Page 24 of Wrangled

“Know what?”

There was a pause. “That you like guys.” The words came out in barely a whisper.

I dropped the fork into the bowl with a clatter, and whirled around. “And what makes you think I like—Jesus, how much did you see?” My heart hammered.And are you going to tell anyone?

Except I wasn’t thinking ofanyone. I was thinking of Dad.

“Like I said, enough. Well… most of it.” Teague regarded me with a thoughtful expression. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

“No, he does not. And I’d prefer it if it stayed that way.”

“Then I won’t tell a soul.”

I studied him. “You watched us fucking and you didn’t make a sound. Why?”

Teague’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I liked it.”

I blinked. “Well, you’re honest, I’ll say that for you.”

“But watching him tie you up like that…” He tilted his head. “Didn’t he want you to get away? Because for a minute there, I thought he was,youknow, rapin’ you. But then you started making noises… and I knew.”

“Knew what?”

He looked me in the eye. “You like it.”

There seemed little point in lying to the kid, not after all he’d seen. “Yeah, I do.” I peered through the window to where the bunkhouse sat. “You’re gonna be sharing with a bunch of cowboys. It might not be such a good idea to let ’em know you like guys.”

“It might make them nervous about having me in there with them?”

I snorted. “No, they’ll just beat the crap out of you.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “They’re not that bad. You’ll be okay.” I peered at him. “Doesyourdad know you’re into guys?”

Teague said nothing but pointed to his face.

I sighed. “Guess I have my answer.” I went back to my task.

“I won’t tell a soul, I promise. I can keep a secret.”

I might have only just met the kid, but I believed him.

2022 - the present

The wind picked up, and I shivered.Maybe I should just go to bed.I peered toward Teague’s cabin.

Or maybe I should go talk to Teague.

Chapter Six

Robert

I turned my collar up against the stiff breeze whistling around me, and walked along the path to Teague’s cabin, my boots crunching on the gravel. It had been a while since I’d paid a visit to the foreman’s cabin. Then I realized just how long that had been.

I haven’t been here since it was Kevin’s place.

There was no need. Teague reported to me up at the house every day, and if I needed him, there was always the phone. And as to why I was on my way there in the wee small hours?

This had to be a face-to-face conversation, and I knew he was awake.

The cabin stood apart from the barns. My granddad had built it back in the day. He’d wanted to afford the foreman some privileges, and not having to share the bunkhouse was one of them.

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