by Em Petrova
“Nigel’s testing my patience.” He pressed his lips together, fighting back more derogatory comments about the kid.
She pinched his backside hard enough to pull a yelp from him. Her laugh was worth the stinging pain, though. Tucking her under his chin, he kissed the top of her head. She smelled like fresh hay and vanilla shampoo. “We’ll wait. Like you said, there’s no hurry.”
She drew away from him. “Except to get to town and back. We’ve wasted too much time as it is.”
“Scared your dad will get suspicious?”
She chewed her lower lip in an adorable way that made her presence in his heart grow. “I think he already does. Did you see the way he looked at me?”
No, he hadn’t. And he wasn’t afraid of Thunder. In fact, he couldn’t remember anything ever scaring him at all. But now he had something big. Losing Joy wasn’t an option. If that meant hopping on a few bulls for her father and getting on his good side, then Ryder was ready to ride.
* * * * *
Joy looked on as Ryder and Buck strode up to each other and embraced as though they hadn’t seen each other in a decade, even though it had only been a few weeks. While on the Humphries ranch, Ryder texted with his brother, usually in the evenings when they’d finally collapse into porch chairs.
At last they had this rodeo to reunite.
Cameras and people bustled by, noting the Calhouns’ moment.
When they broke apart, she noted the crease between each of their brows and the strain on the other siblings’ faces. They must all know about Buck’s baby.
A hand on her arm drew her head up. “C’mon,” Wynonna said to her. “You’re family—you deserve to hear what’s going on.”
Joy started to shake her head, but Wynonna tugged her along, her strength a force that was undeniable. Joy couldn’t dig in her boots for anything.
Ryder drew her to him with a single look, and she came to stand next to him.
“Well?” he asked.
Buck waved his hands so they could all gather in. Channing wasn’t there, which made Joy fear the worst. What if the outcome was really terrible? She couldn’t bear it for the couple—or for the rest of the family.
Once they were gathered in the circle, Buck looked at each of them, including Joy. She was humbled to be part of this.
“Preliminary tests look fine.”
Joy blinked. Ryder stirred beside her, his sleeve brushing her bare arm. “Fine?” he echoed.
Buck gave a nod, his expression still tense. “Sometimes the dates of a pregnancy can be off and throw off all the numbers. But the ultrasound shows the baby seems to have all his parts.”
Wynonna gave a big, exaggerated gasp. “His?”
Joy smiled.
Buck nodded, and for the first time, his face relaxed. Ryder released a slow breath as if hesitant to believe his unborn nephew was going to be all right.
“It’s a boy. We’ll name him after Dad if all goes well.”
“You mean name him after yourself,” Ridge teased, and they all laughed. His ankle was okay now, and he was off the crutches though still he put his weight on his opposite leg.
“Yeah, Buck Calhoun the third.”
“Throw in Aloysius and you’ve got a fine man in the making,” Ryder quipped.
As the whole party collapsed into laughter, Joy eyed Ryder in confusion. He grinned and said, “I’ll tell you later.”
“So yes, the future isn’t a hundred percent certain. But right now, the baby looks all right,” Buck said.
“Where’s Channing?” Wynonna asked.
“At home with Ma. She’s been exhausted lately and didn’t want to make the trip. They were going to film a country cooking episode for some food TV show.”
Several brows shot up at this news. “Are you serious? Now we’re moving into food TV? Do we end up with merchandise like bobble heads of ourselves and T-shirts with our ranch brand on it?” Ryder put in.
Buck wagged his head. “Who knows where this ends. We could be out of our contracts in a year after ratings tank. Unless we can hold them with another weddin’.”
They all stared directly at Ryder and Joy. Heat climbed her neck and exploded in her cheeks. She broke a sweat, which increased when Ryder grabbed her hand for all to see.
“We don’t know what the future holds, but I’ll officially tell you guys that I’m proud to call Joy mine.”
“So you’re just going pro with Thunder to get the girl.” This from West, who was grinning broadly.
Ryder hedged. “I wouldn’t say that. There’s a lot of money to win in the pro class.”
Joy was just as surprised as the rest of them. He’d never expressed these thoughts to her.
“What do you need all this money for?” Ridge challenged.
“Might want to move out of the ranch house sometime and stop picking Wynonna’s hair out of the bathtub drain.”
Ryder’s words made everyone laugh, since they were all quite familiar with this problem. Some of the tension flowed away. Wynonna bundled her long auburn hair and shook it in his face. He sputtered and finally yanked it to get her away from him.
Joy’s heart was overflowing with affection for all of them. She could easily see a future with Ryder and his family. But leaving her own world scared her too. She and Daddy had only had each other for so long. Would he survive on his own? Sure, he had a cook and ranch hands, and on the ranch she wouldn’t be missed. But when he sank into his chair after a long day and discussed his worries with her…
Ryder traced her lower lip with his thumb, making her snap out of her thoughts. “I guess I’ve announced it sooner than we thought. I’m sorry.”
She clutched his hand where it rested on her cheek. “Don’t be. The timing was right.”
“Guess now we only need to find the right time to tell your father.”
She began to ask if he was serious about turning pro when several security guards rushed past. The film crew looked at each other and then to the production manager, who was never far from Wynonna even though they were definitely finished, by her lack of attention.
The cameras all went in search of the ruckus, and Ryder turned to her again. “Guess we’re outed to America as soon as this goes to final production.”
She smiled softly. From the corner of her eye, she saw Buck whip out his phone and hold it to his ear. His face transformed to shock and then fury.
“Ryder.” She nudged his attention to his brother.
Oh God, don’t let it be Channing or the baby.
“What’s going on?” Ryder demanded.
“Ennis sent that oil rig out to our land again, and Ma and Channing are there dealing with it. Channing’s on the phone wanting to know what to do.” He brought the cell to his ear again.
“Tell them to get the sheriff out there and nab him for trespassing.”
Buck listened for a second. This was bad. Joy didn’t know much about their struggles with their cousin, but with the guys so far away from home right now, all the trouble fell on the women of the family.
Which, over time, she might be one of.
The siblings crowded together to hear what Buck was saying to them and Channing in turn.
“She’s called the cops.”
“Is Ennis there? That little rat is seriously going down when I see him next.” Ridge clenched his fists.
Buck shook his head, still listening to his wife. “What the ffffuuu—” He cut off the expletive with a violent breath. He looked to Ryder. “He says there’s an inconsistency in the map when it comes to the land borders. That they’re drilling on his land.”
Ryder ripped off his hat and shoved his fingers through his hair. “No. He’s wrong.”
“I know he is. And he waited until none of us were home to play this game. I knew I should have put him in a hole while I had the chance.” Buck’s mouth was set in the same way Ryder’s did. When Joy looked from face to face, she saw them all wearing the same furious determination to swing this in their favor
—and end it.
She didn’t believe their threats held any weight—they were just blowing off steam. But she wouldn’t want to be Ennis either, not when they wore that look.
Buck ended the call and gazed at his family. “We need these wins because we’re using every penny to take his ass back to court.”
“A coffin’s cheaper,” Ryder rumbled.
Joy blinked. Then an inappropriate little giggle escaped her. She clapped a hand over her mouth and stared at him as his gaze settled on her. “Sorry.”
Wynonna laughed next, and then Ridge. Pretty soon they were all laughing. Because what else was there to do? They were miles from home and had a job to do, and that was to perform their best here in Arkansas.
“Joy Humphries? We’re looking for Joy Humphries.” The raised voice came to her loud and clear, sending goosebumps skittering down her arms.
She and Ryder turned toward the person barreling through the crowd in search of her. Her heart hit her boots as she thought of those security guards running past. Daddy.
Had he had a heart attack? Collapsed?
“Your father’s looking for you. Come with me.” The tall cowboy in all black gave her a solemn look, and her heart did a wild flip that left her weak and nauseated.
Ryder gripped her elbow. “Show us where.”
They strode after the man, weaving between groups of people standing around talking or fans getting autographs from their favorite rodeo star. Joy had no memory of walking anywhere, but she was glad Ryder was with her.
* * * * *
When Ryder spotted Thunder seated in a chair holding an ice pack over his eye, his confusion and worry were replaced by anger.
“Who punched you?” he asked Thunder.
Joy opened her mouth, a tiny noise leaving her. She rushed forward, bending to peer at her father’s face. Cut, bruised, swelling.
“Fucking Gonzales,” Thunder growled.
Joy snapped her head toward Ryder, and he saw something there that filled him with the instant need to take action even as he fell in love with her more.
She relied on him to take care of this.
“Where is he?” he asked Thunder.
“Piss-ant ran off to the trailer.”
“God, Daddy, what happened? He did this to you?” Joy’s soft tones of concern only pissed Ryder off further. He’d never trusted Gonzales, and apparently his gut instinct not to like him went beyond his interest in Joy.
Ryder exchanged a look with her father and nodded. Then he turned and walked off toward the parking lot and the trailers as fast as possible.
Luckily, he knew exactly where the Humphries were parked, so he wasn’t searching row after row of truck and trailer combos. When he hit the gravel lot, he lengthened his strides. Itching for a fight. He could kill two dirty buzzards with one punch right now—taking out his frustrations over Ennis on the man who’d caused harm to his love’s father.
Seeing Cody Gonzales’ black hat waved a flag to Ryder. He rolled up his sleeve on the right very slowly. Then the left as he continued walking toward the man.
“Gonzales.” The word came out as a barking command. He spun.
They’d been hanging together on the Humphries’ ranch for weeks. Trained together. Given each other pointers. Shared meals, for God’s sake. And Thunder had taken him into his home and care, tutoring him in order to give him the best chances at success, and this was how Cody repaid him.
The guy turned and glared at Ryder, cradling his hand.
“You broke your hand? That’s your anchor hand, isn’t? You won’t be riding bulls today.”
Gonzales grunted. “Get away from me, Calhoun. You’re the golden one—don’t you have someplace to be?”
“Yeah, right here kicking your teeth in.” He stepped up to Cody, who smirked.
“I’d like to see you try. Your name might mean something to others, but I know you’re just a weakling inside. I’ve been watching you for weeks.”
“I have no interest in your opinions. I’m here to settle a score on behalf of Thunder.”
“Oh somebody beat up the old man, all right. Your girlfriend’s pretty unhappy, I bet.” The taunting tone only fueled Ryder’s anger. It was barely harnessed, the same as after Channing’s phone call. Now he felt like a tornado about to wreak havoc on a trailer park.
All of a sudden Andrew and Nigel were there with their cameras, prepared to record the moment. And for once, Ryder was ready to let them. He wanted the world to see that justice would be served.
“You’re just like him, you know. Think you’re better than everyone. Hell, even that brother of yours is a cocky bastard,” Gonzales spat.
Ryder went still. “Which brother you referrin’ to?”
“The tie-down guy.”
“West,” he bit off, putting the pieces together. At some point West had ticked off Gonzales and had his ropes sliced for it. Wait till he finds out. Gonzales will know the meaning of Calhoun anger.
Also, he saw the reason behind the man’s actions.
“You didn’t want to hear any more advice about your ride today, is that it?” Ryder drawled as he stepped closer to him.
He wasn’t bigger than Ryder. One punch, maybe two. He just had to make sure he didn’t fuck up his own hand. Now his money was going to attorney fees to fight Ennis’s crap instead of his own home.
At least it doesn’t sound as if it’s going to taking care of Buck’s baby.
With the good spirits inside him, he stepped closer.
Gonzales came at him with a roar. Ryder let his weight and the momentum carry them backward, which gave him the advantage when he flipped the guy into the gravel and rooted him in the gut with a fist.
A scream alerted him that Joy was here too, and damn, he didn’t want her seeing this. Seeing him out of control.
He moved to get off Cody but the guy caught him in the jaw with his fist, rocking his head. Anger dizzied him, and he felt like one of the bulls he rode, except instead of the tight rope around his midsection to make him buck, Cody’s fist had done the work.
He cocked his arm back and drove it into Cody’s nose. Blood spattered his knuckles and poured down the man’s face.
Then he was being pulled off him. He got his boots underneath himself and shook off the two camera guys. Joy popped up in front of him.
There seemed to be nothing to say to her, and she didn’t seem upset except for the rising bruise on his jaw. He shifted it gingerly. Nothing broken but it hurt like a mother.
“Why did he do this? Why did he attack my father?” Joy’s voice hitched, and he pulled her against his chest, still panting with exertion and anger.
“Guess he didn’t like being told what to do and felt as though he were being treated as an inferior.”
“Daddy said he only mentioned checking his ropes again before the event, and he snapped.”
Ryder smoothed his hand over Joy’s spine, feeling her slight tremors. She was so empathetic and giving to everyone she crossed paths with. From Wynonna to the littlest Franklin girl and big burley rodeo guys, she was always there. From what Ryder saw, she didn’t often search for her own goals. Her driving force was sharing her happiness and good spirits with those around her.
And he adored that about her.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he murmured against her hair.
She clutched him tighter. “Thank you for doing it.”
A rumble of a laugh bubbled up his throat. “Did you just thank me for breaking a man’s nose?”
Her own laugh-sob came out. “I guess I did. Daddy’s getting medical care right now, but we need to get you into those sexy chaps of yours. The bull riding’s coming up.”
He stared into her gray eyes fringed with heavy black lashes and hoped like hell they had a little girl who looked just like her. “Okay, but Joy?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t go to the PBR. I need to stay here with my family. It’s where I belong.”
“I know.”
She rested her head over his heart. “I don’t care about that, and neither will my father. He’s happy that I’ll have the support of your family when we travel to these events.”
Ryder froze. Pulled back enough to see her face. “You mean—?”
She nodded a little shyly. “I told him about us. The timing was right.”
“Since you’re smiling, I take it everything was well-received?” Inside, he was flying high.
“Perfect.” She grinned and went on tiptoe to kiss him.
And boy did he kiss her back.
Epilogue
The Calhouns gathered with heads bowed, but this time not in their circle. They were seated at the long table in their home with a huge meal between them. Cooked with love by their mother and Channing.
A camera loomed over Joy’s shoulder, and she realized it was zeroed in on her ring finger and the big fat stone Ryder had put there and was crazy to buy. She wasn’t a bling kind of girl, but she had to admit that the diamond engagement ring was beautiful and she was proud as hell to wear it. Especially since he’d admitted to being so commitment-shy before meeting her.
He noticed the nearby camera too and squeezed her hand, playing it up.
“I’m so happy to have my family around me once again,” Mrs. Calhoun said with glistening eyes after the blessing Buck had said.
He had his hand protectively over Channing’s baby bump and Joy couldn’t be happier for them. The outlook for their baby was very good, but they were getting daily prayers from the entire family and everybody who knew.
Next to them, Ridge already had a buttery roll devoured and was reaching for another. Something about the hollow, distracted look he wore made Joy wonder if he was all right, but she didn’t feel close enough to ask him. Maybe she’d mention it to Ryder later.
Cameras buzzed around the table, but nobody seemed to care. They were all growing accustomed to the attention, even Joy. Although she did worry when the new season aired because of what her father would see. Probably Ryder and I tangled up in countless ways.
“I challenge y’all to a game of baseball following the meal,” Ryder drawled.
“Don’t we even get to let our food settle?” Wynonna wouldn’t have trouble with that—she had barely filled her plate. Like Ridge, Joy had some worries about the youngest Calhoun. Maybe she really wasn’t as great as she’d made out after the mess with the production manager.
