Pissed off beyond measure, Celia yelled, “I don’t believe you two! You’re ass**les. I’m not pregnant! Can’t you just be happy for me for one minute?”
“We’d be happy for you except we don’t understand what the hell is goin’ on. You married Kyle? A chance to win a national barrel racing championship is all you’ve talked about for the last four years, little sis. You’re so hell-bent on competing and getting to the next level that you never come home anymore.”
That was what they thought? Could her brothers really be so clueless about why she stayed away? Did they really not know her at all?
“But now you’ll be traveling with Kyle to support his attempt to win a national bull riding championship while you let your own dream turn to dust?”
“No. Kyle and I both quit the circuit.”
Shocked silence.
“Then how will you make a living?” Hank demanded.
“More to the point…Where will you live?” Abe also demanded.
Kyle answered, “On my ranch.”
“What ranch? Since when do you have a ranch?”
“If you’d stop interrupting and jumping to conclusions, we’d tell you,” Celia said.
“Then somebody had better start talking right now.”
“Celia and I are living on the ranch I inherited from my father.”
Silence. Then, “When did this happen?”
“A few days ago.”
“That’s what this is about? You suddenly inherited a ranch and knew you couldn’t run it by yourself so you convinced Celia to quit the circuit and marry you?”
Celia glared at Hank. No questions about Kyle finally learning the identity of his father? No excitement about his unexpected windfall? Just more accusations? More assumptions?
“I can’t believe…” Hank pointed at Kyle. “She deserves way better than you.” Then Hank pointed at Celia. “You know this won’t last, don’t you? Kyle isn’t a long-term guy.”
All the uncertainty from the last four days, all the hurt her brothers had unconsciously inflicted on her in the last four years, pushed her to the breaking point. A gasping sob broke free and she bent forward to try to stop the sharp, stabbing pain in her ribs and around her heart.
Through the haze of tears, she saw Kyle’s shadow move in front of her.
“Celia. Baby. Get in the pickup.”
She wrapped her arms around herself, keeping her focus entirely on Kyle as she shuffled backward.
“Where the hell do you think you’re goin’?” Hank shouted. “We’re not done talking about this!”
She’d never seen Kyle like this. The easygoing man had spun into an absolute rage.
He shoved Hank hard enough that Hank fell on his ass. “We sure as f**k are done because you don’t ever get to talk to her like that, you hear me?” She watched him struggle for control and attempt to level his breathing. “Celia and I are married. Fucking deal with it. And we didn’t come here wanting a goddamn thing from either of you except your congratulations. But instead you insult her, you insult me, and then you make my wife, your sister, cry? Jesus. What is wrong with you two?”
Abe helped Hank to his feet. “This has gotten out of hand.”
“You’re damn right it has. So here’s your warning. Stay away from her.”
“Dammit, Kyle, knock it off. We’re her family.”
“No. I’m her family now. Because I’ll never ever treat her like you just did.”
Celia cried harder.
Neither of her brothers tried to stop them from leaving.
At the turnoff to the highway, Kyle said, “Do we still need to stop at Eli’s or can it wait?”
“I want my own pickup and if I have to wear these clothes another week, I’ll puke.”
Beyond heartsick, Celia ignored the phone vibrating in her pocket. She stared out the window. The scenery she’d always loved offered her no comfort at all.
Eli Whirling Cloud was unsaddling a horse when they pulled up. He brushed her down before he approached them. “This is a nice surprise. I expected maybe one of you, but not both of you. But there’s only one extra bed, hey.”
Celia was so happy to get such a warm welcome from her friend and horse trainer that she almost burst into tears again. “We’re not here to crash, but thanks for the offer. We’re here to share some news.” Celia’s heart raced. “Me’n Kyle got hitched last weekend in Vegas.”
Eli grinned from ear to ear. “I’ll be damned. Congratulations are in order, then?”
“Yep.”
“Outstanding.” Eli’s smile faded. “So why the teary face, sweetheart?”
“We just left Hank and Abe. They were less than enthusiastic about the news.”
“Eh, they’re both hotheads. Especially when it comes to you. They’ll get over it.”
“I’ll track Mickey down so Kyle can tell you what else has gone on.”
Standing in front of her horse trailer, she realized Kyle had been right about one thing. All her worldly goods were contained within it. Three suitcases of clothes. One box of household things and knickknacks.
How pathetic.
Fighting tears, she leaned against the back of the horse trailer, out of view of the house. Her life had become a train wreck. How soon would Kyle regret getting mixed up with her?
Tired of being a f**king baby about her injury, she unloaded everything from her horse trailer herself. She had to take a break after she dumped her suitcases in the back of Kyle’s pickup because her ribs were screaming in protest.