Page 75 of Sunrise & Serenity

She didn’t say anything else. Just pulled the door shut behind her and headed for my truck.

And now, Sterling and Chance are looking at me with cocked brows because I’m being even more of an asshole than usual. I don’t like it, but I can’t seem to help it.

Sterling snatches a bag from the ground and throws it into the bed of his truck. “Maybe it’s a good thing.”

“What?” I ask.

“You could stand to blow off a little steam. It wouldn’t hurt you to throw a few punches at someone other than…” He trails off, exchanging a look with Chance.

My spine goes taut. “Other than…?”

He rubs his jaw, then shrugs. “Someone other than yourself.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He looks down at his boots for a moment, then turns and leans against his truck. “It means you’ve been in self-imposed exile since you came back.” He shakes his head. “Before that, really. Since Mom died. Maybe it’s time you found somewhere else to put all that anger you’ve been carrying around.”

I take a step back, the muscles along my shoulders and neck tensing. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Chance comes to stand beside Sterling. They’re both wearing expressions that look suspiciously like pity.

“You want me to get into a fight because you think, what? That I’m angry about what happened to Mom? It was a shitty accident. Why should I be any angrier than anyone else?”

It’s not anger that I’ve been holding on to. If it were, then maybe what they were saying would make sense. But the issue is nowhere near that simple.

And as satisfying as it might have been to punch Cash’s smug face the moment he put his hat on Sage, I’ve found there are better ways than violence to make a point.

Like pressing Sage against my truck and taking what Cash wanted.

Fuck. Who the hell am I kidding? I kissed her because, in that moment, I damn well needed to.

Sterling watches me for a moment before letting out a breath. “Then maybe consider hanging a punching bag in one of the outbuildings. And for fuck’s sake, come to dinner more often. Dad and Taryn miss you.”

I shake my head. That’s ridiculous. I see them every damn day. Sure, I don’t linger at the main house after my work is done, but I’m here, doing what I can to help.

Chance scrubs a hand over his face. “Think about it, man. At least spend some more time with Taryn. She’d like that.”

They get to work clearing up the equipment while I stew in anger and confusion for a moment. Then I shove those uncomfortable feelings back down where I like to keep them.

I may not agree with most of what they’re saying, but one point does stick.

I need to be a better brother to my sister.

“Hey.”

I turn at Sage’s voice coming from behind me. She walks across the yard, camera dangling from her hand. Despite everything, my mood lightens. I give Whiskey’s neck a pat. “Hey. Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” She stops a few feet from me. “Chance mentioned you’re going to check fences this afternoon.”

“Just getting ready to ride out now.”

She nods, then steps closer, reaching out a hand to Whiskey, who sniffs it. With a faint smile, she rubs his nose, then meets my gaze. “I was hoping I could go with you.”

“You’re not ready for that.” The words leap from my mouth before I can think it through.

She doesn’t waver. “I’ll be able to keep up.”

I let myself take her in properly. Her shoulders are set, her expression certain. She isn’t second-guessing herself. “This isn’t riding circles in the pen. It’s uneven ground. Long stretches. You get tired or stop paying attention—that’s when it goes wrong.”