Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Sadie smiles. “So you’ve been discovered.”
“Seems,” I say. “Of course, none of us are counting our chickens before they’re hatched.”
Sadie bursts into giggles. “You guys and your ranching clichés.”
I want to roll my eyes, but I resist. That’s hardly a ranching cliché. It’s as old as the hills.
“Did you ever think of giving up?” Sadie asks.
“Are you kidding me? Only about a thousand times. There were years where we eked out a living. Then there were years when we didn’t make a penny. All of us have day jobs, of course. I work on my family’s ranch. So does Cage. Jake drives for Uber when he has to, and Dragon…”
Dragon works at a dispensary and sometimes takes his pay in weed, but he may not want me to say that.
“And Dragon?” Sadie prompts.
“Odd jobs.”
Brianna lifts her eyebrows at me. She knows where Dragon works. There’s a dispensary in the next town over, Barrel Oaks. Snow Creek doesn’t have one, and they won’t as long as Donny Steel is the city attorney. He’s sworn to keep the town clean. Most of us in town don’t care one way or the other. Those who want weed go to Barrel Oaks and get it. I’m not sure Donny cares either, but his mother, the former city attorney, does. Different generation, and all.
In truth, Dragon shouldn’t be smoking weed or drinking. He had a problem with narcotics earlier in his life, but somehow, he’s managed to stay away from the hard stuff even though he still uses alcohol and marijuana. Unusual for an addict, but I don’t give him any guff about it because he stays sober for rehearsal and performances. He’s a genius on percussion.
Besides, he needs an escape. He’s had a damned rough life.
He almost took my sister Rory to bed a month or so ago. Luckily, Brock phoned her, and she called it off. Dragon spilled his guts to me about it a week after.
I almost popped him one that night.
I also made him promise never to go near any of my sisters again.
He made the promise.
And I believe him.
I trust Dragon, and he trusts me. Hell, I’m the only one who knows his story, but I swear to God, if he ever goes near one of my sisters again, I won’t stop myself from beating him senseless.
Sadie opens her mouth to say something when her friend Nora grabs her arm. “We’re heading into town to Murphy’s. You all want to come?”
“Sure,” Sadie says. “Come on, Jesse.”
Hitting the bar is the last thing I want to do. I’m exhausted. Cage, of course, is hoping to get laid, so he’ll go. Normally I love an evening at Murphy’s playing pool, but tonight I’m just not up for it.
“You all go without me,” I say. “I think I’ll be getting home.”
“Oh, please?” Sadie begs.
“Next time.” I smile.
I can tell by the look in her eyes that Sadie wants to stay here, but she already told Nora she’d go. So she heads out with Cage and some townies.
Jake is nowhere to be found. He must’ve left already, or he’s going with them. Dragon is still by the pool house with Diana.
Really strange.
So I’m left standing here next to Brianna Steel.
“Nice to see you, Bree.”
“Yeah, you too.” She smiles.
She truly is beautiful.
Beautiful…and Maddie’s age.
“Shit,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“Where’s Maddie? Did she go off with them?”
“I don’t know.” Brianna looks toward the deck. “Donny and Callie are still here. Maybe they know where she is.”
“Good enough. Let’s go.”
Chapter Seven
Brianna
“Hey, guys,” I say when we reach the deck where Donny and Callie are sitting where my aunts were earlier. “Have you seen Maddie?”
“She went on home,” Callie says. “Brock and Rory gave her a ride.”
“Thank God,” Jesse says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Don asks.
Donny and Jesse are still trying to irk each other. It’s really time for both of them to grow up.
Callie darts them both an Are we really going there again? look.
“It means she didn’t go into town with Jake and Cage and the town girls.”
“I agree with you,” Callie says. “That’s good.”
“Okay,” Jesse says. “I’m beat. I’m going to head home.”
“Night, Jess,” Callie says and then elbows my brother.
“Good night, Pike,” Donny says begrudgingly.
“Steel.” Jesse turns and walks through the house.
The urge to follow him is so great, but what do I say? He’s tired, and I have no reason to believe he’s not going anywhere but home.
I should probably be more worried about my older sister talking to Dragon Locke outside.
But what they’re doing seems innocent enough. Sitting on Adirondack chairs over by the pool house, deep in conversation.
If Dragon even knows how to have a conversation.
I take a seat next to Donny. “What’s up with you guys?”
“Nothing much.” He grabs Callie’s hand. “Just enjoying the night. We’ll be heading out soon.”
Donny and Callie live in the guesthouse behind my parents’ house.