AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I had a few trail rides scheduled for the week, a bachelor party and camp out the day after next, a birthday ride with one of the local judges and his wife in two weeks, and then a little girl’s birthday party after that. I was a bit of an event planner, bringing picnics, tents, and all sorts of supplies to make the trips memorable. I’d grown in popularity over the years, but my goal was to buy some land and build some cabins with an event center to host weddings. That goal seemed further and further away.
Avery walked into the barn with a frown on her face. “Clover, you didn’t tell me the truck was that bad. Are you okay?”
I had a bruise on my cheek from hitting the steering wheel and was a little sore, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.
“I’ll be fine. Need to save up to buy a new truck, though. If you hear of anyone selling a used one, can you let me know?”
She frowned and walked up to me. “I got some cash for my ride,” she whispered. “You can have it to help buy something new.”
I shook my head and took a step back. “No, Avery, that’s yours. You need to save up.”
“But this is an emergency,” Avery argued.
“No,” I said firmly. “I won’t take your money. You worked hard for this, and you should use it for yourself. I’ll figure something out.”
“You’re always doing this,” she seethed. “Always taking control and killing yourself to take care of everyone else. You did it when we were kids. You do it now. You don’t have to do everything by yourself, Clover.”
I put my arm around her and gave her a hug. “Thanks, Avery, but this isn’t your problem. I’ll find a way to get through this.”
Avery gave me a sad look and shook her head. “But it’s my problem too,” she said. “You need a truck.”
I smiled and nodded. “And I’ll get one.”
Avery walked away, but I could tell she was still trying to figure out the best way to help me. I glanced around the barn, realizing that without a truck, I couldn’t take my horses out to do different trails around town. Most customers met me at the house to hit the trail that started on our land, but some preferred different routes.
As I finished up my morning chores, my mind kept turning over the problem of the truck. I knew I couldn’t keep putting it off; I needed to start looking for a solution.
Suddenly, Avery strode into the barn, her eyes bright with excitement. “I just signed up for the next bull riding event,” she said. “We will use the money I got for last night and next week’s rodeo . . .” Her voice trailed off as she stared at me expectantly.
I studied my sister’s face, realizing what she was suggesting. “Avery, I told you—”
“And I’m telling you!” she yelled, cutting me off. “I’m tired of you doing everything for me. I’m a grown ass woman, and if you’re going to put your feelings aside to support my rodeo dreams, then I’m going to use my winnings to support you, too. We’re a team, Clover.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Avery’s determination. We always relied on each other, but I didn’t want Avery putting herself at risk for my problems. I knew if we were going to do this, we had to do it together, and we had to do it right.
“Okay.” I hugged Avery. “But we need to be smart about this. I don’t want you getting hurt, and I don’t want us getting involved with the Dust Devils.”
“I know, Clover. But we need the money, and the rodeo is a surefire way to do it.”
I nodded, knowing that Avery was right. It wasn’t the first time we needed to rely on rodeo winnings to make ends meet—our father was always searching for the next champion winnings to keep our mortgage paid—but this time, the stakes felt higher. I had to be extra careful, and so did Avery.
“Fine,” I said. “We’ll train hard, and we won’t let anyone else talk us into anything we don’t want. Deal?”
Avery grinned and nodded. “Deal.”
DECLAN
Isat outside my RV, the dying sun casting long shadows across the barren landscape. Clover’s face danced in my mind, her innocence a stark contrast to the darkness that consumed me. But there was no denying the twisted path I treaded.
I needed to kill someone for Hank. The faster I got this job done, the faster I got the name of Mom’s killer.
A thought struck me like lightning. What if I asked Clover about any assholes bothering her lately? And what if I took it upon myself to make ’em vanish, one by one? A sick game, a deadly courtship where lust and murder mingled. I couldn’t shake the idea out of my head. That would solve my problem with Hank. I could bring him someone giving her trouble.
Some guys bought their girls flowers.
I’d cut off some guy’s dick and serve it to her on a silver platter.
My fingers fidgeted restlessly. This was my calling, after all. The space where I shone the brightest. I chuckled at the irony of it all. Being a killer made me realize what falling for someone felt like. How ironic.
