“Did they do that?” I ask, doubt obvious in my tone. The cows are definitely big enough to have caused some damage—if they really wanted to. But I just couldn’t see them going that ballistic.
“They did not.” Rage makes his voice shake, and he grabs piece of the wire and holds it up for me to see. “This has been cut. Someone is either trying to let our cows loose, steal them. Or they’re just fucking with us. Every man I have to send out to look for a missing head is one I can’t have on other work.”
Damn. And here I’ve been thinking Wyoming is some sort of heavenly place without crime. But of course, there is still crime. Nothing like Boston, probably, but that didn’t mean it doesn’t exist out here. “Who would do that?”
He releases the fence and crosses his arms, anger still radiating from him. “I can tell you exactly who did this. Jed Burke.”
Chapter 12
Clay
Almost as soon as Joshua takes the call from Trey, he, Tyler, and I head up to the pastures in a rush. I yell at Jake on the way out—one of our long-time ranch hands—to meet us up there with whoever he can gather together quickly. The three of us pile into my truck and head up.
“Jessa’s with him?” Joshua asks from the passenger side of the bench seat.
“Guess he must’ve been showing her the holistic pastures,” I say. Frustration gnaws at me. I don’t mind Trey spending time with Jessa, not really. But damn me if I don’t want to spend time with her, too.
“Bet he’s showing her a lot more than the pasture,” Tyler says from the middle of the bench seat, a sneer in his tone.
“Watch your mouth,” Joshua says before I can.
We ride in silence for a long moment, before Tyler mutters an apology. “She’s different. I don’t know what it is about her.”
It’s like my younger brothers read my own thoughts.
“That she is. She’s special,” Joshua says, and I can hear emotion in his voice. For Joshua, that says everything.
“Let’s just get up there and see about this fence business,” I say.
“We’re all going to have to talk about this eventually,” Joshua points out. Between us, Tyler grunts an agreement.
I know what Joshua says is true. We can’t go on like this. Another damn week and all four of us are going to be in love with the woman. What do we do then? Force her to choose? That is the only sane option, sure. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best one for our situation.
We rumble on the road in my old Ford the rest of the way in silence. It doesn’t take long before we’re up at the pasture, where I can see Jessa and Trey waiting for us along the fence line. Trey’s expression is steely, and beside him, Jessa waves nervously at us.
Why she nervous? Is it because of the fence, or something far more personal? I don’t know, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to find out.
The three of us pile out of my truck and head quickly toward the two of them. As we approach, more details strike me. Jessa’s messy hair and slightly wrinkled clothing. Trey’s pissed, but there’s something about him, something more relaxed than normal.
I halt in my tracks.
Shit. They had sex. It’s fucking obvious, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Half of me wants to tear Trey a new asshole. The other half wants to hug Jessa for finally dragging my brother out of his shell.
I can’t fucking tear Trey a new one, can I? I’ve already blown my chance with Jessa, haven’t I? Fuck. My mind is running through possibilities faster than I can keep up. But, am I even really jealous? I would do the same in his position.
“This way,” Trey says, heading farther into the pasture. We follow. From the corner of my eye, I see Jessa’s trying to smooth her clothes. They had sex, all right. Lucky motherfucker.
I wish I could find some certainty. Figure out the right thing to do here. And suddenly it strikes me.
We should share her.
The idea’s crazy. Outlandish. Definitely unconventional. But damn me if it doesn’t feel right. Would it bother me to see Jessa in Trey’s arms if I knew she’d soon move back to mine? Could I see her kiss Joshua or Tyler without jealousy?
Fuck my perverted ass, but I think I could. The question is, can my brothers say the same?
Before I can say anything, another truck engine rumble approaches. Trey stops, to make sure Jake and the other ranch hands can see us. He points ahead, and Jake nods, pulling off the side of the road. Trey resumes his stride, and in a couple of minutes, it becomes obvious why he called us here.
Rage swirls in my stomach and I grind my teeth. Someone did this. Someone who doesn’t give a fuck about even covering their handiwork. The cuts are obvious, clean and precise. The hole big enough for the cattle to push through in twos if they wanted to.