Page 141 of Blue Jean Summer

The windows began to rattle as the rumbling growl of a diesel engine grew near.

I looked up at Hayes as he looked down at me, wearing the same look of confusion. “Who’s here?” I asked. Everyone who was supposed to be on the estate at this time of day was already in the house.

Savannah looked at me, then at Mason and Levi. Everyone shared the same curious expression.

The engine cut off, and a door shut.

“Maybe it’s Grey coming to steal that cow back,” Levi said with a laugh.

A knock at the kitchen door eased some of the tension. If it was someone unfamiliar, they would have gone to the front entrance.

I followed Hayes as he eased out from behind me and stood to answer the door. We might as well present a united front. After all, I had ended my reign as Miss Virginia to be the reigning Mrs. Wilder. The ring on my finger was better than any crown.

Mason beat him to the door but stumbled back the moment he opened it. A man in a cowboy hat stood on the other side, wearing an ear-to-ear grin. His obnoxious belt buckle was almost as big as his head.

“Bishop!” The man came barreling through the door and pulled Mason into a backslapping hug. “Look at you, man!”

Mason’s smile was grim, but he tried to play it off by palming his silvering beard. “What the hell are you doing here?” It was probably meant to sound surprised, but he sounded irritated.

Hayes and I exchanged questioning looks with Levi and Savannah.

“Shoulda stayed in the circuit with me,” the man said as he patted Mason on the back. “What’d I always tell you? The rodeo keeps you young.”

Rodeo. Maybe he knew Mason back in his steer-wrestling days.

Mason didn’t look thrilled at the presence of the unexpected houseguest. The man, however, appeared none the wiser.

“I was working the Cinch booth at a little festival. Heard your name being tossed around and found out you were working out this way. I figured it was a long shot coming out here, but here you are.”

“Here I am,” Mason said as he subtly shifted to stand between the man and the stairs.

Hayes broke the tension by stepping forward. “Hayes Wilder.”

The guy shook his hand. “Wilder. Wilder Estate. Got it.”

Mason looked like he was halfway between wanting to hide under a rock and wanting to kick the guy out.

I cut my eyes at Savannah and mouthed, “What the hell?” But she just shrugged.

“How do you know Mason?” Hayes asked.

The man tossed his arm around Mason’s shoulders. “Mase and I were in the rodeo circuit for ages. Best bulldoggers around. Competed against each other a hell of a lotta times. Damn shame when he called it quits. We’ve been best friends for, what? Twenty years?”

Mason’s jaw ticked, and his eyes hardened. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight between his feet. “Somethin’ like that.”

“I’m sorry, I must have missed your name,” Hayes said as footsteps echoed overhead.

The guy grinned and extended his hand to Hayes. “Ricky Campbell.”

Savannah’s jaw dropped.

“Oh my god,” I gasped.

Zach thundered down the stairs but came to a skidding stop and froze. The only readable expression on his face was pure shock. “Dad?”

Hayes whipped around at the sound of Zach’s voice, but no one dared to speak. Footsteps sounded on the stairs as Hallie hurried down, still wearing a giddy expression as she clutched the vase holding the flowers Mason had given her. The smile quickly vanished as soon as she laid eyes on the newcomer.

Hallie froze. The vase slipped, shattering across the tile floor.