Oakley’s answering smile could’ve blinded me if it wasn’t for the sting of smoke still burning them.

21

Callan

“Same shit, different visit,” Beckham mumbled from his horse to the left of me. He was in town visiting for a few days, so the lot of us were spending as much time together as we could.

“You complaining about ranch chores now?” I teased, keeping my eyes on the land to look out for any down cows. It was rare that it happened, but I liked to be aware in case we stumbled across any.

“He’s a rodeo star. This shit is boring to him now, don’t you know?” Bailey said from where he was riding Nova, his black quarter horse, a few feet off to the side of Beckham.

Lennon scoffed. “I wouldn’t say star.”

Beck hinted at a grin. “I agree with Len on that.”

“Then quit,” I said, my tone flat.

Beck let out a sigh, shaking his head. “Maybe you should quit with that shit, Callan.”

“Not gonna happen.” I hated how he rode broncs like it wasn’t one of the most dangerous things you could do. To get on a horse primarily for the animal to try to buck you off was reckless to me. What if he broke his spine? His neck? Hell, just any part of his body? There were much more useful things he could be doing that weren’t so dangerous.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Beck adjusting the reins in this hand. “I should’ve said same broken record, different visit, then.”

“How’s it feel to be on a horse that doesn’t want you dead?” Bailey asked, trying to lighten the mood in his typical way. It was a miracle he put up with us Bronson brothers.

“Boring,” Beck replied. “Wanna race?” he asked Bailey.

“We’re supposed to be—” But before I could finish my sentence, they were off. “Checking the cows,” I finished, my tone quieter.

“Not your fault they never grew up, Cal,” Lennon said. He had the day off work while Oakley held down the fort at Tumbleweed Feed with their coworker, Jacey, so he decided to spend it with us. I wondered if he was rethinking his decision yet. Lennon was the most mature out of all of us, but that also probably stemmed from him being the oldest.

I liked seeing the carefree side of Beckham, but I wished he’d put his adrenaline junkie personality to use elsewhere rather than in rodeo. Every time he rode, I flipped the footage on, whether it was on TV or a live stream from a smaller event, but I’d only watch till he jumped. Then I’d turn it off. I didn’t care to hear the stats. I just wanted to see that he was okay. Each ride was just as ruthless as the last, and to see my brother thrown around like a rag doll never sat right with me, but he wouldn’t quit. I’d tried everything, and all it did was annoy him.

Up ahead, Bailey and Beck circled around, trotting back to us. 

“So, Cal, how’re things with Sage?” Bailey asked, a huge smile lighting up his face.

“Fine,” I clipped. I didn’t feel like being teased to the end of days at the moment.

“Bullshit. We want the tea,” Beck said.

Lennon barked out a laugh. “You’re spending way too much time around those buckle bunnies.”

Beck shot him a glare. We all knew he wasn’t one to sleep around, but his use of the word was a bit funny. If he wasn’t at events, he was staying with friends or visiting home. If I was being honest, Beckham only had eyes for one girl his whole life, and if I had to guess, that most likely hadn’t changed to this day.

“I took her on a date. That was all,” I said.

“Don’t forget the part where you brought her daughter,” Bailey added.

“You what?” Beck asked. “Might as well walk down the aisle now.”

“There’s no harm in including Avery,” I defended.

Beck’s eyebrows rose. “A woman letting her child around the guy she’s going on a date with? She definitely thinks it’s serious.”

“It was one date,” I reminded him. “Plus, I’m Avery’s instructor. So she already knows me by default.”

“A lesson isn’t the same as a date,” Bailey piped in.

“Come on, Cal. You can’t keep yourself hidden away forever,” Beckham said, his tone a bit softer now.

My thumb picked at the leather rein in my hand. “I’m far from hidden.”

“Is that so?” Lennon asked.

I nodded in response. “Yep.”

“Then how come you only just met Sage a little over a month ago for the first time because you’d never been to Bell Buckle Brews before?”

“Lots of people don’t go to cafes,” I told him.

“False,” Beck said. “Everyone in this town goes to Triple B.”

I frowned. “I doubt that.”

“Proof’s in the pudding, angel baby,” Bailey teased.

“What fucking pudding?” Now I was just getting irritated, and that didn’t happen often. What were they trying to say? That I should hop out of my comfort zone to just make myself uncomfortable for fun? Pass. “This is why Reed stays away from all of you and your lady talk.”

Beck smiled, his chin held high. “I’m single, so no lady talk for me.”

“Don’t even get me started on your woman problems,” I said to him. “Woman as in singular.”

Beck’s smile fell, knowing exactly who I was talking about. He wanted to give me shit about Sage? I could throw it right back in his smug face.

“Brothers,” Bailey murmured, like he wasn’t already one of us.

“Zip it, Cooper,” Beckham warned, as if he read my thoughts.

“Anyway,” Lennon started. “Oakley texted me that Sage and the girls are going to the bar tonight, if you all wanted to join.”

I turned to look at him as my horse, Ace, continued on his way. “Sage is going to the bar?”

“Yeah?” he replied, like that wasn’t abnormal. Was it? I didn’t know Sage enough to know if she went to the bar often or not. I figured she didn’t because she didn’t typically have anyone to watch Avery, but what did I know?

“I’ll go,” I said quickly.

Beck let out a snort and I sent a glare his way. “What?”