Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys 1)

Celia shoved him. “You arrogant f**ker. I caught you looking at my ass earlier tonight when you didn’t know it was me.”

Kyle’s mouth dropped open. “I did not.”

“Yes, you did. So what if guys notice me? It’s a nice goddamn change from the pats on the head I get from every man within thirty miles of Muddy Gap, Wyoming, who only see me as Hank and Abe Lawson’s baby sister.”

Silence. But the glaring contest between all four of them could’ve started the hay bales on fire.

Nothing would get resolved tonight. Hank knew a cooling-off period was definitely in order. “Look. Can we talk about this later? When I get back to the ranch? I’ll call Abe and give him a headsup—”

“See? This is what I mean! I can talk to Abe. I don’t need you running interference—or interfering—in my life, Hank.”

“Fine.” He threw up his hands. “Do whatever you want. I keep forgetting you’re a big girl. Are you gonna be pissed off and snap at me to mind my own business if I tell you to drive safe and call me when you get home?”

“No. I’ll call you.” Celia muttered, “Asshole.”

Lainie took Celia aside and they spoke so quietly Hank couldn’t hear. Which just added another layer of frustration to the already frustrating situation.

Kyle leaned over. “When the f**k did they get so chummy?”

“Fuck if I know.”

The women hugged and Celia walked off without a backward glance.

Lainie approached them, hands jammed in her pockets. She started to speak, but apparently thought better of it. Then she too wandered off without a word.

Kyle grunted, echoing Hank’s sentiments exactly. They headed to the changing rooms.

Most guys had already cleared out. The showers were empty, but Hank preferred the noise. Maybe he could block out the idea that his sister had lied to him for years. How had he not known?

Because you’re so involved in your own life that you fail to see what’s going on around you.

Not entirely true. Celia must’ve done a damn good job of hiding it, because Abe hadn’t known about her secret barrel racing either. He snorted. Secret barrel racing. Like it was some sort of crime. When he put it in that context it was almost funny.

Almost.

He half listened while Kyle and some other bull rider rehashed every second of Kyle’s ride. He hefted the shoulder strap of his bag. Those stories could go on forever, and Hank was anxious to talk to Lainie.

He’d made it about twenty steps when Kyle called out, “Hank, wait up.”

He stopped.

“Don’t it just figure that it’s my night to be alone with Lainie and this happens.”

Sad thing was, Hank couldn’t even feel happy about that.

“Think she’s cooled off by now?”

“I don’t know. She ever been mad at you about something?”

“Nope. It’s only been half an hour.”

They walked through the campground. It was eerily quiet. No groups sitting around drinking beer. No kids running about. No teenagers groping in the shadows.

The lights were on in the back of the camper. Hank looked at Kyle, who pantomimed, After you.

Lainie was in her pajamas, brushing her teeth. She didn’t acknowledge them besides slamming the bathroom door shut.

Not a good sign.

Kyle dumped his equipment bag and flopped in the chair by the table. Hank stood there like a dumb ass, waiting for her to respond to them.

Screw that. He was a take-charge guy. And as far as he could tell, she liked it when he exerted control. He knocked. “Lainie?”

“What?”

“Can we talk to you?”

The door banged open. Lainie’s gaze zoomed from Hank to Kyle and she snapped, “Nope,” ducking under Hank’s arm.

Hank’s hand blocked the upper doorframe, kept her from slamming the bedroom door in his face. “Why’re you so pissed off at us?”

“Because of what you said to Celia. I watched how all of you—you, Abe, Kyle, and your assorted buddies—treat her. I’ve been treated that way, so maybe I am overly sensitive on her behalf. I know what it’s like to have people who claim to love you try to keep you from doing something you really want. But what bugs me is you don’t want to change. You expect her to.”

Hank stared at her, openmouthed with shock.

“I don’t want to get in the middle of your family issues. As you know, I have plenty of my own.”

“Then why are you getting involved in them?” Hank demanded.

There was the look that indicated he’d gone too far. Shit.

“Back off, Hank. Go to bed and let me do the same.”

“Fine. Let’s go to bed.” They could work out their issues between the sheets. When he started to enter the bedroom, Lainie held up her hand.

“No way are you sleeping in here with me tonight.”

Kyle snickered.

Lainie peeked around Hank’s shoulder. “Don’t know why you’re laughing, Kyle, because you’re not sleeping in here either.”

“What? Where the hell are we supposed to sleep?”

“Not my problem.”

Hank was so stunned by the turn of events that when Lainie put her hands on his chest and shoved him, he stumbled back.

Then she slammed the door in his face.

Unbelievable.

He lifted his hand to knock, when Kyle spoke. “Let her be.” “Now, why would I do that?”