After spending most of the night with Adilynn in my arms while we talked, and star gazed, I think I understand her better. She wants a better life for herself but is willing to put it all on hold for her little brother, Luke, and that’s where we kept disagreeing.

She refuses to leave him behind. I’m not asking her to. I’m asking her to give us a shot. To try having a life while still caring for him. Fear was written across her face the entire night until she fell asleep in my arms.

Whatever happened in her childhood scarred her in unbreakable ways. She still wouldn’t tell me about the injuries to her face after she fell in the store. I know she was lying when she kept saying it was nothing.

I may have to talk to the Sheriff about her family soon. I want to know what happened in her life to damage her so deeply. Adilynn James is the poster child for fucked up and broken. I have every intention of not just fixing her but restoring her faith in humanity again.

The sun is only beginning to rise when I pull into the RMR, and I see an unfamiliar truck parked in front of the house. Immediately I know who it is, and I’m pissed. Parking my truck, I step out and wait for him to follow suit.

“What are you doing here Darrell?” I won’t beat around the bush with this man. I don’t know him, and I’m not sure I want to.

“I just want to talk Brantley.” He holds his hat in his hands turning it as he waits.

“About what?”

“Your breeding programs. Dad. My brother. Everything.” If only he hadn’t said breeding programs first.

“Sorry Darrell, I’m not interested.” I go to walk past him when I hear the bang of the screen door and see Pops standing there with his shotgun in hand.

“Get off our property!” The old man yells, and I’m not sure he knows who’s here.

“It’s me, Dad, Darrell.”

“Son of a bitch,” he grumbles as I walk past him. The cocking of the gun is as loud as the blast would be in the tense silence. “All the more reason to shoot you!”

“Seriously?” Darrell makes the mistake of walking closer, and Pops takes aim at him.

“Last chance!” He calls.

“Fine. I’ll leave, but I still want to talk Brantley.”

“I have nothing to say to you. Next time you’re here it’ll be shoot first, questions never.” It’s the only warning I plan on giving him. I don’t care what he wants, I won’t take his money, his word, or my time.

“What the hell is going on Brantley?” Pops follows me inside, placing his shotgun on the bench by the door.

“He changed his name, set up a meeting with Blaine and I a couple da–“

“You knew he was here? Didn’t think I should know about my own son being in town?”

“I didn’t know what the hell to do with it Pops. I didn’t want to upset you until I knew his fucking motives!”

“Well, that sure backfired didn’t it!”

This yelling will get us nowhere. “Pops, I was trying to protect you.”

That shuts him up. “I appreciate that Brantley, but you don’t need to deal with Darrell’s greed. That’s my boy, he’s my problem.”

“Seriously Pops?” He levels me with a look I know all too well. The one where his stubborn streak kicks in and I know I won’t win. I’ll just have to keep my eyes on it.

“Now tell me where you’ve been all night?” His sly look suggests he already knows the answer. “You two get anywhere?”

“Get anywhere?” Is he seriously asking me if we had sex?

“Is she going to kick you to the curb again or let you court her?”

“Court her?”

“When did you turn into a broken record?” He laughs as he pours us both a coffee. “You are going to take her on a date, right?”

“Eventually, yeah.” We didn’t get that far last night, or this morning.

Shaking his head, the man watches me. “You spent all night with her, presumably getting to know her, but you didn’t bother to secure a date for when you could see her again?”

“No.” And I feel like a complete fool.

“You’re gonna lose out on her.”

“You don’t even know her. How can you know that?” I know for a fact she doesn’t have anyone sniffing around her.

“She caught your attention, didn’t she? Stands to reason it won’t be long before someone else is eyeing her up.”

Scowling, I don’t want to admit he’s right. The thought hadn’t even entered my mind. “How have neither of us met her before? She said she grew up in Hixson.”

Shaking his head, he tells me, “I haven’t a fucking clue, but damn boy, you picked a fight alright.”

“What’s that mean?”

“That mother of hers is a real piece of work. Went to school with your mother, a couple years younger, but she was one mean little girl.”

Sitting at the table, I have to know more. “How so?”

“Her Daddy used to beat her black and blue when he drank, I suspect she’s turned to the same habits as her old man.” That would fit the way Adilynn was injured. “She used to fight or fuck back in the day. Not real surprised she’s turned into a whore. Adilynn’s Daddy was a good man though, made me sad when he ran off.”

“How haven’t I heard of any of this before now?”

“You’ve been wrapped up in the ranch for so long, I doubt you’d have ever met her if it weren’t for the fact you were pissed about the missing bags of feed.” I hate how right he is.

“Tell me more about this girl, I don’t think I’ve caught more than a glimpse of her, and she was just a youngin’ then.”

Thinking about her, I realize that even though we spent hours talking, I didn’t learn a whole lot about her other than her love of animals. “She wants to be a vet.”

“That’d be a good addition to this ranch. Wouldn’t have to pay Drew so damn much for that big bastard out there.”

I look through the window and see Thunder stomping around his pen. “Sure would. She has a stunning Arabian named Windbreaker. Most docile animal I’ve ever seen.” The damn horse talked back to her all-night long. “She’s selfless too, only thing she cares about is taking care of the horse and her brother, Luke.”

“How old’s the boy?”

“Twelve. He’s away at some football thing this weekend.”

“Take the horse trailer out this afternoon, bring them out here for the day. Let her get to know you in your environment. Show her you care about the boy too.”

It’s not a half bad idea.

* * *

Brantley was long gone by the time I woke up just before lunch. Spending the night in his arms, just talking, laughing, getting to know each other is sadly one of the best nights of my life. He’s genuine and sweet. His sense of humor runs dry, and I thought it endearing. He loves his ranch and his friends fiercely.

I found myself envious of his life as he spoke with such love. Even about the horse that he believes led to his father’s death. I felt bad for both him and the animal. Thunder is being persecuted for the fault of an accident he didn’t cause. Brantley is hurting from the loss of someone that wasn’t just a parent but his idol.

Beneath his pain, I heard the worry for the horse though. As much as he wants to kick the thing in the ass, he worries the animal has post-traumatic stress disorder from the accident itself. It’s highly likely he does. Like humans, animals experience the stress and fright of something so deadly.

I wish I could meet him. Touch him. To get the chance to work with a stallion of his strength and power would be an amazing experience. If only I hadn’t let my grades slip and missed so many classes.

The sound of Luke’s bus stops me from traveling down that regretful road as it stops at the end of our driveway. He comes barreling down the driveway, his duffle nearly dragging him down as I descend the porch steps.

“How was it?” I call before he’s even to me. I saved as much money as I could so he could go to this camp. The happiness on his face right now is everything to me.

Dropping his bag, his arms wrap around my waist, and he picks me up, swinging me around. “It was the best!” Laughter fills the yard as he sets me down again.

“Yeah?” I can’t stop the grin even if I tried.

“Thank you, Ady. I know you worked your butt off for that.” He looks shy for a second.

Gripping his shoulders, I tell him seriously. “I would do anything for you Luke, you have to know that.”

“I do Ady. I just wish you’d do something for you too.”

“I will don’t you worry about me.” I smile to ease his worry. “Now why don’t you take your things inside and then we’ll get to work on the garden.” I’d planted a garden this year, and it was weed plucking time once again. Something my knee might prevent me from doing for long.

As Luke goes inside, and I make my way to the barn, a truck and trailer come cruising down the driveway, and I stop to wait and see who it is.

An older man in his fifties climbs out. Salt and pepper hair stick out from under his cowboy hat. Shorter and thinner than Brantley is, I’m slightly nervous as he makes his way over to me.

“Howdy!” He greets, and I see his eyes, dark with a hint of coldness in them.

“Can I help you?” I can’t afford to send business away if he needs to board the two horses I see in his trailer. I take a step back as he moves closer.

“I need to board my two mares for a couple of days.” His smile doesn’t ease my tension.

I don’t know why but something feels off with him. “Did you call ahead?”

“No, I’m only passing through. Didn’t think I’d need to.”

“Umm well, I do require a booking and advanced deposit.” I shouldn’t be turning him down, we need the money. Except my gut is screaming to send this stranger away.

“Adilynn!” My mother screams and distracts me so the man can check out the barn. “What is going on?” Her angered steps are most certainly drunk as she nearly stumbles on the last step.

“Nothing.”

“I’m trying to board my horses, but I guess I can’t. Even though the barns empty.” I can feel his heat on my back. I feel trapped.

“What the hell Adilynn?” My mother’s scorn isn’t missed. Seeing Luke at the door, I shake my head at him. I don’t know what’s happening out here, but I don’t want this man near my baby brother. “Get him and his horses set up. Stop being so stupid.” Her words hurt as she turns her attention to the man. “I swear that girl doesn’t have the power to change a lightbulb.” Her laughter shouldn’t shock me.

Going to the rear of his trailer, I speak gently to the animals inside so as not to spook them. “Hey, there gorgeous.” The first is a beautiful blue/black color with a stunning mane of hair. Well kept, he obviously cares about these creatures. The second is a light tan color similar to a grain of sand. “Pretty girls, aren’t you.”

I lead the blue/black one away from the trailer first. “What’s their names?” I call out.

I’m disgusted to see my mother’s hand playing with the collar of his shirt as she rubs her body against his. The man obviously comes from money and mother dearest can smell that from a mile away.

“That one is Midnight Blue, the other is Sand Stone.” He barely pays me any attention.

I see Luke come from around the back of the house and slip his way into the other side of the barn. Scowling, I scold him, “I told you to stay inside.”

“I’m not leaving you out here with some strange man.” He defends, standing as tall as he can, which is taller than me.

“Pretty sure moms got him distracted enough to stay away from me. Did you get your stuff put away?”

“Yes.”

“You got homework?”

He rolls his eyes before answering. “A book report to finish.”

“Get inside and finish, then you can help me, and take Windbreaker for a ride.” Luke loves her every bit as much as I do, so I let him ride her as often as he likes. So long as his chores and homework are done.

Kicking the dirt, he walks back up to the house. I get Midnight Blue settled into her stall and write her name on the chalkboard attached. I’ve found that some of the horse owners find it endearing and have complimented me on it. Windbreaker has her own plaque, so I thought it was an inviting touch.

Grabbing hold of Sand Stone’s harness, I coax her out of the trailer only she isn’t too keen on the idea. She’s frightened as I move. As soon as I touch her shoulder, she goes wild. Knocking me with her shoulder, I land on the ground hard. Her hooves hoover inches above my head, and I roll to the side just as they crash down where I was.

“Oh yeah, she’s not fond of being touched.” The man laughs like it’s some fucking joke.

“Are you shitting me right now? You think me nearly getting trampled to death is funny?” I can’t and won’t hide my outrage.

I’m so angry I don’t hear another vehicle pull up behind me until I feel warm hands spinning me around. “Are you alright?” Brantley’s worried and angry gaze bores into me like a hot poker.

“Fine. Just pissed off.” I tell him as his hands roam down my arms and to my legs, making sure everything’s in working order.

Satisfied, he stomps over the man, I still don’t know his name, and his fist lands square across the guy’s jaw. Sending him crashing to the ground as quickly as I had.

“Not so fucking nice is, it?” Brantley’s words are laced with rage and sarcasm as the stranger wipes the blood from his mouth.

“Brantley,” my mother purrs, and I want to puke.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” The man brushes the dirt from his ass as he stands, crowding Brantley’s space.

“I’m her fucking man, and you laugh while she’s getting knocked on her ass? What the fuck is wrong with you!” I don’t know what stuns me more; his proclamation that he’s my man, or the fact my mother is still trying to rub up on both of these men.

“I know you,” the stranger says, “You’re Brantley Marbury. My friend’s been trying to get in touch with you.” His entire demeanor changes with the knowledge of who Brantley is.

“I don’t give a fuck. Handle your goddamned horse or get the fuck out of here.” Brantley yells.

“I’m here specifically to meet with you, actually. Names Eric Rhodes.” He sticks his hand out to shake Brantley’s, but he gets ignored.

“Deal with your horse.” Brantley’s tone is low, fueled by his anger.

“Yeah, sure. We’ll talk after.” Walking towards me, Eric’s gaze travels down my body in the way my mother assesses men and my skin crawls. I want nothing to do with this man.

“Eyes on the fucking horse!” Brantley yells at him as he walks towards me. Steely intent in his hard gaze as it explores my body again. Unlike Eric’s, Brantley’s eyes make my body light up with pleasure. “You sure you’re okay, flicka?” Nodding, his hands glide to my hair like a magnet, and his head lowers to mine. His lips steal my breath as he claims me for all to see. Whenever Brantley touches me, I’m lost to the outside world. My vision narrows, and he’s all I can or want to see.

In such a short time Brantley has become my protector, my solace, my heaven.