Page 42 of Never Left You

“What’s not a bomb?” Another voice entered the barn, one I hadn’t heard in a few weeks. My twin brother sauntered in, a smile on his face as he approached us. His baseball cap was backwards, his blonde hair sticking out in all directions under it, his red plaid shirt unbuttoned and his converse shoes throwing everything off. Nothing about him screamed ranch, he was way too clean.

“Nothing.” Lachlan and I said in unison, a mirroring smile forming as Wyatt made a look, a pinch in his eyebrows in complete disbelief.

“When did you get back?” I kept talking, hoping Wyatt would ignore the entire conversation he walked in on. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in for a side hug.

Wyatt was older than me by three minutes, and he was taller than me by almost a foot. We looked almost identical, the same blue eyes, same shade of hair, same skin tone…everything that screamed we were twins. When we were younger, we were inseparable, always doing things together even if it meant us getting into trouble. He was my best friend growing up, then he developed his voice and went into the rodeo world. He was gone all the time in the circuit, announcing at any rodeo who would take him, working his way up to the Utah Days of 47 last year; hoping to get to Las Vegas in a few years. He always put his name in the running, but we never knew how close he got to being chosen.

“Just now.” He squeezed a little tighter. “Already saw Stetson and Rhett and had to come in here before I went up to shower before dinner.”

“When do you head out again?” I asked.

“Already trying to get rid of me?” He leaned back and looked down at me, pinching his brow. “Come on Abi…”

“No, believe it or not I like having you here.”

“I’ll be around for a bit,” he responded, giving me his award-winning smile.

I smiled back, actually happy to have my big brother around. He may have some setbacks, but I did love having him home. I rested my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Good.” Lachlan broke the moment. “We’ve been working on fixing things up around the ranch, and I could use your extra hands.”

I pulled away. “Your idea—boarding horses and using the arena to train? It’s paying off. We’re already boarding a few horses now.” I squeezed his waist.

Wyatt looked amused, but only somewhat. “Glad I’m good for something.”

“Yeah well, get ready to work. Cash and Rhett have been helping, too.”

I felt my brother stiffen. Cash Callahan was not Wyatt’s favorite person, mainly for what happened between us. Wyatt was the only person who saw me break after Sylas died, and he’s kept that moment between us, just like I asked him too. But when he saw me needing Cash, and Cash completely erasing me from his life, he took it harder than I did.

“Cash?” His voice deepened.

“Yes, Cash. He’s helping and he’s using the arena,” Lachlan defended.

I patted his shoulder and stepped away from him. “I’m ok with it. Just so you know.”

“I’m not.”

“Wyatt, just…” I gave a small laugh, remembering what Lachlan had told me. “Put your big boy pants on.” I tapped his shoulder again, “Welcome home.”

“So…” I drew out the word, sitting next to Kyla that night on her porch. I had a beer in hand, Kyla an iced tea. According to her it was the only thing besides water she could keep down lately. “When are you going to let the cat out of the bag?”

“Soon,” She answered. “Now that Wyatt’s home, we can tell everyone at the same time. Then there’s my mom.” Her eyebrows pinched, she added, “And Grace.”

“You’re not worried about them not being happy are you? I mean, Rhett was ecstatic,” I teased, taking another pull from my beer.

Kyla let out a small giggle. “He was. You were right, nothing to worry about with him. My mom may be shocked with how soon it is, and since we’re still mending our relationship. Grace will be pissed I didn’t tell her first, but…” She shrugged. “I think your mom knows, she always asks me if I need anything or if I want a jolly rancher.”

“You aren’t very subtle with your morning sickness.”

“You try being sick twenty-four-seven,” Kyla protested.

“I was. I have some tips I can share with you, plus, it will get better.”

“I hope. I don’t like feeling sick all the time.” She shifted in her seat, placing her palm on her stomach.

“It’s temporary.” I smiled at her. “I’ll write down my tips before I head out. Which is soon. Stetson needs to read me a chapter still, and there’s school tomorrow.”

“Oh no. Before you head home, we need to talk about last night.”

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