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“This has nothing to do with Peg,” Reece said, sounding angry for the first time during the whole conversation.
“Yeah, right. You have a savior complex, little brother, but guess what? It only ends up landing us in shit when you try to be a knight in shining armor. Most people see a woman in need and they want to get them help, sure. But you? No, you start fucking them and think it’s love until it all blows up in your face.”
My gasp was swallowed by the rain that was now pelting the ground in hard, angry drops that felt like needle stabs all along the skin of my exposed forearms and face.
“You son of a—”
A strong wind blew, catching the barn door and making it bang against the outside of the barn. The storm was coming in fast today.
I couldn’t hear the guys arguing anymore, but when I heard a stuttered curse heaved out—I couldn’t tell which one of them it was, their voices were so similar—I realized they were fighting.
Stupid slut. You think anyone but me could love you?
His voice in my head. My fists went against my temple.
Look how useless you are. A vase flung against the wall. You’re such a dumb bitch you can’t even dust the nice shit I buy you. There. Now you don’t have to dust it, since you seem to be incapable of keeping a nice house.
I pounded at my head. The rain poured down, drenching me. Get out, get out, damn memories.
Him standing over me, heaving for breath while I curled into a ball in the corner. Look what you made me do again. Why can’t you just be a normal woman? All I wanted was a good, easy life but then I got stuck with you. What a fucking disappointment.
It was so visceral, the memory of him walking off. Me bawling, useless, clutching my stomach that was completely void. Void of life because I’d failed my little baby.
And now this was my curse, to be stuck with him forever. Punishing me forever.
“Stop!” I screamed, charging into the barn. “Stop it!”
I found the two brothers on the floor grappling with each other, but they both froze and looked up at me with twin looks of surprise.
Reece let go of his brother and struggled to get up, one hand raised. “Charlie. Wait. I don’t know what you heard, but—”
“Who’s Peg?” I asked him.
Jeremiah got to his feet, dusting the dirt and hay off himself, and watching us warily.
“That’s not important,” Reece said, waving a hand distractedly. “Look, my brother’s an asshole—”
“No, why don’t you tell her about Peg?” Jeremiah said, and Reece shot him a murderous glare.
“Fine!” Reece finished glaring at his brother and then his face softened with… remorse?... as he looked back to me.
“Peg was the first woman I ever really…”
“Had an affair with,” Jeremiah supplied.
My mouth dropped open and Reece swung his head to glare at Jeremiah. “Isn’t there somewhere you need to be, brother?”
Jeremiah crossed his arms over his chest and didn’t look like he was going anywhere, but just then, the barn door slammed again and Buck ran in, startling all of us.
“Whoa, what’d I miss?”
“Not now, Buck,” Jeremiah said. “You can wait out the storm in the bunkhouse or take a long lunch if you want.”
“It’s not that, boss. Just got a call from the sheriff, who said the cows are out on the 284 again.”
Jeremiah swore and swung down to grab his hat off the ground, which I assumed he’d lost while fighting Reece. “That’s the last goddamn thing we need, especially with the storm, who the hell knows how disoriented they’ll get if they start running. Come on, Buck. Let’s go see if we can round ‘em up.”
“In this?” Buck said, eyebrows up as he threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Can’t we wait it out, then go?”
