Page 60 of Untamed

Skylar rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “It’s none of my business, but your daddy needs to chill out. You’re an adult now. He should respect that and let you make your own decisions.”

“You would think,” I reply, side eyeing her. “Seems like my brother can get away with his shit, but my father has all these expectations for me. Its sexist bullshit if you ask me.”

Skylar nods knowingly. “Sure is. But then again, we’re women in a male dominated industry. Christ, if I told y’all the number of times I’ve been looked down on because of wanting to do this job… I wanna be a cowgirl and I’m more than capable of doing exactly what some of those cowboys,” she gestures toward the men, “can do. But because I’m a woman, people don’t take me seriously. Lincoln did though. Never once laughed, or made me feel like I couldn’t handle it, when I applied for a ranching position.”

Her words make me smile. It’s nice hearing someone talk about my dad in such a positive light, and for a moment, I feel a sense of pride. Lincoln Becker is a fair man, no matter who you are or where you come from. I just wish he’d extend that fairness to me.

I exhale deeply. “My father is a good man. He’s all about equal opportunities, just not when it comes to his daughter. I’d be happy to take over his empire, but he’s always seen Maverick as his heir.”

Skylar falls quiet for a long moment. I glance over at her, and my brows furrow when I see the wistful, almost dreamy look on her pretty face. Her cheeks have flushed a subtle shade of pink and she’s chewing her lip, staring off at nothing. My eyes widen. I know that look. I have the same one when I look at Colter.

Does Skylar have a crush on my dad?

I’m just about to ask her the question when Clover suddenly spooks. Before I can even process what’s happening, he leaps to the side, unseating me. I do my best to hold on, but it’s no use. Clover snorts, spinning in the opposite direction and I’m thrown off, landing on the hard earth with a painful thud.

I groan, my eyes squeezing shut as I roll onto my back, the air knocked from my lungs.

“Mila?” I hear several voices call out and then my brother is hovering over me, his face filled with concern.

“What happened?” he asks, his voice thick with worry.

It takes a moment of gasping for air to finally form words.

“I don’t know.” I wheeze out, the words coming out slowly as I struggle to catch my breath. “Clover spooked at something. It all happened so fast. Didn’t have chance to stay in the saddle.” My chest aches, but I force myself to take shallow breaths. I’m winded, but I won’t let that keep me down. I’m tougher than that.

Another shadow falls over me, and I glance up to see Brandon’s worried face. “Shit. Are you okay?”

I push myself up slowly, ignoring the slight dizziness and black spots dancing in my vision. I nod. “Yeah. I’m good.”

“You need to go back to the ranch, Mila. Get checked out,” Maverick says, crouching beside me.

I shake my head, glancing around to find all eyes on me. My cheeks heat with embarrassment at the attention. My gaze locks on Colter who watches me intently. His expression is filled with worry, his body tense. And I can tell, it is taking all his self-control not to come over here and check on me. I quickly look away, hoping I’ve conveyed enough with one glance to settle him.

“I’m good. I’ll probably have some bruising tomorrow, but I’m okay. Just grab Clover and let’s get moving.”

Mavericks jaw clenches, his gaze firming. “No. You’re going back. You’re fucking hurt, Mila.” He glances over his shoulder. “Grady,” he calls, his tone clipped and commanding. “Take my sister back–”

“No,” Brandon cuts him off, a glower on his face as he looks at someone behind me. “I’ll take her.”

Maverick meets his gaze with a hardened look on his face. “No, you won’t. You’re coming with me. I need you, Bran.” He looks over his shoulder again, this time locking eyes with Colter. “Grady, take her back and make sure my father gets her checked out.”

I lean back on my palms, exhaling a slow breath, knowing there’s no point in arguing with my brother. I won’t win this one.

I resign myself to the inevitable; going back to the ranch with Colter.

At least I’ll get to spend a couple of hours with the man I’m quickly falling for, uninterrupted. The thought makes my lips twitch, but I fight back the smile, aware of the eyes that are still on me, particularly Brandon’s. I need to keep it together.

As quickly as my excitement came, it vanishes when my brother’s voice cuts through the air.

“Skylar, you go with them. Mila won’t be able to ride, so you lead Clover.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

COLTER

Cradling Mila in my arms, I ignore the daggers Brandon shoots my way. I couldn’t give one single fuck what he thinks right now. Mila’s hurt and my only concern is getting her back to the ranch.

I lift her gently and ease her into the saddle atop Jasper. Luckily for both of us, he’s one of the ranch’s calmer horses and is probably why Maverick assigned me to take Mila back. Not that I’m complaining. I’ll take every chance I get to have her in my arms.

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