“You sure you’re up for this?” Colt waved a pair of tongs in Jude’s direction.
“I’m sure.” Jude got more serious in a hurry. “I care about your brother.”
“Oh, I’ve got a lecture waiting for you. Don’t worry.” Colt gave an ominous chuckle. “But I meant the big, crazy family. We can be a bit much.”
“I’m ready.” Jude offered a small smile. “I’ve missed having family around.”
I hadn’t thought of that before. Jude was alone out on his property, the last of his family in these parts. I’d grown up with an excessive amount of relatives, but I couldn’t imagine life without them either.
“I can share.” I grinned at Jude. “Got aunts to spare.”
“Thanks.” Jude relaxed enough to join my chuckle.
“You could skip the lecture,” I suggested to Colt. I’d rather Jude stay loose like this than have to suffer some dire warning from Colt.
“I could.” Colt pursed his lips, considering Jude and me through narrowed eyes. “But I’d be falling down on my big-brother duty.”
I was about to snap at him when Colt’s shoulders sagged. He’d carried such a weight since our father died young. I hadn’t always seen it.Take off that heavy pack, soldier.The officer at the support meeting had been right, and I wished Colt could hear that advice. He didn’t need to keep trying to live up to?—
Oh. Carson, you idiot.I’d been doing the same exact thing, trying to make Colt proud, trying to outrun Kane’s reputation, trying to prove a point I didn’t even fully understand. Colt andI were two sides of the same coin. Stepping away from Jude, I clapped Colt on the back.
“You’re already the best brother.” I said each word slowly so he’d get the fullness of my sincerity. “Always have been.”
“Oh.” Colt sucked in a breath so hard his abs visibly contracted under his T-shirt. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“World is full of hurt, Colt.” I moved so I could hold his gaze. We both knew that all too well, and I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.
“True. I can’t protect you from all hurt.” Colt’s nose wrinkled like the admission had a bitter taste. “But I can warn Jude not to add to it.”
“I won’t.” Jude nodded his head with almost comical sincerity. “I want Carson happy.”
“See to it.” Colt gave another wave of his tongs.
“Okay, Sheriff Scary.” Adler came bustling out with a large empty platter. “What’s the status on the meat?”
“I’m not being mean.” Colt made an indignant noise. “Much.”
“We’re good.” I tried to beam that message directly to Colt’s overprotective soul.
“Excellent.” Adler grinned. The conversation moved on to brisket and bratwursts.
More family arrived shortly, and the afternoon drifted into evening with way too much food, but it was more fun than I’d expected. Turned out, I kind of liked showing off Jude. For his part, Jude got more comfortable as the dinner wore on. I waited until he was in a long conversation about horse lineage with Grayson before going to help my mom and aunts put away the food.
However, partway to the kitchen area, Maverick snagged my arm, tugging me into the dining room instead.
“I’ve got something for you.” Maverick handed me a thick white envelope full of papers.
“What’s this?” The envelope had a weight to it I wasn’t sure I liked. My back stiffened, and my neck prickled.
“Ownership papers.” Maverick tapped the envelope. “For Linus.”
I handed the envelope right back. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” Maverick’s eyes were sincere enough, but I stayed tense as he continued, “You’ve worked a lot of off-the-clock hours with Linus, and you’ve invested your own money in his recovery. Seems only fair that you get to keep him. Plus, you’re a cowboy now. Grayson says every cowboy needs his own horse.”
“He may not ride again.” If Grayson and Maverick were thinking Linus could be a workhorse, they were liable to be disappointed.
“That matter to you?” Maverick tilted his head, gaze more speculative.
