Rough Stock

by Dahlia West

They rode to what he called Riley’s Ridge. When they got to the top, Choctaw nickered, swung wide of the trail, and pranced just a few feet away.

  Rowan glanced over her shoulder, checking the landscape around them. “Is there a wolf?” she asked Seth. “Or a cat?” She’d had more than her share of wolves at this point and squinted hard but didn’t see the languid form of a mountain lion anywhere on the horizon, either.

  God forbid there’d be a bear, but she was confident their horses could outrun one.

  “Nah,” said Seth, gathering the reins and getting his horse back under control. “He’s showing off for the two of you. He’s not a horse. He’s a ham.”

  Rowan’s own horse was tossing her head, making her glossy brown mane wave in the breeze. It was clear the feeling was mutual between the two animals. “And she’s his favorite?”

  Seth nodded. “He’s always looking for her when we get back from spending time with the herd.”

  Rowan was buoyed by the idea of two horses in love. It seemed so innocent, so uncomplicated. She was almost jealous. “Will you…will you breed them?”

  She felt ridiculous asking, dancing around any real conversation but Seth looked at her so intensely that it was like a punch to the belly. Rowan nearly lost her breath. “Probably,” he said quietly. “When she’s ready. He’s getting older. Gotta think about the future. Anyway, there’s time enough. And that mare, she’ll be perfect for you.”

  Without thinking, Rowan tugged gently on the reins, bringing the horse to a halt. “Seth,” she replied, head spinning. “You…you can’t…I mean, the pony is enough, you can’t give me—”

  Seth brought Choctaw to a halt and turned to look at her. “Now, I told you. The pony’s on loan. I didn’t buy it. I would never do that without asking you first. And I’m not paying for her,” he said, nodding at the mare. “Not unless you counting mucking out stalls from here to eternity to get Dakota to hand her over, which I’m more than willing to do.”

  Rowan stared at him. “That’s why you won’t tell me her name,” she said, finally putting it all together.

  Seth nodded. “Because she’s yours. You name her.”

  It was an extravagant gift, and one that Rowan couldn’t deny was incredibly tempting. But she couldn’t accept it. “Seth—”

  His look stopped her cold. “Why are you arguing what’s already been decided? It’s a hard life out here, Rowan. I know you grew up here, but you’ve been away for a long time. The wolves, the work, it’ll be difficult. You’re going to need some good things in your life.”

  Rowan swallowed hard as she looked at him. “Like you?” she asked quietly.

  “Like me.” Seth nudged his horse to circle around her and came up alongside. He reached out and tugged on Rowan’s fleece collar and pulled her in for a light kiss that quickly became so heated, her thighs twitched.

  She finally pulled away, struggling to catch her breath. As she looked up at and saw the warm golden layers of light in the sky, she sighed, half in disappointment and half in relief. She didn’t want to leave his arms now, but she’d force herself to…for the promise of being in them later. “We should get back,” she told him.

  He fingered the collar of the jacket, lips still at her jaw, breath warming her skin. “In a hurry, Rowan?” he whispered. “Can’t imagine why.”

  She heard the grin in his voice rather than saw it and smiled herself. “The sun’s going down,” she whispered back.

  Seth dipped his tongue in her ear, an intimate reminder of the night before. “What a coincidence,” he replied.

  She shivered.

  Finally they broke apart, turning their horses back to the homestead. Ahead of her, Seth gave Rowan a sly look over his shoulder before spurring his horse. The seasoned ranch horse exploded off the trail, taking just a few strides before getting up to a full gallop.

  Rowan tightened her grip on the reins, barely needing to even nudge her horse, anxious as the mare was to catch up to her beau. They practically flew over the hills and valleys, gaining ground with every stride. Rowan wasn’t certain if Seth was holding Choctaw back. Most of her didn’t care.

  The breeze blew her hair back, and the wind in her face, far from stinging, felt as though it was breathing new life into her. The air was still chilly, but Rowan barely felt it. The rode on, racing the sun as much as Seth and Choctaw.

  And winning.

  The mare had great footing, never slipping or losing speed on the dirt. Most of the snow on the open plain had melted at this point, and so Rowan kicked her horse on, pouring on the speed. She leaned forward, twisted her fingers in the mane, and raced along the sloping hills back toward Snake River Ranch.

  It was exhilarating, like barrel racing. But better. Here there were no clocks, no spectators, no trophies to win, only a sunset to beat. The thunder of her mare’s hooves filled her ears as they caught up with Seth and Choctaw, shoulder to shoulder, pounding the earth as they galloped toward home.

  It felt so good, so familiar, that Rowan laughed, the sound of her own voice lost on the wind. This—this—was the life she wanted, the one she thought she’d never have again. With Seth by her side and the powerful horse beneath her, she finally felt like anything was possible. She finally felt like she was home.

  The sun finally sank below the horizon just as they crested the last hill overlooking the Barlow spread. They slowed the horses to a lope, then a trot, and finally to a walk, so as not to barn sour them, though somehow Rowan suspected it might not be a problem for her mare—her mare! The horse loved to run, it seemed. Or maybe just run with Choctaw, which was fine.

  Rowan couldn’t imagine being out here without Seth by her side anyway.

  Out of breath and feeling more wild and free than she could ever remember, she beamed at him, unable to contain her joy. She whooped into the air, and Seth laughed. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “That was incredible!”

  Beneath her, the mare pawed at the ground, itching for more. There was no time for it, but Rowan was pleased to see her horse was as excited as she was.

  “We can keep her for you,” Seth told her. “If that’s easier. Or you can take her home, if you’d pre—”

  “No,” she said breathlessly. “No. I want to ride with you. Here.” She lifted her hand and extended it behind them. “You have more land.”

  “We can ride as often as you want, when I’m not with the herd, then. And you can come by yourself when I’m on the range. You’re family now. I mean, you were before, but…” He took her hand and kissed it. “But you’re a Barlow,” he finished. “Even if you don’t have my name.”

  Yet was unspoken but entirely understood, judging by the look in his eyes. How Rowan’s life had seen her run with her tail between her legs from one Barlow straight into the arms of another was anyone’s guess. But it had happened, she was here, and Seth wanted her to stay.

  Back in the driveway, Rowan swung down from the saddle, legs shaky after having been away from riding for so long. She gave her mare a grateful pat on the cheek, though, for such an amazing afternoon. She and Seth led their horses back into the barn, and Rowan slid the saddle off her mare to place it on the rack. He was faster at untacking, since she was so out of practice. He finished first and found his way to her stall as she loosened her horse’s bridle.

  She grinned at him. “I’m not going to be able to walk tomorrow,” she declared.

  Seth’s strong arm wrapped around her waist. He spun her and pressed her up against the wall. “True,” he growled into her ear as he pinned her there. “But not from that ride.”

  As he kissed her, his fingers plucked at the buttons of her shirt again, and this time Rowan let him slip his hand inside. He cupped her breast gently, squeezing it for a moment before thumbing the fabric of her bra. Her nipple hardened and he gripped it between his thumb and forefinger, pinching it lightly.

  A moan escaped from her throat before she could stop herself. “You’re coming tonight, right?” she whispered.

 
“After you.”

  Rowan thought it might happen sooner than they thought. Her whole body was on fire, aching with need. Seth’s calloused hand rasped against her skin as he dipped into the cup of her bra.

  “Seth,” Rowan gasped. “I—”

  “You’re back! Oh…Oh God.”

  Seth tore himself away from Rowan and from behind him, Rowan caught a glimpse of Dakota standing in the doorway to the stall.

  “Oh, geez,” the girl fumbled. “I’m…I’m so sorry.”

  “Where’s Willow?” Rowan demanded, frantically plucking at the buttons on her shirt.

  “She’s…with my mom,” Dakota replied. “Up at the Big House. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you.”

  “Barge in on them?”

  Rowan’s stomach lurched as she recognized the voice that was still several feet away. Court rounded the corner and came into view. His eyes narrowed sharply as he took in the scene. Rowan partially undressed; Seth unable to look him in the eye.

  “What in the hell is this?” he demanded.

  “We need to talk,” Seth replied quietly.

  “We need to talk? Oh, we need to talk? Looks like you’re way beyond talking. And with my woman!”

  Rowan saw Seth’s jaw twitch just as her own muscles flexed in anger. “I’m not your woman, Court!”

  Court ignored her entirely, glaring at Seth instead, like she’d never even spoken. “Is this your idea of help?” he asked Seth.

  Rowan blinked at both of them. “Help?” she repeated dumbly. “Help…what?”

  Again Court pretended she hadn’t said a word, had no part to play in a conversation about herself.

  Seth shook his head. “We need to talk, Court,” he repeated evenly. “And not here. You need to calm down, and I’ve got some things to say.”

  “There’s nothing to say!” Court shouted. “You can’t make this right! You knew I wanted her back. You knew I was trying to put my family back together.”

  Rowan abandoned trying to button her shirt and shot a dark look at her ex. “You don’t have a family, Court! I told you that! Not one that I’m a part of, anyway! And if you can’t act like a grown Goddamned man, Willow won’t be, either! I won’t have this around her, Court. I won’t.”

  But Court shook his head, unwilling to listen, apparently. “My brother and my woman,” he muttered. “Sneaking around behind my back. Neither one of you even thought about giving me a chance, did you? A chance to prove myself.” He glared at Seth. “You said you’d help me win her back, and here you are taking off her goddamn clothes right under my nose! You never planned to help me, did you?”

  Rowan gasped and looked at Seth, who was already shaking his head.

  “I never agreed to that, Court,” Seth argued. “I said I’d help make things as easy as possible for Rowan. I never said I’d help you get her back.”

  Court snorted and glared at Rowan. “Well, I guess you’re making things real easy. Either that, or she’s real easy.”

  Rowan started to take a step forward, fist at the ready, but it was Seth who swung out first.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

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  Seth lunged, and his fist connected with Court’s chiseled pretty-boy jaw. Court had seemed to half-expect it, though, seemed to have realized that he’d gone too far by insulting Rowan. He tried to back away at the last second, and the punch was little more than a glancing blow. But Seth was still moving toward him like a freight train. He was nearly blinded by rage but still retained just enough sense to take the fight outside the stall. Or maybe he just wanted to spare Rowan. Under normal circumstances, Seth would just walk away and let his little brother cool off, but Court had crossed a line.

  Seth slammed into him, and they both careened out the open door of the stall. Court lost his footing, and Seth along with him, and both men went sprawling to the concrete floor. Seth found his feet first and hauled himself up and Court along with him. He dragged his brother down the aisle, toward the back of the barn and away from the Big House. When they made it to the dirt floor of the indoor ring, he flung Court by his denim shirt, sending the man flying ass over teakettle.

  Court rose up and charged at Seth, managing to get in a good body blow then a right cross. Rafe Barlow had raised five teenage boys alone, and every one of them, to a man, could deliver a haymaker that would stun a rutting bull. The sharp pain in Seth’s own jaw only served to make him more angry. He ducked, caught Court around the waist, and lifted him straight off the ground.

  Despite the vicious blows raining down on Seth’s back, he made it the handful of steps to the water trough and unceremoniously dropped Court into the brackish water. It was large enough for a full-grown man, though just barely. Seth pushed him down into the water, just enough to dunk him. Though he felt like it, he had no intention of drowning his youngest brother.

  Seth let go, and Court came up spluttering, hat floating, legs kicking in the cold, impromptu bath.

  “You’d better decide what you’re going to do before you come out,” Seth growled. “Because if you swing at me—or run your mouth again—I’m going to throw your ass right back in there!”

  Court clawed his way out of the bracing water and snatched his hat as it floated on the surface.

  Seth was more than ready for round two, but he got the feeling Court’s ego wouldn’t allow him to get his ass kicked a second time. Seth refused to let on that his head was pounding from Court’s last punch. He was a little old for rolling around in the dirt these days.

  Court opened his mouth, and Seth stifled a groan, already not wanting to hear what he had to say. “Look,” he snapped, cutting Court off. “I get it, I do! I get that you feel like a total shit heel, but Rowan and Willow are not the answer to making yourself feel better! I can see how you’d think that, though. I can see the appeal. I mean, it’s perfect for you. It’s vintage Court, isn’t it?”

  Court stared at him. “What the hell do you mean?”

  Seth threw up his hands. “I mean the hard part’s over! All the diapers have been changed, the midnight feedings are over, the sleepless nights…Rowan did all of that, alone, because you wouldn’t pick up the fucking phone! And all you have to do now is come riding in on your big black horse like a knight in shining armor and play daddy to a little girl who doesn’t see what a selfish asshole you really are!”

  “I am trying to do the right thing now!” Court insisted.

  “Yeah, when it’s easy!”

  “Well, I can’t help that!”

  Seth stared at him. “You can’t help that? What the fuck do you mean you can’t help that? You could’ve helped that, and you chose not to! Because you never do anything for anyone else if it’s difficult or challenging in any way.”

  “I’m willing to do the right thing now!” Court shot back. “I’m willing to marry Rowan and—”

  “Get married?! Jesus Christ, Court. Do you hear yourself? You can’t even propose like a decent man. You didn’t for one second take Rowan’s feelings into account, did you? You just shot your mouth off, making promises that you expect other people to keep!”

  “She would’ve said yes!” Court bellowed. “She just needed time!” He rushed at Seth again, and both men collided, each pawing at the other, searching for a decent hold.

  Seth managed to get out from underneath Court’s powerful arms and shove him hard. He stumbled back, nearly lost his balance, but somehow managed to stay upright this time. His face twisted, but he seemed to have nothing to say to that. He was fighting two battles—one against Seth and the other against himself.

  And he was losing both of them.

  “She doesn’t love you,” Seth told him. It was tempting to add that Rowan loved him, instead, but Seth wouldn’t put words in Rowan’s mouth that hadn’t come across her own lips first. Plus, he couldn’t quite bring himself to rub salt in his youngest brother’s wounds.

  Court came toward Seth again, but slower this time, lumbering with a look of pure defeat on hi
s face.

  Seth gave him a wide berth as he passed, just in case.

  Court walked past Rowan and Dakota, who’d hovered near the entrance to the aisle. Both women seemed stunned, silent and watchful. Court hung his head and left out the side door, not even acknowledging Sawyer, who’d somehow come to stand just inside the doorway, looking perplexed.

  After he’d disappeared around the corner, Rowan rushed into the indoor ring and threw her arms around Seth. “Oh my God!” she cried as she pulled away and cupped his face in her hands. “Oh.” She turned his head from side to side, pressing on the skin that Seth was certain was starting to swell a bit even if he couldn’t see it.

  “Guess I don’t have to ask what the fight was about,” Sawyer said from behind them.

  Rowan turned to look at him, and even Seth fixed him with a steady gaze.

  Sawyer raised his hands. “Not judging. Just stating the obvious.”

  Rowan looked back to Seth, and he saw the fleeting, haunted look in her eyes. “He’s so devastated,” she said quietly.

  Seth smoothed back her hair and planted a kiss on her forehead. Even with all Court had put her through, Rowan was still the tender-hearted woman Seth had comforted in the parking lot of the Silver Spur, trying to appear tough to everyone else as she carried their burdens. He sighed. “He was going to find out. It could’ve happened a better way, obviously, but at least it’s out now.”

  From farther away, Willow’s voice rang out and echoed off the barn’s walls. “Mama! Mama, I brought you a cookie!”

  Seth pushed Rowan away from him gently. “Go,” he told her. “Go on and catch her before she comes back here. She doesn’t need to see me.” His fingers went to his face, checking for the damage there.

  Rowan gave him a quick good-bye kiss and turned away.

  Seth watched her hurry to the front entrance while listening to Sawyer come up beside him. His other younger brother made a sympathetic noise that prompted Seth to turn and look at him—once Rowan was fully out of view.

  Sawyer sniffed. “You know, you and I, we’re a lot alike.”