Page 80 of A Montana Rodeo Star

“Apparently when Heather left, no one knew she was pregnant. She was close with Judd and Louis. They were like the three musketeers. They eloped before she had Tripp. Her parents didn’t approve of her going on the road. They practically disowned her. She kept in touch with my dad, though. They were really close. And she told him when she got married. Sent him letters about Tripp, too. My dad might have been the only one that knew she was officially with Louis and not Judd.”

Faith soaked in this information. So, if Heather hadn’t maintained a close relationship with her younger brother, then she might have gotten away with the secret. “And when Louis died…”

“Judd stepped up.” Hallie shrugged. “They were best friends. He wanted to help and they made it work. I don’t doubt they’re in love. And no one can dare tell Judd he isn’t the father to my cousins. He raised them.”

There was no denying it. Faith agreed with that sentiment.

“Anyway,” Hallie sighed, “my dad knew and he’d asked her once about it when she finally came back to town. She begged him not to breathe a word and the night I overheard the story, my mom had been adamant that Tripp find out. I don’t know if it was the looming wedding or what. But my mom didn’t want to keep the secret anymore. I can’t blame her.”

Serenity whistled. “So much to unpack.”

“Yeah,” Hallie agreed. “And honestly, I’m not really sorry that it’s out there now. Am I sorry for how it happened?” She cut Faith an apologetic look. “Of course I am. But I think my cousins deserved to know. They might not be blood, but they’re my family.”

Faith nodded to herself. Right. Hallie had been adopted.

The cheers around them increased so much that they all swung their attention to where the next rider waited.

Faith sucked in a sharp breath, finding Brent’s eyes searing into hers. He didn’t wave. Didn’t smile. But he also didn’t break the connection they had. She could feel her friends’ unease at her sides. No one had to vocalize how they felt because they likely all felt the same.

Bad.

And that word didn’t even cut it.

The sorrow she felt on Brent’s behalf would leave a mark. He probably needed space, and she’d give it to him. He’d want to sort out how he felt about the news of his parents before dealing with the shattered remains of their relationship. She wouldn’t be surprised if this was the end of it.

Maybe after Tripp was back from his honeymoon, she’d brave a visit and ask him how the two of them were holding up. Tripp would be the only person Brent would confide in over this. That was a given. And Tripp would be the only one willing to give her any information—solely because of her friendship with his new wife.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The ride went by in a flash of stars and colors.

When Brent had caught sight of Faith, everything around him went hazy. There was no explaining the phenomenon. He wanted to abandon his post, run up those stairs, and pull her into his arms.

He wanted to tell her that he’d been wrong to accuse her of anything and that he’d do better next time. He wanted to thank her for supporting him when he could tell no one else did.

Not even Tate and Jason had shown up.

It was at that thought he realized Faith wasn’t alone. Hallie and Serenity were there beside her but he knew better than to believe that they were there for him. His extended family had made it perfectly clear they were steering clear of the drama unfolding around him and his parents. He didn’t know if Tripp had already demonstrated his own forgiveness for the situation, but Brent couldn’t see a time in the near future when that would happen for him.

Someone clapped him on the shoulder and pulled him in for a side hug of sorts. He looked up at Jacob and choked out a laugh. “Hey, man!”

“Hey! You ready for this? I hear there are some big names out there in the audience tonight. Tate said you were vying for a sponsor?”

Brent nodded. “That’s the way to go, right?”

Jacob squeezed both of his shoulders in a sign of support. “Yeah, that’s the way to do it. There’s nothing like having your meals paid for and a personal trainer on your team. That’s if you get one of the good ones.” He winked.

The guy was as rugged as they came but that didn’t mean he was any less sought after. He had a fan club bigger than all of Rocky Ridge. With naturally wavy brown hair and large brown eyes, Jacob was the sort of guy girls threw themselves at. Hallie being one of them.

Though Brent couldn’t tell if Jacob even noticed. Last he’d heard the two were just friends.

They turned their attention to the cowboy currently holding on for dear life. “It’s not an easy life,” Jacob mused, “but if it’s the life you want, it’s worth it.” There was an undertone to his voice that Brent couldn’t place.

Regret?

Loneliness?

Being on the road all the time couldn’t be easy. Brent didn’t know where Jacob’s family was. Maybe he didn’t have one and that meant he could roam all he wanted without feeling stuck anywhere.