Page 1 of Lasso Lovebirds (Rainbow Ranch #4)

beau

In my experience, things always happened in threes.

As my boot squelched into the third pile of horse shit this morning, I had to wonder if the universe was just pokin’ fun at me.

A curse wrenched from my lips, and I glanced around out of habit for any of the teens on our ranch—even though I was most assuredly alone.

If one of them caught wind of me cursing, I’d never hear the end of it. The good news was that the sun had barely risen, and while I wasn’t the only one up this early, I was the only one trudging through a field to fix the fence’s wiring before the rain hit.

“Damn it,” I muttered, kicking my heel out.

Shit plopped into the wet mud, the ground damp from the constant storms we’d had over the last couple weeks. Thunder rumbled in the distance as I crossed from the stables to my truck. I got in, shutting the door quietly and cranking the engine.

I hoped I could knock this out quickly to make it back in time for breakfast. Otherwise there’d be hell to pay from my twin brother, Boone.

Of the four of us, Boone was the only sibling that could wrangle me indoors.

Maybe it was the sticky buns or maybe it was the fact that we’d shared the same womb, but he always managed to know when something was off with me.

Just how I knew the same about him. It was a sixth sense.

Which was why I needed to fix my attitude—and clean off my boots real good—before walking through the dining room door.

As the eldest, the weight of running the ranch and always having the right answers sat on my broad, sun-tanned shoulders.

I rarely got a moment alone, which was why I often jumped on tasks like this.

Mending a fence before dawn meant I could have a little time to myself to ponder, dream, and spiral.

What was putting my hackles up this morning wasn’t the fact that I’d just stepped in a pile of shit. And it wasn’t because of the storm brewing just a few miles north, or even the usual pressure of being the boss.

It was something else entirely.

I turned on the radio as I rumbled down the dirt road, using the few minutes of peace to think.

Ever since Boone and Wylie had fallen for each other, I’d been reminded of the fact that I was painfully alone.

And it was silly, right? I was so damn happy for the two of them that it hurt.

Hell, we all were. They were perfect for each other.

Billie, our younger sister, and Benny—the youngest of the four of us—thought so too.

Romance was in the air. And while it was beautiful and heart-warming, it reminded me of the secrets I’d been keeping. It reminded me of the deep pining I had for someone I couldn’t have, and how I’d probably end up growing old alone.

Rainbow Ranch was the love of my life, right? That had to be enough to fill the cavernous ache echoing in my chest.

My headlights beamed through the grape-crushed dawn as I slowed to a stop. The marker I’d placed the other day to show where the fencing needed repair shot up in the grass. I turned off the truck and hopped out.

I tightened my tool belt as I trudged over to the fence. This patch-up was right near the front gate, which was exactly why I’d wanted it done so fast. I couldn’t have our fences lookin’ rundown, especially when it was visible from the paved road.

Three flags billowed as the wind whipped up—a brilliant rainbow, a bright pink, blue, and white, and our symbol: a horseshoe with two R’s and a rainbow connecting them, representing Rainbow Ranch.

I scowled, slamming my hand down on top of my cowboy hat before it was blown straight off by the breeze.

“Damn,” I muttered, my brows shooting up.

I came prepared with my fence stretcher, fencing sleeves, pliers, and a set of gloves. But as I started to tug on the gloves, the wind slammed into me again, this time whisking my hat straight off my head and tumbling into the field.

“Damn it!” I yelled, stumbling forth to catch it before it went to our neighbor’s property.

Booming thunder made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Headlights blinked on the paved road, drawing my attention. A raindrop plopped against my forehead right as a white van with saucers on top— are those satellites ?—pulled up.

The van kicked up gravel as it skidded to a halt in front of the gate. The last of the sunrise was clipped by dark, roiling clouds. My eyes widened as I realized a wall was forming in the sky. Surely that’s not what I think it is. The wind was growing violent, causing the flags to thrash.

Someone with bright green hair hopped out of the vehicle, waving their hands wildly. They pointed to the sky, and my stomach dropped as the clouds began to swirl in a way I knew all too well.

Living in Oklahoma, tornadoes weren’t all that rare. But one forming right here on the ranch? I couldn’t remember the last time that’d happened.

“Do you need help?” I shouted, already rushing toward the gate.

“Can I drive in?” they yelled back. “It’s coming in fast!”

My chest constricted and I nodded, unlatching the chain quickly. The metal groaned as I fought to swing it open, my heart thumpin’ so loud I could hear it over the storm.

The stranger hopped back into their van and floored the gas, launching over the cattle gate and onto our graveled road.

They rolled down the window. “Get in,” they shouted.

Gosh, they’re pretty to look at. I swallowed hard and pointed at my truck. “Follow me to the ranch.”

When I looked back up at the sky, my stomach twisted just like the funnel forming. We needed to get to the house. Now .

I sprinted to my truck and launched into the front seat, slamming the door shut. The tires peeled over the gravel as large raindrops pelted the windshield, the wind rocking the cabin as I whipped around to speed back toward the ranch.

My gaze flicked to the rearview. The stranger was speeding right behind me, as if the devil were breathing down our necks.

“ Fuck .” The funnel touched the ground behind us.

It was gonna land. Now the question was whether or not it’d follow us.

It’d been a long time since we’d had a storm season quite like this, and the thought of Rainbow Ranch being swept away by a tornado was a worry I had every year. Everything could be gone in the blink of an eye, and then what? What would I do? What would we do?

I wasn’t religious. Never had been, never would be. But still, I sent up a silent prayer, a wish, a hope. All I wanted was for them to be safe. My family. The ranch. The animals.

The truck jerked. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the steering wheel, my boot pushing the pedal into the floorboard.

Even going this fast, it’d take a few more minutes to get back to the house. Adrenaline was a wild bronco in my veins, the earth torn up piece by piece by the tornado behind us. Sweat dripped down my back, my body trembling as we raced against mother nature.

“Please go. Please let up. Please .”

My throat was dry. Every muscle in my body was so rigid, I knew I’d hurt tomorrow.

The horse stables loomed in the distance. My eyes darted from what was in front of me to the horror behind me.

Fuck. Fuck, we were gonna be okay.

The funnel was going a different way. I slowed down, trembling as I pulled to a stop on the road. I blew out a slow, deliberate breath as the stranger stopped behind me.

“ Fuck. Shit. Damn it. What the fuck?!” I needed to get all the curses out while I could.

I kicked open the door and stepped onto the road, my knees feeling like Boone’s strawberry jelly. The stranger got out, raking their fingers through their green hair.

I approached them, a lump forming in my throat. Maybe it was just the storm that had me all riled up, but there was just something about them that was undeniably hot .

“Well, that was one hell of a way to meet someone,” they said, offering a smile.

I couldn’t help but grin. “I’m Beau Adams.”

They held out a hand. “Sky Williams.” They turned their head to look at the retreating clouds, their expression turning wistful. “Wish I could have grabbed a few pictures of that one. Glad it went the other way though, otherwise we would have been sitting ducks. I take it this is Rainbow Ranch?”

The corner of my mouth tugged as I shook their hand. Their skin was mighty soft against my calluses. “What gave it away?”

Sky planted their hands on their hips. “Well, for starters, you’re the only ranch I’ve seen in hours with the pride flag and trans flag at the gate. Plus, I’ve heard of this place.”

I raised a brow. “Good things? Bad things?” A lot of locals had a lot to say about us, and depending on who you got the story from, it was either about Rainbow Ranch being a paradise or liberal hell . “Are you looking for a place to stay?”

“Well,” they hesitated. “Maybe? Johnson Springs didn’t exactly feel like the friendliest place for a nonbinary person. Not that anywhere in this state really is…”

“You’ll be safe here,” I promised.

Sky cleared their throat, their pretty brown eyes dropping down. I realized I was still holding their hand. Their cheeks flushed as I released them, taking a step back.

“Sorry,” I added. “I think I’m a little scatterbrained from the storm.” What the hell was this heat creeping up the back of my neck?

“That was a close call,” they agreed.

“How about you come in for breakfast with everyone and we can talk afterward? Could use some food after that scare. My brother makes the best breakfast in the state.”

Sky’s dimples pressed into their apple cheeks. “Now, that’s a bold claim, cowboy.”

“Well,” I chuckled. “I’ll let you be the judge of that. Welcome to Rainbow Ranch, Sky.”