Page 18 of Wildest Forever

Ma isn't going to like it, which pushes me to think I need to tell her what has happened, or I could get Gerry and drive him over so he can tell her himself.

Might make the news a little easier to swallow.

Pushing my hand through my hair and away from my face, I puff air through my bottom lip and glance over at my bed.

Single bed, pushed up against a large window, carpeted floors and a few baseball team photos on the wall.

Never really found my thing as a kid. Most kids have hobbies, but not us Rivera boys. We were put on the ranch to work as soon as we could; our childhood wasn't an easy one.

We were loved, but it wasn't sunshine and rainbows.

My dad was a tough man, God rest his soul. He always treated Riggs a little different though. Was stricter with him, made him do a lot more than me and Tripp. But I suppose hewas getting him ready to take over the ranch one day, and well, that day has come.

Riggs is running the ranch, making all the decisions. His latest one was a whole new bunch of cowboys. I personally didn't think we needed anymore, but he seemed to think we did. He made Marty Livestock Commissioner instead of his right-hand man—again, a choice I possibly wouldn't have made, but what did I know? I was only his kid brother.

Getting myself dressed, I brush my teeth before reaching for my hat that sits on the back of my door, placing it on my head as I move towards the kitchen. Tripp is sitting feeding Lainey, Dixie is brewing a fresh pot of coffee and my mom is sitting, elbows resting on the table as she watches her son and her grandbaby quietly.

“Morning,” my boots move across the tiled floor and ma's head pops up, her eyes settling on me.

She is dressed in all black. She tells me she won't wear anything else, and the only time we should put her in color is when we're placing her in the ground next to my father.

I give her a soft smile as I place a kiss on the top of her head and my heart twists in my chest.

“You doing okay?” Tripp lifts his eyes to me, narrowing his gaze slightly before they're back on Lainey.

She is babbling away, pinching the buttered toast from his hand and shoving it into her mouth, her eyes wide and playful as she kicks her legs in her highchair.

“Yeah fine,” my tone is sharp as I walk over towards Dixie and reach for a mug, placing it next to the ones already lined up.“Ma, you about today?” Her eyes find mine and I can see the worry that dances through them momentarily.

“Yeah, is everything okay?” I hate that I have made her panic, that's not what I wanted.

I give her a nod, “Just need to ask your advice on something.” The sound of the front door closing has us all turning and looking, Riggs strides forward, cheeks red, sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Am I in time for coffee?” he glances at the clock on the wall then back to the full kitchen.

“Just in time,” Dixie smiles at him as she grabs another mug down from the cupboard and I watch as she fills his first.

“Errr...” Tripp says the words we're all thinking, “why does he get his first?” Tripp spins to look at Dixie and she gives him a playful smirk, her hand rounding under her neat bump. She is dressed in a long, white, cotton nightdress, sitting just above her ankles with frilly straps.

“Because he is out working and has been since...” she looks at the time, “four hours ago, so yes, he gets his coffee first,” she turns her back on us as she grabs his mug and walks it over to him, pushing it into his hand.

“I knew I liked her for a reason,” Riggs winks before dragging out a chair and slumping himself into it, his large, callous, dirty hand resting on our Ma's as he gives her a sympathetic smile.

My eyes pull when Dixie places Tripp's coffee down and then passes me mine.

He rubs his hand over her bump and she smiles with adoring eyes at him.

“Not long to go now,” Riggs smiles and I can see the pain that masks his face. I know how desperate he and Aspen are for a baby, and I hate the way my stomach coils every time I think of her. Hate that still, somewhere deep inside of me is this resentfulness, but I have no idea why.

I don't even want her.

Sure, I may have loved her all those years ago, but not anymore, yet I am still harbouring something and I can't put my finger on what it is.

“Nope,” Dixie smiles and Ma looks at her daughter-in-law, then to Lainey.

“I can't wait to be a nana again,” she says all glassy eyed, her voice quiet.

Tripp just gives her a look before Lainey is causing a commotion, clearly fed up as she pushes the plate on the floor and stretches her arms out for Ma.

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