“Billie’s a newbie, yeah,” Ava says. “But every spare second she’s had, she’s been in the arena working her butt off. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone more dedicated. She loves it.”
Don’t doubt that one bit. Billie’s been hell on wheels for as long as I can remember. Of course she’d love a sport where she gets to ride like the devil.
And I remember plenty, considering her older brother Colt is my best friend outside of my brothers.
“Testament to your coaching skills.” I nudge Ava back. “Sawyer told me y’all recruited some promising gals to join the program.”
Ava turns her head to glance at Sally, who’s tapping her tallboy can of local beer against Wyatt’s before taking a long, thirsty sip in the row in front of ours. “Helps that we have the best of the best working at the Wallaces’. Sally really brought our program to a whole new level.”
Sally is a veterinary surgeon who trained at one of the top programs in the country. I think she surprised us all when, over the holidays last year, she passed up a big fancy job to stay in Hartsville and help the Wallaces build their horse breeding and racing programs.
Wyatt puts a hand on Sally’s thigh, the thin gold band on his left hand winking in the arena lights.
Am I surprised my wildest brother settled down and got married? Not one bit. As a matter of fact, Sally and Wy’s engagement was long overdue. They’ve been in love with each other for, well, ever.
Theirs has been a very happy ending. Everyone’s has.
I tell myself I’m happy enough too. Sometimes I think I got all the happiness I needed when I was little and lived on Mom’s hip. I got no shame in admitting I was a mama’s boy. In fact, I’m proud of the bond Mom and I shared.
I miss her. A lot. But Duke and I have a special bond too as identical twins. I try to remind myself of that fact when I’m feeling down. Lonely.
Thing is, I’mnotalone. My life is full of people who love me and who I love right back. Life is good.
“Sometimes I wonder how we all got so lucky to get a second act as solid as this one.” I say, wiping my hand on my jeans. We recently joined forces with Mollie, combining her family’s ranch with ours to create Lucky River Ranch. It’s made us very busy—and very wealthy—ranchers.
Ava chuckles. “The universe isn’t stingy, Ryder. And karma is real. We’re living right.”
“Maybe. Yeah.”
I feel her looking at me. “You know it’s your turn anytime you want it to be, yeah?”
My hand tightens into a fist. “My turn for what?”
But before she can reply, a shout interrupts us.
“Aw, y’all really beat us here? If that don’t make me feel like the world’s worst brother…”
Looking over my shoulder, I smile when I see Colt Wallace moving down the arena steps, the entire Wallace clan, save Billie, of course, hot on his heels. There’s her five brothers—Colt, along with Beck, Nash, Mack, and Tate—all dressed up in their cowboy finest. I bite back a laugh when I see that Nash is even wearing a massive silver belt buckle that matches his bolo.
He’s definitely looking for some action tonight. Glad I’m not the only one.
Standing, I reach across the row behind us to shake Colt’s hand. “These cowgirls refused to be tamed.” I nod at Ella and June, who are now busy trying to toss pieces of popcorn into each other’s mouths. “They were chomping at the bit to get to their first rodeo.”
“It’s not my first rodeo, Uncle Ry!” Ella rolls her eyes. “It’s like my one hundred thousand billionth rodeo, okay?”
“Mine too!” Junie squeals. “My mommy used to beinthe rodeo.”
“Your mama is just the coolest, isn’t she?” Sawyer reaches across to thumb away a stray bit of popcorn from the corner of Junie’s mouth. “We’ve got lots of talent in our family.”
Ava bites her lip. “You’re making me blush, cowboy.”
“You’re making us all blush, and that’s a beautiful thing.” Mrs. Wallace, the matriarch of their family, smiles down at us as she takes a seat on the row behind ours. She’s moving slow on account of the surgery she recently had. “Thank y’all for coming, truly. Billie is blessed to have such wonderful friends.”
Dean, Colt’s six-year-old son, comes over to give me a high five. “What’s up, Uncle Ry?”
Not gonna lie, out of all the literal and proverbial hats I wear—brother, rancher, businessman, cowboy, (sometimes) degenerate—“uncle” is by far my favorite.
“You learn to read yet or what?” I ask. “You been goin’ to kindergarten every day, right?”
