Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
He’d given me a week to claim her. Her father pretty much banished me from her presence. It was turning into more of a shitshow by the hour.
One more potential clusterfuck was that I needed to tell Tyler what was going on. The last he’d heard, I was going to tranquilize his date and take her to get her mind wiped. Between the other afternoon and this morning, everything had changed.
Not just my entire future, but his, too.
Hell, his date was soon going to be his stepmom, if everything went according to plan. The trouble was, getting from here to that finish line seemed pretty fucking insurmountable now.
Maybe fucking things up with Riley’s dad made me want to make sure I handled my own family a little better. That meant Tyler. I wasn’t having anything come between us. Surprise was never a welcome strategy for shit like this.
I parked near the bunkhouse where Tyler had moved this summer and checked my phone again.
Still no answer from Riley. I texted her again. I needed to make sure she knew I left her place this morning to appease her dad, but I hadn’t left her.
You’re perfect. The only female for me. I’ll make sure you and your dad believe that.
I waited a few minutes and still no reply. I climbed out of the truck and put my hat on. The bunkhouse was empty, which made sense. Rob didn’t pay his ranch hands to sit around and play checkers while daylight was burning. I could head up to Rob’s house, but I didn’t want to see the look on his face when I told him the latest.
Instead, I texted my mate again.
I’m hoping you’re not answering because you’re busy at work, but I’m gonna blow up your phone with messages until I hear you’re okay.
“Cody?” Boyd Wolf appeared from behind the barn. He was an old buddy of mine from his early days on the circuit. The former rodeo star had, not too long ago, mated a human doctor in town. In fact, a slew of males on the ranch had marked human females, which made it easier for me to believe fate chose one for me.
With him was Johnny, one of the younger ranch hands, and Clint, who lived in town with his mate/wife and their new baby, Lily.
I lifted a hand and grinned because they were arguing about when Lily would start dating. Since she was only one, the very concept put the scowl on Clint’s face. “Hey, guys.”
I shook hands with Clint and Johnny.
“Good to see you,” Clint said, then tipped his head. “This is Weston Sparks. He’s come from a pack in Colorado to help out around here. He’s a farrier, but I swear he’s a horse whisperer. Cattle, too.”
The new guy offered me a smile and a hand. He had ginger hair and a beard that rivaled mine. His stocky build probably worked well for dealing with horses all day. “I go by Wes. Don’t listen to him. I talk to them loudly, especially when they’re being ornery.”
“Cody McIntire. Good to meet you.”
“We’re headed into town for supplies,” Clint said.
Wes tipped his cowboy hat and followed Clint and Johnny as they headed up the hill toward the main house. No doubt Marina probably had a huge list of baking supplies needed for her growing business.
“Heard fate threw you a curveball,” Boyd said once they were gone.
I looked around for Tyler. “Did you? Does Tyler know?”
He shook his head. “No. Rob told me in confidence. You haven’t told Tyler, yet?”
I groaned and took my hat off to shove my fingers through my hair. “No. That’s why I’m here. I didn’t want him to hear it in town. I’m not sure how he’s going to take it. Somehow hey, your girlfriend is going to be your new stepmom doesn’t feel like that welcome of news.”
Boyd gave me a thump on the shoulder. “He’ll understand. Or if he doesn’t now, then when or if he’s lucky enough to find his mate, he will.”
I groaned again. “You’re not reassuring me. If he doesn’t find his mate until my age, that’s over twenty years for him to hate my guts.”
He barked out a laugh thinking I was joking. I was being serious. “If you want to take a ride–I know where Tyler is this morning. He’s out checking fences.”
“Thanks.” I followed Boyd back to the barn, and he handed me a saddle.
“That’s Bella,” he said, opening the stall door to a pinto mare. “You can ride her.”
I led Bella out of her stall and saddled her. I might own a bar in town, but I knew my way around a horse.
“The real question isn’t how Tyler’s going to take it, it’s how Riley is handling the news,” he commented. “That’s a lot for a human her age to absorb, I imagine.” Boyd saddled a chestnut and led the stallion out of the stable.