Page 30 of Wilder Heart

It felt like flying.

The ranch was beautiful. Snow-capped mountains rose into the sunset-streaked sky in the distance. The wind whipped his clothing, and Wilder kept himself low, holding the reins loose so Blaze could keep his gait wide and fast.

This wasn’t the first time he’d run the ranch on horseback, but for the first time in his life, the looming shadow of his father didn’t overwhelm the moment. There was no threat of pain oranger waiting for him at home, no smacks to the ear followed by drunken bluster. The shadow of his crime paled in comparison to the torment Dad had put him through; he would take that over the weight of his father’s presence any day.

But here, in the hills and valleys of the ranch, running wild and free, none of that mattered. The unhappiness of the past couldn’t touch him here. All that existed were him and Blaze, each powerful crash of hooves against the ground taking them further and further toward the promise of the future.

On the crest of a hill overlooking the mountains, he let go of the reins entirely and stood in the stirrups, raising his arms out to his sides and taking the full brunt of their speed. The air had a bite to it, cold and so clean he felt as though it was blowing away the horrors of his past. None of it mattered here.

They ran until his thighs and back ached and Blaze’s neck was slick with sweat. When he guided the horse to turn around, their pace slowed. Blaze recognized that they were going back, and that was less exciting than running away had been.

“Don’t worry, we’ll do this again tomorrow,” Wilder promised.

CHAPTER 11

CASH

Sitting by the fire, Cash waited for Wilder and Blaze to reappear, watching the horizon. He’d fetched Wilder’s fallen hat, and it sat on the log beside him. A blanket of stars crept across the sky, and soon Lain and Mary-Beth would take Annalise inside for her bedtime. When they did, Cash had a plan.

Wilder had been in such a hurry to get away from him after his moment of vulnerability in the truck that he’d forgotten his Twinkies. Cash wanted to wait and catch him alone in order to return them. The last thing he wanted was to make any of the hands think he was playing favorites—even if, deep down, he knew he was. There was just something about Wilder.

He heard Blaze’s galloping hooves before they were visible.

“Here they come!” Annalise said, leaping out of her chair.

“Stay back, baby girl,” Lain said. “It’s getting dark, and I don’t want to risk them not seeing you.”

“I know, Daddy. I just want to see Blaze. He’s so pretty when he runs!”

Cash opened his mouth to say Wilder would never be so careless as to put Annalise in danger, but the words wouldn’tcome. It wasn’t his place to argue with his boss about family matters.

Wilder and Blaze appeared over the ridge, driving all thought from his mind. Haloed in the dying sunlight, a cascade of stars spilling across the sky overhead, they were a vision. Blaze slowed to an easy lope as they approached the barn. Wilder was windswept and grinning hard, looking more at home in the saddle than Cash had ever seen him. He was made to ride Blaze, and Blaze, it seemed, was made to carry him. They were kindred spirits from the moment they met.

The sound of Blaze’s hooves clopped into the barn, and Cash picked up Wilder’s hat. He caught sight of Lain and Mary-Beth exchanging a communicative glance, and then she stood, smoothing a hand over her growing belly as she did.

“Come on, Annalise. It’s time to get ready for bed.”

“Aw, already?” Annalise whined.

Mary-Beth smiled patiently. “I’m afraid so.”

Lain stood to follow them. “I’m turning in, too. Have a good night, boys. I’ll see you all bright and early.”

Cash wished him goodnight, aware of the knowing looks the hands exchanged around the fire behind Lain’s back. They all had their opinions about the relationship between the boss and his rakish twin.

“The rest of you should turn in soon, too,” Cash said. “Like he said, early start in the morning.” They still had to get the barn ready, test the troughs, and ride the fields to check for toxic plants before they moved the herd. It should have been done already, but the days had gotten away from him. With all of them working together, they could get it done in time.

“Are you really gonna let him ride that mustang around the cattle?” Billy asked. “The horse hasn’t been trained well enough yet.”

“The horse is doing just fine, and I think Wilder’s a good enough wrangler to know whether Blaze is ready for the work.”

Billy grumbled something under his breath.

“What was that?” Cash asked, his voice threaded with steel.

Billy pursed his lips. “Nothing, boss. It’s your call.”

Cash nodded. “That’s right, and I know my job. You just mind yours.”

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