He points at Toby first. “Get up.”
Toby scrambles upright like someone lit a fire under him. Then he points at Calista. “You’re both leaving. Now.”
“You can’t—“ Calista starts.
“I can,” Dad says, hands sliding into his pockets. “And I will. This rodeo is on Morgan property. Every inch of the grounds. And you two are hereby banned from all future events.”
A ripple of whispers moves through the crowd.
Calista’s face distorts. “This isn’t over.”
“Oh yes it is. Now leave my property before I have you arrested for trespassing.”
She looks ready to fight some more but something makes her change her mind at the last minute. She turns sharply on her heel, grabbing Toby by the wrist. They storm toward the parking lot, Toby stumbling as he nurses his jaw.
Before they disappear, Calista shouts over her shoulder, “You’ll regret this! All of you!”
No one reacts, not even the kids.
Zane lets out a long breath. “Well. That’s done.”
Beck wipes imaginary dust off his palms. “I feel refreshed.”
Jace snorts. “Breakfast and a show.”
“Luella’s first rodeo drama. I’ll write this in her baby book,” Ava murmurs, making me chuckle.
Flora sets her purse down, smoothing her dress. “If either of you would like dessert later,” she says calmly, “I brought lemon bars.”
Everyone melts a little at that, but Cole is still next to me, chest rising and falling like he’s fighting a war inside his ribcage.
I step closer. “Hey.”
His eyes flick down to mine, still burning, still dark.
“Are you okay?” I ask quietly.
“No,” he admits, voice low.
“I know,” I say, touching his arm gently. “But it’s over. Dad handled it.”
He looks at me for a beat too long, like he’s searching for something he can believe.
“You kept me from doing something stupid,” he breathes.
“I know. I kept you from doing something dumb in front of your daughter. She’s been through enough without seeing her Dad hit her mother, entitled or not.”
His throat works. “I didn’t even care what anyone else saw. I just—seeing her here—after what she did to you—“
I squeeze his hand. “You protected me, and you protected Aria. That’s all that matters.”
For a moment, everything else blurs—the dusty air, murmuring crowd, and horses trotting in the warm-up pen. It’s just him and me, standing too close, sharing a quiet we shouldn’t have in public.
Then the announcer’s voice booms over the speakers. “Riders in the nine-to-twelve category will be up in fifteen minutes! Please report to the warm-up ring!”
I inhale sharply. “That’s Aria.”
Cole nods, pulling himself together. “Go check on her. Make sure she’s okay.”
