Page 57 of Wrangled

Teague’s phone rang, and he answered it. “Aw shit, where?… I’ll be right there.” He disconnected. “I’ll be back soon, boss. Got a problem to sort out.” Then he rode off at a gallop.

I didn’t move from my spot by the paddock—if she wanted to bawl me out, she’d have to come to me. Garrett and Paul headed to the stables, Walt disappeared God knew where, and Butch joined Zeeb in the paddock, showing Toby how it was done, much to Zeeb’s amusement.

I didn’t think Toby needed the extra help. He’d done just fine. Watching him in action had been a revelation. Lord, that man’s body didn’t move—itflowed.And he did all that after all the work he put in yesterday.I appreciated a guy who gave one hundred percent.

I didn’t turn around as I heard footsteps approaching.

“I guess the mountain is coming to Muhammad.” Diana rested her arms on the fence.

“Hey, sis. Good to see you.” I glanced at her. The afternoon sun lit up her face, making her white hair glow. The gray had started showing right around her twenty-seventh year, and by forty she’d given up coloring it. I liked it. I’d lost count of how many times I’d wondered if Mom would’ve looked like her, if she’d ever gotten to Diana’s age.

“Don’t you give me that. What’s going on?”

“I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.” I could play dumb when I wanted.

“I’ve sent you texts, I’ve called—you didn’t answer.” She pointed to the paddock. “Zeeb doing his thing with the guests?”

“Yup.”

She chuckled. “I remember Dad showing me how to throw a lariat. I was damn good at it, I do recall.”

“And modest too.”

“I’d say fuck you, but I’m too much of a lady.” I burst out laughing, and she whacked me on the arm. “Hey.”

Butch spotted her, and waved. “Hey, Diana. What brings you here?” He sauntered over to join us.

She smiled. “Oh, don’t mind me. You keep doing what you’re doing. I’m just enjoying the show.”

He cackled. “And what would Newt say about that?”

I cleared my throat. “Why don’t you go help Paul feed the horses?”

“Sure thing, boss.” He tipped his hat at Diana, then strolled toward the stables.

“Such a crying shame,” she said with a sigh.

“What is?”

She nodded toward Butch. “If Dad hadn’t gotten so fixated on having Newt for a son-in-law, me and Butch might’ve been something.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth. Teague had it all wrong, to my mind. Butch wasn’t burying his dick in another guy’s ass because of convenience—he was in goddamn denial.

I waited until the stable door closed. “Okay, you’ve seen me. I’m still alive. Now, unless there’s something urgent we need to talk about…”

Then I realized she’d gone quiet. I glanced at her, and found her staring at Toby.

She grinned. “And who isthat?”

“He’s one of the guests, from San Francisco.”

She fanned herself. “Wow. Maybe I need to go there sometime. If only to see if there are any more like him.” She glanced at me. “Don’tyouthink he’s good-looking?”

“Stop that.”

“Oh, come on. He’s freakinggorgeous.” She nudged me with her elbow, then leaned in close. “It’s okay, you can say it. Nobody else can hear.”

“We’re not going to have this conversation,” I said through gritted teeth. “And this is a fast turnaround, don’t you think?”