Hope on the Range

by Cindi Madsen

  Lately he’d turned into one of those old men who ranted about too many changes and the state of the world. He also fretted over his parents, his five brothers, and the entire staff at the ranch—not to mention each and every teenager in the program, past, present, and future—more than he ever had before. He continually felt like something was…off. Or maybe just missing. Whatever it was, he couldn’t seem to put his finger on it. Sure, his goals had changed quite a bit through the years, but he’d been the one steering, and he was happy with his choices.

  With any luck, preparing for their annual small-town rodeo and the new twist he wanted to throw into the mix would help. See. I can embrace change.

  As long as I’m the one in charge of it.

  “Are we shooting or snoozing?” Tanya asked, waving his bow in front of his face and returning him to the here and now.

  “Is snoozing an option? Because if it is, I choose that.”

  Tanya shot him a pursed-lip look that reprimanded him for being boring without saying a word, and he smirked and relieved her of his bow and quiver. As they walked toward the tiny meadow where they’d set up multiple targets, he noted the way her purple V-neck top complemented her red curls and pale skin.

  Back when they first began playing together, she’d been a slip of a girl with thick Pippi Longstocking braids and a smattering of freckles. Sometimes he still pictured her like that—the girl who’d gone exploring with him, everything from rickety shacks to rusted-out vehicles that’d hosted nests of mice and other vermin.

  While he still saw hints of that girl, fiery waves had replaced the frizzy braids, and her pale, delicate features—so at odds with her personality—made her appear as though she should be slinging drinks in a pub in Ireland instead of cowboying it up out on the ranch. She moved her ear to her shoulder in a stretch that exposed the long column of her neck and tightened her shirt over, uh, other assets he was definitely glancing away from ASAP.

  Not like he’d never noticed she had breasts before or that, objectively, she was pretty. Those were merely facts that didn’t mean anything besides he had eyes. Problem was, she’d put effort into dressing up for some guy she hadn’t even met. Despite what his family thought, jealousy over her dating anyone else had never been a factor.

  Well, not in the romantic way they meant it. The two of them just had a lot going on, and now that his oldest brother was engaged, Brady felt the weight of the ranch transferring to his shoulders. Given all that, his selfish side didn’t want to share her with anyone else.

  Although Brady supposed if she were going to date, some out-of-towner who was only here temporarily would be the best-case scenario.

  Immediately, guilt settled in his gut. Of course he wanted Tanya to be happy. But the past year had been full of more downs than ups, and he couldn’t handle one more change.

  A crack punctuated the air as Tanya laced her fingers together and pushed them out, popping her knuckles. “Best of three.”

  “Deal,” he said, and she gestured for him to go on ahead. Back in the day when he’d insisted ladies always went first, she’d punched him in the arm and told him she wasn’t a lady and never would be. Under the guise of equality, she’d insisted he go first, but in reality, she just wanted to see what score she had to earn to best him.

  Brady grabbed an arrow and placed it on the rest. He set his grip, drew, and aligned the tip of his arrow with the black, blue, red, and yellow target.

  His focus grew hazy when he caught a whiff of Tanya’s perfume—one he hadn’t smelled in years. He hadn’t realized she still wore it, and he was sure he would’ve noticed. Sultry and a hint fruity, it unlocked a memory he’d repressed, one he immediately bricked back up, but damn if it didn’t distract the hell out of him.

  The muscles in Brady’s arm trembled from holding the string taut, which meant he needed to take his shot.

  One shallow exhale, and he released the arrow.

  It soared through the air and lodged in the outer circle. Not the bull’s-eye he’d been hoping for, however nine points wasn’t anything to turn his nose up at. Brady stepped aside, and Tanya placed her much smaller foot into his boot print.

  “So I’ve been wanting to get our current group of teens more engaged,” Brady started, “and with the rodeo coming up, I came up with a brilliant idea.”

  “Calling your own ideas brilliant is the first sign of narcissism. Please call for help if you or someone you love are in danger of being a narcissist.” Tanya put a hand to the side of her mouth and stage-whispered, “As soon as we’re done here, I’m gonna set up an intervention.”

  Brady chuckled. “Hear me out, and then you can judge.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and huffed. “I think you’re just trying to distract me.”

  He inched closer, crowding her the same way she’d done to him, and ran his fingers along his jaw. It drove her bonkers when he fidgeted close enough that she caught the movement in her peripheral vision.

  “Too bad for you, it won’t work.” The strings on Tanya’s bow twanged as she released her arrow. It soared through the air, a little high…

  But at the last second, it dipped and hit dead center. Brady made a half growl, half grunt that got swallowed up by her self-satisfied laugh.

  “I’ve got nerves of steel, don’t ya know?”

  He did. Back when they traveled the rodeo circuit, he was the one who couldn’t eat the day of an event while she wolfed down heaps of junk food, no problem. “That’s right. The unshakable Tanya Clayton. She’s got fancy saddles and big, shiny belt buckles to match.”

  She bumped her shoulder into his—well, more like into his biceps, since she was a foot shorter. “Hey, remember how my belt buckle is bigger than yours?”

  “Oh, you want to compare sizes?” The question burst out of him before he realized what it’d sound like.

  “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” she said. The retort shocked the hell out of him, leaving him standing there like an idiot with his mouth hanging open. Judging from her bulged eyes and the panic bleeding into her features, she’d surprised herself as well.

  A strangled chuckle came out, and Brady waved off the accidentally flirty-sounding banter. “Set you up for that one, didn’t I? Don’t worry. I know you didn’t mean it like…” He swallowed, exasperated at finding his throat tighter than usual.

  What was his deal today? Regardless of whatever other shit was going on in his life, their spot acted like a mini time-out from any worries and cares.

  They’d had all of one awkward encounter ever, during the night of their senior prom. That delicious perfume still lingering in the air had started it, too. The two of them had gone together as friends, but Brady hadn’t been expecting the strapless, beaded dress that exposed Tanya’s shoulders and made her glitter like a disco ball. The obligatory dancing had practically forced him to sniff her neck. The sparkling lights overhead had reflected in her eyes as he gazed deep into them, and in spite of it being nearly a decade ago, residual embarrassment heated his cheeks as he recalled going in for a kiss.

  One Tanya hadn’t returned, instead smacking his arm and asking what the hell he was thinking. There’d been an accusation of misogyny—something about him only treating her like a girl because she’d put on a dress, even though she’d also yelled at him before for treating her like a girl. Then she’d added that he couldn’t just kiss her because she was about to leave for college and he didn’t know any other way to express his emotions.

  As confused as he’d been about her anger, the lesson he’d learned was how much it sucked to be in a fight with his best friend. So he’d made his apologies and vowed never to do anything so foolish again.

  Before awkwardness could creep in, Brady fished out an arrow—right as Tanya reached toward the quiver to do the same—and their fingers brushed.

  “What if…?” She batted her eyelids l
ike crazy, and then her right eye twitched and squeezed closed. “I do mea—”

  “Do you have something in your eye?” He snagged her wrist, tugged her closer, and instructed her to look up. Tanya stood perfectly still, save the hand she cupped around his elbow to steady herself. All he could see as he peered at her eyeball was a whole lot of white, no trace of dirt or flakes of the black mascara she’d coated her lashes with. “I don’t see anything. Does it hurt?”

  She shook her head and quietly said, “No. It was just a delusional moment, and it’s clearly gone now.”

  “Well, good. Though I don’t think you were delusional. All your blinking probably just got whatever it was out already. But if you screw up your shot, I don’t want to hear about how your view was obstructed or some nonsense like that.” He retrieved an arrow and handed it to her. “You go first this round.”

  Her forehead crinkled, but before he could ask why she seemed frustrated by his customary ribbing, she took the arrow and nocked it on her bow. “You mentioned the rodeo and the teens but never did get to the point.”

  “The brilliant idea, you mean.”

  There was the smile he’d been after, the slant of her lips easing the tightness in his chest that whispered something was off between them. He couldn’t handle that right now. Not with his ambitious plans for the rodeo and a new teenage client showing up at the ranch. Wade was burned out on playing tough cop and hadn’t been nearly as effective at it since going and falling in love anyway. Which meant it was Brady’s turn to meet the boy’s parole officer and take the lead.

  “All in all, we’ve got ten teens. My idea is for you find the same number of locals to train—people with little to no experience in the arena—and we put together a sort of preshow/amateur hour with some of the simpler rodeo events. Turn Around Ranch versus Bullhead Valley. We’ve been working on getting the town to better accept the teens and the program. Seeing them out in the area, participating in town functions, will show everybody they’re good kids at heart. Plus, the townsfolk will show up early and make bets, and it’ll make all of Silver Springs feel like they’re in on it. Win-win.”

  The tip of Tanya’s tongue came out, signaling that the wheels in her brain were cranking away, and Brady’s pulse throbbed faster. He didn’t want to have to beg her to play along, but with his idea out in the air, he realized how badly he wanted it. A new, exciting goal, using his years of training to teach the teens new skills, the rush that accompanied the buzzer—all of it. “I’m totally on board with helping win over the town,” she said.

  “But?”

  Tanya sighed. “With everything else I’ve got going on, how am I supposed to find and train that many people? All within a month and a half at that.”

  “Put up a couple flyers, and you’ll have a team assembled in no time.” He pulled out the taunt they were both too old for yet never could resist. “Unless you’re chicken.”

  When they were younger, he’d thrown it out to goad her into going along with his daredevil antics. Not to make her do things she didn’t want to do but because he’d been a little scared himself and knew he wouldn’t be with Tanya by his side.

  With the word chicken echoing through the air, Tanya lifted her bow and arrow and fired within a matter of seconds. Impressive, but in her attempt to look like an unintimidated badass, she hadn’t aimed very well. Which left enough of an opening for him to catch up. She spun to face him, determination setting the line of her jaw. “I guarantee I can put together a team that’ll give you and yours a run for your money.”

  “Oh, it’s on.” That same adrenaline from earlier came along for the ride, and Brady took a few extra seconds to center himself and aim. This time, he was the one to hit the target dead center. “Read it and weep—or should we call it a glimpse of things to come. How’d that celebration dance go again?”

  Brady bounced around Tanya, smart enough not to attempt the hip swaying she’d done, although he added a spin so he could shake his ass at her. “Karma, am I right?”

  Tanya swore and grabbed another arrow, her face so deadly serious he considered running in the other direction. On horseback, she was fast. On foot, she bolted like a cow from the chute.

  Best not say that aloud, or she’ll be aiming that sharp arrow tip at you.

  At the exact moment her fingers began to loosen their grip, he bumped his elbow into hers. It threw off her shot, the arrow wobbling wildly before dropping low and barely striking the target in the outer circle, one-point range.

  “You cheater!” She shoved him with both hands, and he fought against a wobble. Apparently a mistake, one that fanned the flame on her temper. She came at him again, and he wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides.

  “Okay, I admit that move was a pinch dirty.” Brady bent so his nose nearly touched hers. An intense blaze heated her green irises, and he bit back his laughter. This was more like their usual exchanges—a mix of exasperation, dares, and heat. Since he didn’t want any of that to turn into full-blown anger, he slowly let go and took a large step backward, lifting his hands in surrender. “Do your worst as I take my turn, and we’ll call it distraction training.”

  His arrow came out of his quiver with a satisfying zing, and Brady steeled himself for whatever Tanya threw his way.

  The fact that his muscles were already burning proved he was out of practice, but he did his best not to let that show. Still, the redhead next to him sensed weakness and pounced. She jabbed at his side, but he held steady. Her attempt to bump his elbow was met with firm resistance.

  “Is that all you got?” he taunted, ignoring the slight tremble in his arm from holding back the string for so long. With the tip of his arrow lined up with the yellow of the bull’s-eye, he shut out the rest of the world, the same way he always did before charging into the arena to rope or ride.

  Three…

  Two…

  Tanya’s warm breath hit his ear, sending a shiver across his skin, and without him telling them to, his fingers let go.

  His arrow landed a good foot short of the target. A faraway part of him was disappointed, but the heat pumping through him pushed it to the background. His heart thundered in his chest, dizziness set in, and he couldn’t quite forget the way her breath had wafted over his skin.

  It’s been a while since I’ve so much as kissed anyone. That’s all.

  The lack of action, along with the lack of women to use his charms on, meant he was in a sexual drought. Nothing to go thinking too hard about.

  His best friend’s smug giggle filled his ear, and fortunately it reset that fuzzy, malfunctioning part of his brain. He spun, grabbed hold of her, and hefted her up and over his shoulder. “You’re gonna pay for that.” He strode toward the pond, fully planning on tossing her in.

  “Brady, don’t you dare.” Tanya kicked her legs, and he tightened his grip on her thigh. “You said yourself it was distraction training. It’s not my fault you can’t focus for shit.”

  “If you think this is the way to talk me out of dunking you, you’re sorely mistaken.” His boots slid in the mud as he reached the shoreline.

  A rush of muffled words filled the air, each one merging into the next. “But remember how I have to welcome the big-shot CEO to the ranch.” She squirmed against his iron hold and lifted her arm enough to glance at her watch. Then she shoved the ticking thing in his face. “In twenty minutes, Brady! You know how my dad will react if I’m a muddy mess when I go to check the guy in, and I already told you it’s important to me to make a good impression.”

  That drew him up short. Both of them were well acquainted with the extra stress that came along with parental expectations and family businesses. Brady readjusted his grip and lowered her to her feet. “Fine. But you owe me one, and don’t think I won’t collect.”

  They slipped their way back through the mud and over to the cottonwood where they’d secured
their horses and put away their bows and arrows. Brady unlooped Bud’s reins and climbed into the worn saddle that felt like a second home. While he’d agreed to let his teenage brother borrow his horse, the saddle he’d won after taking first place at his last big rodeo was a whole other thing.

  “Hey, Yaya,” he said, pulling out the name he’d called her when they were young and t’s were hard for him to pronounce.

  She turned Diesel so they were facing each other. “Yeah?”

  “All trash talk aside, I know how busy you are, and I don’t want you to feel pressured if you’re not up for the pre-rodeo show.”

  “Oh, I’m all in. I just feel bad that you’re the one who came up with the challenge, and my team is still gonna kick your ranch’s ass.”

  “In your dreams, cowgirl.” This was exactly what he needed. That odd antsy sensation that’d hung over him the past month or so eased, leaving him hopeful that before long, it’d be gone entirely. Maybe he’d never have his name on a plaque in the rodeo hall of fame, the way he and most of the town had thought he would at one point, but he was far from done when it came to making his mark.

  Chapter 2

  A cloud of dust announced the impending arrival of their new court-ordered “guest,” and Brady made his way to the main cabin to take care of that whole song and dance. The beginning was always the toughest part—for the teens and the staff.

  The older sedan parked a few yards from the front porch, giving Brady a prime view of the sulking teenager in the passenger seat. About ninety percent of the kids came to the ranch with the same dour expression, and a lot of them were sure they were the baddest thing the ranch had ever seen.

  Carl, one of the parole officers Brady was familiar with, climbed out of the car. As a result of the looming threat of prison, sometimes the teenagers who came through the courts were easier to keep in line. Other times, it meant the staff had to keep a closer eye on them to guarantee the safe environment that was vital to progress.