “I’ll consider it my backup, backup plan.” He paused. “I’ll add another backup for good measure.”

  The sun was on its way down when Kyle parked in front of his house, tired but determined. Hayden had been right, he needed to work through the guilt and fear that haunted his dreams each night. But he had a plan. One he hoped would help him find peace—or come to terms with the past. As he walked up, he could hear the cheerful voices of the girls and smiled. Brynn was singing—loudly—and Jet was howling along with her.

  The door opened and Skylar, a bag of trash in her hands, stepped onto the porch. “Oh, hi.” She paused, a slow smile forming as their eyes locked.

  “Evening.” He took off his hat. “Sounds like you’ve got a real humdinger of a concert going on.”

  “Humdinger? I don’t know what it means, but it does sound right.” She smiled. “Long day?” She nodded at his dust-covered boots and jeans.

  “Long, but good. Nothing like fixing something—then watching it in action.” He grinned. “Of course, it’s not always fixed the first time.”

  “Momma?” Brynn called out. “Who’s there?”

  He saw Skylar hesitate. Like she didn’t want to tell the girls he was here, and he didn’t want to complicate things for her. “I’m headed for the shower.” He smiled as he moved past her, then paused. “Hayden wanted me to see if you were free to go to the rodeo tomorrow? A group of people are going. Mom and Penny will watch the kids.”

  “You’re not going?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure yet.” Since he’d decided tonight was the night to tell her how he felt, he’d see how that went first. “But you should go. The rodeo is a lot of fun. You’ll meet people.” Everyone would be there. Including Angus. Dammit. He damn near had to go—to run interference if nothing else.

  He’d opened his door when he heard Brynn say, “Kyle! You home!”

  He took a deep breath, turned and crouched—ready when she came barreling across the porch and into his arms. “I’m all dirty.”

  “I have bath later,” Brynn said, her little arms twining around his neck.

  “I heard you singing.” He savored her hug.

  Mya came tearing across the porch then, launching herself into his arms and knocking him back and onto his rear. “Sorry,” Mya signed. “Okay?”

  He nodded, laughing. “I’m fine. You’re strong.”

  Mya laughed, too.

  He stood, dusting himself off. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner. Or your singing, Brynn. You keep that up and sing me to sleep, okay?” He made a big production out of stretching and yawning.

  “You tired?” Brynn asked. “I’ll sing you to sleep.”

  “Night?” Mya said, her voice the sweetest sound.

  “Night, girls.” He winked. “Give Greer a kiss from me, will you?”

  “’Kay,” Mya signed, “night,” then blew him a kiss. He grabbed it and winked.

  Skylar’s smile was forced and brittle but she said, “Night, Kyle. Get some sleep.”

  With another wave at the girls, he went inside, and closed the door behind him. He listened as the girls told Skylar they were sad and wanted him to come for dinner.

  I want that, too.

  But first things first. He took a fast shower, donned clean clothes, threw an old sleeping bag over his shoulder, and slipped out the front door—tiptoeing so he could sneak away.

  The path he took was familiar, winding along the fence line, then back into the dense underbrush, through the spindly cedar and tall Spanish oak trees to the base of what he and his brothers had dubbed Mountain Top. It was no mountain. But the hill was steep to get up—a challenge when they were boys. Between the dark and the crumbled limestone beneath his boots, it wasn’t exactly easy. But once he’d reached the top, he was glad he’d spent the effort.

  He spread out the sleeping bag and lay flat, staring up at the stars. “Same stars we’d look at...” His voice echoed in the quiet. “Hi.” He shook his head. “It’s me. Kyle...” How many nights had they been holed up somewhere with the stars overhead? Telling tall tales and doing their best to keep their nerves steady when every shadow posed a potential threat.

  “Here we are again.” He blew out a long, slow breath. “Chad, I’m sorry. I know I said it then but... I’m saying it again.” He was equal parts embarrassed and desperate. What did he have to lose? He pressed his hands against the sleeping bag, fingers flexed. “Skylar says it’s not my fault. And I want to believe her but...we both know things would have played out differently if I’d been there.

  “She doesn’t believe that either. She seems to think you’d made up your mind and there was nothing I could have done to stop you.” He fisted his hands. “Maybe she’s right. She sure seemed to think so. But you being there and me here...it eats me up every damn day. And I have to let go.” He took another deep breath. “I miss you, man. Skylar and the girls. They are something. And I wanted to tell you that I get it now. How they were the most important thing in the whole world for you? I get it. And though I’ll never deserve them, and I’ll never take your place, I will love them that way. More than anything in the whole world.” He cleared his throat but the pressure didn’t ease. “I guess I wanted to promise you that, if she’ll have me, she and the girls will never want for a thing.” He stared up at the diamond-crusted sky. “And they’ll know every single day that they are loved—both by you and by me. Because they are.”

  And just like that, there was nothing left to say. But he stayed there, watching the sky and breathing in the clean and quiet that surrounded him. Exhaustion pressed in on him until he was forced to close his eyes.

  When he drifted off, he didn’t know, but his sleep was deep and peaceful.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “It was nice of Jan to loan me the boots. It looks like they’re required attire.” Skylar glanced down at the surprisingly butter-soft leather boots she wore.

  “For rodeo, yes. You’re in Texas, Skylar—you have to own at least one pair of cowboy boots.” Lizzie did a little-skip-ball-step dance move then held her booted foot out.

  “I won’t lie, this is way outside my comfort zone.” She stared down at the outfit Jan and Lizzie and Penny had put together for her.

  “You look amazing,” Lizzie assured her. “And it was fun getting you all dolled up. The makeup. Your eyes look huge. The hair. You look like a rodeo queen. You did have fun, didn’t you? I mean, we all did. Now I feel bad.”

  “Yes, it was fun.” At first, it wasn’t. But then, she’d gotten caught up in it all. Getting dressed up, putting on makeup, using a flat iron on her hair, and laughing with a bunch of women—it had been years since she’d done something like it. This was the first time she’d gone out in brown leather cowboy boots, a blue chambray shirtdress tied with a beaded leather belt, and a brown cowboy hat. It was a little much for her but the other women—and Brynn and Mya—oohed and aahed so much she’d decided to go with it. She wanted to look pretty, for herself—not for any other reason or person. Yeah, right. She wanted to look pretty for herself and Kyle. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a night off.”

  “Too long, I’m betting. Tonight, you can relax and have fun—no worries about the kids or anything else.” Lizzie hooked
arms with her, steering her toward a food booth with a short line. “If boots are required rodeo attire, this is required rodeo eating.”

  “Funnel cakes. Oh, yum.” The powdered-sugar-covered confection smelled divine. “Another thing I haven’t had in years.”

  They got their funnel cakes and headed to the stands, where Hayden was saving seats.

  Her gaze scanned the crowd but there was no sign of Kyle’s broad shoulders or his tan cowboy hat. There’d be nothing to distract her from the rodeo...or her funnel cake. There was no reason to feel disappointed. So why did she?

  She took Hayden’s hand and climbed up the steps to their row. The wooden bleachers were filling up and, from what Skylar could tell, everyone knew everyone. She said hello to Dean, who sat on the row beneath them, while trying not to dump powdered sugar all over his head as she balanced her plate on her lap.

  Dean wasn’t the only familiar face. Trace Dawson, the game warden, was there. He and Hayden spent a good deal of time talking about the wild hogs causing all sorts of trouble. Skylar had no idea there were wild hogs in Texas—or that they were such a nuisance.

  Cassie showed up, Angus and Dougal and Buzz in tow. The four of them wedged in on the bleacher above where she, Lizzie, and Hayden were seated. The more people that sat, the louder the chatter. Skylar gave up trying to have a conversation with anyone for fear of shouting. Instead, she broke off a piece of her funnel cake and stared down at the arena.

  On the far end, different pens corralled horses, bulls and steer. A sea of cowboy hats moved, busy doing whatever it was they were doing.

  “Not riding tonight?” Hayden asked Angus.

  “Still healing.” Angus touched his chest.

  “What happened?” Skylar asked, curious.

  “A bull and I had a disagreement. I was on his back. He didn’t take all that kindly to it,” Angus said, leaning toward her. “I got knocked off and stepped on, broke my clavicle.”

  “That sounds incredibly painful.” She shook her head.

  “It’s all part of the fun.” Angus winked.

  “Getting stepped on by thousand-pound animals and breaking bones?” Cassie asked. “Sign me up.”

  Skylar laughed.

  “You look extra nice tonight, Skylar. You make one mighty-fine cowgirl.” Angus shook his head, smiling broadly. “Where is Kyle? I figured he’d be here tonight.”

  That was a bizarre leap. She realized Cassie, Angus, Dougal, and Buzz were all looking at her, waiting for her to answer. “Um, I don’t know?”

  Angus sighed, crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Damn fool.”

  Cassie elbowed him, hard. “Shush. Eat your nachos.”

  Buzz chuckled. “Something tells me he’ll turn up...any minute now.”

  “He’s right there,” Dougal said. “Now things will get interesting.”

  Don’t look. Don’t stare. The minute her eyes found him, she almost dropped her funnel cake. He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man here. He was talking to a couple, laughing, his good-natured self. Like everyone else, he’d dressed himself up a bit. A pearl-snap button-down navy shirt. Black jeans that fit so well it made it hard for her to breathe. His black cowboy hat, that was new, sat at the slightest angle on his brow.

  He shook hands with the man, hugged the woman, and turned toward the bleachers.

  Her nerves stretched taut as her heart thudded in welcome. Why did she have to fall for him? Why not Angus? Why not anyone else? Someone who could love her free and clear, without his conscience tying him to her?

  Kyle saw her and froze. It wasn’t subtle. Someone slammed into his back—but he didn’t move or acknowledge it.

  “There it is,” Angus murmured.

  Skylar exhaled slowly, making her chest collapse in until the pressure made her light-headed. Her heart, as always, took off. It thumped so hard and fast there was a chance everyone could hear it, even over the noise of the crowd.

  “Kyle!” Hayden waved his hand.

  “He sees.” Cassie sighed. “Believe me, he sees.”

  Was it good that he was here? Bad? Both? Breathe. He should be here. This was his home. These were his friends. And she was one of them. She needed to stop being so focused on her own feelings and start acting like a friend would. Whether or not he loved her, she loved him. Fine. That’s the way it was. She’d get over it and, in time, her heart would recover. But if she kept jumping and avoiding him, she might cause permanent damage to their friendship. She couldn’t bear the idea of losing Kyle altogether.

  Angus whistled, long and loud—startling her so much that her funnel cake went flying. A fine dusting of powder sugar rained down before the plate, and the crispy fried dough, landed on Dean’s head.

  She jumped up. “Oh, Dean! I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Dean laughed, brushing the powdered sugar out of his hair. “It surprised me, too.”

  Angus was practically rolling in the aisle, he was laughing so hard—so were Dougal and Buzz.

  Skylar gave them her mom face, shaking her head, before she dug through her purse for her wet wipes. “Here.” She handed the pack to Dean. “I’m so sorry, Dean.”

  “Don’t you worry about it, Skylar.” Dean held up the wet wipes. “Thank you for these, but I think I’ll wash up.” He stood, dusting off his pants and sending up an avalanche of powdered sugar, then walked down the steps and out of the bleachers.

  “Poor Dean,” Lizzie said, but she was smiling. “Let’s hope the mosquitos aren’t bad tonight.”

  Skylar frowned and sat, instantly searching for Kyle. He was gone. Where? And why?

  “He’ll be fine.” Angus kept laughing. “It’s a little sugar, not gasoline or cow sh—”

  “We get it,” Cassie cut him off. “I’m sure he knows it was an accident, Skylar.”

  The music started and a line of women on horseback rode into the arena, holding the Stars and Stripes high. Skylar watched, surprisingly moved by the show of patriotism. When the announcer thanked the service members, veterans, and their families, a lump rose up in her throat. A young woman sang the national anthem and, as the final notes spilled into the air, everyone rose to their feet clapping, cheering, and whistling.

  They were sitting down when Kyle appeared again, a funnel cake in hand.

  “It looked like you lost yours,” he said, smiling the smile that stoked a fire low in her belly.

  “If she doesn’t want it, we’ll take it,” Angus called.

  Skylar took the funnel cake. “Thank you.”

  “Can I?” he asked, nodding at the sliver of space on the bleacher beside her.

  She nodded, not in the least prepared for the instant wave of sensations his nearness caused. He was a warm blanket, a fierce hug, and an electric shock all rolled into one. She wasn’t sure whether to lean into him or scooch as far from him as possible... Considering how sandwiched in they were, the latter wasn’t an option.

  “This keeps getting better and better,” Angus murmured, followed by an “Ouch, woman.”

  Skylar looked back to see Cassie smiling broadly and Angus rubbing his upper arm, scowling.

  “Did I miss anything?” Kyle asked, pointedly ignoring what was happening behind them.

  “We were waiting for you.” Angus leaned forward. “Then Skylar threw her funnel cake at Dean and you showed up.”

  Skylar was so surprised, she laughed. “I did not—”

  “Covered him, from head to toe,” Angus continued.

  She kept laughing, shaking her head. “Poor Dean...” Kyle’s eyes, one brown and one blue, were watching her closely.

  It didn’t matter that they were surrounded by people and noise, all Skylar could see was Kyle. Every little feature seemed to come into sharp focus. The way one corner of his mouth tipped up higher than the other. The crinkles at the corners of
his eyes when he smiled. The scent of leather and aftershave and...Kyle. She knew that scent, loved that scent. She loved everything about Kyle Mitchell. Who was she kidding? She was one hundred percent, head-over-heels, madly in love with him. All she had to do was survive the night without every citizen of Granite Falls realizing it. Or, more important, Kyle realizing it.

  * * *

  Kyle’s plan wasn’t working. He’d meant to keep it light, to laugh, and not get too hung up in how he felt about Skylar. And then he’d seen her. How was he supposed to pretend that she wasn’t something special when she looked like...this?

  Things got worse, and better, when she grabbed on to him during the bull riding.

  When calf roping started, she leaned in so he could explain the rules. And the whole time, he was thinking how damn cute she looked in her cowboy hat... And how much he wanted to kiss her.

  When there was a break, Skylar, Lizzie, and Cassie all made their way out of the stands—leaving him to deal with Angus.

  Angus didn’t wait. “So, you’re telling her tonight, are you?”

  Kyle glared at him.

  “I’m thinking the dance is the perfect place for a potential suitor, like me, to step in.” His accent thickened. “I’m light on my feet and rather dashing—or so I’ve been told.”

  Dougal snorted. “She’s been making eyes at Kyle, here, all night.”

  Had she?

  “I don’t mind a little challenge.” Angus crossed his arms. “If Kyle isn’t going to be a man, then I will.”

  Buzz was laughing, hard.

  “Really?” Kyle asked.

  Buzz held his hands up.

  “What now?” Hayden asked, eyeing them warily. “Or do I want to know.”

  “Angus is pressuring Kyle to make a play for Skylar, is all,” Dougal said, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

  “Oh. Well...that’ll liven things up.” Hayden sipped his beer.

  Buzz was laughing all over again.

  “Thanks for having my back, big brother,” Kyle snapped. Albeit, a half-hearted snap. “What’s the rush?”