Page 40 of Untamed

He harrumphs, shaking his head. “Nice try honey. But you know damn well I will never reconsider anything that would be a detriment to your education.”

My shoulders slump as annoyance slithers through me. “You never forced Maverick to go to college,” I snap, my voice laced with petulance.

Dad sighs, reaching across the table and taking my hand. He gives me a gentle squeeze and I know it’s his way of softening the blow. “Your brother is different. He’s not academic like you. Maverick was always going to take over the ranch one day. I’m not going to keep fighting with you over this, Mila. You’re destined for big things. The world is your oyster, and I don’t want you to be stuck here in Montana, rounding up cattle, with no other options because you chose to give up on school. You’ll go to college and further your education, then get a good job when you graduate.”

My good mood plummets with every word out of his mouth. My chest tightens and I shake my head. Does he really think so little of the rancher way of life? I didn’t believe so, but then why was he pushing this. “There’s nothing wrong with being here, Dad. In fact, if you gave me the choice, a house in the Hollywood Hills filled with designer clothes and expensive cars or this ranch with all its animals, I would choose here every time. Just because Mom wanted a life of material things, doesn’t mean I do. I’m not her and clearly you don’t know your daughter as well as you think you do. Maverick is held to a different standard than me, because he’s a man. It’s such sexist bullshit.”

“Watch your mouth, Mila.” He snaps before running a palm across his mouth as he gathers himself. “I do know you. I know what’s best for my daughter and it’s not being here.” He pauses;his eyes are locked on mine as he takes another sip of coffee. “And you can be on the ranch…during the holidays.”

I push my chair back, the harsh sound of wood on tiles cutting through the tension. Standing, I glare in my father’s direction. “This conversation is pointless. And if you think going off to college is what’s best for me, then you don’t know me at all. I don’t want to go to college, so you’re technically forcing me to do something I don’t want to do.” Emotion clogs my throat, but I don’t back down. “You would never treat Maverick that way. And it hurts. It hurts that neither you nor Mom see me. It hurts that neither of you take the time to sit down with me and really talk. It hurts that neither of you respect I’m an adult and can make my own choices.” My voice trembles, and I suck in a breath.

Dad stares at me as if he doesn’t know me.

And it’s becoming more obvious with every day that passes that he doesn’t.

I glare at him. He glares at me, neither of us willing to back down. With one last look at him, I turn on my heel and leave, my appetite gone after that conversation. It’s always the same fight, a source of contention between my parents and me. Though I have a strong feeling that if I pushed Mom hard enough, she would concede to what I want. It’s my father I will have a harder time convincing. He’s immoveable on the subject.

Storming toward the front door, I pull my boots on while ignoring the sound of my father calling my name. Flinging the door open, I stomp onto the porch and down the steps, my moves quick as I try to get as far away from my dad as possible.

I know I’m acting like a child but the frustration at his ignorance is overwhelming. No matter how hard I try, he won’t listen to me.

As I make my way down to the barn, I inhale a deep breath as I try to push aside the negative thoughts. I force a smile,determined not to let the conversation with my father ruin the good mood I felt when I woke this morning.

Glancing toward the sand arena, I come to a stop when I spot the man who has been quickly consuming every one of my thoughts. Colter stands by the fence, his attention focused on Garrett as he works a cutting horse through his paces.

My eyes rake over him, taking in every inch of the broody cowboy. My stomach tightens with need. He is so handsome, so masculine, so virile. And the way he rolls that toothpick in his mouth… I never thought it would be possible to be jealous of such an inane object but yet here I am.

“Who you watching?” a feminine voice asks from behind me.

I startle, spinning around to find Mona, one of the ranch hands, behind me with a knowing look on her face.

My cheeks heat, as my heart pounds in my chest. I clear my throat. “Nothing. The horse… it’s impressive.” I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. I mean, it’s not a lie. But it’s definitely not where my head was.

Her brown eyes sparkle with amusement, and she nods. “He is. But you know what’s more impressive? That fine specimen of a man.” She jerks her head toward the fence, and I know without looking who she is referring to.

Jealousy, thick and green, slithers through my veins. I quickly tamp it down, feigning ignorance when I ask, “Who?”

Mona chuckles, shaking her head. “Colter.” She clarifies, with a teasing smile, “It’s okay, Mila, you’re not the first woman to drool over him and you definitely won’t be the last. We even had a bet going amongst us girls.” She licks her lips, leaning in and dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Which one of us could bag him first. That was two months ago, and no matter how hard we try, he hasn’t given any of us the time of day.” She sighs contemplatively before adding. “Though that doesn’t mean he isn’t interested. We all heard he fucked Dulcie.No one was surprised. Dulcie always gets what she wants. That’s just how she is.”

The jealous rage burns hotter, my teeth clenching with her words. I try to keep my expression neutral but it’s hard when she’s talking about Colter this way. I know he didn’t fuck Dulcie, but it’s still a knife to my already tender heart.

“Maybe he likes to keep professional at work,” I snap, unable to help the bite in my tone.

She smiles, her shoulders rising in a casual shrug. “Maybe. But that won’t stop us from trying to break him. We’ve all seen what he’s packing between his legs. And trust me, we all want the chance to show him just how good fucking a cowgirl can be.” She winks, laughing, the sound grating and making me wince. “We know he’s interested in women. Maybe we just gotta be a little more persuasive in our efforts.”

My hands ball tightly into fists, nails digging into my palm. It takes everything inside me to keep my cool and not rip her damn hair out.

Before I have a chance to respond to her outrageous statements, she breezes past me, her hips swaying seductively as she moves toward Colter. My jaw clenches. Mona’s attractive with her sleek black hair and confidence. She sidles up to him, saying something I can’t quite hear, and it only fuels my anger.

A lump forms in my throat, as tears burn the backs of my eyes. Colter isn’t doing anything wrong, but I hate that Mona is not off limits to him. He could have her, right here, out in the open, and no one would bat an eye.

It’s fucking maddening and I can’t even do anything about it.

Like everything else seems to be, Lincoln Becker’s words are law.

I hate it.

Blinking rapidly to stop my tears from falling, I tear my gaze away from them and head to the barn. There’s only one thingthat will lift my bad mood, and that’s Clover. Grabbing his bridle and saddle, I decide to head out on a long trail ride.

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