Western Ties: Compass Brothers, Book 4

Dedication

This book is dedicated to our parents for their Vicky-style love, their JD-like words of wisdom and their unconditional support and acceptance of our tendency to write
really
dirty books.

Prologue

Sawyer Compton waved goodbye to his father, JD. The taillights of the ranch’s pickup dwindled as his old man drove away from the airport. Sawyer slung his bag over his shoulder more securely, wincing at the pressure the weight put on his too-new tattoo. His back was killing him. He wished he and Sam had managed to find time to get the tattoos right after high school graduation. Instead, the two months between pomp and circumstance and packing their duffels had been filled with chores on the ranch, travel plans, a huge going-away party thrown by their mom and the million other little things needed to pave the way to their future adventures.

As a result, they’d gotten the tattoos yesterday after Sam had stormed into Sawyer’s bedroom as he stuffed photos of his brothers into the scuffed boots he’d never wear in basic but couldn’t bear to leave behind. His twin, Sam, had snapped at him, saying, “Get your ass in the truck.” He hadn’t needed to be told twice.

Sawyer had wanted the tattoo since he was fifteen and seen the ink his oldest brother, Silas, had made a permanent part of his body. Since then, it had become a tradition for each of the Compton brothers to get the compass tat on their back, a symbol representing their coming of age and a tie to home as they explored their freedom. However, unlike Silas’s, Sawyer’s navigational brand wasn’t pointing to the north. Rather he hoped it would eventually lead him west…to the Pacific Ocean, sunshine and—God willing—a shitload of California girls.

“Guess that’s that.” Sam turned and entered the terminal.

“Yeah.” Sawyer followed Sam through the automatic doors. They’d scheduled their flights at about the same time, neither of them wanting to be the last brother at home with Vicky. “Gotta admit we were lucky JD talked Mom into staying behind or we’d still be standing on that curb out there.”

Sam grinned ruefully. “No shit. As it was, I thought she might crack a few ribs during that never-ending goodbye at home.”

Sawyer nodded. “My back is on fucking fire.”

Neither of them had told their parents about their clandestine rendezvous with Snake, the ranch’s unofficial artist. So Sawyer had gritted his teeth throughout his mother’s bear hug, Vicky unknowingly hurting him. A part of him felt that pain was poetic justice. His parents were suffering with his and Sam’s departures. His folks had four sons, and Sawyer suspected both JD and Vicky had been confident at least one of their offspring would remain close to home working the Wyoming land that had been in their family for several generations. Instead, all four Compton brothers had decided to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

Sam checked his watch. “Looks like we made good time. What do you say we check our bags and then hit the bar until takeoff time?”

Sawyer laughed. “We’re eighteen, Mr. Hot Shit. They’re not going to serve us.”

Sam shrugged. “I bet I can charm us into a couple of microbrews. Especially if the bartender is a college girl.”

Sawyer stuck out his tongue in the universal sign for
gross
. “Make mine a Miller Lite.” He studied his brother’s sweet Columbia hoodie, which Sam had picked up during orientation, and tried to forget how much he’d missed the fucker in the four days they’d been apart. “Besides, who’s gonna be smart enough to hit the books at some fancy school but dumb enough to forget to card your scrawny ass?”

“Really, Sawyer? How many times have I explained why insulting your twin is ridiculous?” Sam laughed as he shook his head.

“Hey, not my fault you’ve spent all your time studying instead of working out in the barn.”

“Are you referring to bucking hay or
bucking
Beth when her dad was roping the herd with JD?”

“Take your pick.” Sawyer rubbed his flat belly and sighed. “We may have started out identical. Now I can kick your ass.”

“Maybe if you were smart enough to catch me, baby brother. I still say we should have taken Snake up on his offer to make us identification.”

“How are you gonna survive without me? Those fake IDs of his look like shit. We’d have been busted the first time we tried to use them, and JD would have kicked our asses.”

“Fine, chicken. I won’t tell if you indulge in one last watermelon fizz.” Sam ambled toward the ticket counter.

Sawyer tried to ignore the lump clogging his throat. Saying goodbye to his parents had been tough, but leaving Sam and all the special things they’d shared—like his favorite drink—was going to be brutal. Despite their identical looks, their personalities were in direct contrast to each other, a combination that had pretty much guaranteed a lot of black eyes and split lips throughout their childhood. However, after Silas and Seth had left home, the younger Comptons found more common ground. In the past two years, Sam had become Sawyer’s best friend.

They dropped their luggage off at the baggage check and made their way through security. Claiming a couple of stools at the bar, they ordered sodas. For several minutes, they sat in silence, watching people rush past—everyone dashing to catch flights somewhere else or taxis home.

Sawyer had suffered from that same impatience for years, desperate to leave Compton Pass, to forge his own destiny. Now, he was anxious to slow things down, and he couldn’t help but wonder why in the hell he’d been in such a damn hurry.

“At least we’ll be on the same coast for a bit.” Sawyer played with the condensation on his glass. “Cape May’s not all that far from New York City.”

“You’ll be in basic training for eight weeks. And then the Coast Guard will station you God knows where. Doesn’t matter how damn close the cities are, it’s not like we’re going to be hanging out together.”

“Yeah, but I get ten days off after basic. I’ll come check out your fine preppy institution in New York before I ship off.”

“More like you’d like to raid the coed dorms before you’re forced to spend months in barracks with a bunch of dudes.”

“Yeah well, I’ve waited a long time to use the I’m-leaving-in-the-morning, give-me-something-to-remember line.”

“You’ve watched
Band of Brothers
one too many times, Saw.”

He couldn’t help it if the series had captivated him for more reasons than one. The military would help him reclaim what he’d lost when Silas and then Seth had abandoned the ranch. “Whatever. It’d be cool to see the Statue of Liberty.”

“I’ll take you around the city. We’ll hit the clubs, and I’ll show you all the fun we’ve been missing in Bumfuck.”

Sawyer chuckled. Sam had always argued the grass was greener in the big city, while JD pointed out nothing grew in the concrete landscape where Sam was headed. Of course when Sawyer considered his own destiny, he realized there wasn’t much pasture to be found in the sand either. “I can’t wait. Look, Sam…”

“Last call for passenger Compton.” A shrill crackle blasted through the elevator music in the airport lounge. “Please proceed to gate 5A. This will serve as the final boarding call for flight 328 to Atlantic City.”

“What the—” Sawyer bolted to his feet, digging in his Levi’s for his boarding pass.

Sam saved the chair Sawyer had occupied from crashing to the floor. “I thought your plane left at three thirty.”

“Shit!” He double-checked the info. “That must have been the flight number. It’s scheduled for three o’clock.”

“You better run.” Sam shoved Sawyer toward the door. “It’s already five after.”

“But…” He wasn’t ready. He hadn’t even bumped Sam’s fist or tugged his twin into a one-armed hug.

“Go!” Sam shooed him even as he turned to the waitress. Instead of asking for the check, Sawyer overheard his brother asking the pretty blonde if she could call the airline and tell them Sawyer was on his way. He even spelled their last name.

For a fleeting moment Sawyer wondered if it would be the end of the world to miss his flight.

“What are you waiting for?” Sam waved his arms like an agitated old lady.
 

“I don’t know.” He swallowed hard, his feet frozen to the ground. “You’ll email, right?”

“Promise. Every day. I’ll write you so many letters I’ll put Lucy to shame.” Sam’s broad smile melted Sawyer’s paralyzing terror. “How else will I make you jealous over all the ladies on campus?”
 

He didn’t have the chance to worry about whether or not Sam’s semesters would line up with his shore leave or when they’d make it home next. Like JD always said, “If you start a journey looking for the way back, maybe you’re headed in the wrong direction.”

Screw doubt. This was the future they’d spent most of their lives running toward. What sounded like paradise to Sam would be hell for Sawyer—almost as bad as staying here in Wyoming. He closed his eyes and imagined the sound of an ocean he’d only ever seen on TV. Anxiety drained away.

“They’re waiting for you, cowboy.” The waitress flashed a bright-white smile. She pointed. “Head that way, to the very end of the concourse. They said they’ll give you five and then you’re out of luck. You look like you’ll make it.”

“You
will
make it.” Sam nodded as Sawyer stumbled out of the bar, picking up speed.

“So will you.” He grinned over his shoulder before sprinting down the hall. He imagined Sam rolling his eyes at his lack of decorum when he bellowed, “Compass brothers rule!”

Chapter One

Seven years later

“Stop worrying, Stacey. I’m a big girl and I know what I’m doing.” Leah Hollister looked around the crowded room. A shiver of anticipation, laced with equal parts of excitement and nervousness, raced up her spine.

Her best friend, Stacey, glanced toward the door for the thousandth time since they arrived at the private play party. They had been college roommates at the University of Wyoming. After graduation, Leah had gone home to Compton Pass to teach twenty-four unruly kindergartners, while Stacey was using her education degree at a high school in Los Angeles.
 

 
“Bill will be here soon,” Leah tried to calm her anxious friend down. “He’s the one who suggested we come early, remember? He wouldn’t send us into a dangerous situation. These people are his friends.”

A few months ago, Stacey had called to say she’d fallen in love. Leah had been shocked to learn that Stacey’s new boyfriend was also a Dom who’d introduced her girlfriend to his lifestyle. Since then, Leah hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the sexually charged stories Stacey had told her. To say her own sex life was lackluster was an understatement. It would be more accurate to say it was non-existent.
 

Stacey nodded. “I know we’re safe, but I’d feel better if he was here to make sure you, I mean, we don’t break some rule of the house or something.”

Leah laughed loudly. “You had it right the first time. You think I’m going to fuck this up.”

Stacey sighed. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Leah rolled her eyes. “Oh my God. We’re not really going to have this conversation
again
, are we?”

“I want to know that you’re going to take this seriously. These parties aren’t games, Leah. They aren’t jokes. The host has rules that he expects us to follow.”

Leah observed the partygoers as Stacey spoke. She knew exactly what was expected of her. It was the reason she’d come to California, though she’d never admit that desire to Stacey.
 

“I know what’s expected of me, Stace. You don’t have to worry.”

Stacey studied Leah’s bracelet and shook her head. “Well, I have to admit, of all our friends at college, you were the last one I expected to bring to a place like this. Don’t get me wrong, but you’re sort of a goody-goody.”

“Goody-goody? Shit, that’s not a compliment. Why on earth do you think that?”

“You’re straight as an arrow. I’ve never once seen you step a little toe out of line or take a walk on the wild side. In college, while we were all partying it up at the frat houses, you were in the dorm, doing homework.”

“I was there on a scholarship, Stacey. I couldn’t let my grades slide or I would have lost it.”

Stacey nodded. “I know that. It’s more than just the constant studying though. You are the queen of play it safe.”