Cowboys Mine (10 page)

Eva swallowed hard, staring at the path they’d just
taken. Should she run? Or was she just overreacting? “Thank you,” she
whispered.

He backed her up until she hit the side of a small
wooden shed. It hid their view from every angle but the dense forest behind
them. “I’ve invested a lot of time in you, Eva. Don’t you think I should be
rewarded?”

She narrowed her eyes, not understanding his meaning.
“I thought you were going to show me something.”

“I plan to, darlin’.” He reached down and began to
fiddle with the buckle on his leather belt. She glanced down and couldn’t
believe what was happening. Her father was the essence of an old-fashioned
cowboy. Honor, loyalty, and his word meant everything. She couldn’t even
remember a day he’d raised his voice at her mother.

Wade may have bragging rights in the ring, but he was
no gentleman. Adrenaline spiked through her veins. For once, she wished the
overbearing McReed brothers were there to pound Wade into the earth.

“What are you doing?”

He tried to kiss her neck but she turned away in
distaste. “Stop playing hard to get. Do you realize how many women I’ve turned
down this week for you?”

“I’m sorry you expected more, but I’m not interested.”

He laughed without humor. “Too late for that. You
can’t expect to tease a man and walk away.”

“I need to go,” she said, pushing him back. He clasped
her wrists in one hand and refused to let her leave.

“Didn’t I make myself clear?” His words were angry,
his face changing into something new and terrifying. “You’re not leaving until
you pay up. Either open your legs or suck my dick, either way is fine by me.”

****

“You get a hold of her?” asked North.

Colton shook his head. “Second day with no answer. I
hope Aunt Laura remembered to stop by.”

“It’s a good thing we’re heading home tomorrow.”

Their mother may be a grown woman, but she was
incapable of taking care of herself with an addiction ruling her life. No
matter how cruel she was to him these days, North still worried about her.

“There’s nothing we can do now. We might as well head
to the judging,” said North.

They’d both been avoiding Eva like the plague. They
fought to be the first one out of bed and out the door in the morning. North was
a fucking mess. It was nerve-wracking wondering if Eva regretted their night of
passionate confessions. Would she play it off? Hate them? Resent them? He felt
like a bastard for taking anything she’d offered. She was innocent, reacting to
the raw lust between them. Or was it really love?

He wouldn’t be able to handle a rejection from Eva. It
would destroy Colt. After their dad walked away, his twin focused all those
feelings of abandonment on Eva Ford. She was his rock, and it seemed they both
needed her as much as air.

“Maybe we should wait a while. I don’t think the
judges will be by until the afternoon,” said Colt.

“We have to face her sooner or later.”

“I don’t think I can. Last night I lost control. I
never should have given in like I did. She probably hates me.”

North smirked. “She was offering, but you didn’t take,
Colt. She’ll know that.”

His brother ran both hands through his mess of dirty-blond
hair. “This is crazy, you do realize that?”

“Since when has our family ever been normal?”

They walked along the path, careful not to speak too
loud. The event grounds were bustling with people, horses being walked by, and
vendors calling out their wares.

“What about Mr. Ford?” asked Colt, his voice
sober.
“I don’t think I could take it if he shut me out.”

“I love him, too,” said North. “But I also love Eva.”

“I’m not as simple as love. Even if he approved, he’d
expect one of us, not both.”

North didn’t want to think about tomorrow or the
consequences. He was too high on love, too overjoyed since Eva revealed her feelings.
The sobering reality of a ménage a trios relationship was one he’d
consider—later.

“I’m done talking. I need Eva.” Just like back home,
she was always the answer.

The holding paddock for the cattle was crowded with
spectators. How were they supposed to find Eva in that mess?

“I hope they haven’t started the judging,” said Colt.

“No, they’re just getting ready.” He walked up to
judging table where several employees he recognized were chatting.
“Afternooon.” North tilted his Stetson in greeting. “Have
ya’ll
seen Eva around? Looks like Bessie and Ruby are still in the holding pen.”

“I’m not sure, sugar,” said Patsy, one of the event
planners. “I was wondering where she was
myself
.
There’s not much time left to prepare.”

He looked at his brother. Neither of them said a word.

A hired
hand raking hay a few feet away spoke up. “She was here a while ago.
Went down to the storage units with that Granger fellow.”

“What Granger fellow?” asked
North.
His hackles were up, but he kept his cool.

“Wade Granger. I’ve seen him with Eva nearly every day
this week. I’m sure they just wanted to be alone.” Patsy winked. “But you might
want to remind her that she needs to get back in a hurry.”

“Where’d you see them heading?” asked Colton.

The hired hand pointed to the forest behind the main
barn. North nudged Colt’s shoulder and then took off jogging. They pushed their
way unceremoniously through the crowds. Red lights flashed in his head. He had
a bad feeling about this. After last night, he was certain Eva wouldn’t want any
type of intimacy with Wade. And after finding out the cowboy was a two-timer
only looking for a quick fuck, he was terrified knowing Eva was alone with him.

“There’s no way she’d miss preparing for the judging,”
said Colt as they ran down a grassy slope. It was slick from last night’s rain,
forcing them to slow down. There were numerous abandoned sheds in the near
distance, most dilapidated and weather-beaten. He couldn’t think of any good reason
for Wade to bring Eva here.

“No shit.”

North heard Eva’s muffled scream when they neared the
small wooden structures. They silently motioned to each other to split up and
flank the bastard.

“Make your choice or I’ll make it for you,” said Wade.

When North peeked around the corner, the sight stole
his humanity. His precious little Eva was pinned against the shed wall with
Wade holding her against her will. He held her hands as she struggled to fend
him off.

His fears dissipated. Although he hadn’t stepped in
yet, he wasn’t worried about losing this fight. Eva’s honor and safety were at
stake. And Wade just made the worst decision of his life.

“Get your mother fucking hands off her,” said Colt.
His brother moved in from the other side of the shed. His features were set
hard as stone, the promise of pain written in his eyes.

Wade took a step back and Eva immediately ran to
North, wrapping her arms around his waist. He held her head to his chest, keeping
her close. He never wanted to let her go.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

“It’s exactly what it looks like,” said Colton. He
shoved Wade, nearly making him stumble. “You put your hands on my Eva.”

“Men like you should be corralled and gelded,” said
North. “In the very least, you need to learn a lesson from someone your own
size.”

He hadn’t been in as many fights as Colton over the
years, but he could hold his own. North earned every one of his muscles through
back-breaking hard work on the ranch. He was thankful for this strength on days
like today.

“She can’t just get away with leading a man on,” said
Wade. “I thought we understood each other last night.”

“Eva can do whatever the fuck she wants,” said North.
Eva was an innocent country girl and Wade knew that. He had no right taking if
she wasn’t offering. After seeing the abuse his mother received from their
father first-hand, he was sensitive to any woman being hurt by a man.

“Get her out of here.” Colton may not have any
championship trophies like Wade, but he’d been fighting dirty since he was a
teen. It was usually because he was mad with the world, but it gave him the
experience to deal with this asshole.

****

Eva felt all her fears drain from her body and settle
in her boots. It was exhausting after being so stressed and frightened. She’d
been used to her father, the McReed brothers, and the close-knit community in
their small town. Wade forced her to see a side of humanity she’d never seen
firsthand. She’d been humiliated and victimized, and experienced a sense of
helplessness she never wanted to relive. Eva came to Chester to gain her
independence, not lose it.

North attempted to lead her away, but she dug her
heels into the ground. “What about Colt?”

“He’ll catch up in a minute.” North scooped her up
into his strong arms as if she weighed twenty pounds. After feeling so
vulnerable, it felt amazing being sheltered by one of the men she loved. The
McReed twins were her heroes and always would be.

The sound of punches being landed made her gasp. Wade
and Colton were both hardcore cowboys, tall and solidly built. There was
cursing and banging as they crashed into the small shed. North kept walking,
not even worried about his brother.

“He could get hurt!” she said. “You have to help him.”

North kissed her forehead. “Colton’s teaching that
piece of shit a lesson. I’d like to be in his boots right now.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Tell me one thing, did he hurt you?”

She sighed. “No. I’m okay.”

“Good thing because you have a ribbon to win.”

Eva shook her head. “I can’t. I’ll be humiliated after
what happened.”

“Nobody knows a thing, little lady. I didn’t come all
the way to Chester for you to give up right before the finish line. You’ll
regret walking away.”

He set her on her feet before they neared the crowds.
She had to get her thoughts together, to calm her nerves so she could do her
job. Eva tried to convince herself she was being ridiculous. The McReed
brothers came to her aid before Wade could really harm her. Then why did she
feel so lost? Why were more tears threatening to fall? She’d foolishly trusted
Wade, thrived on his courtship, and ignored the warnings by North and Colton.

She took a deep breath and slipped into the holding
paddock, not making eye contact with any of the spectators or staff. Eva felt
like she was an open book to the crowd, even though North was probably right
and nobody was the wiser.

Eva hugged Bessie, the familiar sight healing her a
degree. She began to primp the cow as the other animals were being showed. The
loud speaker in the distance gave her a sense of urgency. Any minute and they’d
call for Bessie or Ruby. She wouldn’t let Wade steal all the excitement of this
day. She’d been waiting for it for months, prepared for years, and wanted to
savor every minute.

When she was finished grooming both girls, a low
whistle caught her attention. Colt leaned over the rail of the holding pen and
winked at her with a smile. “Good luck, baby girl.”

She rushed over to him, touching the cut on his cheek.
“You’re hurt.”

“I’m just fine. You worry about showing those prized
cows. Tell Bessie she’ll be steaks if she doesn’t win.”

He’d lifted her spirits but she playfully swatted him
anyway.

Her name was called and she had to lead Bessie out
first. She held her breath, convinced she’d screw something up. This wasn’t
just her first competition but also her first time in the city. Everything was
new and unfamiliar. As she attempted to lead the cow out to the judging ring,
the brat stalled, stubbornly fighting to stay put. Back at home, she handled
the livestock with ease, but she froze under the stress of the moment. Colton
leaned over and whacked Bessie on the rump. It was enough to get her moving.

This was going to be one week to remember.

Chapter Nine

That evening, they sat outside of their trailer to
enjoy their last night away from home. Colton had a good bonfire blazing, the
sparks dancing up into the sky. Eva sat on a bench with a quilt wrapped around
her shoulders.

“So, how’s it feel to be the owner of a prized cow?”
he asked, sitting next to her.

Eva smiled. “She came in
third
.”

“Hey, you have a blue ribbon. That’s all that
matters.” He tucked some stray blonde hairs behind her ear. Colton had promised
himself to keep his distance, but she needed him as much as he needed her. His
sweet girl had been through the wringer because of that jerk. He needed to hear
her laugh, to see the innocence in her eyes again.

North sat down on the other side of Eva. “You’ve been
quiet tonight. You okay?”