Page 25 of Ride the Sky

I smile. “Thank you.”

The earth rattles beneath my boots, a great rumbling sound like a giant awakening. Startled, I twist toward the long, winding dirt road. Past the gate come four massive trucks. A silver Chevy leads the pack.

Davis’ssilver Chevy.

Fuck.

My heart drops into my stomach. They found me. Damn Pappy and that article.

I squeeze my eyes shut.Not ready. Not ready to face them. Any of them.

Vic’s droll voice tears me from my thoughts. “Why do uninvited guests keep showing up here?” He looks at me. “I reckon you have something to do with it?”

“I’m going to kill them,” I grumble.

Especially Wyatt. This act of ambush has his annoying name all over it.

Every muscle in my body tightens at the slam of truck doors. I stare at the broad-shouldered men muscling their way out of the driver’s seats. The Montgomery brothers. Cowboys who’d go to war for you and then some. They’re as reliable as the sunset. As irritating as dust in your eyes.

The passenger door of a bright cherry red Chevy whips open. Ruby’s smiling face appears. Seeing me, she lights up and gives me a wave.

Despite the nerves in my stomach, I smile. I’ve never met anyone as trusting and as kind as Ruby. Against all my betterjudgment, she made me her friend, and now I will gladly kill anyone who touches her.

Charlie grips Ruby’s hand protectively as she bounces out of the passenger seat. The ends of her long blonde hair and the hem of her sundress flare as her grumpy, bearded husband picks her up and spins her around. Ugh, god, they’re still as nauseatingly adorable as ever.

Speaking of adorable, I fight a smile at the sight of Ford and Reese. The long-legged country music star looks like some cosmic cowgirl in gold jewelry, high-heels, and cut-off shorts. Ford’s rumpled from the drive and wears a backward baseball cap and blue jeans. A pang of regret goes through me. I missed their wedding. I’ve never felt like more of an asshole.

Except when I spy Dakota.

Fuck.

I take a fortifying breath and scuff my boots as I walk toward them.

“The whole cavalry?” I arch a brow at Dakota. She looks soft and pretty in tight blue jeans and a denim shirt. Her dark hair is cut in long layers that accentuate her cheekbones. “Really?”

“Really,” she says and then throws her arms around me.

I hug her tight, close. The one person I love enough to let into my personal space. My big sister.

“I missed you,” she whispers. The words are a knife to my heart.

“I missed you.” I give her one last squeeze then pull back. “How’s Lainie?”

“Screaming inconsolably for hours straight.” Dakota tries to smile. “You need to meet her.”

I look behind her. “Where are the kids?”

“With Stede,” booms a deep voice. My gaze lifts to Davis, hulking behind her.

I arch a brow. “I see muscles strikes again.”

He chuckles, shakes his head, then pulls me in for a crushing bear hug.

I give Davis shit, but I secretly love him to death for what he did for my sister. A man of honor, Davis stepped it the fuck up for Dakota when she returned home to Resurrection two years ago. Pregnant and on the run from her abusive ex, Aiden. Davis quickly took her into hiding, and it wasn’t long after that he was claiming both Dakota and her baby.

“So, this is where you’ve been hiding all these months,” Dakota breathes, looking around the ranch then at me. “You did it, Fallon. You found your wild horses.”

Dakota’s words cut. There’s awe in her voice, and I hate it. I wish she’d be disappointed. Wish she’d rage at me. Call me selfish, an idiot. It’d almost make this strange reunion less painful.

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