What was this? Jake gave a crap about what I did? Sure, I’d thought we’d formed a bond of sorts—but after what Laura had said, I’d been sure that Jake was too hurt by the resemblance to the sainted Luke to get invested in me as a person.
“A little,” Jake admitted, surprising me. “It seemed good to have more family around again. But not him. We don’t need him around. Not after what he did to Amy. And he lied to me and Mom.”
“About what?” There was an edge to Brian’s voice now.
“Claimed he’d slept on the couch when I’d find him at the house in the mornings, too tired to drive back to town after talking to Amy. That was all bullshit. He was in her bed.”
“Amy’s an adult,” Brian reasoned. “If she wants to sleep with him, it’s not our place to judge.”
“I know that, but he shouldn’t have lied. And he shouldn’t have ended things. You didn’t see her, Brian. She was devastated. Worse than the… you know.” Was he talking about the accident? No, he couldn’t be. “Besides, family stays and he’s not staying. He’s no brother to us. I don’t give a damn what the DNA says.”
The words were harsh—but what hit harder was the genuine hurt I could hear in Jake’s tone. Maybe my little brother really did care about me after all. He sounded really upset about the idea of me leaving. But would Jake ever be able to accept that I wasn’t Luke, that I couldn’t be a replacement for the brother they’d lost? I couldn’t try to fill that gap. Iwouldn’tdo that. God, how had I gotten myself tangled in such a mess? The rodeo never hurt or confused me like this. All it ever gave me were bruises and broken bones. Not a broken heart.
“You going to let me out now?” Jake demanded softly.
“Can’t,” Brian said. “He has the right to press charges. The entire bar saw you start the fight. I gotta keep you until he wakes up and decides.”
“I got work to do on the ranch,” Jake complained.
“You’ve got hands to handle things until you get there. Cool your heels. Do you want an ice pack for that eye?”
I remembered my right hook connecting hard with the outside of Jake’s left eye. It had been a satisfying punch, but any satisfaction I had gotten out of it during the fight was gone. I felt like shit forhurting Amy and messing up my brothers’ lives. But I couldn’t lie here much longer, so I started to make grumbling sounds as if I were just waking up. Their conversation ceased as I pushed slowly up to sitting and focused on them.
“Morning,” I drawled.
“Sleeping beauty awakens,” Jake greeted me sarcastically. I tried to shoot him a glare, but it hurt to have my eyes open.
“How you feeling this morning?” Brian walked closer to my cell as he spoke.
“How the hell do you think I’m feeling?” I grumped. I wasn’t interested in making small talk. I raised my fingers to my face and felt the swelling along my jawline.
“I wouldn’t know since I’m not the one looking like a punching bag,” Brian said. “I am curious about what put you here. Want to talk?”
“I want to know what I have to do to get out of here,” I said. “I’ll pay a fine for being drunk in public or fighting or whatever.”
Brian leaned against the bars now. “Were you really dating Amy?”
I couldn’t decide if I wanted to slump back on the uncomfortable cot or go toe-to-toe with Brian for asking that question, but I wasn’t in any shape to fight another brother and I really wanted to get out of there.
“What’s it matter?” I finally asked. “It’s over now.”
“From what the bartender said, you were pretty messed up last night,” Brian replied, “and Jake says Amy was, too. Maybe the two of you should try to work out your differences.” Brian probably meant his words to be kind, but I didn’t want to hear it.
“I don’t need advice,” I said. “I just need to get out of here.”
“All right.” Brian unlocked the cell door and opened it wide. “You’re not facing any charges. Yeah, you were drunk, but there’s no law against that in a bar, and the bartender said you gave up your keys without a fight. I paid your open bar tab. You’re welcome.”
I got to my feet, teetering only slightly. “What about him?” I pointed to Jake. “You setting him free, too?”
“That’s up to you. Do you want to press assault charges against him? That’s your right.” Brian hitched his thumbs into his belt and waited. “I’ll admit that he deserves it even if I’d prefer that you didn’t. It’s been a long night and I’m not in the mood for the added paperwork.”
I had to admit to some admiration for Brian. He was tough and he took his job seriously as sheriff. To the point that Brian would have let me press charges on his twin without trying to argue or intimidate me out of it. “Hell, no.”
“The bartender dropped your truck keys off here after closing. They’re on my desk. Help yourself. Leave me forty bucks for your tab.” Brian went to unlock Jake’s cell, but I didn’t wait around.
I snatched my keys from the desk, tossedthreetwenties down, and made my way outside. I had to lower the brim of my hat to keep the bright morning sunshine out of my eyes but I wasn’t particularly successful—what felt like an ice pick slammed into my skull. I was too old for this shit. With a quick glance around, I strode back to the Roundup to retrieve my truck where it was parked out front. I was looking forward to returning to the life I loved and leaving this small town behind.
THIRTY
