Prologue
“You’re really going back on the circuit?” Waylon asked. The sun was setting on the Golden W Ranch, casting a glow across the land. We were somber, looking out at the majestic colors of the setting sun.
My twin brother, Memphis, leaned against the railing with his arms crossed over his chest. Gavin sat in the other rocker with his feet propped up on the rail, and Waylon was on the porch steps.
The family meeting we just had was hard, but my mind was made up. The best way for me to help my family was to go back on the rodeo circuit. I left four years ago when our mom got sick. She lost her battle with breast cancer over a year ago, and dad didn’t take it well. Within six months he had a heart attack and joined mom on the other side.
Despite our grief, my brothers and I banded together and kept working the ranch. Instead of going back, I stayed and helped my brothers on the ranch while our younger brother finished school. We were all adjusting to a new life without our parents around.
“Yeah,” I dragged in a deep breath. “It’s the only thing I can do to help. Memphis and Gavin can run the ranch without me, and ridin’ bulls will give us another source of income to try to pay off all the medical bills.”
“I could just drop out. It’s not like I need a diploma to work the ranch anyway.” Waylon shrugged his shoulders. He was a good kid, but hated school. It was no secret that he would rather be on the ranch and around animals than spending time going to classes every day.
“No!”
“Not happening.”
Memphis and Gavin spoke up at the same time when Waylon offered his suggestion.
“No,” I agreed. “You have to finish school, Waylon. You know mom and dad would want you to get your diploma. They would kick our asses if we let you drop.”
“Are you ready to go back?” Memphis asked with his jaw clenched tight. We were twins, but our only similarities were the fact that we were both built like bricks and we had the same birthday.
“No.” I said honestly. Bull riders didn’t tend to make comebacks in the rodeo world. It would be like starting my career over when all the other riders are a hell of a lot younger than my twenty-eight years.
“If you need anything, let us know,” Gavin said, pulling out a cigar and lighting it up. If Gavin was smoking, it meant he was stressed out. He’d quit after mom got sick, but since dad’s death he’d slowly been starting to light up again, a sign that he was as stressed out as the rest of us.
The sweet smell of the tobacco permeated the air around us. None of us were happy with the situation, but the Golden W depended on it. Our parent’s legacy relied on me waging war with the bulls after being out of the circuit for four years and winning. No pressure.
Chapter One
Three months later
“Hey,” I said into the phone when Serena answered. “If you talk to my dad at any point, you used the other ticket and came with me to the rodeo, ok?”
“You went by yourself?” I pulled the phone away from my ear when her voice got louder.
“Yes. I had nobody else to come with me, and if I told my dad I didn’t have anyone to come with, he’d have made me ask Jodie.”
I shuddered at the thought. My cousin was a nasty bitch, and I knew I’d have more fun going to the rodeo by myself than bringing her along.
Serena was talking to Tyson in the background. I couldn’t tell what he was saying, but I could tell that neither one of them approved of me being by myself. It was kind of funny that Serena was so opposed to it, since she was the wild child in high school, and I was her more reserved counterpart that typically got dragged into the trouble she created. It was like our roles had reversed since she met her new Daddy.
Tyson brought out something good in my friend, and I felt a pang of jealousy hit me in the chest. I didn’t want a Daddy. That type of relationship wasn’t for me. Hell, I didn’t even know it existed until Serena’s relationship with Tyson came about.
It was good for her, though. Her parents were assholes, and she needed someone to spoil her and shower her with affection. She was so excited to show me her Little room he’d painted purple for her as a proposal gift. Serena seemed so much happier now, and her husband had everything to do with it.
“Do me a favor,” Serena said when she came back on the phone.
“What’s that?” I asked, walking into the barn area where all the animals were kept. People were crowded in the aisles. It was loud. I held my finger up to my opposite ear so I could hear her better.
“Set your alarm on your phone and call me or text me every hour. Tyson and I don’t like that you’re there by yourself.”
I sighed, “It’s fine. I’ve been places alone before.”
There was a shuffling of the phone. “Skylar.” Tyson’s deep voice came over the phone. “Who knows what you’re wearing tonight?”
“Really, Tyson?”