Page 24 of Where They Belong

“Which way did he go?” Colt struggled to modulate his tone so he wouldn’t scare Dion. “Does he have a regular riding route?”

“That way.” Dion pointed southwest as he grabbed the hose from the side of the barn and turned on the water to clean the bucket. “But I’m sure they’ll be back any minute now.”

Colt shook his head and started toward the small barn. He’d grab Wes, and the two of them would saddle up and go find Mason. Before he was halfway across the yard, Dion’s “they” registered just as he heard approaching hoofbeats.

His knees weakened in relief at the sight of Mason astride Cuervo. Beside him rode Levi on Ranger, and of course, Levi was grinning. Mason was laughing at something Levi said, and the two of them looked like they didn’t have a care in the world.

Seriously?

Colt knew that was just the way his youngest brother always came across. Everyone figured he was footloose and fancy-free, but only Colt and Wes knew how deeply Levi felt. But Mason . . . Someone was out to harm him—tokillhim. What part of that scenario gave him the impression it was okay to go off for a ride? Didn’t matter that Levi was with him—Coltwasn’t. He stomped on that thought as fast as it came.

Anger gave relief a solid shove out of the way as Colt stormed toward the pair.

“What the hell did you think you were doing?” he barked at Mason. His throat was tight with unshed emotion, his fists clenched. “I told you in no uncertain terms not to go anywhere without me.”

Stunned silence filled the courtyard. Out of the corner of his eye, Colt saw Dion stop his bucket cleaning to watch them. Mason sat back in his saddle, eyebrows raised, lips parted. Beside him, Levi frowned.

“Actually,” Mason said, his tone measured, but Colt didn’t mistake the irritation in it, “you said don’t go anywherealone. As you can see, I’m with Levi.Notalone.”

“Bro, chill,” Levi said with a shake of his head. “I was with him the whole time.”

Colt leveled a cold stare at Levi as he pulled Ranger to a stop a few feet from Colt and dismounted.

“It’s not safe,” Colt said without heat, chagrined for a reason he couldn’t name.

“Which is why I was with him,” Levi replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “And good thing I did too.”

Mason, having dismounted his horse and now standing beside Levi, nodded. “We found a section of fence down. I need to get the guys out to repair it.” Mason’s voice sounded flat. Dejected.

Colt watched as Mason turned away from them and led his horse toward the main barn. His head was bent down and shoulders rolled forward—a sight that bothered Colt for reasons he refused to acknowledge.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you two,” Levi said, drawing Colt’s attention from watching his first love walk away, “but you need to get it sorted ASAP. If I hadn’t been up early doing rounds, I wouldn’t have found him getting ready to head out on his own. We can’t have him doing anything like that again.”

“I agree, Lee.” Colt sighed. “I agree.”

Mason knew Colt was following him even without hearing the dull footfalls of his boots on the packed dirt. There was an unmistakable energy that filled the space around Colt, as if the atmosphere itself was excited to be in his presence. That intangible vibe had been one of the first things that had drawn him to Colt. All these years later and he still had that effect on Mason.

But things were different now, and last night had only made it crystal clear. It didn’t matter how much Mason had let that kiss swallow him whole. It didn’t matter how much he still felt for Colt. It didn’t even matter that Colt had been the one to instigate the kiss. The fact remained that Colt wanted nothing to do with him beyond his job.

Yes, Mason had hurt him, but he’d tried to reach Colt after his dad caught them and sent Mason away. He’d called the dining hall so many times, written letters home to explain his side and, hopefully, find forgiveness. All to no avail.

Mason had thought for sure he’d be up all night replaying the events of the day—from his horse graffitied to the cut brake lines on his truck, Thad in the hospital, then the kiss and subsequent rejection—but the culmination had taken a toll on him, and he’d fallen asleep the moment his head had hit the pillow.

He’d slept like the dead, but not for long. He’d awoken before the June sun had risen, and his mind snagged up in circles like a dog chasing its tail, rehashing the kiss with Colt, his strong arms holding him, his intoxicating taste . . . and his cold dismissal afterward.

With a frustrated huff, Mason had kicked off the covers, quietly dressed, and grabbed himself a banana as he headed out to the barns. He hadn’t been thinking clearly, only the need for some equine therapy driving him, and was about to head for a ride alone. Luckily, Levi had appeared in the barn doorway. With a shake of his head and a gruff “stay right there,” Levi returned with Ranger and ridden out with him.

Yes, Mason realized it would have been stupid of him to ride out on his own after what had happened yesterday, but his mind had been so chaotic he’d needed a little escape from the whole thing. His private oasis wasn’t somewhere he’d have ever imagined could be dangerous. How did he deal with feeling unsafe on his own land?

“Mason.”

Colt’s voice yanked him back to the present as they entered the barn, and Colt followed him to Cuervo’s stall door. Mason ignored him. Cuervo stood quietly as Mason slid his hackamore off, draped it over the saddle horn, and then lifted the saddle off his back.

“Mason,” Colt repeated, impatience sharpening his voice.

“I don’t need a lecture from you, Colt.” Mason lowered the saddle onto a rack outside the stall and grabbed a brush and hoof pick from the bucket underneath. Quietly, he added, “You wouldn’t listen to my side anyway.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

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