Reece (Stud Ranch 4)

My hands started to shake, old feelings rising up as I put the truck in park. Ruth obviously saw what I saw because she said, “Oh Jesus, what now?”

She jumped down from the truck and walked up to the boys. I followed, a little more hesitantly. I sensed a confrontation coming—I had a Spidey sense for these sorts of things now. I could feel it in the air.

I wanted to grab Ruth and tell her to get back in the truck. But it was too late. She just kept barreling ahead.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Jeremiah took an angry step forward and I flinched back. Reece’s eyes came to me and his brow furrowed, as if he was concerned by my reaction. He definitely noticed.

But I was too concerned by what was happening between his brother and my new friend.

“What’s wrong,” Jeremiah seethed, “is that you’re trying to sabotage us. I should have known from the beginning this situation was fucked up. There’s no reason for you to still be here. This ranch isn’t yours anymore, and if you think you can run us off and get the land back, lady, I’ve got news for you. I’ve called the sheriff, and he’s—”

“The sheriff?” I squeaked, feeling lightheaded.

Who knew how far Jeff had circulated wanted posters of his ‘missing’ wife? Or what story he’d told about my disappearance?

When I’d run away before and gotten as far as Portland, he’d gotten the cops involved—claiming I was mentally disturbed and had threatened to kill him. I didn’t know if he’d paid them off or if they’d genuinely believed his story. They certainly hadn’t helped me when I’d begged them not to let him take me back.

Ruth held up a hand, looking irritated to the point of pissed. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy, would you slow down with the accusations for a second and tell me what the hell happened?”

Jeremiah sneered. “As if you don’t know. Don’t try to play the helpless, innocent female with me. I know you’re cunning.”

Ruth arched an eyebrow at him. “Damn straight I am. I still have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”

Ruth turned to Reece, ignoring Jeremiah. “Would you tell me what your ignorant brother here is so worked up over?”

Would it sound really out of place to hold up my hand and ask, so um, about the sheriff—what time are they showing up? I looked at the road behind us. I didn’t hear or see another car coming up the drive, but God, it could be any second. I felt sweat breaking out all over my body. And like I was going to be sick. The fajita that had been so delicious only an hour ago was suddenly churning in my stomach.

“Someone’s been intentionally taking down the fence posts and letting out the cattle,” Reece offered cautiously, obviously still wary of the situation. “But they haven’t been stealing the cows.”

My eyebrows rose, distracted by Reece’s words. Whoa. Damn. I didn’t know much about cattle or ranching yet, but that seemed like a big deal. For a second I forgot about the sheriff and zoomed back into the drama.

“Son of a bitch,” Ruth said, hands on her waist as she started pacing back and forth.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes. “What? You’re saying it’s not you? Who then?”

Ruth laughed bitterly as she looked back his direction. “My father was not popular by the end of his time on this earth. It wasn’t just the bank he was in debt up to his eyeballs to.”

“But didn’t you clear all those debts when you sold this place?” Reece asked, far more kindly than I imagined his brother would have.

Ruth nodded frowning, and then her mouth dropped open and she twisted, looking at me. “Fuckface.”

My eyes widened. “Of course,” I said. I’d told her and Olivia about my internal nickname for Trent, to their great amusement.

“Of course, what?” Jeremiah butted in, sounding annoyed but also curious. “Who?”

“The guy from that day,” I said, looking between him and Reece. “The one who came over in the pickup truck who was so rude. We ran into him in town again today and he was really nasty. He and Ruth’s family have a past. He thinks this ranch should be his.” I felt my cheeks warm with anger just thinking about that asshole.

“Oh,” Jeremiah said, his eyebrows furrowing.

“Yeah,” Ruth said. “Oh. Maybe you should wait and get all the facts next time before you go around accusing people of shit.”

His eyes narrowed on her. “You aren’t off the hook. We don’t even know you and I still don’t understand your motives for being here.”

Ruth threw her arms in the air. “Would everybody shut up about that? I’m tired of people telling me how stupid they think I am to stay. My grandfather was born in a shack on that hill, right there.” She pointed to a rise to the left of the barn.