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We’ve been friends for so long, growing up a few pastures apart. Having classes together at school, hanging with friends. He’s always been just a horse or ATV ride away. We’ve shared so many memories of us here on the ranch and over at his; it’s surreal to be able to look to him as a savior when he has no idea of what was really happening here.
I’d let him save me from anything as long as he wanted to do it. His warmth wrapped around me like a cocoon. Letting go of the growing emotions, I started to cry against his chest.
Today has just been one weird moment after another. After I’d gotten Atticus to sleep for his morning nap, I’d gone for a ride. It had been what I’d needed to clear my head. I proved to myself that I could look at that barn and not cave into myself. I was strong and could overcome this. I needed that clarity, but damn, I’d had no idea that the ride would end this way. With a fight between a past mistake and the boy who had a tight grip on my heart.
Why hadn’t I seen that hold before?
“Nothing, sir. Just a little misunderstanding.” Easton sounded pissed, but he’d not dare tell the truth. The slimy bastard knew he’d never make it to the bunk house if he did. Why couldn’t he just ride off of a cliff or something already? Was that too much to ask?
“The fuck it was!” Danny said, turning. I jerked back to myself, curling my fingers into a tight fist, not letting go of his shirt. Maybe with me clinging to him like a scared raccoon, he’d not try to beat the crap out of Easton. Though, if I were being honest, I’d not mind seeing that.
“Son…” Dad stepped closer, his eyes roaming the growing crowd of men. Dammit. He met Danny’s gaze head on. “Is there a reason my daughter’s hanging onto you like that?”
I was holding onto him so tight that my fingers were starting to hurt.
“Yes, sir. So I don’t walk over there and punch that lying sack of horse shit in the face again.” He said the words with such conviction, the anger showing itself again.
Someone in the crowd coughed out a loud laugh. This was no laughing matter. No—whatever Easton said or did next could open up a box of misery I wasn’t ready for. Not now or ever for that matter.
“I see. Why don’t you enlighten me as to what the rest of us missed?” My dad met my gaze. “Princess?”
I looked away. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, I was sure they could all hear it.
“Princess?” Easton scoffed. The anger in that one word had me jerking around to glare at him.
“Care to share your thoughts on my daughter?”
Oh damn. Dad asked, but he wasn’t expecting Easton to man up and actually be stupid enough to say anything. He was a coward, after all. But then he did, and everything changed in the blink of an eye.
“She’s been nothing but a tease since she got home, sir. That’s why I followed her out to the pasture. We were, ya know. Seems Cannon here thought he had a chance too.”
“You—” I stuttered. He’d followed me? Had he been the one to shoot my horse? It wasn’t a big or bad wound, but… My stomach clenched. “You shot my horse!” I accused, knowing I was right.
He had some nerve.
His gaze hardened, but he ignored my question completely.
“She’s been throwing herself at me. Last time was a mistake, but I’m just a—” Danny let go of me so fast, I stumbled as he charged Easton.
“You bastard!” Their fists flew and to my surprise, his brothers and Cody stood there, holding everyone else back.
Fear gripped me tight. Easton was bigger and probably a lot meaner than Danny. He could be hurt trying to defend my honor. He had no idea of what happened… He wouldn’t understand.
“Danny! Stop,” my voice broke, tears rolling down my face as I drew nearer. They had to stop this.
“Tate, Cody, stop them!”
“Sorry, darlin’, I can’t do that. He’s defending you from that asshole.” Tate wrapped an arm around me when I made to get closer. “Hold on, let him show Easton that kind of talk is not allowed about our girls.”
Our girls? Did he think Danny and I were… “We aren’t together,” I whispered the words more for him than me. My heart hurt saying them.
“Ah, sugar, I can promise you that he thinks differently. Look at the fury on his face,” Cody chuckled, “He’s staking his claim for all to see.”
“His…” My heart grew like the Grinch's had, but if he knew the truth would he… Fucking hell. I’d have to tell him—them—what happened that night.
“Danny, please stop!” Blood was on both of their faces, and Danny had a busted hand. With one last thump of his fist against Easton’s jaw, the bigger man hit the ground in a pile. I pushed free of Tate’s hold and ran for Danny. I was scared I’d hurt him, but I couldn’t stop my arms from going around him.
“I’m okay…maybe.” He pulled in a ragged breath. His body jerked as if in pain. If not for my arms around him, he too would have hit the ground. Instead, he and I stumbled into the corral fence.
