Page 187 of Ride the Sky

I blow out a breath. Heart palpitations tighten my chest. “No. But she is. That’s all that matters.”

Smiling, Dakota wraps her hand around mine.

Fallon will find her strength. Nothing and no one have ever stopped that heart of steel.

Charlie leans down the line to look at me. Ruby’s blonde head pops over his shoulder. “You finally say it?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, dickhead. We finally said it.”

Ruby lets out a squeal and shoots up in her seat. Charlie grabs her leg to keep her steady.

“Praise fuckin’ god,” Ford crows, tossing his hands to the sky. Various whoops and mutters come down the line from my family.

I keep my eye on the ring, watching the first contestant ride her horse around the barrels. She’s good, but Fallon’s got her beat.

Murmurs ripple through the stands, and I glance up at the commotion. My eyes widen when I see Rand Younger. He’s clumsily making his way up the stairs. His right leg’s in a cast, crutches under his arms. His face is various shades of purple, and his right arm is in a sling. Worse yet is his jaw. Wired shut.

Fuck.

Younger’s gaze darts to mine. He pales then sits quickly and averts his eyes.

I whip my head to my brothers. “What’d you assholes do?”

My brothers exchange dry looks.

To my surprise, it’s Davis who says, cool, casual, “We showed him the meaning of fuck around and find out.”

Beside him, Dakota keeps her eyes on the ring, but she’s smiling.

A swallow sticks in my throat as I shake my head. My brothers have had my back even without me knowing it. More weight gone. More gratitude than I’ve ever felt before in my life.

Charlie sips his beer. “In layman’s terms, we beat his ass.”

Ford claps me on the back. “Shut up, kid, and watch your woman.”

I blink at the sound of Fallon’s name over the speakers. Fuck.

I sit back and try to breathe.

Adrenaline floods my system. I’m afraid for Fallon, but I don’t need to be.

She’s got this.

I got her.

The buzzer sounds. The crowd goes quiet.

I rip up in my seat and scream, “Long live cowgirls!” as Fallon rushes Lawless into the ring.

Lawless and I are flying.

Just like those wild horses.

My hands steady on the reins. We take the first barrel. A sharp curve that has my mind sharpening to grim focus.

Don’t need the bull anymore.

For so long, it was a way to harden my heart, to hurt myself.

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