Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

T he moment my phone buzzes with a text from Weston, I feel my heart sink. I pull it out and read the message, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut.

Weston: Ran into Emma's ex in town.

My stomach churns, and my grip tightens on the phone. My mind races with a mix of anger and concern. Emma's ex is a piece of work, and the thought of him upsetting her makes my blood boil. I need to see her, make sure she's alright. I shove my phone back in my pocket and look up to see Marshall glancing my way.

"Everything alright, Wyatt?" he asks, his brow furrowing.

"No," I reply. "I'm done for the day. I need to head out."

"What happened?"

"Emma's douchebag ex is still in town it seems. And he just ran into Weston and her when they were in town," I tell him and I can feel my face getting red as I speak.

Why is that fucker still here? He's the one that cheated, so why hasn't he crawled back to wherever he came from and leave my girl alone?

"Alright, go check on your girl. Be safe out there," he calls after me as I head toward the UTV.

I nod and jump in, revving the engine and heading straight for the meadow. Weston told me that's where he was taking her in case anything happens. It's just how our family is. If you're going off the main part of the ranch we tell someone that way god forbid, anything happens they know where to come looking for us.

The familiar trails blur past me as I push the vehicle to its limits, my heart pounding. I hate that Emma has to deal with her ex, and I can't stand the thought of her being upset. She deserves so much better.

When I finally reach the meadow, I spot Weston and Emma sitting on a blanket, sharing breakfast.

She's safe. She's okay.

Emma's eyes light up the moment she sees me, and I can feel a wave of relief wash over me. God, I love that feeling. It's like coming home after a long, hard day.

"Wyatt! What are you doing up here?" she calls, a smile spreading across her face as I park and walk their way.

"Yeah, Wyatt, what are you doing up here?" Weston echoes, smirking.

His eyes are twinkling, but I can see the concern there too. He's not happy about the encounter and I know he's gonna give me all the details when we're alone.

"I couldn't stay away after you told me about your run-in in town. Our girl means too much to me," I say. I want Emma to know she's not alone, and that I'll always be there for her.

"You get a pass this time, brother," Weston teases.

I join them on the blanket, and we chat while they eat. I steal a few bites from each of their to-go containers since I haven't eaten yet. The food tastes better somehow, maybe because I'm sharing it with them. Emma's laughter, the way she looks at me—it makes everything right in the world.

"Don't you two have work to do today?" Emma asks, raising an eyebrow.

She's always thinking about others, even when she should be taking care of herself.

"I told you I was off today," Weston tells her, leaning back on his elbows and grinning.

"And I just told Marshall I was done for the day," I add, my eyes never leaving Emma's face.

I need her to understand that nothing is more important to me than being here with her.

"Nope." She shakes her head, a determined look in her eyes.

"Nope what?" I ask, raising a brow, curious about what she's thinking.

"I'm not gonna be the reason you don't help out and do your shit around the ranch. So tell me, what are we doing today?" she demands, her stubbornness making me smile. She's got this fire in her that I can't get enough of.

"One day ain't gonna hurt, Hellcat."

"Don't you sass me, Wyatt. I know how hard your family works and I know you love it. It only works when you all pull your weight. I'm fine. Seeing that dick for brains pissed me off, but I'm fine."

I glance at Weston, and he nods slightly. "Alright then. How about a UTV ride? We can check the fences and maybe show you the national park that connects to the ranch," I suggest.

Her eyes light up. "Sounds perfect."

We load up in the UTV, deciding to leave the truck here; no one will mess with it up here and we'll come back for it tomorrow.

The first fence line we check runs along the wide, grassy meadow. The fence posts are sturdy, but the wire has seen better days. We park, and I grab the toolbox from the back.

"Let's see what we've got here," I say, hopping out and inspecting the fence

Emma follows, watching closely as I assess the damage.

"This section needs tightening," I explain, pointing to a sagging wire. "And that post over there could use some reinforcement.

Together, we get to work. Weston shows Emma how to use the fence stretcher, her hands steady as she follows his instructions. She's a quick learner, her determination to try everything and not bat an eye at manual labor is amazing.

As we work, we talk about everything and nothing—our childhoods, our dreams, the little things that make up our days. The connection between us feels stronger with every shared task.

With the first fence repaired, we climb back into the UTV and continue on our route.

The trail leads us into a wooded area, where the canopy casts shadows on the ground.

"It's beautiful," Emma breathes, leaning forward to take in the sights. "So peaceful."

We emerge from the woods into another open field, this one dotted with wildflowers. The fence here is in better shape, but a few posts have started to lean. We park again and get to work.

As we finish the repair, the sun starts to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the landscape. We hop back into the UTV and make our way to the last section of the fence, which borders a small creek.

"This is my favorite part of the ranch," I confess, stopping so we can sit and listen to the creek for a moment. "It's where I come when I need to clear my head."

"It's perfect," Emma says softly, her eyes meeting mine. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

"Now, don't tell anyone, but when we cross the creek, which we were technically not supposed to do, we're on National Park land."

"I won't tell if you won't," she breathes.

"I don't know." Weston shrugs. "Is Red a good secret keeper?"

She sticks her tongue out at him. "Have I told either of you who's better in bed?"

I throw my head back and laugh a deep belly laugh.

"That's no secret, Hellcat. It's me. We both know my twin is the gentle one and that's not what you like, is it baby?"

"He sure wasn't gentle last night. So, are you sure you're right?" She purses her lips and raises a brow.

"Touche, baby. Touche."

I hit the gas and we splash through the creek to the other side and Emma laughs as we get wet.

The way she looks at the world, with such wonder and excitement—it's contagious. We come across a herd of wild horses as they gallop across the meadow. Emma snaps a million pictures, excitement radiating off her.

"Look at them, guys! They're beautiful," she exclaims, her eyes wide.

"They are," I agree, though my eyes are more on her than the horses. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

As we make our way back to the house, the UTV bumping gently over the trail, we spot a mountain goat perched high on a rocky hill. Emma's eyes light up, and she starts snapping photos with her camera, her giggles ringing out in the crisp evening air.

"Don't tell that guy," she says, a playful grin on her face, "but your guys' goats are cuter."

We laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet of the evening. I love seeing her like this, so happy and carefree.

When we pull up, Carson is on the porch, a rare smile breaking through his usually serious personality.

"Dad wants to order in tonight," he says, his tone indicating how unusual this is. "We're taking advantage of it."

Inside, the house is filled with a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

"What's the occasion?" I ask, directing the question to my dad. He's not one to order food often, so I'm curious about the sudden change.

Dad looks up from where he's arranging the dining table, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Nothing, boy. I just got a hankering for some meatloaf, and it's the best from the diner. They use your momma's recipe."

At the mention of Mom, a pang of sadness hits me. I tense, my thoughts drifting to her. I miss her so much...we all do.

Emma must notice the shift in my mood. She comes over and places a gentle hand on my arm.

"Are you okay?" she asks, her concern evident in her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just...sometimes when someone mentions Mom, I remember how much I miss her.

Emma nods, her expression softening with understanding. "What happened?"

"She died from cancer," I explain. "It was a while ago, but damn, do I miss her. She was a fierce but gentle woman."

Emma's eyes are filled with sympathy. She doesn't say anything, but her presence is a comfort. We stand there for a moment, the silence between us filled with unspoken understanding.

Hadley's voice breaks the quiet. "Alright, jot down what you want, and I'll call it in," she says, holding out a notepad.

We all lineup and one by one write down on the notepad what we want. Hadley calls it in and pays over the phone using Dad's card. After arguing with Aunt Diane about accepting the payment.

"Be ready in twenty," she says, hanging up. "Emma, you wanna ride with me to pick it up?"

"Yeah. I'd love to." Emma smiles.

As Emma and Hadley walk out the door to pick up dinner, Dad and my brothers corner Weston and me, their curiosity obvious.

"So, what's going on with that girl?" Dad asks, leaning against the kitchen counter. His tone is half-teasing, half-serious. He's always been protective of us, but there's a softness in his eyes that tells me he's genuinely interested in what's happening.

Weston and I exchange a glance, a silent conversation passing between us. I can feel the weight of Dad's question, but it also feels like the right moment to be honest.

"We're in love with her."

The words come out with a sense of finality, like a truth I've been holding in for a long time.

Marshall's eyes widen slightly, and a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. He straightens up, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced by something softer, warmer.

"She's a good one," he says, nodding. "I can see that. Make sure you treat her right."

"What about her husband?" Sophia asks, bouncing Josie on her hip.

"She's serving him with divorce papers. It was an arranged marriage and cheating was the loophole for her to get out," Weston tells her.

"Is she staying then?" Carson crosses his arms as he questions us.

"We haven't talked about it yet. But we want her to."

"She better not break your hearts or I'll break her nose like that bitch at the Copper Kitten last year," Sophia warns.

"Little Felon," Marshall sighs.

"They're my brothers too, asshole. And I kinda like them," she snaps at him and my dad chuckles.

"I swear, y'all choose the most stubborn, wild women…" he trails off.

"Like Mom," Carson whispers.

"Like your Momma," Dad agrees. "Which means they're good women so treat them right." He looks at me and Weston.

"If you two love this girl like you say, then you be honest with her and tell her. Don't go playin' your twin whore games. She's been through enough. But I'm with Marshall. She seems like a good one."

His approval means a lot. Dad has always been the rock of our family, and his words carry weight. I can see that he's genuinely pleased, and it reassures me that we're on the right path.

"We will," Weston promises. "We know how special Emma is. We'll do whatever it takes to make her happy and keep her safe."

Dad claps both of us on the shoulder, his eyes twinkling with pride.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. She's got a good heart, and she's made a good impression on all of us. Just remember, family means everything out here. You take care of each other, and you've got our support."

"Thanks, Dad," I say, feeling a wave of gratitude. It's reassuring to know that we have his blessing and that our feelings for Emma are not just a passing fancy but something serious

"Yeah, thanks," Weston adds. "We're committed to making this work."