Page 8 of Wild As Her

“Tell me something I don’t know. You’re both complicated.” Her tone softens, her eyes meet mine, and she nods, willing me to continue.

“You know why Cami is the way she is, right? Her dad is a mean son of a bitch and has been in and out of her life since she was a little kid. I don’t know anyone meaner than him other than my own father. Everyone gave up on Wilder Ranch, even though it’s been in her family for generations. They left Cami standing on her own, fighting for what’s left of her family’s ranch.”

“Why do you think she pushes everyone away?” she asks as she leans against the bar, listening.

“She grew up thinking she had to handle everything because everyone around her lets her down. She doesn’t push me away; she just doesn’t know how to let me show her that I’m not giving up,” I say quietly.

Violet’s gaze softens, and she nods. “You’d stay.”

“I’ll always stay. I’m not going anywhere,” I admit, my voice hoarse. “She drives me fucking insane. I can never win with her. We’re like fire and gasoline.”

“Every time you show up for her, Jack, it means something. Every time you fight for her, even when she doesn’t ask you to, she sees it. Every time. Trust me. She feels it,” she says with a knowing glint in her eyes.

“She’s not the princess that needs saving. She’s the warrior that needs a safe place to rest in between all of her battles,” I say quietly. “She doesn’t want me to fight for her.”

She nods. “You need to be her home. Not her hero.”

I glance down at my glass, the weight lifting off my chest. “Think she’ll ever let me in? Because I gotta be honest. I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle every day.”

Violet’s grin turns up as she grabs a bottle from the shelf. “If anyone is meant to break down Cami’s walls, it’s you. Just keep fighting for her, even when she doesn’t seem to need it. That’s when she needs it the most.”

She pats my arm as she moves down the bar to help another customer, leaving me with my thoughts. I don’t feel so lost for the first time in a long time. Maybe there’s hope for me and Cami. It’s not gonna be easy, but I have to keep fighting. She’s worth it.

I eat my supper and wind down some more at the bar, but my mind continues to drift back to Cami. No matter how much I bury myself in work, the bar, or planning out my future, she’s in it. She’s never far from my mind.

Cami would burn the world down for the people she loves. I’ve never seen a heart bigger than hers. She’s one of a kind. She was never meant to fit into a box. She’s too powerful, wild, and unruly. The devil works hard, but Cami works harder. If you’re lucky to have someone like her in your life, then you’re lucky as hell.

On my way home, I pull in by the Bridger Falls Firehouse. I walk up to the open bay, and Ollie’s there working on a piece of equipment. “Hey, Ol,” I say as I give him a clap on the back and sit on a stool next to him.

“What are you doing here, Jack?” he asks with a grin as he sets down his tools.

“I just had supper at The Black Dog and needed a word before I head home,” I say grimly, unsure how to broach this with him. He’s not gonna fuckin’ like it any more than I do.

Ollie’s a good guy, but he got the brunt of it growing up when it came to his father abusing and mistreating the family. A lot of times, he had to shield Cami and her mom. No oneblamed him when he left the ranch for good and moved to town. He still helps Cami whenever she needs him, but he wants little to do with the ranch anymore, and I can’t say I blame him.

“Granger was on the property messing with Cami this morning. He had a knife. She shot at him.”

He turns and looks at me. “What the hell? Why am I just now hearing this?”

I nod. “Yeah, well, you know your sister. She doesn’t want anyone knowing. I’m going to stay at Wilder Ranch tonight. She says it’s happened more than once. People have been poking around the property. I don’t like it, man. She’s not safe.”

“I’m on shift tonight, but I can take my turn. But you know she won’t like us babysitting her, right?” he says as he snaps the toolbox shut. “And especially not you. Hell, I’m not sure she won’t try to shoot atyou.”

“No shit. There’s no telling what your sister would do to me,” I mutter, remembering how close we were at the bar and then how she seemed to want me gone off her property.

Ollie laughs and nods his head, agreeing.

“Plan on staying in the barn loft,” I say. “I’ll leave before she gets up.”

“She’s got that Heeler. She’s a mean little shit, might chase people off,” he muses.

“She’s a good dog. But it’s not enough. We need to keep an eye out.”

“You gonna let me fuck up Granger with you?” he asks with a smirk.

“Absofuckinglutely.”

Just after midnight, I ride out to the Wilder Ranch, take Pesto into the barn, put him in with Mouse, and get him turned downfor the night. Those two are happy to be side by side, based on their happy snorts. Cami and I may fight like cats and dogs, but I’ll be damned if our horses aren’t friends. It always bothers her, and she lets me know it.

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