Wendy shot to her feet. “Coming where?”
Brent’s eyes cut to Tripp’s. He’d wanted to be present for tonight. He didn’t like admitting his feelings either, but he cared about Wendy like a sister. He was protective, too. It was a side of Brent that Tripp hadn’t seen before. His little brother hadshifted from the quiet observer to someone who was simmering with… something.
The last year had changed him. All this pent-up desire to head out on his own had warred far too long with the part of his soul that wanted to make their parents proud.
Tripp nodded sharply.
“I’m hungry. How about we get some of those burgers you like so much and find a quiet place to eat them? Why you like eating in the back of Tripp’s truck is beyond me,” Brent muttered, turning again to head for the truck.
Wendy glanced worriedly toward Tripp, but he shook his head.
“We don’t want to make this worse. He’s dealing with a lot right now. It’s hard when you feel like you have a calling and it’s just out of reach.”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “I know.”
He grinned, pulling her into his side before kissing her temple. “When do you get your book back from the editor?”
She beamed. “Next week. Then I can shop around for some agents or maybe just self-publish. I haven’t decided yet.”
“Whatever you choose, it’s going to be amazing.”
He was half-way through the equine dentistry program. But his training wouldn’t end once he graduated. He’d have a lot of continuing education to keep up his credentials and he planned to be the best in the field—at least in this part of Montana.
Brent was already in the truck when they reached it.
Tripp opened the door for Wendy and shot a glance in his brother’s direction. Brent only shook his head, a scowl on his face. He’d given up. He’d lost the fight.
Sighing, Tripp walked around the front of the vehicle and climbed inside. Before he put the key into the ignition, he turned to face his brother. “There are a lot of other fields you could?—”
“Just drop it, Tripp. You and I both know there’s something they’re not telling us.”
“I don’t know, Brent. They seem pretty clear on their stance to me. A lot of those events are pretty dangerous. Especially the bull riding one and that’s the one you keep insisting you want to try.”
“Because I’d be good at it and you know it,” Brent seethed.
Tripp tossed a knowing look to Wendy who could only offer an encouraging smile. “So what now? Are you going to do something else? Just hang around the ranch?”
“I don’t know,” Brent muttered.
He nodded and grabbed the key in his hand to turn over the engine. “Well, if you decide you want to do something that requires extra training, let me know. That program I’m in has other career choices. I’m sure you could find something?—”
“I said to just drop it, Tripp.” This time he sounded so defeated that Tripp wanted to climb into the back of the truck with him and give him a hug. They were close enough in age that they’d grown up more like best friends. There wasn’t a time when they’d been separated—other than when Tripp had gone to college. Brent hadn’t been willing to leave their folks alone and he’d gone to a community college.
Glancing at his brother in the rearview mirror, Tripp wished he could come up with a solution that would make everyone happy. He’d found his happiness, his future. Brent should be able to find the same.
He glanced over at Wendy. Maybe that was what Brent was missing. He needed to find a girl who could get his mind off all this rodeo nonsense. It was never going to work in the first place.
They pulled in to the drive-up and Tripp placed his order. Before he knew what was happening, Brent hopped out of the truck. “I’ll be right back.” Then he hurried over to a familiar truck and family.
Wendy sighed. “I wish there was something we could do.”
Tripp’s eyes narrowed as he watched Brent chat with Tate and Jason Dennison. Then something clicked when he saw the way that Faith was looking at Brent like he hung the moon. And there it was. How was it possible no one had noticed that Faith had the hots for Brent? Even he seemed oblivious to the way she watched him unabashed.
Nudging Wendy, Tripp jerked his chin in Brent’s direction. “What do you see?”
She followed his line of sight then tilted her head. “The Dennison family?”
“Yeah, but look at Faith.”
