One Night Rodeo (13 page)

She found two older-model ATVs. Trying not to jar her ribs, she climbed on the first one and it started right up. Same for the second one. She had an image of her and Kyle laughing, racing each other across the white landscape.

Romantic nonsense, Celia.

“Celia?” Kyle shouted.

“Back here.”

Kyle sauntered into view. He wore stained coveralls, a thick jacket, and an orange knit hunter cap. She’d never considered that look particularly cute on a man, but it worked on him.

“I found two things to show you.” Kyle snagged her hand and led her around the back of the building. “I saw the dwindling stack of wood and wondered where the hell I’d get enough to last the rest of the winter. As I’m looking at the treeline, I noticed a section that juts out of this building.” They rounded the corner, stopping in front of a long metal building that was practically invisible from anywhere on the property except here.

“What is it?”

“A wood-drying shack. It’s full of wood that’s already dried, enough for this winter. Looks like I know how I’ll be spending part of my summer.”

“I wonder if Marshall did this all himself or if he hired out.”

“Josh would probably know. But come look what else I found.” Kyle towed her through the knee-high snowdrifts to the back of the house.

She squinted. “Is that what I think it is?”

“A hot tub. And it’s pretty new.”

“Does it have water in it?”

“Not super-nasty water, so I’m guessing Marshall recently changed it. Must be on the same emergency circuit as the heater inside since it didn’t freeze. You can get out here from the garage. Cool, huh?”

“More like
brrr
. How can you be excited about sitting in a hot tub when it’s four degrees outside?”

“Because I’ve always wanted one and now I have one.” He kissed her nose. “Don’t ruin my fun. I’ll look for the manual. It’d be good for your ribs.”

Celia was absurdly touched by his thoughtfulness. “There’s a lot of paperwork we need to look for.”

“We’ll do it soon as we get back from talking to your brothers and getting your truck.”

After a late lunch, Celia pawed through her duffel bag; she couldn’t wait to get the rest of her clothes out of her horse trailer after their trip to talk to her brothers.

Kyle held her hand, rubbing his thumb over her wedding band on the ride to Abe’s. “You worried?”

She nodded. “How do you think they’ll react?”

“Shock for sure. After that? Who knows? How do
you
think they’ll react?”

“I’m hoping they won’t pull out the shotguns.”

“Jesus, Celia, don’t even joke about that.”

That was the thing. She wasn’t sure whether she
was
joking. Hank and Abe bellowed a lot when they were unhappy with her or a decision she’d made, but they eventually, grudgingly, came to an understanding.

She feared that this situation would be the exception, given the way things had been between them the last few years.

Hank’s truck was parked up front next to Abe’s. Her brothers ambled out of the barn right after Kyle pulled into the driveway.

He kissed her knuckles. “Regardless of what happens, we’re together now. You have me, Cele. I’ll always be on your side. You know that, right?”

“I do now.” Touched by his fierceness, she impulsively rubbed his rough-skinned fingers across her lips. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure.” He warned, “Stay put. I’ll help you out so you don’t hurt your—”

“Ribs, yeah, I know. You sound like a broken record.”

“Only because I have some wicked, nekkid plans once you’re healed.”

Right then Celia considered lying that she’d made a miraculous recovery. Because
wicked, nekkid
, and
Kyle
in the same sentence? Hello, temptation.

“Kyle, what the devil are you doin’ here?” Hank asked.

Then Celia stepped into view. “Hey, guys.”

“Celia? Didn’t expect to see you.” Abe grinned and started toward her, probably to wrap her in a bear hug, but Kyle intervened.

“Gotta watch the ribs. She’s awful sore.”

Hank and Abe exchanged a look. Then they both peered at the bandage on her forehead. Hank demanded, “What the hell happened to you?”

“And why is this the first we’ve heard of it?” Abe added, glaring at Kyle. “Did you have something to do with her getting injured? Is that why the two of you are here together?”

Celia stepped in front of Kyle. “No. I got hurt last weekend in Vegas. A few stitches, bruised ribs. I’m fine. So back off. It’s not Kyle’s fault.” She’d tried out several phrases in her head on the way over, but nothing had jelled. Best just to say it right out. “We’re here together because Kyle and I got married Saturday night in Vegas.”

A pause, then Hank and Abe burst out laughing. Their amused gazes zipped between Kyle and Celia. Her brothers looked at each other, then busted a gut again. Adding in knee-slapping laughter. During their fit of mirth, Kyle slipped his arm around Celia’s waist.

“Good one, Celia. I needed a laugh. You and Kyle. Together. Right.” More snickers.

Their hilarity faded when Celia held out her left hand. “I’m not kidding. Kyle and I are married.”

A stunned pause followed.

Then Abe snapped, “Are you pregnant?”

“I tell you I’m married and that’s the first question you ask?”

Hank’s eyes hardened. “My question is…were you drunk?”

Celia’s stomach lurched. Her face heated and she gaped at Hank.

“Christ. You were drunk,” Hank snarled when she didn’t immediately answer.

This was not starting out well at all.

“You watch what you say to her,” Kyle warned. “Yes, Celia and I are married. Yes, it happened pretty damn fast.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Or we’ve been headed this way for a long damn time, since we’ve known each other forever.”

“You two have been at each other’s throats forever, so I don’t buy this
you’re in love
bullshit,” Abe said.

“Ask Devin if it’s bullshit,” Celia replied evenly. “He stood up for Kyle at the ceremony.”

That comment seemed to incense them more. “
Devin
knew you were married before we did?” Hank bellowed.

“And with the way you’re both acting, can you blame Celia for not wanting to tell either of you?” Kyle shot back.

“Because you’re too goddamned old for her!” Abe said.

Celia wanted to flee before someone said something hurtful that couldn’t be taken back. Because it was coming.

Her brothers’ postures were belligerent, their silence disapproving.

“So you’re married. What now? You traveling the circuit together?” Hank asked.

“I…I dropped out of the circuit.”

“What!” Abe and Hank said simultaneously. Then Abe snarled at her, “You’re quitting? You’re goddamned pregnant, aren’t you? Kyle, I’m gonna fucking kill you.” He lunged for Kyle, but Hank held him back.

Pissed off beyond measure, Celia yelled, “I don’t believe you two! You’re assholes. I’m not pregnant! Can’t you just be happy for me for one minute?”

“We’d be happy for you except we don’t understand what the hell is goin’ on. You married
Kyle
? A chance to win a national barrel racing championship is all you’ve talked about for the last four years, little sis. You’re so hell-bent on competing and getting to the next level that you never come home anymore.”

That was what they thought? Could her brothers really be so clueless about why she stayed away? Did they really not know her at all?

“But now you’ll be traveling with Kyle to support
his
attempt to win a national bull riding championship while you let your own dream turn to dust?”

“No. Kyle and I both quit the circuit.”

Shocked silence.

“Then how will you make a living?” Hank demanded.

“More to the point…Where will you live?” Abe also demanded.

Kyle answered, “On my ranch.”

“What ranch? Since when do you have a ranch?”

“If you’d stop interrupting and jumping to conclusions, we’d tell you,” Celia said.

“Then somebody had better start talking right now.”

“Celia and I are living on the ranch I inherited from my father.”

Silence. Then, “When did this happen?”

“A few days ago.”

“That’s what this is about? You suddenly inherited a ranch and knew you couldn’t run it by yourself so you convinced Celia to quit the circuit and marry you?”

Celia glared at Hank. No questions about Kyle finally learning the identity of his father? No excitement about his unexpected windfall? Just more accusations? More assumptions?

“I can’t believe…” Hank pointed at Kyle. “She deserves way better than you.” Then Hank pointed at Celia. “You know this won’t last, don’t you? Kyle isn’t a long-term guy.”

All the uncertainty from the last four days, all the hurt her brothers had unconsciously inflicted on her in the last four years, pushed her to the breaking point. A gasping sob broke free and she bent forward to try to stop the sharp, stabbing pain in her ribs and around her heart.

Through the haze of tears, she saw Kyle’s shadow move in front of her.

“Celia. Baby. Get in the pickup.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, keeping her focus entirely on Kyle as she shuffled backward.

“Where the hell do you think you’re goin’?” Hank shouted. “We’re not done talking about this!”

She’d never seen Kyle like this. The easygoing man had spun into an absolute rage.

He shoved Hank hard enough that Hank fell on his ass. “We sure as fuck are done because you don’t
ever
get to talk to her like that, you hear me?” She watched him struggle for control and attempt to level his breathing. “Celia and I are married. Fucking deal with it. And we didn’t come here wanting a goddamn thing from either of you except your congratulations. But instead you insult her, you insult me, and then you make my wife,
your sister
, cry? Jesus. What is wrong with you two?”

Abe helped Hank to his feet. “This has gotten out of hand.”

“You’re damn right it has. So here’s your warning. Stay away from her.”

“Dammit, Kyle, knock it off. We’re her family.”

“No. I’m her family now. Because I’ll never
ever
treat her like you just did.”

Celia cried harder.

Neither of her brothers tried to stop them from leaving.

At the turnoff to the highway, Kyle said, “Do we still need to stop at Eli’s or can it wait?”

“I want my own pickup and if I have to wear these clothes another week, I’ll puke.”

Beyond heartsick, Celia ignored the phone vibrating in her pocket. She stared out the window. The scenery she’d always loved offered her no comfort at all.

Eli Whirling Cloud was unsaddling a horse when they pulled up. He brushed her down before he approached them. “This is a nice surprise. I expected maybe one of you, but not both of you. But there’s only one extra bed, hey.”

Celia was so happy to get such a warm welcome from her friend and horse trainer that she almost burst into tears again. “We’re not here to crash, but thanks for the offer. We’re here to share some news.” Celia’s heart raced. “Me’n Kyle got hitched last weekend in Vegas.”

Eli grinned from ear to ear. “I’ll be damned. Congratulations are in order, then?”

“Yep.”

“Outstanding.” Eli’s smile faded. “So why the teary face, sweetheart?”

“We just left Hank and Abe. They were less than enthusiastic about the news.”

“Eh, they’re both hotheads. Especially when it comes to you. They’ll get over it.”

“I’ll track Mickey down so Kyle can tell you what else has gone on.”

Standing in front of her horse trailer, she realized Kyle had been right about one thing. All her worldly goods were contained within it. Three suitcases of clothes. One box of household things and knickknacks.

How pathetic.

Fighting tears, she leaned against the back of the horse trailer, out of view of the house. Her life had become a train wreck. How soon would Kyle regret getting mixed up with her?

Tired of being a fucking baby about her injury, she unloaded everything from her horse trailer herself. She had to take a break after she dumped her suitcases in the back of Kyle’s pickup because her ribs were screaming in protest.

She rested against the fence post, watching Mickey in the distance. But her horse didn’t gracefully trot up and welcome her home. He tossed his mane and ran farther afield.

You too, Mickey?

His regal head bobbed, as if he’d heard her.

“He’s always been a temperamental motherfucker,” Kyle drawled behind her. “Don’t take it personal.”

“It’s not like I can ride him anyway.”

Kyle swore. “Did you really load and unload all that yourself? Christ, Celia—”

“Please don’t yell at me. I can’t take any more today, especially not from you.”

“Hey. C’mere.” Kyle gently enclosed her in his arms. Feeling a little more settled, she pressed her face against his neck, inhaling his scent, and whispered, “Thank you.”

He hissed. “Your face is freezing. Let’s get you warmed up.”

I’ve got an excellent idea on how we can do that.