Page 174 of Wildest Forever

“They're some good guns,” Xavier scoffs.

“Need to be prepared,” I answer, my horse stomping his foot.

“We will let you boys get on, be safe,” Xavier gives a firm nod and the three of them turn around and climb back into the car, slowly pulling off and disappearing.

Closing my eyes for a second, and all I see is her face. The low sun feels warm on my skin and I know it's getting close.

“Are we ready?” Riggs asks and I roll my head forward and give a heavy nod. “Then let's ride,” he kicks on his horse and leads us towards the ranch.

We need to be ready, and we know that's their first point of attack.

Our home.

My dad's final resting place.

Our legacy.

And we will not go down without a fight.

We're in place, tucked behind the bunk house.

“No sign as of yet,” Nate says over the comms and I try and steady my breathing. Our guns are loaded and in our hands, and we know that is not going to be a simple hand shake and goodbyes.

They want what is ours.

Austin walks around and crouches down beside me.

“Horses are tied up around the back,” his voice is low.

“Just to confirm Riggs, all the horses are away, and the cattle are in the top field.”

“Yes,” he nods, looking across to the glowing fences from the nightlights.

“Do you think we should have kept some of the cowboys back?” Tripp whispers and Riggs shakes his head.

“I made a call to keep them with the cattle. We have enough of us here to fight these assholes off.”

“What if they have an army?” I whisper as my eyes are locked forward.

“Then we fight an army,” Riggs admits.

Nerves cripple me inside out and my palms begin to sweat.

Memories flood me from the shoot-out at the wake and I am terrified of getting hurt.

But this is our home, and we will not let it go without a fight.

“Trucks approaching,” we hear in our ears and Buck shuffles forward.

“Trucks?” Austin repeats. “Did he say trucks?”

“Calm it,” Riggs snaps at Austin and he cowers down. “We're all stressed, I don't need you panicking now Aust.”

Austin nods and slips behind his dad.

“Go into the stables Austin, keep your head down,” Riggs orders and Austin does as he asks, moving to the back of where the horses are.

The sound of the engines soon fills the quiet void and my heart is banging in my chest, blood pumping in my ears and I let my eyes shut for just a moment and remember why we are doing this.

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