Page 51 of A Montana Rodeo Star

He shook off the strange feeling and spent the next several hours cleaning up before he finally forced himself to get into his truck and face the men he wished he could avoid. When he arrived, Tate and Jason were busy working with one of the several teenage boys they’d started training. When they saw him arrive, they motioned him over.

Faith wasn’t on the front porch. Nor was she beneath the tree, reading one of her books. Would she have told her brothers what had occurred between them, or would she keep it a secret? They hadn’t discussed what they wanted to do.

There was only one right way to do this. He knew it deep in his soul. While he was willing to hide his career plans from his folks, because it was ridiculous that they’d stand in his way, dating Faith was different.

Brent wasn’t going to hide his attraction for Faith. She wasn’t some dirty secret. He’d make sure everyone knew how he felt about her, and he’d be proud to do it.

“Brent, tell Decker here what I mean when I say he needs to move his feet back and forth. It needs to be consistent.” Jason had his arms crossed and he was peering tightly at the boy who appeared a few seconds from rolling his eyes.

Stifling a chuckle, Brent nodded and straddled the A-frame model they used to demonstrate technique. “Like this. You’ll get a better score if you can keep your toes turned outwards. The synchronization of spurring with the horse’s bucking rhythm. You want the spurs to drag with the horse. The longer the stroke, the higher the score. You also need to demonstrate balance and control while working on your spurring. Try to keep the whole ride fluid.”

Decker watched Brent with veiled fascination then moved to get onto the mock horse to attempt the technique.

Tate nodded toward Brent with appreciation. They all watched Decker and Tate pointed out where he needed to further improve. When they allowed him to climb down, Tate clapped the boy on the shoulder. “Work on that for the next couple days and we’ll see how far you’ve come when you come back next week.”

Decker dipped his chin. “Yes, sir.”

Brent did chuckle when the kid headed toward a waiting truck closer to the house. When he was far enough away that he wasn’t going to be heard, he shook his head. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?” Tate asked, turning with surprise.

“Teach kids day in and day out. Isn’t it exhausting?”

Jason and Tate exchanged a look. Then Jason let loose a laugh. “You’re kidding right?”

Brent frowned. “No.”

Tate joined in with his brother. “You’ve missed your calling then, Brent. I haven’t seen anyone relate to these kids better than you. I don’t know what it is, but they understand you. It’s gotta be the way you talk to them or something.”

At that, Jason guffawed. “Definitely the way they speak to each other. Brent’s no better than a teen⁠—”

“Finish that statement and I’ll have you knocked to the dirt so fast the sky will be a blur.”

The twins snickered. Brent didn’t like the fact that they were comparing him to kids. He wasn’t a kid. He was an adult with adult ambitions.

And feelings for a woman they wouldn’t approve of.

His muscles remained bunched tight and he gripped the back of his neck. “I need to talk to you guys about something.”

Their amused expressions turned serious—probably due to his tone. Shoot, he should have maintained a lighter one if he wanted to go into this without threat of bodily harm. He swallowed hard. “I’m going to start dating Faith.”

Both Tate and Jason remained frozen in place. Their serious expressions remained stoney. Not even a single twitch of the eye or a clenched fist.

Then all at once they were in his personal space.

“Over my dead body,” Jason growled out.

“Not gonna happen,” Tate said at the same time.

Brent held up placating hands. “I’ve already asked her out.”

“Then rescind the offer,” Tate demanded.

Huffing out a shocked sound, Brent shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can. You said you weren’t going to be anything more than friends. What happened to that?” Tate seemed to be the one speaking for both of them like he usually was. He’d crossed his arms and his eyes were narrowed. “I’m not going to let you hurt my sister. That was never on the table.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”