“Someone’s coming!” Mama’s voice pierces through the hum of conversation around me.
Every single head turns as if on a swivel, including mine.
I can just make out a horse, but the rider is still in shadow, until…
“Reid Wild!”
Shit.
I glance over at Ginny, who frowns.
This isn’t how it was supposed to happen.
I hear Patrick’s piercing shout of encouragement from behind me. Patrick Gold has had an unrequited crush on Reid for years. I turn to glare at him.
“Patrick, if Reid wins, I have to fake marry him!” I say. “How does that help you?”
Maren, my sister’s BFF, looks over from behind Ginny’s shoulder. “Exactly, Patrick. It doesn’t help you.”
I glance over at Maren. Her green eyes are filled with irritation but also…jealousy? Maren and Reid…hmmm. I never thought they even liked each other.
Reid’s really motoring out of the woods and across the pasture, and my jaw tightens. Logan’s most annoying brother, of all people, trying to one-up everyone. I’m about to call out to Maren that she can gladly have Reid even if he wins when?—
“Someone’s on his tail!”
My heart soars.
Only to come crashing down again when?—
“Sal Hughes! What a horseman he is!” Daddy’s voice booms out.
Seriously? Does my father really want me to fake marry the most crooked politician in Hunt County? I turn and glare at Daddy. Just like I said, this Wild Darcy Derby was the worst idea ever. I told everyone who would listen, and now I’m screwed. I slump against the porch railing, lean my head on my arms, and pray for a miracle.
All in all, I don’t ask for much.
That my father stays sober as much as possible.
That my parents try not to kill each other.
That The Cowherd stays in the black.
I know life’s full of curveballs, but the idea of missing a date tonight with Logan, and spending the evening instead with Sal or Reid, just fills me with sadness.
“A third rider’s coming! And coming fast!”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up like they always do when Logan’s around. I don’t even need to look to know it’s him. A shiver goes through my spine, and then I hear Ginny’s squeal.
“Logan Wild!” she shouts. “Go, Logan, go!”
“No rooting,” Daddy admonishes her, but even he can’t hide the enthusiasm in his tone when he calls out, “Almost got it, son!”
8
Logan
* * *
Everything’s a blur. Everything but those two guys ahead of me. I can’t believe Reid freaking passed me on that stream crossing. Dexter never balks at water. Absolutely never. Until the damn Derby, and then he just froze up. I nearly lost my seat and went over his head. But I hung on and managed to steer him left to a shallower crossing. Then, we loped through the stream rather than jumping it, which cost me valuable seconds.
