“I was just saying I overheard Randy and Barry talk about rodeos being hosted on the ranch some time ago. You guys ever think about hosting again?”
Wilder doesn’t even look at me. His jaw tightens. “Nope.”
I huff. “That’s it? Just nope?”
Dallas sighs. “Guys, let’s step outside for this.”
“There is nothis,” Wilder snaps, then turns back to me, exhaling through his nose, and barely softening his voice. “Rose, I’m not talking about this again with you.”
I jerk back at those last two words, blinking away from his hard glare. “I should get back to work.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Wilder bites out. I catch Tessa’s wide eyes at my boss.
Swallowing hard, I slide out of the bench. “It was nice meeting you both.” I start for the exit when Wilder pushes to his feet in front of me. “It’s not all prize money and good times. Rodeos are a liability.”
“I get it,” I mutter, trying to move past him.
“Everything’s got a risk, but not everyone competing has the sense to take safety measures. Leaving Dallas and me with the biggest risk. And I sure as hell don’t want to be held responsible when someone gets tossed by a bull and doesn’t get back up.”
My heart pounds. Does thathappen? I’m frowning, but he’s not done.
“Broken bones, concussions.” He swallows. “Deaths.”
“That’s enough, Wilder,” Wes snaps, his voice harder than I’ve ever heard it.
I move to my brother’s side and whisper softly. “It’s fine. I clearly over-stepped. I’m going to go. I’ll stop in for dinner later, OK?”
Wes squeezes my arm and nods.
I mutter a quick apology to him and take off toward the cottage. I should have just dropped it.
Something clearly happened to Wilder, or someone he cares about, at one of these events.
This isn’t stubbornness—this is personal.
After my shift, Wes takes me to his apartment in town and makes me dinner.
“This place is cool.”
“It’s small, but I spend all my time at the ranch, so it doesn’t matter.”
I take a bite of chicken. “Not that this isn’t delicious, but why am I here? This about the rodeo?”
“Look, I’m sorry about what happened today. He doesn’t usually go off in front of guests like that.”
“I’m not packing up just yet, Wes. Don’t worry.”
He breathes a sigh of relief. “I like having you here. But I should have been more upfront with you. Knowing you’d be curious.”
“About what?”
“About what happened to Carrie. Their mom.”
My chest is tight with worry. “It have something to do with a rodeo?”
He nods. “She was dared by a Callahan. Not the ones you met. They were too young. Connor Thorne was supposed to compete. But he threw his back out prepping for the event, so she went in his place.”
“Was she a cowgirl?”
