Page 15 of Duke
I’m glad Ryder has a support system outside our family. Really, I’m glad he has someone else to annoy. The fact that we have our own lives now and hang out with our own friends is a good thing. It’s healthy.
Not gonna lie, though, back in the day, I used to get jealous anytime Ryder would hang out with Colt and not invite me. But again, I came to recognize that while Ryder and I had a lot in common, he had some interests that were different from mine. He and Colt bonded over shit like animal husbandry and land management and football, stuff I could take or leave.
“Trailer’s ready.” I point my thumb over my shoulder. “Will y’all do us a favor and let us know of any horses you’re selling going forward? I know y’all are popular these days, but we really would appreciate you remembering the little people on occasion.”
Colt’s shoulders shake on a chuckle. The Wallaces are famous for the superb horses they breed and train here in Texas. For years, rumors swirled that they were going to start a barrel racing training program. Those rumors were confirmed when they broke ground on the arena we’re currently standing in a year ago.
“You know y’all are always first in line. Well, after Kevin Costner and heads of state.”
Billie clucks her tongue. “If Kevin Costner actually bought horses from us, I’d’ve run away with him a long time ago.”
“Wait.” Ryder scrunches his brow. “Since when do you like old dudes?”
“Since I began dating young ones,” she shoots back.
He adjusts his belt. “We ain’t all alike, you know. Us young ones. Except that we got the kinda stamina to ride—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence,” I say.
His lips twitch. “I was gonna say we got the stamina to ridehorsesall day long.”
“Sure you were,” Colt says, still laughing.
Does he know my brother isn’t joking? Well, Ryder is joking that the sentence included the wordhorses.
He’s definitely not joking about offering his stamina-related services to Billie.
Lord above.
“We should get goin’.” I grab Ryder’s arm. “Cash already paid you, correct?”
Colt nods. “Correct. Thank y’all for your business.”
“Business,” I hiss to my brother as we head back out into the sunshine. “We’re gonna be giving the Wallaces a lot more of that this year, because we’ll be hiring a lot more cowboys, which means we’ll need a lot more horses. Don’t mess that up, ya hear?”
Ryder doesn’t answer. He can’t, because Billie is hot on our heels, telling us she’ll help load up the horse.
“You got an awful lot of energy for someone who drank a fifth of tequila last night,” Ryder tosses at her over his shoulder.
I can hear the grin in her voice when she says, “How many times I gotta tell you to stop trying to keep up with me? Admit that you’re a lightweight. It’s not a crime.”
“I’m not a lightweight.”
“Aw, but you are. It’s kind of adorable, actually.”
“Adorable?” He groans. “I don’t like that adjective.”
“What would you prefer?”
“Oh, you know what I’d prefer.”
My turn to roll my eyes. Part of me wants to tell them to just bone already. Another part knows that would lead to a hell of a lot of trouble.
I should be focusing on my own love life instead. Mollie’s sticking around the ranch, which means Wheeler is too. I got time. I also got patience.
That woman ain’t the only one who can play the long game.
CHAPTER 5
