Page 41 of Wild and Unruly (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #3)

bonnie

My hand glides happily over Freckles’s forehead, and I smile as she leans into my chest as if asking for a hug. I was all too happy to oblige. She was definitely one of the happiest things in my life right now.

Four days ago, Stetson came back to Dani’s place, blood on his jeans and boots, and reached out a hand for me, tucking me into his chest as if he needed me there to calm his racing heart.

I didn’t ask what happened, even though I was dying to know, but I found out part of it when the news broke two days ago.

Tommy Smith was found in an abandoned trailer in some small area of woods. Someone had reported suspicious activity, and when the police came, they saw that he was there, badly beaten.

Word was, Tommy was barely hanging on, and even though he was on life support, he was now facing life in prison for a string of illegal activities and, after his father released video footage from their barn, the murder of Eugene Waters.

The news rocked our little community, and I got a call from Virginia congratulating me on uncovering how horrible he was.

I don’t feel much relief on the matter, but I am happy he can’t hurt anyone anymore.

Since then, we’ve found ourselves here at the ranch, spending time with Stetson’s family and working to keep our minds busy. Stetson watches me like a hawk, probably sensing how overwhelmed I am with the state of my life.

I’ve received several inquiries from different magazines all over the country, wondering if I was looking for work. Maybe I would take a job from someone where I could keep myself here and work remotely, but I was in no hurry to do anything that took me away from the ranch. And from Stetson.

“Honey?” I hear his voice call, and I step out of Freckles’s stall, smiling when she takes my absence to go outside to her run, running her mouth along the ground and nuzzling for grass.

Stetson sees me step out of the stall and gives me a smile. He knew where to find me. It’s where I always am, growing the bond with my horse.

“There’s someone here to see you,” he starts, glancing down the long alleyway of the barn.

I stop when I see the chair and take a deep breath. “I don’t know…”

“Honey, you love your brother.”

I glance at him suspiciously. “You hate my brother.”

He shakes his head, reaching out to pull me into his arms. I love and hate that I can only really take a full breath when I’m right here in this spot.

“I don’t hate him. I hate how he’s treated you.

” He shrugs and says, “If he’s willing to work on that, then I’m willing to give him that space to do so. ”

I shake my head and look at this man who has completely stolen my heart. “How did I get to be this lucky?”

“You’re not lucky, you’re deserving.” He pulls me in for a tight hug and presses his lips to mine. “And so am I. I want you to be happy.” He glances over to where my mom and brother are, talking with Dani and CT. “Your family makes you happy, Bo.”

“You make me happy, too.”

“Well then, let’s make you ecstatic.”

I grin and then turn, bracing myself for the confrontation to come. As I walk, my brother’s gaze meets mine, and he looks like he wants to say a million things, but he just watches me walk up.

Mom’s gaze meets mine, and her eyes immediately water, taking in my slowly fading bruises and cuts.

“Oh, baby.” Her voice breaks as her hands gently cup my cheeks before her arms go around me, pulling me tight to her chest. Her body shakes as she sobs, and I hold her tight, hoping that my hug reassures her that I’m okay and that none of this is her fault.

I see my brother over her shoulder shake his head. The anguish he displays crushes me, and I gently let my mom go, watching in appreciation as Stetson steps forward, gently laying his hand on her shoulder and taking her attention.

I walk to my brother, then keep walking until we’re outside of the barn, thankful that it’s mostly concrete in this area so he can get around easier.

For a few moments, we don’t say anything. Just watch each other with apprehension. I can’t stop recalling our last couple of visits, where he lost his cool on me.

“Bonnie, I—” He stops, then brings a hand to his forehead. I uncross my arms and take a step forward. “I’m so sorry.” His voice breaks on his apology, and I finish crossing to him, kneeling and taking his free hand in mine.

“It’s not your fault.”

“It is my fault,” he says, looking at me sharply, not angry with me, but at the situation. “It’s all my fault. If I had just talked to you. If I had actually tried to live my fucking life, you wouldn’t have felt the need to go after him like that.”

I shake my head, unsure what to say. If the last week taught me anything, it’s that you never know what could happen.

I could get hit by a car, struck by lightning, or be beaten by a man who was pissed off.

We never know what could come. It was time to take a breath and try to move past the hurt we both felt.

“I’ve been fucking selfish.” He starts shaking his head and looks away, his chin trembles, and something about seeing my brother cry makes me want to break down.

“I haven’t been living my life. I’ve been stuck, wondering about the what-ifs and wishing I could go back in time…

instead of doing what you and Mom have been doing, which was to go on and make new lives for yourselves. ”

“It’s not too late, Mase.”

“I know.” He nods and sighs, wiping away at his cheeks. It was heart-wrenching to see him like this, broken up and lost. “I know it’s not. I just have no idea where to start.”

I stand, shaking my legs out to get the blood flowing again, and sigh, looking around at the ranch and all that it’s given me. Maybe it could give him something too.

“Well, I have some ideas.” I hold up a hand, stopping any kind of retort, but he keeps his mouth shut. “If you’re open to them.”

He shakes his head, misery and grief laid out in his features. “I don’t deserve it, not after what I’ve done.”

“Mason, you’re here. You’re trying for the first time since the accident. That’s no small feat. Cut yourself some slack.”

He glances to the barn and back. “I don’t know if I can stay up this way. Your boyfriend wants to kill me.”

I smile a little and shake my head. “Nah, he just wants you to treat me well.”

“He loves you.”

I nod, keeping that smile and say, “I love him. A lot.”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you,” I say, taking a deep breath and letting it out. “I’m here for you, Mason, and if you let them, this family will be here for you too. Dani is brilliant. She can help.”

He swallows and says, “Think she’ll trade for work?”

I try to swallow my excitement, my hope that this was a turning point for not just our relationship as brother and sister, but for his life. All I’ve ever wanted was for him to be happy.

“I think we can work something out.”

Later that night, I lie in bed with Stetson. His arm cradles me to his chest, and I sit there in content silence while dreaming about the future. There was a laptop on his lap, and we were looking at listings for homes.

“What about this?” he asks, his deep voice vibrating through me as I look at each picture he clicks through. There were only about a dozen homes to choose from up here that we could afford, and since I was unemployed, that list was not very long.

“You know.” I sit up, gingerly turning to face him. I take in his bare chest, his unruly hair, and his small smile. “We don’t have to leave the apartment.”

He glances around his room like he’s not seeing what I do. “It’s not very homey.”

“Yeah, right now, maybe, but we can make it ours if you want,” I say, reaching out to take his hand. “I just think we could hold off on buying a house.”

“You don’t want to buy one?” Hurt laces through his tone, and since I was pretty sure this man was the absolute love of my life, I squeeze his fingers with mine tightly, scooting closer so he doesn’t think I’m pulling away.

“I do. But realistically, I think I should probably get a job and get settled up here first.” I glance around the apartment, smiling at how very bare-bones and guy-ish it is. “I can make this place home for us, if you want me to.”

Stetson frowns and closes his computer, tossing it to the side. He rolls us until he’s lying over me, staring down at me with love and adoration in his gaze. I still can’t believe it’s pointed at me.

“Bonnie Helix, you are the love of my life, the future Mrs. Cash, whether that’s in three months or three years.

We can do whatever you want.” He bends down, placing a sweet kiss on my chin.

“We can get a house.” A kiss to my nose.

“We could find another apartment.” He kisses my temple. “Or we can stay here.”

His eyes find mine again, and one hand cradles my neck while the other holds my hand near my head. “As long as you’re in my bed every night, I wake up to you each day, and we spend our days loving each other and working through life together, I don’t care what we do.”

Tears gather in my eyes at his words, and I lean up, begging him for a kiss, which he happily obliges.

And I let myself let go of the fears that have held me, that have made decisions for my life up to the point where Stetson Cash entered it and carried my bag to my room, flipping my world upside down.

Because when I finally stopped letting fear take over, the best part of my life began.