Page 50 of Ride the Sky

They’re all staring. I roll out my tense shoulders, cursing my big mouth.

Fallon will kill me.

“Married?” Ruby breathes, her eyes wide.

“You ain’t helpin’ me, Fairy Tale,” I tell her.

Davis’s lips are flat like he’s going to lose it. It’s the effect I have on my brothers. “When did this happen?”

“Vegas. Last year. Right before Reese got to the ranch.”

Reese’s hand goes to her mouth.

“You married her?” Dakota’s dark eyes burn with betrayal, accusation. Tears. “You marriedmysister without telling us?”

“Why didn’t we know about it?” Charlie demands.

Annoyance ripples through me at the family interrogation. Fallon’s hurt, and here I am being grilled about why I popped the question last year.

“Look, it just happened.”

Davis’s teeth crack together. “Happened. I need you to start talking, Wy. Now.”

I tear a hand through my hair, glare at him. “It was for insurance, okay? She was gettin’ hurt too many goddamn times, and I thought…I thought this’d keep her safe.”

Dakota stares at me, but she stays quiet.

“Goddamn it, Wyatt.” Davis looks like he’s going to bust a gasket. “This is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done.”

I shake my head, my voice deep and low. “Davis, respectfully, you weren’t fuckin’ there.”

Davis’s eyes bug.

A noise pops out of Ford’s mouth. A laugh.

“You hid it from us,” Davis growls, stepping toward me.

I square up with my big brother, both of us breathing heavily. “Fallon didn’t want to tell anyone. It was her call.”

“No one can know,” Fallon says after we exchange vows in a little white chapel off the Strip. She flashes that sharp smile of hers. “It’ll ruin my image.”

“Your image?” I deadpan, a little pissed off, though I don’t know why.

“Getting married isn’t for a cowboy. And I’m not going the way of Anne Boleyn.” Her lip curls. “Or my mother.”

She was adamant we keep it a secret. I respected that. Even if deep down I wanted to scream it to the world.

I lift my arms, exhausted. “What the fuck does it matter anyway?”

Davis’s nostrils flare, emotion in his voice. “Matter? Of course, it fucking matters. You two are married.” Through gritted teeth, he says, “She’s like my little sister. I told her father I’d look out for her, and youmarry her?”

Fuck. That stings.

“Davis, cool it.” Ford’s tone is edged.

Guilt ripples through me. Davis is pissed for good reason. We’re cowboys. Loyal. We follow a code. I promised Stede I wouldn’t touch his daughter, and I broke that promise.

Jaw clenching tightly, Davis punches a finger into my chest. Charlie sucks in a breath.

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