Page 64 of A Montana Rodeo Star

He nodded his thanks and entered the quiet house.

On the couch, Jason was asleep. He was dressed in his usual jeans and button-down shirt, his boots removed, and a hat over his face. It appeared he’d overdone it too, with the way he was sprawled out and napping.

Brent glanced at him only a second before he kicked off his own boots then moved through the house. The kitchen was quiet, but the faint smell of toast filled the air. The house was clean and modest for the most part, especially seeing as a family of five lived under its roof.

Rounding the corner to where the stairs were located, Brent took them two at a time, passing family photos that were hanging on the wall. He paused at one of just the Dennison children. They had to all be younger than fifteen in the picture and they were all smiling. But it wasn’t the fact that they were children and happy in the picture that caught his attention. It was the fact that they were covered head to toe in mud. And right there in the center of the picture was Faith, hugging a plastic first aid kit to her chest.

Brent smirked and shook his head. Even as a child she wanted to help people feel better. He half-wondered if anyone needed anything from that kit on that day.

Turning, he headed up the rest of the stairs and made it to the room where Lydia had directed. It was partially ajar so when he rapped his knuckles on the surface, it swung inward a few inches. “Faith?”

There was a scrambling and shuffling of what sounded like papers. But then her soft voice called out to him. “Brent? Is that you?”

He pushed the door open and poked his head inside. “Your brother said you weren’t feeling well.”

On her bed were several sheets of paper and as he drew closer, he realized they were printed articles about rodeos from over two decades ago. He frowned and met her eyes. She looked away immediately as if she felt guilty for whatever it was she was doing.

“Are you okay?” he asked, situating himself on the edge of the bed.

“Fine,” she said, her voice clearly strained.

“Doesn’t sound like you’re fine. What are you up to? What’s all this?” He picked up an article about a rising rodeo star whose life was cut short.

Faith snatched the article from his fingers but not before he read the name.

Louis Murray Brent

He frowned and peered over at her. Already he could tell she was agitated. She didn’t look well, much like Tate had said. But there was something more. Unfortunately, Brent knew that look. It wasn’t one that Faith showed often if at all. But it was familiar all the same.

It was the look his mother gave him when he talked about wanting to be part of the rodeo.

Pure, unadulterated fear.

Was Faith worried that he was going to get hurt? Had something happened to change her perspective on this? He wanted to ask her, but he was too scared for the answer. What would he do if she told him she never wanted him to compete again?

This was just like the argument his parents had all over again.

So rather than bring it up, he remained silent. If Faith wanted to be the person to ask him to sacrifice his dream, then so be it. He wasn’t going to make life easy on her.

Faith grabbed all the pages she’d had spread out on the bed around her. Then she stacked them and flipped them over. She still didn’t meet his eyes.

“Faith?” he asked again.

She shook her head. Then she nodded. Then she sucked in a deep breath and finally met his gaze. “Yeah, I’m not feeling all that great.”

“Does it have something to do with the articles you’ve been reading?” Not all of them were about that Louis guy, but several were. The others were about other accidents that had taken cowboy lives far too soon. His stomach churned at the thought of Faith succumbing to the fear that came with this lifestyle. It was silly, really.

She had brothers who competed. Friends. A boyfriend.

And now?

Suddenly, now she wanted to let her fear take control?

“Does this have to do with Hallie?” The question slipped past his lips before he had a chance to really consider if he wanted the answer. If Hallie was whispering things in Faith’s ear to get her on Hallie’s side, Brent would never forgive her.

At his question, Faith stiffened but she also shook her head a little too vigorously. “No, it has nothing to do with her.” She chewed on her lower lip, looked up at him for a few moments, opened her mouth, then snapped it shut and shook her head again. “I just… I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“And the articles?”