Page 4 of A Montana Rodeo Star

Startled, Faith glanced up to find her younger sister bent at the waist and looking at the book in her lap. The textbook was one Faith had pulled from the sale bin at the library and the page she had it open to showed a picture of a nasty contusion a football player suffered during practice.

Wren placed her hands on her hips and gave her sister a disbelieving look. “Is that a medical textbook?”

Faith brought the book to her chest and hugged it, embarrassed. No one in her family knew about her fascination with medicine. Sure, her brothers might have their suspicions seeing as they always went to her when they had a question about one of their injuries, but she’d never had official education in the field. “Does it matter?” Faith asked.

Wren rolled her eyes and settled down beside her. She was nineteen and her whole world revolved around the sexy cowboys she liked to ogle whenever she tagged along to the rodeos their brothers competed in. “How was the competition on Saturday?”

“Fine, I guess.”

“Any new hotties?”

Faith closed the book with a thump and settled back against the tree where she sat. Several yards away, their brothers were practicing for their next event. They usually got in a few hours after all their chores were done for the day. Their parents had a small property compared to others in Rocky Ridge. It wasn’t their main source of income, though.

Their father worked in the rodeo field like their brothers and their mother had a cottage kitchen business running out of their home. Lydia liked to help with their mother’s business but Wren had yet to decide what she wanted to do with her life.

At this rate, she might not make her plans for years.

“I didn’t notice,” Faith admitted. If she were honest with her sister, she’d confess that the only cowboy she thought was worth watching was Brent.

Yeah, she might have a little crush on the guy, but that was because he noticed people. He was sweet and funny. He valued his family and he was raised right.

Wren sighed. “I guess I didn’t miss out much then. I can’t believe mom made me help with canning her homemade jams.”

“Didn’t Lydia help, too?”

“Yeah.” Wren shot her a frown. “Why didn’t she make you help?”

Faith shrugged. She had a feeling it had more to do with her brothers asking her to come with them than anything else. They didn’t really notice her until someone was hurt, though. Those were the only moments she felt seen in this family.

“Tate says that Brent Gilley is coming over today.”

Faith perked up then immediately regretted it when her sister grinned. That was the one major drawback to having a younger sister who was still more or less boy crazy. She thought any amount of interest in someone of the opposite sex meant romance was in the air.

“Yup,” she popped the ‘p’. “Apparently, it’s official. They’re going to help him go as far as he wants to take this.”

“What about his parents?” Faith frowned. Brent was the epitome of the golden child in his home. He made sure to do everything his parents asked of him. And it wasn’t a secret that they had something against the rodeo world. It was strange to say the least and Faith couldn’t help but be surprised Brent would do something so reckless. She’d known Saturday hadn’t been a one-time-thing, but to continue past the end of the season? He must want it real bad.

“I don’t know,” Wren sighed. “Either they gave their blessing or he’s planning on sneaking around behind their back as long as he can. And honestly? Maybe he should.”

Faith cut her sister a sharp look.

“What?” Wren laughed. “He’s an adult. If he wants to do something that makes him happy, shouldn’t he?”

That was the million-dollar question right there. Faith loved that Brent cared deeply about his family. But she could understand why he’d want to venture into something more. She should have been able to read between the lines when he’d said it felt like a calling.

And maybe he’d be able to make it work. She’d seen him on that horse. Brent might not know it yet, but he was a natural if she’d ever witnessed one.

“How long do you think Tate and Jason will train him?”

“Who knows? At least until the end of the summer. Maybe more. From what I can tell, Brent wants it all.”

Wants it all.

Faith pursed her lips. What would that mean with his parents? Would they actually make Brent choose between his dream or his family? She blew out a breath. This wasn’t her problem. Brent was a friend who she cared about and right now he could probably use every friend he had.

At that moment, a familiar truck pulled onto the property.

“Speak of the devil,” Wren murmured. “Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of him, huh?”